rim lakes recreation improvements projecta123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic... ·...

United States Department of Agriculture

Rim Lakes Recreation Improvements Project Environmental Assessment Black Mesa Ranger District, Apache Sitgreaves National Forests, Coconino County, AZ

U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region August 2016

This EA is a summary document containing the relevant conclusions the Responsible Official needs in order to make an informed decision. Supporting documentation (maps, data, detailed specialist reports, etc.) is on file in a project record at the Black Mesa Ranger District Office in Heber-Overgaard, Arizona. This EA includes summarized information based on analyses from specialist reports for each resource. In some situations, the EA presents the information in a slightly different manner. In these situations, the EA was the instrument used to inform the decision-making process, although specialist reports are still important reference sources for information analysis for this project. This is based on the Council for Environmental Quality’s NEPA regulations (Section 1508.9), which identifies an Environmental Assessment as a “concise public document” to include “brief discussions” of the proposal, alternatives, environmental impacts of the alternatives, and a listing of agencies and persons consulted.

Maps Disclaimer Statement: The USDA Forest Service uses the most current and complete data available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. Using GIS products for purposes other than those for which they were intended may yield inaccurate or misleading results. The USDA Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update, modify, or replace GIS products without notification. Maps in this document are not legal landline or ownership document maps. Public lands are subject to change and leasing, and may have access restrictions; check with local offices. Information displayed on maps came from the United States Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

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, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, status as a parent (in education and training programs and activities), because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or retaliation. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) If you require this information in alternative format (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice or TDD). If you require information about this program, activity, or facility in a language other than English, contact the agency office responsible for the program or activity, or any USDA office. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call Toll free, (866) 632-9992 (Voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Rim Lakes Recreation Improvements Project Environmental Assessment

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Table of Contents Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................4 Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................5

Proposed Action Overview ..........................................................................................................5 Project Location ...........................................................................................................................5 Purpose and Need for the Project .................................................................................................7 Public and Agency Involvement ..................................................................................................8 Tribal Consultation .......................................................................................................................9 Issues ............................................................................................................................................9 Applicable Laws ...........................................................................................................................9

Chapter 2: Description of the Proposed Action .........................................................................10 Details of Proposed Action Activities ........................................................................................15 Woods Canyon Lake Recreation Area .......................................................................................15 Willow Springs Lake Recreation Area .......................................................................................16

Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...................................18 Transportation ............................................................................................................................18 Recreation and Trails .................................................................................................................25 Vegetation and Fuels ..................................................................................................................30 Wildlife: Terrestrial and Aquatic ...............................................................................................31 Watershed Resources .................................................................................................................41 Cultural Resources .....................................................................................................................42

References .....................................................................................................................................45 Appendix A: Design Criteria.......................................................................................................47 Appendix B: Cumulative Effects Analysis List .........................................................................51

List of Tables Table 1. Current road system ........................................................................................................ 18 Table 2: Analysis and determination of effects of the project on threatened, endangered, and proposed species ........................................................................................................................... 34 Table 3. Analysis of effects and determination of impacts for sensitive species .......................... 36 Table 4. Summary of migratory birds considered in this analysis ................................................ 40

List of Figures Figure 1: Project area map .............................................................................................................. 6 Figure 2. Damage and patching on NFSR 105 ............................................................................... 7 Figure 3. Full parking at Woods Canyon Lake (6/6/14) ................................................................. 8 Figure 4. Woods Canyon Lake recreation area proposed activities including all of NFSR 105... 12 Figure 5. Woods Canyon Lake recreation area proposed activities around the lake .................... 13 Figure 6. Willow Springs Lake recreation area proposed activities ............................................. 14 Figure 7. Existing boat ramp ......................................................................................................... 16 Figure 8. Existing parking with one-way lane on back right ........................................................ 17


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Figure 9. Existing boat ramp ......................................................................................................... 17 Figure 10. NFSR 105 Chip seal depth .......................................................................................... 19 Figure 11. NFSR 105 Cracking and Potholing ............................................................................. 20 Figure 12. NFSR 105 Pothole ....................................................................................................... 20 Figure 13. Upper Parking Lot Pull-Through, Woods Canyon Lake ............................................. 21 Figure 14. Spillway Campground site damage ............................................................................. 22 Figure 15. NFSR 105 asphalt patching and crack sealing ............................................................ 23 Figure 16: Willow Springs Lake available parking filled to capacity .......................................... 26 Figure 17: Location of wildlife resources in the vicinity of the Rim Lakes Recreation Improvements Project on the Black Mesa Ranger District ........................................................... 33

Acronyms ABA – Architectural Barriers Act

CFR – Code of Federal Regulations

FSORAG – Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines

GIS – Geographical Information System

NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act

NFSR – National Forest Service Road

NHPA – National Historic Preservation Act

USFS – United States Forest Service


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Chapter 1: Introduction Proposed Action Overview The Black Mesa Ranger District, U.S. Forest Service, is proposing the Rim Lakes Recreation Improvements project to improve recreational access, parking lots and boat ramp capacity, user experience, and the transportation infrastructure at the Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes recreation areas. Proposed activities include reconstructing, widening, and adding turning lanes on the existing roads with an emphasis on National Forest System Road (NFSR) 105; enlarging and resurfacing existing parking lots; constructing overflow parking lots; reconstructing and expanding lanes on the Willow Springs boat ramp; constructing an accessible trail to connect to a new fishing pier; and adding more day-use picnic facilities. All actions are proposed to improve public safety by establishing redesigned roads and facilities to accommodate existing and foreseeable vehicle types and volume, reduce maintenance costs, and reduce traffic congestion occurring from the high volume of recreational users.

Project Location The Rim Lakes Recreation Improvements project area lies adjacent to the Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes and is approximately 25 miles west of the communities of Heber-Overgaard, in Coconino County, and within the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (see figure 1). The Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes are two of the most popular and most used recreation areas on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. They provide opportunities for camping, fishing, boating, picnicking, and other recreational use to the local communities as well as the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Both areas include a mix of parking lots for day-use, boat trailers, and mixed-use parking. Both areas have boat ramps, developed picnic areas, and developed campgrounds and are in close proximity to dispersed camping. The Woods Canyon Lake area includes a permitted use convenience store.

The legal description of the project location for the Willow Springs Lake recreation area is sections 29 and 30, Township (T) 11 North (N), Range (R) 14 East (E), and for the Woods Canyon Lake recreation area is sections 13, 14, 23, 24, and 26, T11N, R13E, Gila and Salt River Meridian


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Figure 1: Project area map


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Purpose and Need for the Project Roads (particularly NFSR 105) and parking areas in the project area around both lakes were designed and constructed over 40 years ago. They are beyond their life expectancy and composed of a thin pavement surface with no roadbed base material underneath resulting in failing of the asphalt surface including potholes, cracks, and erosion (see figure 2).

Figure 2. Damage and patching on NFSR 105

Traffic and parking congestion occurs from the increase in visitors, limited parking spaces, narrow road widths, inadequate turning radii for large vehicles on existing roads and parking lots, and the poor location of the Aspen campground entrance next to the Woods Canyon Lake parking lot entrance. One-lane boat ramps at both lakes limit boating access, resulting in long waits for users to launch boats, and fishing is often crowded along the shoreline of both lakes near the parking areas. Accessible trails or walkways are inadequate for lake access for people with disabilities, and users needing picnic sites exceeds capacity on high-use days. These conditions lead to minor accidents, frustrated users, drivers of larger vehicles driving and parking on curbs and road shoulders, and public use of unauthorized areas for recreation.


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Figure 3. Full parking at Woods Canyon Lake (6/6/14)

The Forest Service needs the existing roads and parking areas in the project area in conditions that will accommodate current and future vehicle types, minimize maintenance requirements, provide for safe passage, and lessen traffic congestion. The agency needs increased parking areas that will accommodate existing and future increases in the volume of vehicles and recreational users at both lakes, access to the Aspen Campground that does not constrict traffic flow, and boat access at both lakes that will allow boaters to launch their boats with minimized wait time. We need accessible trails or walkways to the lakes and picnic sites that will meet user needs and accommodate the volume of users needing picnic sites on high-use days.

Moving the project area toward these desired conditions would improve public safety and reduce the high maintenance costs required for dilapidated roads and parking lots. These conditions would also improve recreational access, capacity, and experiences for the variety and high numbers of both current and expected future users.

