United States Department of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service
July 2007
Preliminary Environmental Assessment Bonneville Shoreline Trail Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County, Utah R4 Intermountain Region Salt Lake Ranger District, Wasatch-Cache National Forest
For Information Contact: Steve Scheid 6944 South 3000 East Salt Lake City, UT 84121
[email protected] (801) 733-2689
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Bonneville Shoreline Trail PRELIMINARY Environmental Assessment
1.1 Table of Contents Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................iii
Summary........................................................................................................................................ viii
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 Background......................................................................................................................... 1-2
1.1.1 General Background of the BST............................................................................... 1-2
1.1.2 Background of the Proposed Project ........................................................................ 1-2
1.1.3 Relevant Documents................................................................................................. 1-2
BST Memorandum of Understanding .................................................................. 1-2
Bonneville Shoreline Trail Alignment Plan........................................................... 1-3
Bonneville Shoreline Trail Salt Lake County Forest Service Pre-NEPA Report . 1-3
Wasatch Cache National Forest 2003 Forest Plan ............................................. 1-4
1.2 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................................ 1-5
1.3 Proposed Action ................................................................................................................. 1-6
1.4 Decisions to Be Made......................................................................................................... 1-8
1.5 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................. 1-9
1.6 Issues................................................................................................................................. 1-10
1.6.1 Issues Not Within the Scope of this Analysis.......................................................... 1-10
Motorized Use.................................................................................................... 1-11
Trail Design........................................................................................................ 1-11
Trail Difficulty ..................................................................................................... 1-11
Night Lighting..................................................................................................... 1-11
Need for Trail ..................................................................................................... 1-11
Trail Decisions on Private Land......................................................................... 1-11
Public Health...................................................................................................... 1-12
Funding .............................................................................................................. 1-12
Process .............................................................................................................. 1-12
Enforcement of Dog Leash Laws....................................................................... 1-12
1.6.2 Issues Determined to Be Within the Scope of NEPA Analysis and for the
Development of Alternatives ................................................................................... 1-12
Vegetation.......................................................................................................... 1-13
Wildlife ............................................................................................................... 1-13
Recreation.......................................................................................................... 1-13
Compatibility with BST Concept ........................................................................ 1-13
User Conflicts and Types of Use ....................................................................... 1-13
Trail Proliferation................................................................................................ 1-13
Trail Administration and Maintenance ............................................................... 1-14
Wilderness ......................................................................................................... 1-14
Open Space, Visual Quality, and Aesthetics ..................................................... 1-14
Soils and Erosion............................................................................................... 1-14
Surface Water Quality and Management .......................................................... 1-14
iii
Bonneville Shoreline Trail PRELIMINARY Environmental Assessment
Archaeological, Cultural, and Historic Resources ............................................. 1-15
Fire..................................................................................................................... 1-15
Private Property Impacts ................................................................................... 1-15
Traffic, Transportation, and Parking .................................................................. 1-15
2.0 Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action ............................................................................. 2-1
2.1 Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 2-2
2.1.1 Alternative 1: No-Action ............................................................................................ 2-2
2.1.2 Alternative 2: Proposed Action (Salt Lake County Proposed Alignment) ................. 2-4
Segment 1: Parleys Canyon to Mount Olympus Trailhead................................. 2-4
Segment 2: Mount Olympus Trail Junction to Big Cottonwood Canyon ............. 2-9
Segment 3: Big Cottonwood Canyon to Little Cottonwood Canyon.................. 2-12
Segment 4: Little Cottonwood Canyon to Hidden Valley Park .......................... 2-15
2.1.3 Alternative 3: NFS right-of-way near Mile High Drive Trailhead in Segment 1;
All NFS in Segment 2.............................................................................................. 2-18
Segment 1: Parleys Canyon to Mount Olympus Trailhead............................... 2-18
Segment 2: Mount Olympus Trail Junction to Big Cottonwood Canyon ........... 2-22
2.2 Elements Common to All Alternatives ........................................................................... 2-24
2.2.1 Trail Specifications.................................................................................................. 2-24
2.2.2 Design Considerations Common to All Alternatives ............................................... 2-24
2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ................................ 2-27
2.4 Comparison of Alternatives............................................................................................. 2-28
3.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...................................................... 3-1
3.1 Vegetation............................................................................................................................ 3-3
3.1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3-3
Methodology ........................................................................................................ 3-3
3.1.2 Forest Service Special Status Plant Species............................................................ 3-3
Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines ..................................................................... 3-3
Affected Environment: Special Status Plant Species .......................................... 3-4
Effects of the Alternatives: Special Status Plant Species.................................... 3-5
3.1.3 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species...................................................................... 3-6
