Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act Non Motorized Trail...

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United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Northern Region Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest R1-17-01 December 2016 Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act Non-Motorized Trail Improvement Study

Transcript of Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act Non Motorized Trail...

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United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Northern Region

Helena-Lewis and Clark

National Forest R1-17-01 December 2016

Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act

Non-Motorized Trail

Improvement Study

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Cover photo: Mountain bikers on a National Forest Trail. Photo by Michael Chapman, used by permission with all

rights reserved by photographer.

Contents

Purpose and Background ............................................................................................................................................ 1

Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act ................................................................................................................. 1

Travel Management ......................................................................................................................................... 1

Study Approach ................................................................................................................................................ 1

District Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 2

Roads ................................................................................................................................................................ 2

Developed Recreation Sites .............................................................................................................................. 2

Trail System ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

Current Proposed Opportunities by Location: ........................................................................................................... 3

District-Wide Opportunities for Non-Motorized Recreation Improvement..................................................... 3

Badger Two Medicine ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Blackleaf-Teton ................................................................................................................................................. 7

Sun Canyon ....................................................................................................................................................... 9

Little Willow South (including Benchmark) .................................................................................................... 11

Appendix 1: Recreation Site Tables .......................................................................................................................... 13

Badger-Two Medicine Area ............................................................................................................................ 13

Blackleaf-Teton Area ...................................................................................................................................... 13

Sun Canyon Area ............................................................................................................................................ 14

Little Willow-South (Including Benchmark) .................................................................................................... 15

Maps

Map 1: Overview Map ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Map 2: Badger-Two Medicine Area ..................................................................................................................... 6

Map 3: Blackleaf-Teton Area ............................................................................................................................... 8

Map 4: Sun Canyon Area ................................................................................................................................... 10

Map 5: Little Willow – South, Including Benchmark .......................................................................................... 12

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Purpose and Background

The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Rocky Mountain Ranger District, as directed by the Rocky Mountain

Front Heritage Act, has completed a study of potential improvements for non-motorized recreation trail

opportunities and trailhead facilities on land not designated as wilderness within the Rocky Mountain Ranger

District (RMRD).

The intent of this Study was for the non-motorized recreation community to help the Forest Service identify work

priorities when funds are available. The study should help maximize work beneficial to non-motorized users, with

emphasis to those traveling by bicycle. The completion of the following improvements in this document are

contingent upon funding levels and the priorities discussed below.

It is the intent of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest that this document will be amended as projects are

either accomplished or new projects warrant an addition.

Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act

The Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act (RMFHA) was signed into law on December 19th, 2014, under Public Law

113-291; 128 Stat. 3835 (section 3065 (f) of the “Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘Buck’ McKeon National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015”).

As directed by the RMFHA “the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with interested parties, shall conduct a

study to improve nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities (including mountain bicycling) on land not

designated as wilderness within the district.” The RMFHA defines a nonmotorized recreation trail as “a trail

designed for hiking, bicycling, or equestrian use.”

Travel Management

The study will not supersede current travel management or travel plans for the District. Travel management for

the RMRD was completed in 2007 (Birch Creek South) and 2009 (Badger Two Medicine). The RMFHA designated a

Conservation Management Area (CMA) which permits motorized use only on existing routes and areas that were

allowed as of the date of the enactment of the Act. The Badger-Two Medicine (BTM) area (outside the CMA) was

limited to predominately non-motorized travel in the 2009 Travel Plan decision. This study is not a review of the

CMA or travel management decision for the BTM; no changes will be made to the current travel management

designations as a result of this study.

Study Approach

The RMRD is evaluating non-motorized opportunities in four categories.

• National Forest Road System open to the public

• Developed Recreation Sites and Trailheads

• National Forest Trails System

• Public Access to Non-Motorized Recreation Opportunities

Opportunities within each category have been split into four geographic locations along the RMRD, starting on the

north end of the District and moving south

• Badger Two Medicine

• Blackleaf-Teton

• Sun Canyon

• Little Willow south (including Benchmark)

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District Overview

Roads

The Rocky Mountain Ranger District Road Complex consists of 94 miles of roads open yearlong or seasonally to

motorized travel and 10 miles of roads closed yearlong to motorized travel.