Public and Agency Involvement The Rim Lakes Recreation Improvements Project was listed in the Schedule of Proposed Actions in July of 2016, and published quarterly thereafter with updated dates, and has been listed on the ASNFs project web page since July of 2016. As part of the public involvement process, the ASNF sent a letter dated July 20, 2016, to agencies and any possibly interested organizations and individuals notifying them of the proposal. This letter provided an overview of the proposed action and notice of opportunity to comment during a combined scoping and comment period. The letter referenced upcoming publication of a legal notice in the White Mountain Independent Newspaper for initiation of the comment period. The legal notice was published in the Navajo and Apache County editions of the paper on July 29, 2016. The published legal notice included a brief description of the proposed action and information on how to comment. The scoping and comment period extended 30-calendar days closing on August 29, 2016 (31 calendar days to


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close on a Federal work day as required by 36 CFR 218). Only two individuals sent comments on the project. Both comments were supportive, and one offered some suggestions on general management of the trails on the district, which are comments outside the scope of this specific project. All documentation associated with these public outreach efforts is included in the project record available at the Black Mesa Ranger District Office.

Tribal Consultation Tribal consultation letters were sent on July 27, 2016 to the following tribes to determine if any had concerns about the project: the Pueblo of Acoma, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Hualapai Tribe, the Navajo Nation, the Pueblo of Zuni, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Tonto Apache Tribe, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Yavapai-Apache Nation, and the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe. The Hopi responded by letter on August 2, 2016 and the San Carlos Apache by letter on September 9, 2016, in agreement of the determination that the project would not affect any cultural properties significant to the Tribe and a determination that no further consultation was needed. The White Mountain Apache Tribe responded in a letter dated October 14, 2016, agreeing that the project would not affect any cultural properties but requested a monitor be present as outlined in the project for implementation of project activities.

Documentation of tribal consultation is available in the project record located at the Black Mesa Ranger District Office or in tribal consultation files at the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Forest Supervisors Office.

The Forest consulted with SHPO on the project, including a short meeting, to resolve any concerns with the project, and received concurrence from SHPO on November 21, 2016, with an IS&A clearance fully complete with all necessary signatures on November 22, 2016.

Issues Since comments were only supportive with one outside the scope of the project providing general suggestions for trail management, no issues were identified for this project.

Applicable Laws The table below identifies several of the most pertinent laws, regulations, and policy considered for this project and that this project adheres to.

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• Endangered Species Act

• National Forest Management Act

• National Historic Preservation Act

• Archaeological Resources Protection Act


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• American Indian Freedom Act

• American Antiquities Act

• Floodplains and Wetlands EO

• Invasive Species EO

Forest Plan Consistency Management direction is found within the Managed Recreation section of the Land Management Plan for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (A-S LMP), 2015. Desired conditions under the A-S LMP for managed recreation include providing sustainable recreation opportunities through accessible and maintainable recreation infrastructure and lowering the overall deferred maintenance of our roads, facilities, and other recreation constructed features. The management direction, as it relates to the proposed project, stems from increasing visitor use from high density populated urban areas and communities, and decreasing maintenance budgets tied to maintaining all existing and future recreation infrastructure. This analysis was developed in coordination and consistency with the A-S LMP.

Chapter 2: Description of the Proposed Action Under the proposed action, we propose the following activities:

Woods Canyon Lake Recreation Area:

• Widen and reconstruct existing roads and parking areas Roads: NFSR’s 105, 105E, 105F, 105G, and 105N

Parking Areas: the Lower Woods Canyon Lake parking lot (an extension of NFSR 105), the Rocky Point Picnic Area parking area (along NFSR 105E and NFSR 105F) the Upper Woods Canyon Lake parking lot (NFSR 105G), and the Spillway Campground campsite parking spots (along loop of NFSR 105N)

• Construct a new overflow parking lot

• Relocate the Aspen Campground entrance to its prior location

• Delineate two lanes on the boat ramp

See figures 4 and 5 for locations of these areas/proposed activities.

Willow Springs Lake Recreation Area:

• Widen and reconstruct existing parking areas Parking areas: Willow Springs Lake day-use parking lot, Willow Springs Lake east mixed-

use parking lot, and Willow Springs Lake west mixed-use parking lot

• Construct a new aggregate overflow mixed-use parking lot


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• Reconstruct and expand the Willow Springs Lake boat ramp

• Construct a new fishing pier

• Construct an accessible trail/ walkway

• Install/construct additional picnic facilities

See figure 6 for locations of these areas/proposed activities.


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Figure 4. Woods Canyon Lake recreation area proposed activities including all of NFSR 105


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Figure 5. Woods Canyon Lake recreation area proposed activities around the lake


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Figure 6. Willow Springs Lake recreation area proposed activities


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Details of Proposed Action Activities For most or all of the proposed action activities we would

• Widen, construct, or reconstruct infrastructure using heavy machinery such as graders, excavators, backhoes, dump trucks, and other equipment

• Pulverize asphaltic or concrete surfaces using milling machines

• Remove rock by hammering with heavy equipment and applicable attachments, and/or blasting

• Remove select trees and brush with feller bunchers, skidders, sawyers, and other mechanical equipment including removing trees with root exposure caused by past activities, erosion, or new construction along slopes, drainages, and lead off ditches

• Construct ditches, culverts, low water crossings, retaining walls, and other necessary drainage features

Design criteria and the proposed actions to which they apply are included at the end of the document.

Woods Canyon Lake Recreation Area At specific locations, as shown on figures 4 and 5, and described below, we propose to

Widen and Reconstruct Existing Roads and Parking Areas: Pulverize existing asphaltic surfaces in place on the existing identified roads and parking areas. Remove curbed islands within parking lots. Reshape and regrade the area after the section of roadway or parking area is cleared to accommodate a new road template. Construct the new roadbed with select borrow and/or pulverized material (6 inch to 2 feet depth) for the subbase and crushed aggregate material (4 inch to 8 inch depth) for the base, hauled in with dump trucks and/ or belly dumps. After completion of the base course, final surfacing would consist of either aggregate or asphalt.

After completion of the surface course, add striping on asphalt surfaced roads and parking areas for road centerlines, shoulders, turn lanes, and delineation of parking spaces. In some circumstances, bumper stops would be used in the parking spaces. Aggregate surfaced overflow parking lot spaces may be delineated with paint, reapplied annually or as needed, with fire hose, or not delineated. All parking lots would have the appropriate number of accessible spaces based on the total amount of parking spaces and may have pull through parking for larger vehicles where beneficial. Other road alignment activities include adding and delineating turn lanes into Aspen Campground, Spillway Campground, and the RV dump station and straightening the section of road that turns sharply into the lower parking lot.

Construct a New Overflow Parking Lot: Construct a new overflow parking lot at the maintenance yard by removing trees from up to two acres and expanding the current graveled and native material area. The lot would provide approximately 90 new parking spaces, with a majority of single vehicle parking and some RV and boat and trailer parking. Reconstruct the


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entrance road by pulverizing the current one and replacing it with either an asphalt or graveled surface.

Relocate the Aspen Campground Entrance: Construct a new entrance into Aspen Campground and close the existing entrance. Relocate the concessionaire building, extend water and electrical utilities to the new entrance, and add new host campsites to the new entrance. Convert the existing host sites to additional campsites and relocate the dumpsters to a place near the new entrance.

Delineate Two Lanes on the Boat Ramp: Delineate two lanes on the existing boat ramp by placing a new boat dock in the middle of the ramp that extends out into the lake. The boat dock would operate via a pulley and cable system, allowing the dock to roll in and out of the water.

Figure 7. Existing boat ramp

Timeframes: Reconstruction activities on roads, parking lots and other areas would focus on off-season use, weather permitting. Reconstruction of the roads and parking areas would occur in phases beginning with NFSR 105. Annual funding allocations and the severity of current damage to roads and parking areas would be used in determining priority of where the work would begin following reconstruction of NFSR 105.

Willow Springs Lake Recreation Area At specific locations, as shown on figure 6 and described below, we propose to

Widen and Reconstruct Existing Parking Areas: Complete the same actions for reconstruction and widening of parking areas in the Willow Springs Lake Recreation Area as described for the Woods Canyon Lake parking areas (see Widen and Reconstruct Existing Roads and Parking Areas under the Woods Canyon Lake Recreation Area section). For the Willow Springs Lake east mixed-use parking lot, expand the existing parking lot directly west of the ramp, changing the one-way single lane to two lanes (see figure 10 below), providing one lane for preparing to


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launch boats and another to allow traffic to pull through past vehicles waiting to launch boats to exit the area.

