Decision Memo

Non-motorized Trail Additions

Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Summit County, Utah

1. BACKGROUND The Ruth Lake Climbing Wall, Stone Garden, and Lily Lake trails are non-authorized foot trails created by recreationists for access to popular recreation sites (see figures 1 and 2 in the appendix). These three user-created trails currently are not part of the Forest Service non-motorized trail system. The Ruth Lake Climbing Wall Trail is reached from the Ruth Lake trailhead, which is at mile marker 35 on Highway 150. Approximately 0.5 miles from the trailhead a user-created trail leads to the climbing wall. The 0.15 mile user-created trail is located mostly on bedrock but includes segments that cross soil and one creek. Numerous additional and smaller user-created foot trails crisscross the area. The Stone Garden Trail is located near mile marker 36 on Highway 150. It is a user-created trail for access to the Stone Garden climbing area. The climbing area is popular with recreational climbers and referenced in many guide books on the area. The 0.2-mile route is narrow and steep in places. Parking is available at existing pullouts along the highway. The Lily Lake Trail provides access from Bear River Ranger Station to Lily Lake. The ranger station is located at mile 46.4 on Highway 150. Visitors who want to access Lily Lake by foot follow the 1.5-mile trail from Bear River Ranger Station. 2. PURPOSE AND NEED The Forest Plan for the Wasatch-Cache National Forest (“Forest Plan”) contains desired conditions for various resources, including resources related to recreational activities. Included in these desired conditions is direction that recreation facilities be constructed, reconstructed, relocated, eliminated, or decommissioned as needed to provide a balance of safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible experiences and opportunities (Forest Plan, page 4-11). Recreation facility maintenance should meet established national standards and should contribute to healthy and safe recreational experiences (Forest Plan, page 4-11). 3. PROPOSED ACTION In order to meet the purpose and need for the project as described above in section 2, the Forest Service proposes to add the Ruth Lake Climbing Wall, Stone Garden, and Lily Lake trails to the non-motorized trail system suitable for foot traffic only. The Forest Service would then be able to maintain these trails, mitigate for resource damage, and enhance user experience.

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Location. The Ruth Lake Climbing Wall Trail is in Section 13 of Township 1 South, Range 9 East. The Stone Garden Trail is in Section 12 of Township 1 South, Range 9 East. The Lily Lake Trail is in sections 28 and 29 of Township 2 North, Range 10 East. All are in the Salt Lake Meridian. Trail design, construction, and maintenance. Where necessary to avoid negative impacts to resources, unless otherwise prohibited by this decision memo portions of the existing user-created trails would be redesigned or re-routed. All trail design, construction, and maintenance would follow the guidelines and best management practices found in Forest Service Handbook 2309.18 and the Forest Service Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Trails (EM-7720-103). 4. SCOPING A scoping letter dated December 7, 2012 announcing the proposed action and requesting comments was sent to the Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District mailing list. A legal notice announcing the opportunity to comment on the proposal was published in the Uinta County Herald on December 7, 2012. The legal notice described the proposed action and noted that only persons who commented on the project during the 30-day comment period would be eligible to appeal the decision. In addition, the legal notice provided the contact information of a Forest Service project representative who was available to answer questions or provide additional information.

One letter—from the Utah Environmental Congress (“UEC”)—was received in response to the request for comments. The UEC noted its support for the three non-motorized trail additions. 5. DECISION AND RATIONALE My decision is to approve addition of the three trail segments into the non-motorized trail system, along with the associated trail design, construction, and maintenance activities necessary to meet Forest Service standards. Based on environmental analysis and input from an interdisciplinary team of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest resource specialists, I have determined that this action may be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement as per Chapter 30, Section 32.2 of Forest Service Handbook 1909.15. In particular, this action falls under Category 1: Construction and reconstruction of trails (see 36 CFR 220.6(e)(1). The seven resource conditions that are considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action warrant further analysis and documentation in an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement are discussed below. As per Chapter 30, Section 31.2 of Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, the mere presences of one or more of these resource conditions does not preclude use of a categorical exclusion. 5.1. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. No effects are expected to federally listed threatened or endangered species, designated critical habitat, species proposed for federal listing, or proposed critical habitat from implementation of the proposed

