Rancheria Forest

Restoration Project

Transportation Report

Sequoia National Forest Kern River Ranger District

F.Y. 2013

Prepared By: _________Marcos D Rios________________ Date: ______7/5/2013____ Marcos D Rios, Civil Engineer

Reviewed By: _________Steven R Ray__________________ Date: _____7/5/2013_____ Steven R Ray, Forest Engineer

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INTRODUCTION

This report provides the transportation planning and engineering data for the Rancheria Healthy Forest Restoration Project. This information would serve to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and helps to ensure that environmental information is available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made, and before actions are taken (40 CFR 1500.1(b)).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The proposed project area is located in the Greenhorn Mountains, approximately 15 miles southwest of Kernville on the Kern River Ranger District. The analysis area for the project encompasses approximately 5,879 acres. The Rancheria project is located primarily along the ridgeline of the Greenhorn Mountains adjacent to Rancheria Road from Shirley Peak to Davis Flat. Elevations range from approximately 5,400 to 8,500 feet.

EFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The transportation system for the Rancheria project consists primarily of National Forest System Roads. An analysis of the project area identifies approximately 45 miles of total road system. Within the project area, there are private and non-system roads (temporary roads); these roads are not designated by the Forest Service for public motorized traffic. The area includes approximately 42.6 miles of Forest Service system roads and 2.4 miles of non-system roads.

The transportation system in the Rancheria project area serves a variety of resource management activities and access needs (primarily vegetation management and recreation access). The area also supports activities such as fishing, dispersed recreation, hunting, firewood collection, and monitoring of wildlife.

Most of the roads in the project area were first constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s for activities such as grazing, mining access, and timber harvests. Some of those roads were built by the Forest Service for timber management, but the main roads were already built before the U.S. Forest Service existed. In the 1950s and 1960s as a result of timber operations, many temporary roads were left open for other resource activities, but not added to the transportation system; these roads are non-system roads. In addition, many of the non-system roads are old mining roads, which predate the Forest Service.

The Rancheria project area has its basic transportation system in place with mainly Forest Service local (maintenance level 2) roads. Primary access to the project area is provided by State Highway 155 and Rancheria Rd (25S15). Current traffic pattern is generally confined to

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through traffic on Rancheria Rd. The maintenance level 1 and 2 roads are generally used by hunters and recreationists for pleasure driving. Many drivers use off-highway-vehicles (OHVs), 4WD pickups, or jeeps in their activities on these roads and on non-system roads. Local access roads constructed during previous entries exist in poor to good condition. Non-system roads exist in varying conditions. The following table summarizes the roads identified within the project area.

Table 1 - Existing Road System

Road # Road Name Operational Maintenance Level Length Allowed Uses

25S15 Rancheria ML 3 – Suitable for Passenger Vehicles 8.41 Highway Vehicles Only

25S15D Rancheria ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.31 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only

26S01 Greenhorn Mtn West ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 1.10 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S01A Greenhorn Mtn West

ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.00 – 0.35 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only

ML 1 – Closed Road 0.35 – 0.70 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S01B Greenhorn Mtn West ML 1 – Closed Road 0.03 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles

26S03 Sawmill ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 2.50 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S04 Browns Mill ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 3.30 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S04A Browns Mill ML 1 – Closed Road 0.30 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S04B Browns Mill ML 1 – Closed Road 0.30 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S04C Browns Mill ML 1 – Closed Road 0.80 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S04D Browns Mill ML 1 – Closed Road 1.00 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S05 Basket Pass ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 1.90 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S06 Black Gulch ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.50 Trail open to ALL Vehicles

26S07 Frank ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 1.40 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only

26S07A Frank ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.45 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only

26S09 Woodward ML 1 – Closed Road 1.20 Trail open to ALL Vehicles

26S11 Mayflower Mine ML 1 – Closed Road 0.20 Trail open to ALL Vehicles

26S13 Davis Road ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.85 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S13A Davis Road ML 1 – Closed Road 0.60 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S13B Davis Road ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.10 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only

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Road # Road Name Operational Maintenance Level Length Allowed Uses

26S14 Davis Heliport ML 1 – Closed Road 0.41 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S18 Evans Flat West ML 1 – Closed Road 1.24 Trail open to ALL Vehicles

26S18A Evans Flat West ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.50 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only

26S19 Rhymes ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.80 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only

26S20 Likely Saddle ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.70 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S24 Lone Star ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 1.63 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S24A Lone Star ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.50 Highway Vehicles Only

26S25 Oak Ridge ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 2.00 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only

