White Mountain National Forest United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Eastern Region Pond of Safety Accessible Trail & Shoreline Access Project Township of Randolph Coos County, NH Scoping Report Prepared by the Androscoggin Ranger District March 2014 For Information Contact: Thomas Moore Androscoggin Ranger District White Mountain National Forest 300 Glen Road Gorham, NH 03581 Phone: 603 466-2713 Fax: 603 466-2856 http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/whitemount ain/landmanagement/projects
This document is available in large print. Contact the White Mountain National Forest Androscoggin Ranger District 603-466-2713 Federal Relay 711 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on Recycled Paper 2
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Introduction Project vicinity map The Androscoggin Ranger District of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is seeking your input on a proposal to establish an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard accessible trail, and a perched beach shoreline access point at the Pond of Safety. This report includes the purpose and need for the project, a description of the proposed action, decision to be made, and information on how you can submit comments on this project to the Forest Service. Project Description The current trail location and hiking traffic has led to erosion found at the present access trail and shoreline. 4
The proposal includes: 1. Decommissioning the existing access trail; 2. Establishment of a new trail that meets current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and 3. Establishment of a 20 foot perched beach at a new launch location to limit further shoreline degradation. Background Acquired by the White Mountain National Forest in 2002 from the Hancock Timber Resource Group, the Pond of Safety area has been a local landmark for centuries and famously dates back to the late 1700 s and the American Revolution. Legend has it that four colonial soldiers were captured by the British Forces. These soldiers were released after signing a document saying they would not take up arms against the King of England; and if they were to take up arms against the crown and captured, they would be hanged for treason. The soldiers reported back to their colonial army unit and were expected to continue the fight against the British. Not wanting to go against their word and not wanting to be hanged (more than likely the latter); they fled to a pond for safe refuge and hid at the site now known as The Pond of Safety where they stayed for the remainder of the war. As hostilities ended the soldiers settled in the area and raised their families. Descendants of these families continue to live in the area today. Over the course of time the Pond of Safety became a place for hikers to visit. As residents and visitors became more aware of the pond, a user generated trail began to take form. Although it is a near straight line and direct walk to the pond; the access trail slowly developed in a wet area that was prone to erosion and trail widening. In 2008, basic trail maintenance was performed through a challenge cost share agreement with the Randolph Mountain Club (RMC). Informal discussions have occurred between the Androscoggin Ranger District, local residents, the RMC, and the Randolph Community Forest. These informal discussions brainstormed ideas on how to best improve the access road and foot access to the pond. 5
Recreation use at the Pond of Safety area continues to be canoeing, kayaking; walking, and scenic photography. As described above, the Pond of Safety trail is poorly located. While trail use can be considered low to moderate it results in erosion due to the steepness of the terrain and lack of water diversion features. Access to the pond begins at the parking area and continues to the pond. As the trail approaches the pond it skirts a known bog which has led to trail tread expansion and further erosion. 2013 Site Review In May 2013 a group of White Mountain National Forest resource specialists visited the Pond of Safety, hiked the access trail, and visited the current parking area. The group recognized that significant erosion was occurring on the 150 ft. access trail to what has been the traditional boat launch. The group also recognized that a better trail could be established to improve access, and protect the soil and water resources and that shore line hardening would insure a stable canoe access and limit erosion of the swamp and pond that has occurred from years of visitor use. The project area includes: The Pond of Safety Trail (totaling 150 feet), and the Pond of Safety Shoreline (approximately 20 feet) Management Direction The project area is composed of lands that are administratively designated by the WMNF Land and Resource Management Plan as Management Area 6.1 Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized. The purpose of lands under this designation is to: 1. Emphasize hiking, backcountry, and related foot trail use 2. Provide motorized use in the winter Forest Plan goals and objectives that are applicable to this project include: 1. Allow for a net increase of up to 25 miles of new hiking trail, not including trails at ski areas operating under special use permit. 6
Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of the project is to improve the access trail by relocating it away from a wet area, providing ADA improvements and improving the canoe put-in area at the Pond of Safety shoreline. The need for the project is to protect the natural resources and provide safe public access to the Pond of Safety. Proposed Action Existing shore line access for Pond of Safety Resource specialists evaluated the project area and considered options to address the erosion and access issues found at Pond of Safety. In addition to the specialist s findings, the Androscoggin District consulted with the Randolph Community Forest, the Randolph Mountain Club, and reviewed Forest Plan guidance. As a result, a proposed action was developed to: 1. Relocate Pond of Safety Trail: The existing Pond of Safety trail will be decommissioned. A new trail beginning at the west end of the parking lot will be constructed to meet ADA requirements for slope and surfacing. It will terminate at a new launch location west of the existing shore line launch site. 2. Shoreline Access Establishment: Establishment of a perched beach at a new location west of the current location to limit further shoreline erosion and allow for easier launch access. 7
Decision to be made Proposed site of new shoreline access District Ranger Katie Stuart is the Responsible Official who will be making a decision whether whether or not to implement in whole or part, the proposed action. This decision is expected to be a routine activity that can be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment pursuant to: 36 CFR 220.6(e)(1), Construction and reconstruction of trails, and; 36 CFR 220.6(d)(4) Repair and maintenance of roads, trails, and landline boundaries. It does not appear that there are any extraordinary circumstances associated with this project based on preliminary analysis of the potential impacts to the resources listed in 36 CFR 220.6(b)(1). How are you involved in this decision? The purpose of soliciting your comments during this scoping period is to collect additional information regarding the project or possible extraordinary circumstances, identify any unresolved concerns regarding this proposal, and confirm the proposed level of analysis. Comments should be specific to the proposed action and include supporting rationale. Please be aware that your 8
name, address and comments will become part of the public record and may be available for public inspection. If you provide input during this comment period, you will be notified when a decision is made on this project. Comments should be submitted by April 30, 2014. Postal or hand delivered comments must be submitted to Katherine W. Stuart, District Ranger at: 300 Glen Road, Gorham, New Hampshire, 03581. Oral comments may be provided to Thomas Moore at the above address or by phone to 603-466-2713 (ext. 226). The office hours for submitting comments in person are 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, M-F, excluding holidays. Comments may be faxed to 603-466-2856. Electronic comments should include an identifiable name and must be submitted as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Word (.doc) or portable document format (.pdf) document to comments-eastern-white-mountainandroscoggin@fs.fed.us. In your comments, please include the following information: Your name, address, and telephone number. The project you are commenting on: Pond of Safety Accessible Trail and Shoreline Access Project. Site-specific comments about the project, along with supporting information you believe will help the Forest Service identify issues or predict the environmental effects of our proposal. As a result of legislation passed earlier this year, the Forest Sevice will no longer offer notice, comment and appeal opportunities pursuant to 36 CFR 215 for categorically excluded projects. Therefore, this scoping period is expected to be the pimary public involvement opportunity for this project. This document is available for review at the Androscoggin Ranger Station, 300 Glen Road, Gorham, New Hampshire, 03581; or on our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/whitemountain/landmanagement/projects. For further information contact Thomas Moore at 300 Glen Road, Gorham, NH 03581; (603) 466-2713 (ext. 226), Federal Relay 711, or by email at tmoore@fs.fed.us. 9
References USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service). 2005a. White Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Laconia, NH: USDA-FS, Eastern Region, White Mountain National Forest. USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service). 2005b Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Laconia, NH: USDA-FS, Eastern Region, White Mountain National Forest. 10