SPECIALLY DESIGNATED AREAS EFFECTS REPORT CAMINO REAL RANGER DISTRICT TRAVEL MANAGEMENT Carson National Forest Taos, Rio Arriba, Colfax, and Mora Counties New Mexico /s/ Kathryn Furr Sept 25, 2013 KATHRYN FURR Date East Zone NEPA Coordinator
Wilderness The Camino Real Ranger District (RD) contains a portion of the Pecos Wilderness Area (24,735 acres). The Wilderness Act and the Carson and Santa Fe forest plans under which the area is managed require these areas to be managed for high quality primitive recreational opportunities. Motor vehicle use within the wilderness is prohibited. Inventoried Roadless Areas The Pecos Addition Inventory Roadless Area (IRA) (20,058 acres) is located on the Camino Real RD. This IRA is identified in the Carson forest plan as Management Area 20 - Semi-Primitive. It is managed to preserve its natural landscape characteristics and for semi-primitive motorized and nonmotorized recreation opportunities. Travel by wheeled vehicles is restricted to designated roads or trails. There are approximately 3.5 miles of designated motorized trails within the IRA. An additional 4,400 acres identified in the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation II (RARE II) is located along Comales Canyon south of State Highway 518 near Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort. The Carson NF manages this area to maintain the integrity of the area under the 2000 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (66 FR 3244-3273; USDA 2001). There are no roads or trails designated for motorized use within this area. None of the alternatives propose any changes that would affect motorized use in this area. Arellano Canyon Proposed Research Natural Area The 620 acre Arellano Canyon Area, on the Camino Real RD is identified in the Carson forest plan as Management Area 19 - Special Areas (USDA 1986c). Until a decision is made about this proposed RNA, it is managed to preserve the area in an unmodified condition for research and education. No new roads may be constructed and all off-road vehicle travel within the study area is prohibited. There is one existing system road within the RNA. Wild and Scenic Rivers The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. The Act is notable for safeguarding the special character of these rivers, while also recognizing the potential for their appropriate use and development. It encourages river management that crosses political boundaries and promotes public participation in developing goals for river protection. There are no waterways classified as wild and/or scenic on the Camino Real RD. Wild and Scenic River Eligibility The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was passed by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.). It established a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and prescribed the methods and standards through which additional rivers may be identified and added to the system. Eligible rivers are free-flowing and possess certain outstandingly remarkable values including scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values. There were no wild, scenic, or recreational rivers designated under the act on the Camino Real RD. 3
Pursuant to Section 5(d)(1) of the act, the Secretary of Agriculture requires the Forest Service to evaluate rivers within its jurisdiction for their potential for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Evaluation of a river s potential as a wild and scenic river consists of the following 3-step process: 1. Determination of eligibility (inventory); 2. Potential classification - wild, scenic, or recreational (inventory); and 3. Determination of suitability (decision). In 1996, the Carson NF evaluated rivers on the Camino Real RD pursuant to the act. An eligibility and classification inventory was completed by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in wildlife, recreation, hydrology, and fisheries (USDA 1996). Fourteen of the 25 inventoried stream segments were considered eligible for designation in the National Wild and Scenic River System on the Camino Real RD. The eligible stream segments on the Camino Real RD and the outstandingly remarkable values for which they are noted are summarized in Table 1. Table 1. Eligible Wild and Scenic River segments on the Camino Real RD River Name Rio Grande del Rancho Rio Grande del Rancho Rito de la Olla Middle Rio Pueblo Rito Alamitos Rito de la Presa & tributaries Rio Pueblo tributaries (La Cueva, Flechado, Gallegos,& Tio Maes) Rio Santa Barbara Rio Santa Barbara Rio Santa Barbara Warm Springs and Tierra Amarilla Cyn Arroyo Hondo Rio de las Trampas & Rio San Leonardo Rio Las Trampas Segment Reach Description From headwaters to Rito de la Olla From confluence of Rito de la Olla to forest boundary From headwaters to Rio Grande del Rancho From Rito Angostura to Osha diversion From headwaters to Alamitos diversion From headwaters to Rio Pueblo From La Presa to Osha diversion (near Camp Summerlife) From headwaters to Santa Barbara Campground From Santa Barbara Campground to concrete bridge on FR 116 From concrete bridge on FR 116 to forest boundary From headwaters to forest boundary From Serna Land Grant boundary to forest boundary From headwaters to their confluence From San Leonardo to forest boundary Length (miles) Outstandingly Remarkable Values 1 Class 2 S R G F W H C O 13-14 X X S 4-5 X X R 12-13 X X S 9-10 X H R 6-7 X W 13-17 X X R 7-10 X S 13-18 X X X X X X X W.5-1 X X X X R 1-2 X R 2-3 X X X W 1.5-2 X S 4-5 X X X X W 11-13 X X R
River Name Segment Reach Description Length (miles) Outstandingly Remarkable Values 1 Class 2 S R G F W H C O 1 S=Scenic, R=Recreational, G=Geologic, F=Fish, W=Wildlife, H=Historic, C=Cultural, O=Other 2 R= Recreational, W=Wild, S=Scenic The Carson NF amended its forest plan (amendment 12) to incorporate guidance on how to manage river segments deemed eligible through its forest-wide inventory (USDA 2002), but did not select eligible segments or identify which rivers the Forest Service would recommend to Congress for designation. Amendment 12 provides direction on protecting outstandingly remarkable values so as to not preclude an eligible river or river segment from eventually becoming a formal candidate for wild and scenic river designation. Before these waterways can be designated as components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, they must undergo a final suitability evaluation, including public involvement, and be designated by Congress. Environmental Consequences None of the alternatives propose any changes that would affect specially designated areas on the Camino Real RD. Motor vehicle use would continue to be prohibited in the Pecos Wilderness and the IRA along Comales Canyon. The existing motorized trails located within the Pecos Addition IRA and the existing road within the Arellano Canyon Proposed RNA would remain unchanged. The fourteen wild and scenic river segments and their outstandingly remarkable values would not be impacted by any of the travel management alternatives. 5
Literature Cited Behan, Jeffrey R.; Richards, Merton T.; Lee, Martha E. 2000. How do visitor density and anthropogenic change in front-country wilderness settings affect recreation benefits? In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; O Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference, Volume 4: Wilderness visitors, experiences, and visitor management; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-4. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 63-68. USDA. 1986a. Environmental Impact Statement, Carson National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Albuquerque, NM. USDA. 1986b. Record of Decision for the Environmental Impact Statement, Carson National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Albuquerque, NM. USDA. 1986c. Carson National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (forest plan) as amended. USDA Forest Service, Carson National Forest. Taos, NM. USDA. 1996. Rivers or river segments on the Camino Real Ranger District evaluated for eligibility for possible inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System. Inventory. USDA. 2001 Roadless area conservation rule. 36 CFR Part 294. RIN 0596-AB77. Special Areas; Roadless Conservation. Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2001 / Rules and Regulations. USDA Forest Service. USDA. 2002. Decision Notice and Environmental Assessment for Carson Forest Plan Amendment 12: protection of eligible wild, scenic or recreational river areas. USDA Forest Service, Carson National Forest. Taos, NM. USDI 1982. National wild and scenic rivers system: final revised guidelines for eligibility, classification and management of river areas. Federal Register. Volume 47, Number 173. USDI National Park Service and USDA Forest Service. Washington, DC. September 1982.