26S25A Oak Ridge ML 1 – Closed Road 0.32 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S25B Oak Ridge ML 1 – Closed Road 0.32 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S25C Oak Ridge ML 1 – Closed Road 0.14 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S27 Evans Flat C.G. ML 3 – Suitable for Passenger Vehicles 0.63 Road open to ALL motor vehicles

26S27A Evans Flat C.G. ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.11 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S29 Poso Creek East ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.85 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S29A Poso Creek East ML 1 – Closed Road 0.20 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

26S30 Davis Loop ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.80 Open to ALL Vehicles

26S33 Mayflower ML 1 – Closed Road 1.00 Trail open to ALL Vehicles

26S37 Pettitt ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 3.30 Open to ALL Vehicles

27S01 Rough and Ready Mtn ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.22 Open to ALL Vehicles

27S01A Rough and Ready Mtn ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 0.64 Open to ALL Vehicles

27S13 Eagle ML 2 – High Clearance Vehicles 1.90 Open to ALL Vehicles

The condition of the roads vary from well-maintained to badly eroding and overgrown. Due to the limitations of National Forest road maintenance capability, most designated roads do not receive all required maintenance. Non-system roads do not receive maintenance.

Road Funding:

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Road maintenance is accomplished on Forest Service roads by a combination of Forest Service crews, contractors, permit holders, and timber sale purchasers. Forest Service crews and contractors are primarily funded by appropriated dollars and collection accounts. The collection accounts are surface replacement deposits collected from commercial users of the road system. These commercial users are primarily timber sale purchasers, both operating in Forest Service and private lands. Other commercial uses such as mining which may pay deposits occur infrequently on this Forest.

Timber purchasers are required to maintain the roads they use for harvesting timber. Timber sales have provisions for pre-haul, during haul, and post haul maintenance. The provisions require activities such as brushing, drainage cleaning, surface blading, and other maintenance requirements to protect the surrounding environment. Moreover, timber purchasers are required to make improvements needed to existing roads to accommodate their haul, and to construct new temporary roads needed for their harvesting operations.

The Sequoia National Forest has not received enough funding to maintain all roads on a regular basis, which has resulted in delaying maintenance activities. This is noted as deferred maintenance in Forest Service investment tracking. The roads in the Rancheria project would require approximately $50,000 to complete maintenance needs prior to use. The deferred maintenance activities are primarily surface blading, culvert cleaning, installing culverts, signing, spot placement of aggregate, and brushing.

Transportation System Needs:

The transportation system needs for the Rancheria project would be served by existing Forest Service roads wherever possible. While the basic transportation system is in place for access, some road segments would need maintenance for the logging trucks and other project vehicles. In the absence of routine maintenance, surface conditions have deteriorated and some travel ways have become partly overgrown, and are occasionally blocked by fallen trees.

Temporary road spurs would be limited to short segments to serve selected units or landings. Temporary road re-construction should use 50 foot minimum radius curves and a 14 foot wide road bed for a single lane road. Temporary re-construction alignment would utilize existing skid trails or old temporary road alignments wherever practical. The critical design vehicle would be a log truck or a lowboy with design standards varying accordingly.

Some road segments may be designated as temporary roads. Temporary roads are not intended to be a permanent part of the road system and would be decommissioned following harvesting activities. Temporary roads may be existing non-system roads which are intended to be used for this project only and then decommissioned.

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Throughout the project area, 13 temporary roads totaling approximately 2.4 miles in length have been identified for possible use for the Rancheria project. About 1.9 miles of existing temporary roads would be reopened. These roads are existing non-system roads that may need maintenance before use (e.g. blading, clearing, etc.), and would be decommissioned after use. About 0.5 miles of new temporary roads would be constructed. These roads would be short segments to serve selected units and then decommissioned.

During harvesting operations, other existing (system and non-system) road segments may be identified as needed for the project. Use of such roads can be requested by the contractor and authorized by the Forest Service thru written agreement.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

Table 2 - Road System to be Used

Road # Road Name Length Allowed Uses During Operations After Operations

25S15 Rancheria 8.41 ML – 3 Highway Vehicles Only Maintain at current level

26S01 Greenhorn Mtn West 1.10 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

26S01A Greenhorn Mtn West 0.70 ML – 2 Closed to Public Use.