Developed Recreation Sites

Developed Recreation Sites are those sites throughout the District where human-made improvements have been

added either for the enjoyment and comfort of users or to prevent resource damage. These sites include rental

cabins, campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, boat launches and interpretive sites. In general, trailheads and

campgrounds are built to accommodate all types of users (both motorized and non-motorized). Some sites have

had features added to aid equestrian users such as feed bunks and hitch rails. Overnight camping is prohibited

within 200 ft. of any developed trailhead facility on the District, unless otherwise posted. However, there are

trailhead facilities that have adjacent camping facilities (See Tables 2-5 in Appendix 1).

On the Rocky Mountain Ranger District developed sites are located from the southern tip of Glacier Park along

Highway 2 south to the Dearborn River. This is approximately 160 linear miles. (See Map 1)

Each developed site contains a unique set of “features” which are the man-made improvements located within

the site. See Appendix 1 for tables displaying the various features associated with each developed site on the

district.

The Recreation budget for the operation and maintenance of these sites has trended downward for the past 8

years, experiencing over a 61% decline at the District level.

Until 2013 the Forest Service’s Northern Region had a program where recreation facility maintenance and roads

funds were allocated to each Forest for large scale recreation site rehabilitation projects. These projects were

deemed Recreation Capital Improvement projects. At this time there is not currently a funding avenue for new

construction or large scale rehabilitation of developed recreation sites.

Several recent Recreation Capital Improvement Projects completed at developed recreation sites have been:

• 2007 – Wood Lake Campground/Picnic Area Reconstruction (Map 5)

• 2012 – Cave Mountain Campground/Middle Fork Teton Trailhead Reconstruction (Map 3)

• 2012 – Blackleaf Trailhead Reconstruction (Map 3)

• 2013 – West Fork Teton Campground Reconstruction (Map 3)

See Tables 2-5 in Appendix 1: Recreation Site Tables for detailed information on each of the District’s Developed

Recreation Sites.

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Trail System

The trail system on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District is an extensive network of routes that provide Forest

visitors access to many of the major and minor drainages throughout the District. These trails vary widely in their

level of use and condition, and allow for multiple uses, both motorized and non-motorized (See TABLE 1).

Trails Open to: Miles

ATV, Motorcycle, all Non-Motorized Uses 21

Motorcycle, all Non-Motorized Uses 49

Bicycle, Pack and Saddle, Hiker 307

Hiker Only, non-wilderness 7

Pack and Saddle, Hikers, non-wilderness 51

Wilderness (Pack and Saddle, Hiker) 555

Grand Total 990

TABLE 1. TRAIL MILEAGES BY ALLOWED USE

The Trails Program on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District currently sets its work priorities as such:

1. Maintain access by clearing downfall annually.

2. Improve trail sections that pose a potential threat to user safety (e.g. missing tread on cliff sections,

washouts, rotten and damaged structures)

3. Improve trail sections that are causing resource concerns (e.g. erosion resulting in stream sedimentation,

locations impacting sensitive species).

The trail program’s budget has trended downward for the past decade, with the District program experiencing

close to a 60% decline in funding with a projection of an additional 10% decline annually for the next 3 years. This

has compromised the District’s ability to keep up with the routine maintenance on its trails system. An increase in

large wildfires has coincided with this decline in funding and resulted in some trails experiencing an extensive

period of time before downfall removal. Popular trails in burned areas require downfall removal 3 to 5 times

throughout the year to remain travelable. As a result there is little room in existing budgets to accomplish work

that doesn’t fit into the first two priority categories. Future funding forecasts suggest a stagnant budget or similar

declines.

The District currently partners with several different organizations that provide the logistics and crews to

accomplish trail work. User groups are invited to discuss partnerships with the District that would allow them to

make improvements or maintain routes that provide them a recreation opportunity.

Current Proposed Opportunities by Location:

District-Wide Opportunities for Non-Motorized Recreation

Improvement

• Pursue partnerships with user groups to help create and maintain an online and mobile friendly map

that provides users trail conditions and information.

