Notice2024-09720
White River National Forest; Colorado; Sweetwater Lake Recreation Management and Development Project
Primary source
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Published
May 6, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is preparing an environmental impact statement to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the Sweetwater Lake Recreation Management and Development Project. This project encompasses 832 acres, including 488 acres acquired by the Forest Service in 2021, located on the White River National Forest on lands surrounding Sweetwater Lake in northeastern Garfield County, Colorado. The Forest Service proposes to improve recreation access and facilities and authorize a long-term special use permit to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife to manage the area. This project may require an amendment to the White River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (forest plan).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 88 (Monday, May 6, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 88 (Monday, May 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37165-37167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09720]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
White River National Forest; Colorado; Sweetwater Lake Recreation
Management and Development Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is
preparing an environmental impact statement to evaluate the potential
environmental impacts associated with the Sweetwater Lake Recreation
Management and Development Project. This project encompasses 832 acres,
including 488 acres acquired by the Forest Service in 2021, located on
the White River National Forest on lands surrounding Sweetwater Lake in
northeastern Garfield County, Colorado. The Forest Service proposes to
improve recreation access and facilities and authorize a long-term
special use permit to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife to manage the
area. This project may require an amendment to the White River National
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (forest plan).
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by August 5, 2024. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
February 2025, and the final environmental impact statement is expected
February 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Scott Fitzwilliams, White River
National Forest Supervisor, c/o Leanne Veldhuis, District Ranger Eagle-
Holy Cross Ranger District, White River National Forest, P.O. Box 190,
Minturn, CO 81645. Comments may also be submitted electronically at
<a href="https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=64047">https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=64047</a> or
submitted via facsimile to 970-827-9343.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the
project can be obtained from the project web page at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/whiteriver/?project=64047">https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/whiteriver/?project=64047</a> or by contacting
Leanne Veldhuis, District Ranger, Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District,
24747 U.S. Hwy. 24, P.O. Box 190, Minturn, CO 81645. Ms. Veldhuis can
be reached by phone at 970-827-5715 or by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c1ada4a0afafa4efb7a4ada5a9b4a8b281b4b2a5a0efa6aeb7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="99f5fcf8f7f7fcb7effcf5fdf1ecf0ead9eceafdf8b7fef6ef">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use telecommunications
devices for the hearing impaired may call 711 to reach the
Telecommunications Relay Service, 24 hours a day, every day of the
year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A successful grassroots effort within the
local community, which included donations from Eagle County and the
Town of Gypsum, was able to protect the area around Sweetwater Lake
from private development with a purchase by The Conservation Fund. The
Forest Service purchased the 488 acres surrounding Sweetwater Lake from
The Conservation Fund to facilitate public access and maintain the
natural resource-based recreational opportunities at the site.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of the proposed action is to provide the public a
natural resource-based recreational and educational experience at
Sweetwater Lake that is reflective of the culture and history of the
area while managing visitation at the appropriate scale for the long-
term viability of the 832 acres surrounding the lake and its resources.
The actions proposed in the Sweetwater Lake Recreation Management
and Development Project are needed to:
<bullet> Enhance and provide sustainable management of the public
lands around Sweetwater Lake.
<bullet> Provide updated and sustainable nature-based recreational
services to the public that are appropriate to the environment and are
responsive to the recreational needs of the public.
<bullet> Improve the site's existing recreation infrastructure
while providing updated facilities in alignment with applicable laws,
policies, and known best practices.
<bullet> Develop and implement management strategies to reduce or
mitigate potential impacts on the site's natural and cultural resources
from public visitation.
<bullet> Provide for year-round on-site management, including
oversight and management for all the site's resources and facilities.
<bullet> Provide public recreational, interpretative, and
educational opportunities.
Proposed Action
The White River National Forest is proposing multiple actions to
meet the purpose and need of the project, as described below.
Authorize a 20-year special use permit to Colorado Parks and
Wildlife, under the Granger-Thye Act, to implement and maintain
improvements described below and manage the area consistent with the
purpose and need.
Redesign the current site to promote recreational opportunities at
a scale that is compatible with the capacity of the project area, its
resources, and the surrounding area. The proposed site design would
minimize impacts to wildlife and natural resources by utilizing those
areas and lands that have been previously disturbed and would include
the following actions.
<bullet> Evaluate existing structures for retention with an
emphasis on those buildings that provide the best opportunity to
interpret the rich history at Sweetwater. If feasible, some structures
may be restored to the historic character of their 1920-to-1940
construction and used as part of the cultural interpretative program
for the site. Existing structures that are in a state of severe
deferred maintenance and out of compliance with various laws,
regulations, and policies may be removed.
<bullet> Develop a new campground area to provide 15 to 20
campsites in a historically disturbed area that currently contains
little native vegetation (``lower pasture'').
<bullet> Construct 8 to 12 new cabins to provide an overnight
recreation opportunity similar to that which historically existed in
the vicinity. These cabins would be constructed with materials and
architecture designed to provide a ``rustic'' western character similar
to the styles of other cabins and lodges in the Flat Tops area of
Colorado.
<bullet> Construct equestrian facilities in the ``middle pasture.''
Proposed facilities would include barn and stable operation, 4 to 7
overnight equestrian camping sites, and extra day-use parking for
equestrian users. This area could also provide overnight parking and
access to the surrounding Flat Tops Wilderness Area. This location is
previously disturbed and is proposed
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for equestrian facilities to minimize the impact to the natural
resources, while separating use between equestrians and other visitors.