Figure 8. Existing parking with one-way lane on back right

Construct a New Overflow Parking Lot: Complete the same actions as outlined for the Woods Canyon Lake overflow parking lot to construct a new overflow parking lot in the area directly north of the west mixed-use parking lot and construct one or two entry and exit points. The lot would provide approximately 90 new parking spaces, with a combination of single vehicle, RV, and boat and trailer parking.

Figure 9. Existing boat ramp

Reconstruct and Expand the Willow Springs Lake Boat Ramp: Reconstruct and expand the existing boat ramp, with high strength concrete and delineate two lanes on the boat dock similar to delineation on the Woods Canyon Lake boat ramp. Install a canoe/kayak launch area adjacent to the boat ramp, on a stabilizing surface such as a geo-grid material. A full or partial closure of the east mixed-use parking area may be needed during some construction activities.

Install a New Fishing Pier: Install a new accessible fishing pier.

Construct an Accessible Path: Construct accessible paths consisting of either concrete, asphalt, or graveled surfacing to connect the east mixed-use parking lot, the day-use parking lot, and the


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new fishing pier. The trail would connect to an existing trail that begins at the east-mixed use parking lot and an existing path that joins the day-use parking lot area.

Construct Additional Picnic Sites: Construct three to seven picnic sites near the day-use parking lot, installing features such as tables, grills, and pavilions.

Timeframes: Implementation of reconstruction activities on roads, parking lots and other areas would be focused to off-season use times, weather permitting. Implementation of other activities would be completed in phases. Activities to be implemented would be prioritized based on funding allocations and safety needs.

Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Transportation

Affected Environment

Road Conditions The Rim Lakes Recreation Area, specifically Willow Springs and Woods Canyon lakes, contains an aging transportation infrastructure (constructed over 40 years ago) with design, drainage, and structural deficiencies that don’t meet current recreation, timber, and administrative vehicle loading and vehicle types and volume needs. The following table identifies the current roads in the proposed project area and provides a short summary of their conditions.

Table 1. Current road system

Area Road Alt. Description Designation

Miles Condition

Woods Canyon Lake Recreation Area

NFSR 105 Woods Canyon Lake ML4 1

1.59 Deteriorating and

needs improvements; Congested

NFSR 105E Rocky Point Picnic Area 0.49 NFSR 105F Rocky Point Picnic Area 0.04 NFSR 105G Upper Parking Lot (Store) 0.16 NFSR 105N Spillway CG 0.67

Willow Springs Lake Recreation Area

NFSR 149 Willow Springs Lake ML4 1 1.17 Congested NFSR 149B Day Use Area 0.25

1. ML4 roads provide a moderate degree of user comfort and convenience at moderate travel speeds. Most roads are double lane and aggregate surfaced. However, some roads may be single lane. Some roads may be paved and/or dust abated. The MUTCD applies to ML4 roads. This class of roads is open only to highway legal vehicles.


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Road Material NFSR 105, and other asphalt roads and parking lots consist of asphalt chip seal material of little depth rather than a full depth asphalt surface with roadbed base material underneath. Figure 1 below shows a pavement surface with a depth of less than 1 inch on the NSFR 105, while other roads vary from 1 inch to 1-1/2 inches in depth. This type and depth of surfacing is typically reserved for temporary applications in areas with low vehicle volume and loading or for pavement preservation surface treatment to full depth asphalt surfaces and parking lots rather than roads and parking lots that have high vehicle volumes and use like the project area. Full depth asphalt, 3 to 4 inches in depth with a 6- to 8-inch aggregate base, would be typical for the soil types and high vehicle volume and loading occurring in the project area.

Figure 10. NFSR 105 Chip seal depth

The inadequate type and depth of surfacing and the age of the pavement beyond its short-term life expectancy combined with high traffic loading has led to roadway failures such as cracking, potholing, and shoulder deterioration, which is continually worsening.

Drainage Features Inadequate drainage further adds to the aging infrastructure’s deterioration and roadway failures. Currently, roads and parking lots have very few established drainage areas and are not slanted to allow for proper drainage. In many areas the roads have failed due to water saturation below the road surface. Once asphalt cracking and deterioration begins, water begins to seep into the asphaltic surfaces, especially where road grades are less than 4%, as is the case across much of the project area. The sheer number of cracks and potholes existing on the roadways (see figures below) are a clear indication of water infiltration occurring during the wet monsoon season and winter snowmelt period.


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Figure 11. NFSR 105 Cracking and Potholing

Figure 12. NFSR 105 Pothole

The figures above show a small representative sample of the some of the many infrastructure damages because from moisture seepage after a road section has failed. The size of potholes on roads and parking lots in the project area ranges from 6 inches to as large as 3 to 4 feet in diameter, with 1 to 84-inch depths.

Geometric Design The geometric designs for the roads, roadways, parking areas, and campsites in the project area are currently inadequate for today’s vehicle volume and loading and the types of vehicles used in the area. Roads across the project area consist of two narrow lanes with no shoulders and no left-turn lanes for turning onto other roads or into areas like campgrounds. The Aspen campground entrance that is accessed by a left turn is poorly placed in close approximation to the narrow two-lane entrance/exit of the Woods Canyon Lake parking areas. Turning on roadways in parking lots is also insufficient for the types of vehicles in the area. A center turning radius of at least 46 feet


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is required for a motor home pulling a boat trailer. Since the project area adjoins two lakes with boat ramp access, boat trailers in the area are very common and needed by recreational users.

At the lower and upper parking lots at Woods Canyon Lake, the existing turning radii do not meet current AASHTO standards, causing vehicles who enter the area to “jump” the curb, driving off the pavement and onto the curb (see the figure below). Note the tire wear marks on the inside of the curb in the figure below, and the complete absence of a curb to the right of the radius—the outer curb was removed to allow vehicles the use of the shoulder to make the tight turns as the current turning radius is insufficient.

During heavy volumes of vehicles traffic jams occur on the roadways, and cause through-traffic to stop and clutter the parking and pedestrian areas (see figure 5 below). Note the tire wear marks on the inside curb, and the complete curb absence to the right of the radius. At Willow Springs Lake, the pull-through lane at the boat ramp is undersized for a two-lane road, meant to allow pull-through traffic to continue and allow a make-ready lane for boats.

Figure 13. Upper Parking Lot Pull-Through, Woods Canyon Lake

At Willow Springs Lake, the narrow exit lane from the parking area is also the only access lane to the public boat ramp. Similar roadway width issues occur in campground loops, specifically Spillway Campground.

Parking space sizes are also insufficient. Vehicles pulling trailers, and large trucks have to park partly off the designated footprint pavement in “back-in” and “pull-through” campsites because of a lack of adequate space. Parking off the pavement results in further damage to the pavement (see the figure below). Many of the sites even lack defined parking areas.

In parking lots, curbed islands of vegetation reduce parking space and make driving navigation around the parking areas difficult. Currently, no pull-through parking spaces for larger vehicles,


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such as trucks with boat trailers, exist in any of the parking lots. All parking spaces must be backed into or backed out of.

Figure 14. Spillway Campground site damage

Traffic Traffic jams are common throughout the project area. Left turns on roads temporarily halt traffic as drivers have no left turn lanes to pull into to turn from and must simply stop in their lane of traffic. Traffic tends to jam often near the Aspen campground entrance where vehicles wait to turn left between flow of traffic of vehicles exiting the nearby Woods Canyon Lake parking areas. Flow of traffic is also slowed greatly by vehicles trying to drive carefully over damaged roads full of potholes and cracking and by drivers trying to navigate areas lacking sufficient turning radii or trying to maneuver around curbed islands in parking lots. Large vehicles such as trucks pulling boat trailers have to back into or out of parking spaces temporarily halting traffic flow. Drivers backing boat trailers onto the boat ramp at Willow Springs Lake blocks traffic flow on the only exit out of the parking area. Other drivers on that exit lane wait in line to back their boat trailer into the one-lane boat ramp further jamming traffic on the one-lane exit out of that area.

Maintenance Costs Prior to the opening of the recreation area, the A-S spent upwards of $20,000 in initial pothole patching and minor repairs for “pre-season” maintenance of the Rim Lakes Recreation Area, specifically on NFSR 105. While repair work in the area is typically done prior to the recreation season opening to the public, in recent years, emergency asphalt pothole patching has taken place during the season due to the continuous and expedited deterioration of the asphalt roadways. Some areas even show a newer asphalt repair adjacent to an older patch, followed up with a newly formed asphalt failure (see the figure below). The need for these continual repairs on roads and parking areas that are deteriorating at an accelerating rate is resulting in maintenance costs that continue to grow.


