Buford / New Castle Motorized Trail

Buford / New Castle Motorized Trail Rifle Ranger District, White River National Forest Garfield County, Colorado Comments Welcome The Rifle Ranger District of the White River National Forest welcomes your comments on its proposal to construct a motorized trail to connect the West Elk (winter) Trailhead to open, designated motorized routes at Triangle Park. Your comments will help us complete an environmental assessment. The assessment will be used to determine whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact. Instructions for submitting comments are described on the last page. Background General Description of the Project Area The project is located approximately 15 miles north of the Town of New Castle, Colorado, off the Buford / New Castle Road (Forest Road 245) beginning in Township 4 S, Range 91 W, Section 6 and extending to Township 3 S, Range 91 W in sections 31, 30, 24,19, and 18. The project area encompasses approximately 8 miles. The White River National Forest (WRNF) Travel Management Plan (TMP) Record of Decision was signed in May of 2011 closing Forest Road 245 to unlicensed vehicles. As a result, the White River Trail Runners formed in 2009 to help create solutions on how to work within the new travel management parameters across the Rifle Ranger District. The proposed trail generally follows the same route as National Forest System Road 245 (NFSR 245). The topography along the road consists of rolling hills, wide open meadows and scenic overlooks. The primary tree species include Engelmann spruce, sub-alpine fir and aspen stand forests. Unlicensed vehicles are often seen along NFSR 245, especially on weekends and throughout the fall hunting season (September-November). Purpose and Need for Action The purpose and need for action is to provide a safe and enjoyable travel route open to unlicensed vehicle use that connects the West Elk (winter) Trailhead to the designated unlicensed travel management system at Triangle Park. The West Elk Trailhead was designed for trucks hauling snowmobiles to access the winter trail system maintained by the Rifle 1

Snowmobile Club. The trailhead is centrally located and provides a large parking area with ample room to easily maneuver a truck and trailer. It is an ideal location for trucks hauling All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and side by side, Utility Vehicles (UTVs) to park and access the designated motorized travel routes in the Flat Top Mountains. In the summer, this parking area is underutilized; it s mainly used as a meeting location, rest area and occasional camping spot. Yearly, this location has been known as a destination for large gatherings and parties. As a result, Forest Service employees have hauled tons of trash from the trailhead every summer. More presence and management is needed to reduce some of these impacts from large gatherings. The WRNF Travel Management Plan decision designates NFSR 245 as open to licensed vehicles only. A designated ATV/UTV trail is needed to connect the West Elk Trailhead to Triangle Park where unlicensed vehicles are able to travel west on Coulter Mesa, north to Meadow Lake, Blair Mountain and beyond. Proposed Action The action proposed by the Forest Service (FS) to meet the purpose and need, is to construct an approximately 8 mile 72 92 wide trail that connects the West Elk Trailhead to the open unlicensed travel system at Triangle Park. The Forest Service also proposes improvements to the West Elk Trailhead to accommodate vehicles hauling ATVs, enhance the amenities provided at the site including maps of the new designated travel system, Tread Lightly principles and historical/cultural information of the surrounding area. To access the trail and trailhead, vehicles will travel approximately 7 miles on NFSR 245 (Buford/New Castle Road) to the West Elk Trailhead (aka Gravel Pit). The West Elk trailhead can accommodate between 60-80 truck and trailer parking spaces and is located on NFS lands in Garfield County. This site would include a 3 panel kiosk with travel management information and recreational opportunities on the Flat Top Mountains. Equipment needed to construct this trail involves primarily hand tools, a small bulldozer, and bobcat. The ATV/UTVs will leave the north end of the trailhead on an existing closed road and meander along the west side of NFSR 245 with views of the Bookcliffs, Mamm Peaks and Battlement Mesa. The trail crosses NFSR 245 to access scenic overlooks of Mount Sopris. The road crossings would be designed along straight-aways where riders can safely see on-coming traffic, and on-coming traffic can see trail riders. Crossings will be marked and signed for both trail users and licensed vehicles traveling on NFSR 245. The trail is designed to use existing roads, trails, and former timber skid trails and haul routes to minimize construction costs. There is approximately 3 miles of new construction needed to connect existing routes. The trail will be open to unlicensed motorized vehicles including dirt bikes, ATVs, and UTVs. Design features include a trail 72 92 wide, constructed mostly of native material, with subgrade reinforcement in identified sections, rolling grade dips and native rock or log retaining walls. The proposed trail route accesses dispersed campsites along the road, providing an additional recreation experience. The trail is intended for use during the summer and fall season, when the snow has melted, generally June to November. Management Direction The 2002 Revised White River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) gives specific direction on how the WRNF manages different land areas. These land 2