Admin Access Only Open for Admin Access Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S01B Greenhorn Mtn West 0.03 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S03 Sawmill 2.50 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

26S04 Browns Mill 3.30 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

26S04A Browns Mill 0.30 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S04B Browns Mill 0.30 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S04C Browns Mill 0.80 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S04D Browns Mill 1.00 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S05 Basket Pass 1.90 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

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Road # Road Name Length Allowed Uses During Operations After Operations

26S06 Black Gulch 0.50 ML – 2 Trail open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level Restored to existing trail

conditions

26S07 Frank 1.40 ML – 2 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only Open for Admin Access

Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S07A Frank 0.45 ML – 2 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only Open for Admin Access

Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S09 Woodward 1.20 ML – 1 Trail open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level Restored to existing trail

conditions

26S11 Mayflower Mine 0.20 ML – 1 Trail open to ALL

Vehicles Maintain at current level Restored to existing trail conditions

26S13 Davis Road 0.85 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

26S13A Davis Road 0.60 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S13B Davis Road 0.10 ML – 2 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only Open for Admin Access

Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S14 Davis Heliport 0.41 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S18 Evans Flat West 1.24 ML – 1 Trail open to ALL

Vehicles Maintain at current level Restored to existing trail conditions

26S18A Evans Flat West 0.50 ML – 2 Closed to Public Use.

Admin Access Only Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access (per travel management direction)

26S19 Rhymes 0.80 ML – 2 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only Open for Admin Access

Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S20 Likely Saddle 0.70 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

26S24 Lone Star 1.63 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

26S24A Lone Star 0.50 ML – 2 Highway Vehicles Only Maintain at current level

26S25 Oak Ridge 2.00 ML – 2 Closed to Public Use. Admin Access Only Open for Admin Access

Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S25A Oak Ridge 0.32 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S25B Oak Ridge 0.32 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S25C Oak Ridge 0.14 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor Vehicles

ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen

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Road # Road Name Length Allowed Uses During Operations After Operations

barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S27 Evans Flat C.G. 0.63 ML – 3 Road open to ALL

motor vehicles Maintain at current level

26S27A Evans Flat C.G. 0.11 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Not recommended for

use Decommission (per travel management direction)

26S29 Poso Creek East 0.85 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

26S29A Poso Creek East 0.20 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S29B Poso Creek East 0.20 ML – 1 Closed to ALL Motor

Vehicles ML – 2 Open for Admin Access

ML – 1 Closed entrance with earthen barriers/logs to prevent further access

26S30 Davis Loop 0.80 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

26S37 Pettitt 3.30 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

27S01 Rough and Ready Mtn 0.22 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

27S01A Rough and Ready Mtn 0.64 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

27S13 Eagle 1.90 ML – 2 Open to ALL Vehicles Maintain at current level

Temp Rd Spur A 0.2 Not accessible steep grade Decommission

Action Alternatives:

The following statements would be common to all action alternatives.

• Existing roads and landings would be utilized wherever possible. No new permanent system roads would be constructed for this project.

• Road would be maintained and graded as necessary to allow log trucks and equipment access using minimum disturbance methods and minimum clearing widths. Road maintenance activities would include brushing to improve site distance, maintaining existing cross-slopes on roads, maintenance of rolling dips and water-bars, cleaning ditches, culverts, and overside drains as needed.

• All skid trails constructed for harvest access would be decommissioned/obliterated and blocked by earthen barriers to prevent further access following harvest activities.

• Existing non-system roads in the project area may be used for harvest access only. These non-system roads are considered temporary, and if used for hauling would need to be

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rehabilitated/decommissioned and blocked by earthen barriers to prevent further access following harvest activities.

• Road and trail decommissioning and road reconditioning would be conducted during appropriate periods of weather and soil moisture to protect water quality and to avoid adverse effects.

Economics:

Table 3 Preliminary Quantity and Cost

Road # Road Name Length Cost

25S15 Rancheria 8.41 Surface Replacement Deposits (2.40 miles) and routine maintenance

26S01 Greenhorn Mtn West 1.10 Routine maintenance

26S01A Greenhorn Mtn West 0.70 Routine maintenance

26S01B Greenhorn Mtn West 0.03 Routine maintenance

26S03 Sawmill 2.50 Routine maintenance

26S04 Browns Mill 3.30 Routine maintenance

26S04A Browns Mill 0.30 Routine maintenance

26S04B Browns Mill 0.30 Routine maintenance

26S04C Browns Mill 0.80 Routine maintenance

26S04D Browns Mill 1.00 Routine maintenance and fill reconstruction 60’

