OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

District: Payette National Forest, Krassel and McCall Ranger Districts, and Boise National Forest, Cascade Ranger District

Project Name: South Fork Salmon River Restoration and Access Management Plan

Responsible Official: To be determined

Project Contact: Caleb Zurstadt, Team Leader

Scoping Period: Comments requested by July 24, 2017.

Submit Comments: Via webform on the project webpage (other options listed on page 5)

Project Webpage: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51257

Project Description: The project would implement a range of actions relating to watershed rehabilitation, motorized and non-motorized access and improvements of recreation facilities within the South Fork Salmon River (SFSR) watershed (Figure 1). The actions listed below are a combination of recommendations provided to the Forest Service by the Big Creek – Yellow Pine – South Fork Salmon River collaborative group, and recommendations from the Forest Service interdisciplinary team.

Watershed improvement actions may include:

• Rehabilitation treatments would be considered on approximately 160 miles of logging roads which were abandoned in the 1960s after flooding caused severe damage to roads and Chinook salmon and steelhead habitat (Figure 2 and Figure 3). Most of the roads have been impassable to motorized travel for decades due to large water bars, landslides, and re-growth of trees and other vegetation. Some of the roadbeds have stabilized naturally over time or were treated by the Forest Service to reduce erosion, but other roadbeds continue to impair riparian function, and have accelerated rates of erosion and sediment delivery to streams. Depending on the need for rehabilitation (e.g. risk of erosion, riparian and wildlife impacts) and ability to access with heavy equipment, treatments could include removing culverts, planting trees and shrubs, de-compaction, and recontouring.

• Decommission approximately 3 miles of the Hamilton Bar road (also known as the Threemile Road) to a single track 2-wheel motorized trail (Figure 2). The road is currently open to the public for 2-wheel motorized, and non-motorized travel, and is occasionally driven with full size motor vehicles for administrative and permitted use. Decommissioning would include partial recontouring, removal of culverts, and installation of trail bridges. Abandoned cement weirs and other in stream instruments used for Forest Service research on Tailholt and Circle End Creek would be removed.

• Reduce impacts to riparian areas while accommodating public access by: o Developing a camping, parking, and visitor use site between the Secesh River confluence

and Hamilton Bar (Figure 2). Development would include barriers to define parking areas, hardening surfaces with gravel, metal fire rings, and installation of a vault toilet.

o Reducing impacts at dispersed camping sites along the lower Secesh River and South Fork Salmon River Road (Forest Road #674) by hardening surfaces, installing parking barriers, and relocating or closing sites.

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• To reduce impacts from fording, install a bridge over Loon Creek to access the Split Creek Trail (#081) (Figure 2). Establish a new, non-motorized system trail on the northeast/east side of the lake to the B-23 Dragon Bomber wreckage at the northwest end of the lake. Reduce impacts to soil and vegetation resources along the shoreline of Loon Lake and Loon Creek caused by dispersed camping activities and user-created trails by closing and rehabilitating site specific areas.

• Stabilize the South Fork Salmon River bank upstream of the Jakie Creek Bridge before the Jakie Creek trail and bridge are compromised due to the migrating river channel (Figure 3).

• Reroute sections of the 2-wheel motorized trail (Forest Trail #291) through Phoebe Meadows to avoid wet meadow crossings (Figure 3).

Motorized access actions may include:

• Determine the minimum road system needed for administrative, public, and private access under Subpart A of 36 Code of Federal Regulations 212, and if necessary, revise the travel management plan for routes open to public motorized travel under Subpart B. The regulations found at 36 Code of Federal Regulations 212 are described in more detail below.

• At their request, issue a Forest Roads and Trails Act (FRTA) easement to Valley County for the South Fork Salmon River Road (Forest Roads #474/674) from the Warm Lake Highway (Road #22)(Figure 4) north to the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River Road (Forest Road #412). The easement would give county operation and maintenance responsibilities over the road. The easement would contain an operations and maintenance plan to follow best management practices for protection of soil, aquatic, cultural, and other resources.

• Designate up to 11 miles of new All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) trail (< 50” trail width) in Little Buckhorn Creek drainage (Figure 3). Most of the new trail would use abandoned logging roads, but new trail construction off of old roadbeds would be considered where needed to connect old roadbed alignments. Resource impacts would be minimized at stream crossings by installing stream crossing structures or armoring approaches as necessary, and improved maintenance of existing trails.

• Develop a plan to repair damage of the trail (Forest Trail #096) on lower Buckhorn Creek to an appropriate level of use (i.e. ATV, 2-wheel motorized, or non-motorized) based on resource impacts, and cost (Figure 3).