management areas define where different management activities may be carried out and show where different kinds of public uses occur. Each area is defined by a primary management theme, a management area description and set of elements that guide the activities taking place in it. All lands administered by the WRNF are managed according to these prescriptions. These management areas provide sustainability of the physical, biological and scenic values of general forest and rangelands. Habitat and vegetation are managed to achieve and maintain the desired vegetation. The project area lies mainly within 4.3 (Dispersed Recreation) with some portions occupying 5.13 (Resource Production) and 5.4 (Forest Flora and Fauna Habitats) (Forest Plan, pg 3-44, 53 & 55). In management area 4.3 areas may be designated as either motorized or non-motorized (Forest Plan, pg 3-44). In management area 5.13 an extensive road and trail system exist (Forest Plan, pg 3-53) and in 5.4 visitors can find dispersed recreation opportunities including both motorized and non motorized where visitors can expect to see other people and evidence of human activities (Forest Plan, pg. 3-55). The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum for this management area is semi-primitive motorized in the summer and the scenery is managed to provide a range of scenic integrity objectives from low to moderate (Forest Plan, pg. 3-56). Nature of the Decision to be Made For this project, the responsible official is the Rifle District Ranger. Given the purpose and need, the responsible official will review the environmental analysis, proposed action, alternatives, and comments from the public in order to make the following decisions: Should the FS construct an 8 mile trail connecting the West Elk trailhead to the motorized travel system to accommodate unlicensed vehicle riders? If so, what are the necessary design criteria for construction (e.g., 72 92 native trail tread, subgrade reinforcement materials to harden sections of trail in primarily soft clay soils, grades ranging from 2-15% for beginner use, passing corridors, interpretation at overlooks, etc.)? What additional facilities (i.e. picnic tables, ATV loading ramps) should be provided to accommodate users at the West Elk Trailhead? Public Involvement Since the summer of 2009, ideas regarding a possible motorized trail along NFSR 245 began to formulate, in response the preferred alternative identified in the WRNF TMP supplemental draft environmental impact statement. Due to the complexity of the TMP, it was decided to address these concerns as a separate project after the final TMP decision. This proposed action meets that objective. In response to the Record of Decision for the WRNF TMP final environmental impact statement, the public mailed 20 individual letters regarding the unlicensed access concerns along NFSR 245 and over 75 people signed a letter of support for construction of a motorized trail. Rifle Ranger District staff met with members of the community on multiple occasions and has heard their desire to seek options for providing a safe, alternative route for unlicensed vehicle use along NFSR 245. The proposal was first listed on the Schedule of Proposed Actions beginning in September, 2011 and updates are provided quarterly. Further 3

information about this project can be found on our website at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usdapop.php/?project=27413. Alternatives to the Proposed Action No Action The effects of not taking action will also be analyzed as required by Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1502.14(d). Under the No Action Alternative, current management plans would continue to guide management of the project area. The Buford / New Castle motorized trail and summer use improvements at the West Elk Trailhead would not be implemented. Unlicensed vehicle use on the NFSR 245 would be enforced. If an unlicensed vehicle were driving on NFSR245, the minimum citation is $275.00 per machine. Alternatives Considered but eliminated from detailed study In 2010, the Rifle Ranger District proposed to construct an OHV Trailhead and information kiosk located on the Flat Tops Mountains near Hiner Springs. In anticipation of the release and subsequent implementation of the WRNF TMP and due to ongoing safety concerns, a need was identified to accommodate ATV/OHV summer use in a location that is central to ATV/OHV riding opportunities and connected route systems. Construction of the trailhead was proposed at the intersection of NFSR 245 (Buford / New Castle Road) and FR601. In November of 2011 a forest service engineer, landscape architect and recreation specialist designed an ATV/OHV trailhead to accommodate approximately 20 trucks and trailers and 10 passenger vehicles. This location was chosen due to its central location between two popular ATV/OHV areas that provides access to routes located on the Rifle, Blanco and Eagle Ranger Districts of the White River National Forest. This alternative has been dismissed from further analysis because of the lack of community support and funding needed to construct and maintain this facility. Effects and Issues to Consider The environmental assessment will address the effects of the proposed action and alternatives to the following: vegetation, wildlife, transportation and recreation. The assessment will be issuedriven and contain detail commensurate to the degree to which a resource may be affected. Issues are unresolved conflicts that arise as a result of the proposed action. At this time, the Forest Service has not identified any issues but will use information gathered from this comment period to identify issues to be addressed. Other issues raised in response to this notice of proposed action will be considered and addressed in the environmental analysis. Some issues may be addressed through modification of the proposed action, development of a new alternative, or mitigation measures. 4

Comment Process The Forest Service is combining the scoping process with the legal notice and opportunity to comment, as described in 36 CFR 215.3. The public is encouraged to provide substantive comments on this proposed action, including supporting reasons the responsible official should consider in reaching a decision (36 CFR 215.6(a)(3). Substantive comments are within the scope and specific to the project and have a direct relationship to the proposed action. Comments concerning this proposed action will be accepted for 30 calendar days following the publication of a legal notice in the Citizen Telegram. The regulations prohibit extending the length of the comment period. Written comments must be submitted via mail, fax, or in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Project Leader, Kyle Grambley c/o Glenn R. Adams, Rifle Ranger District, 0094 County Road 244, Rifle, CO 81650, FAX: (970) 625-2532. Electronic comments including Word (.doc) or PDF attachments can be submitted to https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/public/commentinput?project=27413. The name and mailing address of the person submitting electronic comments must be included. It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to submit them by the close of the comment period. Only those who submit timely comments will have eligibility to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR 215. Individuals and organizations wishing to be eligible to appeal must meet the information requirements of 36 CFR 215.6. Names and contact information submitted with comments will become part of the public record and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act. If the agency determines there are no significant impacts, that finding along with the EA and a decision notice will be published. A 45-day appeal period would be provided after release of the EA, finding of no significant impact, and decision notice. If the EA concludes there is potential for significant impacts, then an environmental impact statement will need to be prepared. Additional information regarding this action can be obtained from: Kyle Grambley, (970) 625-2371 and/or kgrambley@fs.fed.us. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or 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, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 5