26S05 Basket Pass 1.90 Routine maintenance

26S06 Black Gulch 0.50 Routine maintenance

26S07 Frank 1.40 Routine maintenance

26S07A Frank 0.45 Routine maintenance

26S09 Woodward 1.20 Routine maintenance

26S11 Mayflower Mine 0.20 Routine maintenance

26S13 Davis Road 0.85 Routine maintenance

26S13A Davis Road 0.60 Routine maintenance

26S13B Davis Road 0.10 Routine maintenance

26S14 Davis Heliport 0.41 Routine maintenance

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Road # Road Name Length Cost

26S18 Evans Flat West 1.24 Routine maintenance

26S18A Evans Flat West 0.50 Routine maintenance

26S19 Rhymes 0.80 Routine maintenance

26S20 Likely Saddle 0.70 Routine maintenance

26S24 Lone Star 1.63 Routine maintenance

26S24A Lone Star 0.50 Routine maintenance

26S25 Oak Ridge 2.00 Reconstruction

26S25A Oak Ridge 0.32 Routine maintenance, heavy brush clearing

26S25B Oak Ridge 0.32 Routine maintenance, heavy brush clearing

26S25C Oak Ridge 0.14 Routine maintenance, heavy brush clearing

26S27 Evans Flat C.G. 0.63 Routine maintenance

26S27A Evans Flat C.G. 0.11 Decommission

26S29 Poso Creek East 0.85 Routine maintenance

26S29A Poso Creek East 0.20 Routine maintenance

26S29B Poso Creek East 0.20 Routine maintenance

26S30 Davis Loop 0.80 Routine maintenance

26S37 Pettitt 3.30 Routine maintenance

27S01 Rough and Ready Mtn 0.22 Routine maintenance

27S01A Rough and Ready Mtn 0.64 Routine maintenance

27S13 Eagle 1.90 Routine maintenance

Temp Rd Spur A 0.2 Decommission

Road Surface Treatment:

Only estimated unit volumes are available at this time. Preliminary calculations indicate watering would be the economically preferable dust abatement method. Water sources for dust abatement would be identified and approved with the sale administrator. Engineering

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would make final calculations and recommendations during final engineering appraisal package preparation.

Note: Please refer to the Hydrology report for full description on water sources utilization and guidelines.

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APPENDIX

Reference…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..…… A – 1 System Roads Data……………..……………………………………………………………………………………………… B – 1 Best Management Practices………………………………………………………………………………………….……. C – 1 Project Map.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. D – 1

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A-1 REFERENCE

U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], Forest Service. 2009a. Sequoia National Forest Motorized Travel Management Final Environmental Impact Statement. On file at: Sequoia National Forest, 1839 South Newcomb Street, Porterville, CA 93257.

U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], Forest Service. 2009b. Sequoia National Forest Road Accomplishment Reports, 2004-2009. On file at: Sequoia National Forest, 1839 South Newcomb Street, Porterville, CA 93257.

U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], Forest Service. 2009c. Transportation System Maintenance. Forest Service Handbook 7709.58 Washington, DC.

U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], Forest Service. 2009d. Transportation System Operations. Forest Service Handbook 7709.59 Washington, DC.

U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], Forest Service. 2011. Road Preconstruction. Forest Service Handbook 7709.56 Washington, DC.

U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], Forest Service. 2012. Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument Final Environmental Impact Statement. On file at: Sequoia National Forest, 1839 South Newcomb Street, Porterville, CA 93257.

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B-1 SYSTEM ROADS DATA

Road # Road Name Length Operational Maintenance Level Fictional Class Surface Type