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Figure 15. NFSR 105 asphalt patching and crack sealing

Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action

Direct and Indirect Effects

Road Conditions Road reconstruction activities and design criteria (in Appendix B) would bring deteriorating roads up to designated maintenance level standards (ML-4) and would meet the needs for current and future vehicle types and traffic volumes and loading. Reconstruction activities would provide for smooth road surfaces and improve drainage, helping to reduce erosion, sedimentation, and other impacts that can occur to resources.

Road Material A full depth asphalt surface with roadbed base material underneath would provide the type and depth of surfacing needed for such a high use area and would reduce persistent roadway failures for the long term. This type and depth of surfacing would more easily maintained and is designed for higher vehicle volume and loading.

Drainage Features The proposed action and resulting construction of drainage features would alleviate localized roadway and parking lot flooding. The features would direct runoff and snowmelt off pavement and aggregate surfaces, and protect existing and new infrastructure from erosion.

Geometric Design Road widening activities would increase both horizontal and vertical sight distances where current transportation design codes are not being met. Cleaning obstructions, trees, and brush in close proximately to the roadway edges would also increase sight distances. Adding a properly designed shoulder to roads where feasible would increase traffic safety. Designing roads to the


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proper grades and slopes will shed runoff away from the roadway area and into constructed drainage features.

Traffic Traffic volume would increase temporarily in localized areas within the project area due to the implementation of roads and parking areas reconstruction. However, the volume of traffic required to implement the proposed action is expected to be minor since construction activities would be phased as funding becomes available with only some parts of the project area closed at any one time. This traffic would include construction worker commuting trips and trips for the delivery and removal of construction-related materials and equipment. The existing road system in the project area would provide access for the reconstruction and improvement activities. Some temporary closures would be implemented with one-lane only access provided to the recreation sites at the two lakes when reconstruction of the roads and parking areas begins. Construction activities may be constrained to specific days and times and would be focused outside of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend—the higher recreation use time—to minimize the possibility of major issues of traffic congestion, vehicle queues, or long delays.

Once reconstruction of an area is completed, traffic flow through that area would be greatly improved. Left turn lanes would allow vehicles to turn left without halting traffic flow. Relocation of the Aspen campground entrance would help reduce the amount of traffic around the entrance/exit of the Woods Canyon Lake parking areas. Improved roads without damage of potholes and cracking would allow drivers to travel more quickly and efficiently through the area. Sufficient turning radii would allow larger vehicles to navigate around curves more efficiently, and parking lots without curbed islands built in would allow more needed space for vehicles to maneuver through the parking lot. Pull through lanes for larger vehicles would allow larger vehicles to pull forward into and out of parking lanes moving faster out of and into the flow of traffic than those having to back out. Two lanes next to the Willow Springs Lake boat ramp would allow those with boat trailers to wait in line to launch their boats without stopping traffic as vehicles could pass by in the other lane to exit the area. Two lanes on boat ramps would also allow vehicles with boat trailers to move more efficiently into and out of the lanes and reduce any traffic jams of vehicles waiting to launch boats.

Maintenance Costs Costs for maintenance on the newly paved roads and parking lots would be greatly reduced once the new pavement is in place. Maintenance costs for repair materials would be reduced as a more appropriate road material with a road base would last longer without incurring damage as easily. Labor costs to repair roads would also be correspondingly reduced.


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Cumulative Effects

Past Actions No known past projects on or adjacent to the project area would combine with project effects to contribute to any cumulative effects on transportation resources.

On-going Present Actions Ongoing transportation infrastructure maintenance and minor repairs would continue on an annual and as-needed basis until the proposed action is fully implemented. These activities, such as pothole patching, and crack sealing, and surface treaments may cause minor traffic reroutes to single lane only designations. Efforts are made to schedule maintenance during lower use days at the recreation areas, with proper signing. The public and the concessionaire and storeowner at Woods Canyon Lake are generally made aware of ongoing maintenance activities on a regular basis.

Future Actions The proposed action would contribute incrementally to temporary and localized increases in traffic and to roadway wear and tear caused by increased traffic volumes, including trucks, equipment, and other vehicles in areas where there may be incremental increases from other nearby projects. However, these increases are likely to occur on roads, which are already improved, or planned to be improved, as part of the phased construction activities.

Recreation and Trails

Affected Environment The Rim Lakes Recreation Area is classified as a High Use Developed Recreation Area in the Land Management Plan for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. The area provides a wide variety of opportunities to a broad spectrum of visitors. The area accommodates a large number of people and provides a variety of recreation opportunities that allow visitors to “relax and escape the heat” including developed camping, hiking, bicycling, fishing, boating, lake canoeing and kayaking, paddle boarding, wildlife viewing, large group gathering, and picnicking. Interaction among visitors is high. The area is designated as suitable for mechanized travel and non-motorized travel.

The area is not suitable for energy corridors, other energy development, or new designated motorized areas. Existing Forest Orders make the analysis area unsuitable for motorized trails.

Existing utilities in the analysis area consist of Arizona Public Service overhead and underground powerlines and the Woods Canyon area potable water and waste water systems, which consist of underground water lines in the Woods Canyon Recreation Area.


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Access When the Woods Canyon Lake and Willow Springs Lake recreation areas were originally developed, roads from Arizona’s metropolitan areas, such as Phoenix, were narrow, winding, and mainly gravel or dirt surfaced. A trip to the Rim country in the early 1960s was not considered a “day trip.” When NFSR 105, Woods Canyon Lake, and Willow Springs Lake infrastructure was last improved, the roads from metropolitan Phoenix, although paved, remained narrow, curvy, two-lane roads that still limited access to the area. State highway improvements of widening and straightening of the route over the past two decades now provide relatively quick, easy access to the Rim Lakes Recreation Area from Arizona’s major metropolitan areas, increasing the number of day use and overnight visitors and the demand for developed recreation. However, roads around the lakes remain two-lane roads and access throughout the recreational areas is difficult due to traffic and parking congestion and roadway designs and issues that do not meet user needs. Traffic jams and parking congestion occur regularly from May to September due to a high volume of visitors, limited parking spaces, narrow road widths, inadequate turning radii for large vehicles, and the poor location of the Aspen campground entrance next to the Woods Canyon Lake parking lot entrance. One-lane boat ramps at both lakes also limit boating access. Existing trails and walkways are inadequate for lake access for people with disabilities.

Figure 16: Willow Springs Lake available parking filled to capacity

Capacity Although official capacity studies have not been undertaken, it is clear that current parking availability within the analysis area does not meet present or future needs. The figures above and below show the parking situation at Willow Springs Lake on a typical summer weekend; once available parking spaces fill, visitors park along the shoulders of the road or off the road. A similar situation exists in the Woods Canyon area. Shorelines near parking areas at both lakes are also often crowded with fishermen, and the demand for picnic facilities exceeds capacity during the peak season with all picnic sites filled and users looking for places to set up for a picnic.


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User Experience Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes are nestled in tall pines and offer a relaxing respite to the sweltering summer temperatures of southern Arizona. Due to the scenic natural setting, visitors flock to these lakes each summer to enjoy cool summer weather and numerous outdoor activities. While the scenic nature and pleasing summer temperatures attract large numbers of visitors, it also helps to create a situation where demand exceeds available infrastructure near the lakes from May to September. Limited one-lane boat ramps result in long waits for users to launch boats. Undersized parking lots fill quickly, resulting in heavy congestion and gridlock at both lakes. This traffic congestion frustrates visitors and pushes parking into undesignated areas causing damage to vegetation and infrastructure. Heavy congestion, narrow lanes, and aggravated users leads to disregard for regulations, verbal and physical altercations, minor accidents, and property damage, which increases law enforcement interactions at these lakes.

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum for the analysis area is classified as Rural. The natural environment is substantially modified to the point that development is obvious to the sensitive observer. Pedestrian or other slow moving observers are constantly within view of culturally changed landscapes. The social setting provides for moderate to high visitor contact. Regulatory direction and controls are obvious. (ROS User’s Guide, page 22).