• Create a bicycle specific map of opportunities on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District.

• These map products might be created by the Forest Service, in cooperation with user-group

partners, or through providing app developers access to high-quality data. The Forest Service is

currently a business partner with Avenza, and can make georeferenced maps available through that

mobile app.

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Badger Two Medicine

Road Improvements

• Improve Lubec Road 8960 turn off of Highway 2 and signage of NFS access along Highway 2.

• The Forest Service will pursue a public route easement through the Blackfoot Indian reservation

from the Heart Butte Cutoff road to the Palookaville Road 9218.

• Improve the Palookaville Road 9218: grade, gravel and replace culverts.

Developed Recreation Sites

• Summit Trailhead – site hardening, road and parking delineation & addition of horse camping

facilities, highway signage.

• Lubec Trailhead construction – construct parking area, road improvement, signage.

Trails System

• Sign the bicycle bypass on North Fork Birch Trail 121 so that bicyclists can avoid crossing into the

Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Photo 1: Half Dome Trail 119

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Blackleaf-Teton

Road Improvements

• General road maintenance

• Gravel and Harden North fork Teton road from the Forest Boundary to the Ski Area

Developed Recreation Sites

• Green Gulch Trailhead rehabilitation/upgrade – new hitchrack, feedbunk and signage. Widen and

improve road and parking.

• Clary Coulee Trailhead Rehabilitation – improve road, parking and signage.

• North Waldron Creek winter parking for ski trails – road widening for parking and regular winter

plowing.

Trails System

• Improve signs along Cow Creek Trail 191.

• Re-establish Clary Coulee Trail 177 and Rocky Mountain Front Trail 153 on NFS lands to Muddy

Creek along Choteau Mountain.

• Improve Mill Falls Trail 185 to hiker trail standards.

Photo 2: Old sign at Rierdon Gulch Trail

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Sun Canyon

Road Improvements

• General road maintenance

• Patch and chip seal Sun canyon blacktop

• Harden bridge approaches along Beaver-Willow road

• Grade and gravel Hannan Gulch Road 8983/3305 to the first creek crossing

Developed Recreation Sites

• Home Gulch Campground rehabilitation – new, accessible site furnishings, widen and improve road

and spurs (add pull-through where feasible) within campground.

Trails System

• Pursue a public easement through private land on Home Gulch Trail 267 at Cutrock Creek behind

Sawtooth Ridge.

Photo 3: Pack string on the Gibson Lake Trail 201

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Little Willow South (including Benchmark)

Road Improvements

• General road maintenance

• Grade and gravel McCarty Hill section of Beaver-Willow Road 233

• Grade and gravel Willow Creek Road 3318 and parking area at the end of the road

Developed Recreation Sites

• Benchmark Campground rehabilitation – new site furnishing (accessible), roads and spurs (add pull-

through where feasible) within campground.

• Facility upgrade at Elk Creek Trailhead with new outhouse and hitchrails.

Trails System

• Improve signing along and to Crown Mountain Trail 270 and Petty-Ford Trail 244 and Petty Creek

Trail 232.

• Improve tread on Trail 244 near junction with Trail 232.

• Pursue a public easement through private land from the Dearborn River Road to the Falls Creek Trail

229.

• Improve signs along Smith Creek Trail 215.

Photo 4: Willow Creek Road 3318

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Appendix 1: Recreation Site Tables

Badger-Two Medicine Area

Site Name Amenity Type Number of

Amenities

Marias Pass Historic Site Toilet 2

Lubec Trailhead (Undeveloped) Parking Area 1

Summit Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 17 Host Site 1 Picnic Table 17 Toilet 2 Tent Pad 8 Hand Water Pump 1

Summit Trailhead Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Toilet 1

Table 2: Badger-Two Medicine Developed Recreation Sites

Blackleaf-Teton Area

Site Name Amenity Type Number of

Amenities

Blackleaf Trailhead Hitching Rack 3 Toilet 1

Cave Mountain Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 18 Hitching Rack 4 Manger 4 Picnic Table 18 Tent Pad 18 Toilet 3 Hand Water Pump 2