25S15 Rancheria 8.41 ML 3 Collector Imp 25S15D Rancheria 0.31 ML 2 Local Native

26S01 Greenhorn Mtn West 1.10 ML 2 Local Native

26S01A Greenhorn Mtn West 0.00 – 0.35 ML 2 Local Native

0.35 – 0.70 ML 1 Local Native

26S01B Greenhorn Mtn West 0.03 ML 1 Local Native

26S03 Sawmill 2.50 ML 2 Local Native

26S04 Browns Mill 3.30 ML 2 Local Native

26S04A Browns Mill 0.30 ML 1 Local Native

26S04B Browns Mill 0.30 ML 1 Local Native

26S04C Browns Mill 0.80 ML 1 Local Native

26S04D Browns Mill 1.00 ML 1 Local Native

26S05 Basket Pass 1.90 ML 2 Local Native

26S06 Black Gulch 0.50 ML 2 Local Native

26S07 Frank 1.40 ML 2 Local Native

26S07A Frank 0.45 ML 2 Local Native

26S09 Woodward 1.20 ML 1 Local Native

26S11 Mayflower Mine 0.20 ML 1 Local Native

26S13 Davis Road 0.85 ML 2 Local Native

26S13A Davis Road 0.60 ML 1 Local Native

26S13B Davis Road 0.10 ML 2 Local Native

26S14 Davis Heliport 0.41 ML 1 Local Native

26S18 Evans Flat West 1.24 ML 1 Local Native

26S18A Evans Flat West 0.50 ML 2 Local Native

26S19 Rhymes 0.80 ML 2 Local Native

26S20 Likely Saddle 0.70 ML 2 Local Native

26S24 Lone Star 1.63 ML 2 Local Native

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Road # Road Name Length Operational Maintenance Level Fictional Class Surface Type

26S24A Lone Star 0.50 ML 2 Local Native

26S25 Oak Ridge 2.00 ML 2 Local Native

26S25A Oak Ridge 0.32 ML 1 Local Native

26S25B Oak Ridge 0.32 ML 1 Local Native

26S25C Oak Ridge 0.14 ML 1 Local Native

26S27 Evans Flat C.G. 0.63 ML 3 Collector Native

26S27A Evans Flat C.G. 0.11 ML 2 Local Native

26S29 Poso Creek East 0.85 ML 2 Local Native

26S29A Poso Creek East 0.20 ML 1 Local Native

26S30 Davis Loop 0.80 ML 2 Local Native

26S33 Mayflower 1.00 ML 1 Local Native

26S37 Pettitt 3.30 ML 2 Local Native

27S01 Rough and Ready Mtn 0.22 ML 2 Local Native

27S01A Rough and Ready Mtn 0.64 ML 2 Local Native

27S13 Eagle 1.90 ML 2 Local Native

Information is as listed in the current USDA Forest Service Infrastructure information database system (INFRA).

Nat = Native Material Imp = Improved Native Material

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C-1 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

BMPs as described in the “National Best Management Practices for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands” have been effective in protecting beneficial uses. Visual field surveys have indicated that these BMPs, where properly implemented, have adequately protected and minimized the impacts to acceptable levels. Past deficiencies in the implementation of these BMPs have been the cause for the erosion problems associated to roads and skid trails. The purpose of this set of Best Management Practices (BMPs) is to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil, water quality, and in-stream riparian resources that may result from road management activities. Road management activities include travel route planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, reconstruction, storage, and decommissioning. Other transportation-system-related activities include stream and waterbody crossings, snow removal, parking areas, and equipment refueling and servicing areas. Roads BMPs Road-2. Road Location and Design

Objective Locate and design roads to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil, water quality, and riparian resources. Road-3. Road Construction and Reconstruction Objective Avoid or minimize adverse effects to soil, water quality, and riparian resources from erosion, sediment, and other pollutant delivery during road construction or reconstruction. Road-4. Road Operations and Maintenance Objective Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil, water quality, and riparian resources by controlling road use and operations and providing adequate and appropriate maintenance to minimize sediment production and other pollutants during the useful life of the road. Road-5. Temporary Roads Objective Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil, water quality, and riparian resources from

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the construction and use of temporary roads. Road-6. Road Storage and Decommissioning Objective Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil, water quality, and riparian resources by storing closed roads not needed for at least 1 year (Intermittent Stored Service) and decommissioning unneeded roads in a hydrologically stable manner to eliminate hydrologic connectivity, restore natural flow patterns, and minimize soil erosion. Road-7. Stream Crossings Objective Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil, water quality, and riparian resources when constructing, reconstructing, or maintaining temporary and permanent waterbody crossings. Road-8. Snow Removal and Storage Objective Avoid or minimize erosion, sedimentation, and chemical pollution that may result from snow removal and storage activities. Road-9. Parking and Staging Areas Objective Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil, water quality, and riparian resources when constructing and maintaining parking and staging areas. Road-10. Equipment Refueling and Servicing Objective Avoid or minimize adverse effects to soil, water quality, and riparian resources from fuels, lubri- cants, cleaners, and other harmful materials discharging into nearby surface waters or infiltrating through soils to contaminate groundwater resources during equipment refueling and servicing activities. Road-11. Road Storm-Damage Surveys

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Objective Monitor road conditions following storm events to detect road failures; assess damage or potential damage to waterbodies, riparian resources, and watershed functions; determine the causes of the failures; and identify potential remedial actions at the damaged sites and preventative actions at similar sites. Note: Please refer to the “National Best Management Practices for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands” April 2012, for full description of the BMPs listed above.

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D-1 PROJECT MAP