• Repair the Krassel Knob Trail (Forest Trail #089) damaged by flood and improve drivability of switchbacks for motorcycles (Figure 2).

• Convert the Martin Ridge Trail (Forest Trail #301 also known as Cougar Ridge Trail) from non-motorized to a 2-wheel motorized trail (approximately 8 miles) (Figure 3). The trail is located in the Needles Recommended Wilderness Area, and was designated as a 2-wheel motorized trail prior to the 2008 Travel Management Plan, Record of Decision. To minimize resource impacts stream crossings would be improved through armoring or the installation of bridges, and where necessary, sections of trail may be rerouted.

• Reconstruct trail #076 on the old Davis Ranch Road from Elk Creek to the private property in T 20 N, R 7 E, Section 20 (known as the Willey or Davis Ranch) to pack and saddle standards and allow ATV access to private land under a special use permit. Pursue Forest Service trail

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easements or reroutes where trails cross state and private property. Stream crossings would be improved with armoring, or crossing structures as needed to reduce resource impacts.

• Construct a turnaround and parking area for the Blue Lake and Tailholt Trailhead (Forest Trail #294) at end of the Zena Creek Road (Forest Road #361).

The project description is designed to meet the project’s purpose and need. It represents the Forest Service’s proposal prior to detailed analysis of the environmental effects. It is possible that the agency’s preferred alternative would include some but not all of these actions and that some actions may be considered in various alternatives in the environmental assessment.

Purpose and Need for the Project:

There are five areas within the project area that are within the Payette National Forest Plan Management Prescription Category (MPC) 3.2 - Active Restoration and Maintenance of Aquatic, Terrestrial, and Hydrologic Resources. There is a need to improve soil and riparian productivity, and reduce the potential for accelerated sediment delivery through rehabilitation of abandoned logging roads and management of dispersed campsites. The SFSR and tributaries within the project area provide habitat for Snake River summer Chinook salmon, Snake River summer steelhead, Columbia River bull trout, and westslope cutthroat trout. There is a need to maintain, or improve where degraded, habitat for Endangered Species Act listed fish species and sensitive species.

Based on current and projected use there is a need to provide facilities for camping and parking, near the confluence of the Secesh River and SFSR, and other dispersed sites, while maintaining or improving watershed condition, protecting cultural resources, as well as, maintaining or improving the qualities that make both rivers suitable for Wild and Scenic designation.

In 2005, the “Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use Final Rule” (2005 Travel Rule) directed the Forest Service to conduct travel planning with two of the main components being what the Minimum Road System (MRS) should be (Subpart A) and what routes are open for public use (Subpart B) (36 Code of Federal Regulations 212 subparts A and B). In 2008, subpart B was completed for the Payette National Forest with the Environmental Impact Statement, and Record of Decision for the snow free season Travel Management Plan on the Krassel and McCall Ranger Districts. Subpart A was not completed at that time. A lawsuit against the travel plan decision for the Krassel and McCall Ranger District was filed and a judge later determined the Forest Service cumulative effects analyses failed to include unauthorized roads as part of the baseline condition. As part of a settlement of the law suit, the Forest Service agreed to complete a new analysis and decision for travel management (i.e. subpart B) in Management Area 12, which will consider system and unauthorized routes. Given subpart A was not previously completed, there is also a need to identify the MRS needed for safe and efficient travel, administration of National Forest System lands, and access to private property or reserved or outstanding rights.

The SFSR Road is one of four roads that provide access during the snow free months to the town of Yellow Pine (Figure 1) and other private inholdings. During the winter, the SFSR Road provides the only wheeled vehicle access to Yellow Pine. Currently, under a road use agreement, Valley County plows snow and otherwise keeps the SFSR Road open during the winter, which provides for vehicle access to

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the town of Yellow Pine. Valley County has requested a FRTA easement for the SFSR Road on the Boise and Payette National Forests. In addition, the Forest Service Manual (Forest Service Manual (FSM) 7703.3) states that “Wherever possible, transfer jurisdiction over any National Forest System (NFS) road and associated forest transportation facilities (FSM 7705) to the appropriate public road authority when the road meets any of the following criteria: a) More than half the traffic on the road is not related to administration and use of NFS lands. b) The road is necessary for mail, school, or other essential local governmental purposes. c) The road serves yearlong residents within or adjacent to NFS lands.” In the case of the SFSR Road criteria b) and c) clearly apply, and criteria a) likely applies during the winter months.