Visual Quality Objective (VQO) Due to existing infrastructure within the analysis area the prevailing visual condition is classified as Modification (M). Under the Modification classification, management activities visually dominate the landscape. However, development activities such as buildings, signs, roads, etc., borrow from naturally established form, line, color, and texture so completely and at such a scale that the visual characteristics of the area blend with the natural surroundings. (Landscape management Systems, The Visual Management System of the Forest Service, USDA Warren R. Bacon, 1979 page 663.)



Access Non-motorized trails and trailheads that may be affected within the project area, include the Meadow, Woods Canyon Nature, Woods Canyon Lake, and General Crook trails, and the Old Rim, Rocky Point, Woods Canyon Lake, and Meadow trailheads. The Woods Canyon Lake and Nature trails use the Woods Canyon Lake parking lots as part of the footpath, while the General Crook Trail crosses NFSR 105 near Crook Campground. Access to these trails and trailheads would be decreased during periods of active construction.


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In the Willow Springs Recreation Area, the new accessible trail would provide access to the lake and areas around the lake for visitors needing such access.

Capacity Upon completion of the project, the overall capacity of the analysis area would increase, more than doubling designated parking spaces for both single vehicles and vehicles with trailers. The addition of a fishing pier would increase fishing capacity at the lake near the parking area and provide improved shoreline access for visitors of all abilities.

User Experience Improving road conditions, access, and the number of parking spaces as well as providing expanded boat docks and more picnic sites would greatly improve user experience. Project activities would allow the area to better serve the recreational needs of the high number of current and future users in a more efficient manner.

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) The recreational activities that are associated with the ROS classification of Rural, such as camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking, information centers, a convenience store, and a marina would see an overall long term improvement in visitor enjoyment and comfort through improved road surface, widened travel lanes, increased parking opportunities and improved overall access for all types of street vehicles. Overall visitor experience would be enhanced.

Active construction periods would displace visitors, temporarily increase traffic congestion, and decreased parking space availability in some areas, thus causing short-term impact on visitor experience. Access to lake activities and the trail system will have a limited and short-term effect within the project area. Recreationists would see the parking availability more than double once the project is completed.

Due to the type and scale of this project and materials used in construction, it is not feasible to complete this project during periods of low visitation; therefore, negative short-term effects would include displacement of recreationists within the project area during the high-visitation season. This is expected to be short in duration and limited to periods of active construction.

Visual Quality Objective (VQO) The proposed project would improve the visual quality of the area by providing a smooth, unbroken surface on roads and well-defined smooth parking lots. Improvements would allow for convenient access and increased parking opportunities by adding over-flow parking lots, enlarging existing parking lots, and reconfiguring parking spaces to maximize capacity for a greater number of visitors. Although trees will be removed for the project, the overall forest setting will be retained, with tree lined roads and parking lots, and surfaces would be visually


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appealing and unbroken. The views from picnic areas, campgrounds, and shoreline will be largely unchanged.

Cumulative Effects There are no foreseeable negative cumulative effects to ROS activities, any special use permits, or an recreational resources with the selection of the proposed action.

Past Actions When Aspen Campground was originally constructed in 1963, it was developed with two access roads to Forest Road 105. Presumably, when the campgrounds transferred to concession management in the 1980’s the south entrance was eliminated and access was reduced to one road to provide better accountability of visitation and traffic flow in and out of the campground. At that time, traffic congestion on Forest Road 105 was not a concern and the north entrance, closer to the store would allow visitor quicker vehicle access to the store and lake. However, with the increase of visitation since that time, the current entrance into Aspen contributes greatly to the grid-lock conditions on the weekend. By relocating the active entrance to the previously decommissioned south entrance, campers would be drawn off FR 105 prior to the heavily congested area closer to the lake. Additionally, a turn lane would be added for visitors preparing to enter the campground thus further reducing the congestion caused by vehicles stopped in the traffic lane waiting to enter the campground.

On-going Present Actions The current condition of the surfaced roads and parking areas in the analysis area is poor and continues to deteriorate annually. The infrastructure lacks a proper road base and is not able to withstand current traffic demands. In some areas, parking spaces have been brought up to modern dimensional standards resulting in an overall decrease in spaces. Due to inadequate parking, employees often spend weekends directing and controlling traffic. Vehicles are regularly parked in unauthorized spaces or double parked. Traffic back-ups occur weekly, often resulting in gridlock.

Future Actions The future foreseeable effect of the proposed action is improved and increased access to both Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes. Increased parking opportunities allow visitors to park in approved parking areas thus reducing or eliminate the number of visitors who park along roads and in forested areas not designated for parking. By providing more parking spaces, this project would reduce damage to the natural resources in the area caused by visitors parking in ecologically sensitive areas. Improvements to road and parking lot design would provide space for modern, larger vehicles and those pulling trailers to traverse the park lots and roads safely, on smooth, unbroken surfaces. Turn lanes would allow vehicles turning into campgrounds to exit the travel lanes, thus allowing through traffic to pass unimpeded. Improvements to the accessible parking spaces would allow visitors with physical limitations better access to


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facilities. Improvements to boat ramps and added docks would further improve access for visitors with physical limitations. Additions to picnic areas and accessible trails would increase recreational opportunities at both lakes.

Vegetation and Fuels

Affected Environment The Land Management Plan for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (USDA 2015) identifies the management of the project area as High Use Developed Recreation not suitable for timber production. Minimal forest density management has occurred within these areas due to the recreational aspects of both the Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes. Numerous projects have occurred within the area to reduce hazard trees and improve forest health since around the 1940’s. Existing stand conditions are an expression of the cumulative effects of past vegetation modifying treatments.

Vegetative Cover Types The project area falls within the ponderosa pine forest type. The area is composed of older trees with groups of saplings and young trees. Small inclusions on north facing slopes and drainages are considered dry mixed conifer forest. Some trees have damage at the root base from past construction, high visitor foot traffic, and lack of defined parking area.

Fuels The entire project area falls within Fire Regime 1 for both ponderosa pine and dry mixed conifer forests. The fire regime condition class (FRCC) for the area is FRCC 3 and is severely departed from historic conditions. Fuelwood gathering in the area has reduced surface fuels with little down woody material left on the ground. Canopy fuels are interlocking with little interspace between trees.


Direct and Indirect Effects Public safety would be increased by removal of trees with root damage and other potential hazard trees. Growing space for trees would be permanently reduced in areas where trees are removed and expanded roads, parking lots, and other infrastructure are constructed. The largest areas of tree removal, for the overflow parking lots, would not exceed 2 acres in size and the extent of the areas where this would occur would be insignificant to the remaining forest and would not affect the appearance of the overall forest structure.

Fuels Surface and canopy fuels would be reduced within the project area, but the area would remain in FRCC 3.


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Cumulative Effects

Past Actions Activities that overlap or encompass the project area and were used in analyzing cumulative effects to vegetation include timber sales, pre-commercial thinning, salvage sales, tree pruning, and pile burning and.

On-going Present Actions Timber sale activities are ongoing for the Sinkhole, Crook, and Rimtop Timber Sales and overlap the project area. Any tree removal within campgrounds, picnic areas, parking lots and along forest service roads is limited to imminent hazards from dead, dying and defective trees, which is not a significant change to the overall structure and composition of the area impacted and has been determined to have no measureable cumulative effect.

Future Actions Future actions within the project area are covered by the Rim Lakes Forest Health Project and include thinning and piling of all sizes of trees, removal of hazardous trees, tree pruning, and broadcast burning.

Wildlife: Terrestrial and Aquatic A diverse assemblage of wildlife (threatened, candidate, sensitive, MIS, and Migratory birds) are known to occur or have habitat within or adjacent to the project area. Each of the species that occur or have potential to occur within the project area is analyzed in detail. In some cases, surveys for these species have confirmed their presence in or near the project area. In cases where a species has not been detected, the presence of suitable habitat indicates they could be present and their presence was assumed under this analysis. The effects to Mexican spotted owl are also analyzed in a separate Biological Assessment (BA) for the purpose of section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project area is a highly developed recreation area occurring in ponderosa pine/gambel oak communities, with vegetation consisting of an overstory of ponderosa pine trees and scattered alligator juniper with an open grass/forb understory.

Federally Listed Endangered, Threatened, and Proposed Species Including Designated Critical Habitat & Sensitive Species

Affected Environment The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) IPaC website (http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/) was accessed on May 26, 2016 to generate a list of Endangered, Threatened, Candidate, and Proposed Species, as well as migratory bird species. The USFWS-approved species list for the Apache-Sitgreaves NFs was used in determining which, if any, listed species or critical habitat may be


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affected. The Apache-Sitgreaves NFs received the Region 3 Forest Service sensitive species list, dated September 2013 from the Regional Forester. The most recent survey information, knowledge of species and habitats, and site-specific locations, as well as the overall range of species were used in determining if any listed, proposed, sensitive species, or critical/suitable habitats would be affected by the proposed action (Figure 1).