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action. No impacts are expected to Forest Service sensitive species from implementation of the proposed action. 5.2. Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. No such areas would be negatively impacted by implementation of the proposed actions. 5.3. Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. No such areas would be affected by implementation of the proposed actions. 5.4. Inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas. The Ruth Lake Climbing Wall and Stone Garden trails are located in the Lakes inventoried roadless area. The Lakes inventoried roadless area is being managed consistent with the USFS Backcountry Management Plan of 1999. This includes providing quality semi-primitive, non-motorized recreational settings and experiences that are sensitive to soil, wetlands and riparian areas, water quality, scenery, wildlife, and vegetation resources, as well as the needs of people (Forest Plan, page 4-184). The Lily Lake Trail is located partly in the High Uintas inventoried roadless area. Management in this portion of the inventoried roadless area will maintain or mostly maintain roadless values (Forest Plan, page 4-185). No road building is proposed for any of the trails, and no trees would be cleared as part of construction, reconstruction, or routine maintenance associated with any of the proposed non-motorized trail additions. 5.5. Research natural areas. No such areas would be affected by implementation of the proposed actions. 5.6. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites. Because no such resources exist within the project areas, there would be no effects. If unanticipated resources are discovered during project implementation, all work-related activities will cease until the resources have been evaluated by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest heritage resource program manager. 5.7. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. Because no such resources exist within the project areas, there would be no effects. If unanticipated resources are discovered during project implementation, all work-related activities will cease until the resources have been evaluated by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest heritage resource program manager. 6. FOREST PLAN AND LEGAL CONSISTENCY 6.1 Forest Plan The Stone Garden Trail addition is in management prescription 2.5 (Forest Plan, page 4-66). The Lily Lake Trail addition is in management prescriptions 2.5 and 4.4 (Forest Plan, page 4-73). Prescription 2.5 allows for new trail construction for purposes of enhancing use and enjoyment of the scenic byway corridor while maintaining or enhancing the scenic setting. Prescription 4.4 allows for new trail development. The proposed action is consistent with management prescriptions 2.5 and 4.4. The Ruth Lake Climbing Wall Trail addition is in management prescription 2.6 (Forest Plan, page 4-66). Prescription 2.6 does not allow for new trail construction (Forest Plan, page 4-67, S2.6). However, the

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proposed non-motorized trail addition for the Ruth Lake Climbing Wall is an existing and well-defined user-created trail that receives frequent recreation use. No new trail construction is proposed for this segment. Because there are additional user-created trails in the area that lead to the climbing wall, designating and maintaining one segment as part of the non-motorized trail system and posting signs to encourage recreationists to remain on the designated trail and not to wander onto other user-created trails should reduce negative impacts to the resources in the area. Based on the fact that no new trail construction will occur as part of the designation of the Ruth Lake Climbing Wall, the proposed action is consistent with management prescription 2.6. In addition, the proposed action is consistent with forestwide desired future conditions (Forest Plan, page 4-5 et seq.) as well as the desired future condition for the Western Uintas Management Area (Forest Plan, page 4-176 et seq.). 6.2 Executive Orders Executive Order 11988, “Floodplain Management,” instructs federal agencies to avoid long- and short-term adverse impacts associated with occupancy and modification of floodplains, and to avoid direct or indirect support of floodplain development. This project involves no floodplain occupancy, modification, or development. My decision is consistent with this executive order. Executive Order 11990, “Protection of Wetlands,” instructs federal agencies to avoid the long- and short-term adverse impacts associated with destruction or modification of wetlands, and to avoid direct or indirect support of new construction in wetlands. This project involves no destruction or modification of wetlands, or new construction in wetlands. My decision is consistent with this executive order. Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,” instructs federal agencies to identify and address any disproportionally high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations. My decision is consistent with this executive order. Executive Order 13112, “Invasive Species,” instructs federal agencies to prevent the introduction of invasive species and provide for their control and to minimize the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. My decision is consistent with this executive order. Executive Order 13186, “Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds,” instructs federal agencies taking actions that have, or are likely to have, a measurable negative effect on migratory bird populations to develop and implement a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project is expected to have no measurable negative effect on migratory bird populations. My decision is consistent with this executive order. I find that the proposed action is fully consistent with the Forest Plan for the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, as well as all applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

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7. APPEAL OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPLEMENTATION Because only supportive comments were received on the proposal, my decision is not subject to appeal, as per 36 CFR 215.12(e)(1). Implementation of the project may occur immediately after legal notice of my decision is published in the Uinta County Herald. 8. CONTACT PERSON For additional information about the project, contact Joe McFarlane (jmcfarlane@fs.fd.us), at (307) 789-3194.

/s/ Rick Schuler February 7, 2014 ___________________________________________ ____________ RICK SCHULER Date District Ranger Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Miles

Non-motorized Trail Additions Decision Memo, Figure 1, Lily Lake µEvanston-Mountain View Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National ForestApril 2013

Lilly Lake addition

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Miles

Non-motorized Trail Additions Decision Memo, Figure 2, Stone Garden and Ruth LakeµEvanston-Mountain View Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National ForestApril 2013

Ruth Lake addition

Stone Garden addition