Clary Coulee Trailhead (Undeveloped) Parking Area 1

Elko Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 3 Picnic Table 2 Toilet 1

Green Gulch Trailhead Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Manger 1 Toilet 1

Jones Creek Trailhead (Undeveloped) Parking Area 1

Middle Fork Teton Trailhead Hitching Rack 1 Toilet 1

Mill Falls Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 4 Picnic Table 4 Tent Pad 4

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Site Name Amenity Type Number of

Amenities Toilet 1

South Fork Teton Trailhead Corral 1 Hitching Rack 2 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Manger 1 Toilet 1

South Fork Teton Tack Shed Trailhead

(Undeveloped) Parking Area 1

West Fork Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 6 Hitching Rack 6 Manger 1 Picnic Table 6 Toilet 1 Tent Pad - Low ROS 6 Hand Water Pump 1

West Fork Teton Cabin Toilet 1 Hand Water Pump 1

West Fork Teton Trailhead Hitching Rack 3 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Manger 1 Toilet 1

Table 3: Blackleaf and Teton Area Developed Recreation Sites

Sun Canyon Area

Site Name Amenity Type Number of

Amenities

Beaver Trailhead Combination Fire Ring/Grill 4 Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Loading/Unloading Ramp, ATV 1 Manger 1 Toilet 1

Gibson Boat Launch Ramp 1 Toilet 1

Home Gulch Boat Launch Ramp 1 Toilet 1

Home Gulch Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 15 Picnic Table 15 Toilet 2 Tent Pad - Low ROS 11 Hand Water Pump 3

Mortimer Gulch Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 27 Host Site 1

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Site Name Amenity Type Number of

Amenities Picnic Table 27 Tent Pad 5 Toilet 4 Trailer/Rv Hookup 1 Hand Water Pump 1

Mortimer Gulch Trailhead Hitching Rack 3 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Manger 2 Toilet 1

Table 4: Sun Canyon Area Developed Recreation Sites

Little Willow-South (Including Benchmark)

Site Name Amenity Type Number of

Amenities

Benchmark Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 25 Hitching Rack 12 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Manger 7 Picnic Table 25 Toilet 3 Tent Pad - Low ROS 25 Hand Water Pump 2

Crown Mountain Trailhead Parking Area 1

Dearborn Trailhead Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 2 Manger 1 Toilet 1

Double Falls Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 2 Picnic Table 2 Toilet 1

Elk Creek Trailhead Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 2 Toilet 1

Fairview Trailhead (Undeveloped) Parking Area 1

Kenck Cabin Fire Ring 1 Toilet 1

Little Willow Trailhead Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 1

Ron Janikula Trailhead Fire Ring 1 Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Toilet 1

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Site Name Amenity Type Number of

Amenities

Smith Creek Trailhead Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Toilet 1

South Fork Sun Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 7 Hitching Rack 4 Stock Loading Ramp 1 Manger 1 Picnic Table 7 Toilet 1 Tent Pad - Low ROS 7 Hand Water Pump 2

South Fork Sun Trailhead Hitching Rack 1 Stock Loading Ramp 2 Manger 7 Toilet 1

Straight Creek Trailhead Parking Area 1

Van DeReit Memorial Pilots

Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 5

Picnic Table 6 Toilet 1 Hand Water Pump 1

Willow Creek Trailhead

(Undeveloped) Parking Area 1

Wood Lake Campground Combination Fire Ring/Grill 12 Picnic Table 12 Tent Pad 12 Toilet 2 Hand Water Pump 1

Wood Lake Picnic Area Combination Fire Ring/Grill 6 Picnic Table 6 Ramp 1 Toilet 1

Table 5: South End (Including Benchmark) Developed Recreation Sites

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For information about this document, contact the Rocky Mountain Ranger

District, P.O. Box 340, Choteau, Montana, (406) 466-5341

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its

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administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on

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programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or

incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication

for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign

Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDAs TARGET

Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information

may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program

Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.

usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a

letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information

requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866)

632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax:

(202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.