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Figure 17: Location of wildlife resources in the vicinity of the Rim Lakes Recreation Improvements Project on the Black Mesa Ranger District


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Federally Listed Endangered, Threatened, and Proposed Species Including Designated Critical

Table 2: Analysis and determination of effects of the project on threatened, endangered, and proposed species

Species FWS Status and Year

Critical Habitat Present?

Key Habitat Elements Status Within Action Area of Project Determination of Effect

Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida)

Threatened/ Sensitive 1993

No Mixed conifer, pine-oak, mature trees. Owls nest and roost primarily in closed-canopy forests or rocky canyons. Forests used for roosting and nesting often contain mature or old growth stands with complex structure.

No protected or recovery habitat occurs within project area. Critical habitat for MSO occurs within the project area; however, no primary constituent elements of critical habitat will be affected by the proposed action. In addition, the proximity of human developments and high recreation use likely precludes the MSO’s ability to exist in or near the project area. No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action.

No effect to species or critical habitat

Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis)


No Uncommon to fairly common breeder in riparian habitats, below the Mogollon Rim in the Colorado and Gila River drainages. Requires a minimum of 25 acres of broadleaf forest at least 100 m wide.

No montane riparian hardwoods present. Not documented as occurring on the District. No suitable habitat exists within or near the project area.

No effect

Little Colorado spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata)


No Found in water 0.5-4.3 ft deep, but appear most abundant in depths of about 1.9 ft. Spinedace are most common in slow-to-moderate water currents that flow over fine gravel bottoms. They avoid deep, heavily shaded pools and shallow, open areas, preferring unshaded pools with rocks or undercut banks for cover. Temperatures where populations exist generally range from 58-79° F. Spinedace appear quite capable of tolerating relatively harsh environments that undergo dramatic fluctuations in pH, dissolved gases, and water temperatures.

The LCS occurs at two reintroduction sites on BMRD. The West Chevelon and Willow Creek sites are about 7 and 13 miles (respectively) northwest of the project area. Willow Creek flows north and enters Clear Creek at the ASNFs-Coconino NF boundary. West Chevelon Creek enters Chevelon Creek below Chevelon Lake dam. From the project area all water flows north into Chevelon Creek. Critical habitat occurs in the lower Chevelon Creek drainage, about 30 miles north of the project area. There is no potential for significant or measurable downstream effects generated by this action that would affect occupied or potential habitat for this species.



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Roundtail Chub (Gila Robusta)

Proposed Threatened

No The roundtail chub occurs within the Little Colorado watershed in Chevelon Creek below Chevelon Canyon Lake to the Little Colorado River.

The roundtail chub does not occur above Chevelon Lake (project area). There is no potential for significant or measurable downstream effects generated by this action that would affect occupied or potential habitat for this species.


Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis)


N/A Occurs chiefly in the oak and mixed oak and pine woodlands. Highly aquatic and almost always associated with permanent water, preferably with emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation. Prefers rocky streams with deep rock bound pools. Species inhabits montane springs, streams, and tanks, it was historically found in numerous valley wetlands and cienegas.

This species has likely been extirpated from the Little Colorado River watershed. No recent or historic records for the species occur in the project vicinity. The nearest extant population occurs in the upper Cherry creek drainage approximately three miles south of the District. Due to extreme topography, dispersal would require greater than 1 mile overland movements. This is further than the preferred dispersal distances identified in the Recovery Plan. Critical Habitat was designated final in April, 2012. No critical habitat was designated on the Black Mesa Ranger District.


Northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops)


No Permanent water with lush vegetation. Lakes, large streams and rivers, and rich springs and headwaters. It is semi-aquatic and seldom seen more than 15 meters from permanent water.

Suitable habitat does not occur within the analysis area. Project area is outside species’ known current distribution. No effect to species or habitat.

No effect

Narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus)


No Permanently flowing streams, sometimes sheltered by broadleaf deciduous trees, in pinyon-juniper and pine-oak woodland up to ponderosa pine forest.

Suitable habitat does not occur within the analysis area. Project area is outside species’ known current distribution. No effect to species or habitat.

No effect

Canis lupus baileyi Mexican Gray Wolf

Experimental-Non-essential/ Sensitive 1967

N/A Habitat types used are primarily Madrean evergreen forests and woodlands, including pine, oak woodlands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, riparian areas, and grasslands at elevations above 4,500 ft. Packs usually live within a specific territory. Territories range in size from 50 mi² to greater than 1,000 mi², depending on how much prey is available and their seasonal movements.

Historically occurred in the mountainous regions of the Southwest from throughout portions of southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas into central Mexico. Mexican gray wolves were extirpated in the United States by aggressive predator control programs. The reintroduced Mexican gray wolf population in Arizona has been designated as a non-essential experimental population.

not likely to jeopardize (transients may occur)


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Sensitive Species

Table 3. Analysis of effects and determination of impacts for sensitive species

Species Status Key Habitat Elements Status Within Action Area of Project Determination of Effect

Mammals

Perognathus flavus goodpasteri

Silky (Springerville) pocket mouse

SEN Ecotone between PJ or juniper woodlands and grasslands

Species known from northeast Black Mesa RD.

Elevation too high. There is no short-grass prairie habitat present in the project area. No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur.

NO IMPACT

Cynomys gunnisoni Gunnison’s Prairie dog

SEN Gunnison’s prairie dogs occupy high mountain valleys and plateaus at elevations of 6,000 to 12,000 feet. Habitat typically consists of open or brushy country with scattered junipers and pines. Colonies of this species contain between 50 to 100 individuals and are organized into territories consisting of one adult male, one or more adult females, non-breeding yearlings, and young of the year.

No suitable habitat within the project area. Not known to occur within the project area.

NO IMPACT

Euderma maculatum Spotted Bat

SEN Occurs in dry, rough desert scrub with a few being captured or heard in ponderosa pine forests; roost singly in cracks or crevices in cliff faces.

No roost habitat occurs within the project area. Individuals may use the project area for foraging.

NO IMPACT

Idionycteris phyllotis Allen’s lappet-browed Bat

SEN Allen’s lappet-browed bats inhabit primarily conifer, oak, and riparian forests in mountainous areas They are frequently captured near cliffs, outcroppings, boulders, and lava flows and it is likely they roost in such sites They are also known to roost in tree snags.

No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action. Snags will not be impacted by this project.

NO IMPACT

Corynorhinus townsendii pallescen Pale Townsend’s Big-eared Bat

SEN

This bat is widespread in Arizona at elevations of 168–2,292 m (550–7,520 feet). Summer day roosts are found in caves and mines from desert scrub up to woodlands and coniferous forests. Night roosts may often be in abandoned buildings. In winter, they hibernate in cold caves, lava tubes, and mines mostly in uplands and mountains from the vicinity of the Grand Canyon to the southeastern part of the state.

The analysis area does not contain suitable roosting sites for this species and, due to the elevation of the project area, this species is unlikely to use the area for foraging.

NO IMPACT


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Microtus mogollonensis navaho Navajo Mogollon Vole

SEN The species inhabits dry, grassy habitats, usually in areas adjacent to ponderosa pine but sometimes also occurring as low as grassy areas in pinyon-juniper woodland or as high as spruce-fir forests.

No suitable habitat occurs within the project area for this species.

NO IMPACT

Birds

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald Eagle

SEN

Delisted fin 2008

Occurs in Arizona as either breeding populations or winter migrants. Arizona bald eagles occur at elevations between 4600 and 7,390 feet. Nests occur in tall trees, cliff faces, ledges, and pinnacles near open water for foraging. Perches for shelter, roosting, foraging and guarding are important habitat components.

There is an established bald eagle nesting/closure area located north of Woods Canyon Lake. All actions from the project will occur south of Woods Canyon Lake. No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action.

NO IMPACT

Falco peregrinus anatum

American Peregrine Falcon

SEN

delisted

General, riparian, tall cliffs for nesting habitat.

Suitable nesting cliffs may occur downstream of the analysis area, but not within analysis area. No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action. No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur.