The Fritser Ranch and the Davis Ranch are private inholdings within the Secesh Inventoried Roadless Area, and Secesh Recommended Wilderness, along the SFSR between the confluence of the Secesh River and Elk Creek (Figure 2). Prior to severe flood damage in 1997 the Davis Ranch Road provided high clearance vehicle access to the private property. Currently Forest Trail #076, which follows the old roadbed, is designated as 2-wheel motorized but is closed under special order to all but foot travel due to extensive damage and safety concerns. Private land owners have requested reasonable access to their private property beyond the 2-wheel motorized (via Forest Trail #077) and non-motorized trail access that currently exists. Relevant to the Davis Ranch Road, Management Area 12, Objective 1236 states “Rehabilitate, decommission, or stabilize Forest Trail #076 (Davis Ranch Road) in the Jeanot-Rock sub-watershed to reduce accelerated erosion and sedimentation.”

Payette National Forest Plan Management Area 12, Objective 1250 is to “provide designated routes for motorized (ATV and motorcycle) use and emphasize loop opportunities. Provide for non-motorized uses as well, and consider separation of uses where user experience could be enhanced. Focus trail management and maintenance on improving the user’s experience and correcting resource damage.” In June of 2010, a rain event caused flooding in Buckhorn Creek and eroded away several sections of road fill, making the ATV trail (Forest Trail #382) impassable. The Payette National Forest has maintained and rebuilt a single track trail in its current alignment multiple times to maintain trail access along the washed out portions. There is a need to assess the feasibility of maintaining trail access in a location with highly unstable slopes. In addition, there is potential to increase ATV trail opportunities using old logging roads in the Little Buckhorn Creek drainage.

Project Area: Boise and Payette National Forest System lands located in Valley County, within the middle and lower South Fork Salmon River in Forest Plan Management Area 12 as shown on the attached map (Figure 1). The project area is approximately 12 air miles east of McCall, Idaho, and falls within T. 2 N, south to T. 15 N, and R. 4 E east to R. 8 E.

Environmental Assessment Process:

This project is being analyzed in an environmental assessment prepared in compliance with Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 218 (36 CFR 218) and there are three opportunities for public review and comment:

1) The first opportunity is this 30 day public scoping period in June/July 2017 at the beginning of the process and before preparation of the Environmental Assessment document. Comments

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received during this scoping phase are used to refine the proposed action, develop alternatives, and identify issues for analysis.

2) The second opportunity is during the 30 day public review and comment period for the Environmental Assessment document, expected in spring 2018. Comments received during the environmental assessment review phase are useful in identifying issues or data that we didn’t consider in our analysis.

3) The last opportunity is during the 45 day objection period for the revised Enviornmental Assessment document and the draft Decision Notice, expected in early 2019. Comments filed during this period will be evaluated to determine if they meet the legal requirements for an objection under 36 CFR 218, Subpart A and B. Objections must be filed within the 45 day period according to the directions of the legal notice and objectors must have previously commented on the same issue during one of the previous two comment periods in order to have standing for objection.

How to Engage in the Public Process

To assist the Forest Service in meeting its goals of reducing our carbon footprint and to achieve a sustainable operation, we are now using a web-based electronic comment system that allows all interested parties to receive project materials (scoping documents, updates, draft and final National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA] documents, and decisions) by e-mail. This new system gives you direct control over which mailing lists you are subscribed to and immediate electronic access to project documents as they are posted online. It's easy, it's good for the environment, and it gives "on-demand" access to projects.

To subscribe to this new system, go online to the project website listed above. On the project website, you will see a box titled "Get Connected" on the right hand side of the page. Click on "Subscribe to Email Updates." When you click on that item, you will be prompted to provide your e-mail address and select a password in the GovDelivery program. When you have logged in, you will be able to manage your account by subscribing to projects by Forest, District, project type, or project purpose. You will also be able to change your e-mail address and password. If you no longer wish to follow the project(s), simply delete your subscription. Once you are subscribed, you will receive all project information via e-mail, unless you request hard copies.

To submit comments using the web form select "Comment or Object on Project" under "Get Connected" on the right panel of the project website. The comment portal is only open during public comment or objection filing periods. This is the preferred method to submit comments. Written comments may also be submitted to: Krassel Ranger District, C/O Caleb Zurstadt, 500 North Mission Street, McCall, ID. 83638. Fax (208) 634-0634. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are: 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Comments may also be submitted electronically via email to comments-intermtn-payette-krassel@fs.fed.us.

For objection eligibility each individual or representative from each entity submitting timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request. Only those who subscribe to the GovDelivery mailing list or submit comments will receive future correspondence on this project. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, without an associated name and address, receiving further correspondences concerning these projects will not be possible and those individuals will not have standing for objection.

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Figure 1. Project vicinity map

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Figure 2. Northern portion of project area

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Figure 3. Southern portion of project area

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Figure 4. Valley County FRTA road easement proposal.