NO IMPACT

Accipiter gentilis

Northern Goshawk

SEN Forest habitat generalist that uses a variety of forest types, forest ages, structural conditions and successional stages. It primarily occupies ponderosa pine, mixed-species, and spruce-fir habitats in the southwest and prefers mature conifer stands with dense canopies for nesting.

No PFAs occur within or immediately adjacent to the project area. No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action.

NO IMPACT

Amphibians

Bufo microscaphus microscaphus

Arizona toad

SEN Lotic and lentic riparian areas No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action.

NO IMPACT

Rana pipiens

Northern leopard frog

SEN Lotic and lentic riparian areas Extirpated from the White Mountains. Elevation may be at upper limits for species. There is no suitable or potential habitat for this species within the Area of Influence.

NO IMPACT

Fish

Gila robusta

Roundtail chub

C/SEN Found in lotic riparian systems. Occupies cool to warm water, mid-elevation streams and rivers where typical adult microhabitat consists of pools to eight feet deep adjacent to swifter riffles and runs.

No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action.

NO IMPACT


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Catostomus sp. 3

Little Colorado sucker

SEN Lotic riparian systems No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action.

NO IMPACT

Catostomus discobolus discobolus

Bluehead sucker

SEN Bluehead suckers occupy a wide range of habitats, from headwater streams to large rivers. They are usually found in moderate to fast flowing waters above a rubble-rock substrate in the main current.

No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action.

NO IMPACT

Clams

Anodonta californiensis California floater

SEN Found in streams or rivers; needs native host fish to survive.

No suitable habitat present in the project area. NO IMPACT

Insects

Ophiogomphus arizonicus

Arizona snaketail

SEN Species are found in fairly swift rocky mountain streams in pine woodland with silt for larval habitat.

No swift moving streams in project area. NO IMPACT

Lycaena ferrisi

Ferris’ copper

SEN Open meadows No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action.

NO IMPACT

Speyeria nokomis nokomis

Nokomis Fritillary

SEN Found in streamside meadows and open seepage areas with an abundance of violets in generally desert landscapes.

No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action. No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur.

NO IMPACT

Speyeria nokomis nitocris

Nitocris Fritillary

SEN Riparian areas, moist woodland openings No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action. No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur.

NO IMPACT

Plants

Rumex orthoneurus

Blumer’s dock

SEN Wetland habitat, springs, above 6500 feet elevation No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur. NO IMPACT


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Salix bebbiana

Bebb’s willow

SEN Bebb’s willows are often found in wet meadows and near seeps.

No willows or potential habitat present in the analysis area. No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur.

NO IMPACT

Helenium arizonicum

Arizona Sneezeweed

SEN Species is a biennial or perennial herb that is found only in central Arizona from 7000 to 8000 feet in elevation. It typically occurs in wet depressions above the Mogollon Rim.

No habitat modifications or detectable indirect impacts will occur from the proposed action. No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur.

NO IMPACT

Heuchera glomerulata Arizona alum root

Found on shaded rocky slopes, in humus soil, near seeps, streams and riparian areas. Elevation of occurrence 4000’ – 9000’.

No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur. NO IMPACT

Helianthus arizonensis Arizona sunflower

Found in dry, frequently sandy soil. Not much is known about this species. Elevation of occurrence 4000’ – 7000’.

No impacts from reissuing a special use permit will occur. NO IMPACT


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Based on the above analysis and tables, implementation of the proposed projects will have no known effects to any federally-listed or proposed species that occur or may occur within the area of influence of the project area. Any direct and indirect effects generated by the proposed project are considered insignificant and discountable to the species considered in the tables above.

Cumulative Effects There are no known past, current, or proposed actions on that would generate effects that would combine with those of the proposed action to contribute to cumulative effects on wildlife species.

Migratory Birds & Important Bird Areas

Affected Environment Executive Order 13186 (2001) and a 2008 memorandum of understanding between the USDA Forest Service and USDI Fish and Wildlife Service provide direction to conserve migratory birds, restore or enhance habitat, and consider them in the planning process. This order requires that an analysis be made of the effects of Forest Service actions on species of concern and important bird areas (IBAs) as listed and identified by Partners in Flight (Latta, et al. 1999), and the effects to important overwintering areas.

Considered for these analyses were (1) birds identified as priority species in the Arizona Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan (Latta, et al. 1999) (APIF Plan) and (2) birds in Bird Conservation Regions 34 and 16 of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2008 Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) (USDI 2008).

Based on the APIF Plan and BCC, a total of 45 species have been identified as species of concern in ASNFs habitats. Five of these, including Mexican spotted owl, northern goshawk, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, and common blackhawk are discussed in the Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species Biological Analysis and Evaluation and will also not be discussed further here. Swainson’s thrush (spruce-fir), pine grosbeak (spruce-fir), golden-crowned kinglet (spruce-fir), Cassin’s sparrow (semi-desert grassland), Bendire’s thrasher (semi-desert grassland), black-chinned sparrow (interior chaparral), Virginia’s warbler (interior chaparral), Lucy’s warbler (low elevation riparian), veery (low elevation riparian), elf owl (low elevation riparian), Western yellow-billed cuckoo (low elevation riparian), Bell’s vireo (low elevation riparian) and yellow warbler (low elevation riparian) were not discussed in this analysis because no habitat for these species occurs within the project area.

Table 4. Summary of migratory birds considered in this analysis

Species Habitat

Olive-sided Flycatcher Mixed Conifer


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Purple Martin Flammulated Owl Lewis’ Woodpecker Grace’s Warbler Cassin’s Finch Olive Warbler

Ponderosa Pine

Southwestern willow flycatcher MacGillivray’s warbler Red-faced warbler Red-naped sapsucker

High Elevation Riparian


Direct and Indirect Effects No significant effects will occur to range-wide populations of migratory bird species dependent on mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, piñon-juniper woodland, and grasslands. There would be no change in the habitat suitability for migratory birds. No intentional take would result from actions proposed in this project. Unintentional take of individual migratory birds may occur, but will not result in changes to the range-wide populations of these species.

Important Bird Areas Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are listed on the Audubon Society’s website. There are no identified or potential IBAs within the project area. The Snowmelt Draw IBA occurs twelve miles west of the project area. Therefore, no IBAs would be affected by the project.

Watershed Resources

Affected Environment The project area lies within the Chevelon Creek Headwaters 6th Level Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC). This HUC is 19,226 acres and includes Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes. Stream density within the watershed is low at 2.57 mi/sq. mi, with the watershed composed primarily of intermittent and ephemeral drainages. The density of perennial water sources is low, and occurs primarily above and below Woods Canyon Lakes, and below Willow Springs Lake. Spring snow melt and intermittent summer monsoon rains compose most of the watersheds water yield during the year. The largest flow events occur primarily in the summer, during intense monsoonal flows. Flood events are mostly likely to occur during the monsoon season of July-September. Riparian areas are narrow and generally defined around perennial water sources. Headwater streams in the project area lack riparian areas. Riparian areas are rare given the absence of perennial water sources throughout much of the project area.


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No ADEQ impaired or non-attaining waterbodies lie within the project area. Sediment and flow regimes in the headwaters of Woods Canyon and Willow Springs sub watersheds have been modified by the construction of each of these reservoirs, preventing normal downstream delivery of sediment and water to Woods, Willow, and Chevelon Creeks below. Sediment entering the lake is trapped and stored in the reservoirs, preventing normal downstream sediment delivery processes. This has created courser sediment composition and higher stream bed roughness below the reservoirs.


Direct and Indirect Effects Localized sediment displacement is expected to occur in the project area due to construction and reconstruction activities. However, sediment displacement is expected to be small and would not result in measurable changes to local headwater channels. Some minor changes to surface runoff characteristics would occur along NFSR 105, and above Woods Canyon Parking lot. However, actions to construct necessary drainage features in these areas are expected to improve local conditions by reducing surface erosion, rills, and localized gullies, and improving drainage and flood flow runoff. Use of Best Management Practices during implementation are expected to minimize sediment displacement and meet Clean Water Act compliance.

The project area would not have any measurable effects to the function of the Chevelon Headwater 6th level HUC. The project area represents less than 1% of the total watershed acres. The proposed action is predominantly occurring within previously disturbed areas and would not change existing watershed function, sediment delivery regimes, or water yield. The proposed action is in compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Cumulative Effects The proposed action would not have any additional incremental cumulative effects or changes to the existing watershed function. Sediment and flows regimes within the watershed would remain the same. The project would not lead to the watershed or any waterbodies within the watershed being impaired under the Clean Water Act.

Cultural Resources

Affected Environment The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for Cultural Resources are the project boundaries identified in Figures 1 -4. Background research revealed that previously, 11 up-to-current-standards archaeological surveys had been undertaken within the Area of Potential Effect. Further, research indicated that six sites had been previously recorded within or directly adjacent to the APE. Five of the sites, (AR-03-01-02-835, the General Crook Trail, AR-03-01-02-3027, a historic fire lookout tree; and sites AR-03-01-02-4293, a multi-component site consisting of prehistoric


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grinding slicks, bedrock mortars and a flaked stone artifact scatters of unknown cultural/temporal affiliation and a historic period campground and associated features, and AR-03-01-02-4325, a prehistoric site consisting of grinding slicks, bedrock mortars and a flaked stone artifact scatter of unknown cultural/temporal affiliation have all been previously determined eligible to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and are all partially within, or immediately adjacent to, the APE. Within the APE two segments of previously recorded site AR-03-01-07-01388, Historic Forest Highway 40/Forest Road 300 were determined not eligible for the NRHP.

Current research identified four previously un-recorded historic sites which are directly within or adjacent to the project APE. These sites are associated with the development of the recreational complex surrounding Woods Canyon Lake; the Rocky Point Picnic Area, the Spillway Campground, the Aspen Campground, and Forest Road 105 and associated spur roads. These sites were constructed between the late 1950s and mid-1960s, and are recommended as ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP. The historic component of site AR-03-01-02-4293 is also recommended ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP.

Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action As noted above, the APE consists of the project boundary. All currently known and newly recorded cultural resources within that boundary have been assessed for effects based on existing details regarding the proposed action. Further assessments may be warranted depending on project progression.

Direct and Indirect Effects Ground disturbing activities associated with the proposed action could have an effect on the National Register-eligible properties within and/or adjacent to the APE. The majority of the proposed action is focused on the reconstruction, and in some cases expansion of, existing roadways and parking areas. Project activities will be designed to minimize or avoid such disturbance, primarily through avoidance of known properties, except at two sites: the General Crook Trail and AR-03-01-02-4293. The General Crook Trail is currently bisected by Forest Road 105. Widening of the road may result of the removal of part of the trail on both sides of the road. Within these areas, the trail is already heavily disturbed by previous widening, paving, the installation of an underground line, and gates. A parking lot was constructed within the boundaries of the NRHP-eligible component of site AR-03-01-02-4293. Proposed activities within the site boundary will include pulverizing existing asphaltic surfaces in place on the existing parking areas. No new ground-disturbance below the existing asphalt is proposed. Within both site boundaries, all activities will be monitored by a professional archaeologist. The other four National Register-eligible sites will be avoided during all project activities.

Cumulative Effects Several planned or reasonably foreseeable activities within or near the APE have the potential to adversely affect cultural resources when combined with project activities of tree clearing,


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prescribed fire, miscellaneous ground disturbance, and other destructive mechanical processes such as rock removal and road surface pulverization but would not have an adverse effect with the implementation of site monitoring and protection measures (see Appendix B). These projects include the Crook, Rimtop, and Sinkhole Timber Sales, efforts to protect High Value Ponderosa Pine in the area, Hazard Tree Removal efforts and Road Maintenance Activities.

There would be no cumulative effects to cultural resources in implementing the proposed action, provided that once project details are made fully available, clearance is re-assessed for each action and that all site protection measures are met for all of the respective actions. Therefore, reasonably foreseeable projects may not contribute cumulative effects to cultural resources when combined with the Proposed Action so long as such projects are re-assessed as needed.


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References USDA Forest Service, 2013. Apache-Sitgreaves NF Endangered, Threatened, Proposed,

Candidate, and Sensitive Species, and Critical Habitats to be considered in the preparation of biological assessments and evaluations for projects other than major construction activities.

USDA Forest Service, 1992. Management Recommendations for the Northern Goshawk in the Southwestern United States.

USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service, Southwestern Region, 2012. Final Recovery Plan for the Mexican Spotted Owl, First Revision, (Strix occidentalis lucida).


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Appendix A: Design Criteria The following table provides design criteria specific to alternative 1 for the project area, which were developed by the USFS ASNFs to protect resources, minimize or avoid adverse effects, and meet Management Area Standards and Guidelines. BMPs included in the criteria specifically or by reference were developed based on professional experience and field reconnaissance and limitations and suitability of various management practices. Criteria are listed by the applicable proposed activity (ies) and main resource areas they apply to and may minimize impacts to multiple resources as discussed in the EA above.

Applicable Proposed Activities

Main Resource Area(s) Item Design Criteria Description Purpose

All Activities Cultural Resources Protection of Historic Properties

Historic Properties would be avoided or specific mitigation measures developed to reduce the potential of adverse effects in consultation with SHPO and Tribes..

Avoid or minimize any effects to historic properties and comply with National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, As Amended; US Forest Service Tribal Relations Directives, Forest Service Manual (FSM 1560), Forest Service Handbook (FSH 1509.13)

All Activities Cultural Resources Protection of Historic Properties

An archeological monitor would be present during ground-disturbing activities adjacent to or within the eligible sites where activities will occur.

Ensure avoidance of any threats and adverse effects to historic properties and comply with National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, As Amended; US Forest Service Tribal Relations Directives, Forest Service Manual (FSM 1560), Forest Service Handbook (FSH 1509.13)


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All Activities Cultural Resources Unanticipated Discoveries

Should additional sites be discovered during project implementation, all work in that locale will halt and the Forest Service Archeologist notified immediately. Work would not resume in that area until the Forest Service Archeologist has notified the District Ranger that work can proceed.

Ensure protection and proper recordation of any previously undiscovered historic sites and comply with National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, As Amended; US Forest Service Tribal Relations Directives, Forest Service Manual (FSM 1560), Forest Service Handbook (FSH 1509.13)

All Activities Recreation Accessibility All work would be completed in accordance with the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG), and Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG)

Comply with Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and A-S Forest Plan, August 2015

All Activities Transportation Health and Safety Vegetation and trees would be removed within the clear zone, diameter 6 inches or greater, or small trees and shrubs grouped together such that they have the same effect as a single tree

Highway Safety Act

All Activities Transportation Health and Safety Vegetation and trees would be removed outside of the clear zone that pose an immediate falling threat, that will reach the clear zone, travel lanes of the roadway, or fall on across rights-of-way fence

Highway Safety Act

All Activities Transportation Traffic Safety MUTCD would be used for all temporary and permanent signing and traffic control devices for roads and parking areas

FSM 7731.16

All Activities Vegetation & Fuels Fuels Reduction All slash created by the project would be removed within 30 days of creation of it from project activities.

Prevent buildup of fuels in the area and reduction of bark beetle infestation

All Activities Vegetation & Fuels Invasive Species All equipment would be washed prior to entering the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ land.

Prevent/reduce introduction of invasive species


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All Activities Vegetation & Fuels Health and Safety Trees would be removed within the project limits that have main tree root exposure, or construction activities have damaged main tree roots

Reduce future public safety hazards

All Activities Watershed Sedimentation and soil compaction

Ground disturbing activities shall be limited to dry and/or frozen soils.

Minimize soil displacement and sediment movement off site and reduce soil compaction.


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Appendix B: Cumulative Effects Analysis List A cumulative effect is “the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (federal or non-federal) or person undertakes such other actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time” (40 CFR § 1508.7). Table 25 displays projects or other activities that are in or adjacent to the project area whose effects overlap in time and space with the proposed action and were analyzed in combination with the effects of this project for cumulative effects.

Past and present activity Timeframe Location Comments

Crook Timber Sale 2015 – 2017 East of FR 105 -Woods Canyon Lake Forest restoration thinning and prescribed fire.

Rimtop Timber Sale 2015 – 2017 West side of the Woods Canyon Recreation Area

Forest restoration thinning and prescribed fire.

Sinkhole Timber Sale 2014 – 2017 Private land adjacent to the project area

Forest restoration thinning and prescribed fire.

High Value ponderosa pine 2005 – 2008 Adjacent to project area within developed recreation sites

Thinning, piling, burning, and application of cabaryl occurred to reduce bark beetle attacks.

Hazard Tree Removal Currently Ongoing Aspen, Crook Campgrounds Removal of hazardous trees around high use public areas.

Road Maintenance Activities Currently Ongoing ML4 Roads Patching potholes, fixing drainage features, and pavement preservation.

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