<bullet> Develop additional lake access points. Any new access will
include minimal disturbance to the lakeshore and lakeside willows by
utilizing perpendicular-only paths through the willows to fishing docks
or watercraft launching docks to minimize any disturbance on the lake
edge.
<bullet> Convert the existing Forest Service campground and parking
to day-use individual or group picnic sites and maintain the existing
day-use trailhead and lake-access parking in this area.
<bullet> Construct a new lodge with administrative, educational,
and interpretive spaces to enhance the visitor experience through site
amenities and services. This new lodge building may offer small-scale
food service capabilities such as a small coffee and pie shop or
limited prepackaged food offerings that would align with Forest Service
policies for providing food service on National Forest System lands
while not necessitating an increase in wastewater accommodation. The
construction of a group picnic site with a possible food truck or
mobile kitchen parking will also be explored in this area for small
events or day-to-day operations.
<bullet> Evaluate establishing day-use hiking and equestrian trails
on the northeast side of the lake. These trails would provide loop
trails and connections between the existing Ute Trail, to the new
equestrian area, and the Keep Ditch Trail. These trails could provide
an additional access to the Flat Tops Wilderness Area other than the
existing Hilltop trailhead north of the project area. Evaluate
establishing trails to a new overlook on the southwest side of the lake
to provide an additional scenic overlook of the lake. Evaluate
additional trails within the project area to highlight the historical
significance of the site and its buildings as part of an interpretive
trail system or provide other recreational opportunities.
<bullet> Construct appropriate maintenance facilities, equipment
storage, and personnel housing necessary for management and
maintenance.
<bullet> For the cave within the project area, develop a cave
management plan in consultation with the tribes to ensure the vital
cultural history is preserved and incorporate the plan into the
proposed special use permit.
A map of the proposed project boundary and draft proposed action
conceptional diagram are available on the project web page at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/whiteriver/?project=64047">https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/whiteriver/?project=64047</a>.
The Forest Service would close the wetlands and the historic
pasture north of the lake to human entry to preserve delicate ecologic
resources. In addition, the proposed action will evaluate the need for
ecosystem restoration in this area and authorize restoration actions,
if needed.
The proposed action may require amending the forest plan. The
project areas currently bounding the newly purchased property includes
Management Area 5.41--Deer and Elk Winter Range to the north and
Management Area 5.4--Forested Flora and Fauna Habitats to the south.
Land acquisitions to the National Forest System generally adopt the
adjacent management area prescription. The proposed action will be
evaluated for forest plan consistency to determine the need for a plan
amendment which could require modifications to some plan components or
other plan content.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The lead agency for this project proposal is the Forest Service.
Cooperating agencies include Garfield County, Eagle County, the Town of
Gypsum, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Responsible Official
The responsible official is Mr. Scott Fitzwilliams, White River
National Forest Supervisor, White River National Forest, 900 Grand
Ave., P.O. Box 948, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
Scoping Comments and the Objection Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. In this process
the Forest Service is requesting comments on potential alternatives and
impacts, and identification of any relevant information, including
comments on aspects of the White River National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan (2002) that may guide or constrain activities
described in the proposed action, or other studies or analyses
concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment.
Multiple public engagement opportunities were held to inform the
public and help shape this proposal. Online comment forms were
available on the Eagle Valley Land Trust website from October 2021 to
May 2023 and an online public survey was conducted in March 2023.
Multiple public meetings in different locations were held in January
and February 2022. A virtual ``NEPA 101'' training was provided in
November 2022 and a virtual public meeting was held in November 2022.
Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife leaders also met with
twelve community members in a bi-weekly working group format (13
meetings) from October 2022 to May 2023 to bring community interest and
ideas to the project as well as report back to the broader community.
Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife leaders also conducted
interviews with multiple stakeholders in the area and met regularly
with the outfitter and guide who operated on the site under multiple
private owners for almost 40 years. From July 2023 to January 2024, the
Forest Service and the cooperating agencies have met approximately once
a month for a total of seven (7) meetings to work through the project
issues and address known public concerns in preparation for the scoping
process. The scoping process will include three (3) public meetings in
addition to the electronic or written comments to the Forest Service.
Dates, times, and locations of the public meetings will be announced on
the project web page at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/whiteriver/?project=64047">https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/whiteriver/?project=64047</a>.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the final environmental impact statement; therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. Commenting during
scoping and any other designated opportunity to comment provided by the
responsible official as prescribed by the applicable regulations will
also govern eligibility to object once the final environmental impact
statement and draft record of decision have been published. Comments
received in response to this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record for
this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted
and considered; however, they will not be used to establish eligibility
for the objection process.
Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously
submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project
during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in
accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a), 219.16, and 219.52, as applicable.
Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted
timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless
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based on new information arising after designated opportunities.
Permits, Licenses, or Other Authorizations Required
This proposed action will consider the authorization of a long-term
special use permit to Colorado Parks and Wildlife to operate and manage
the site.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Given the purpose and need, the responsible official will determine
whether the proposed action complies with all applicable laws governing
Forest Service actions and with the applicable standards and guidelines
found in the forest plan; whether the environmental impact statement
has sufficient site-specific environmental analysis to make an informed
decision; and whether the proposed action meets the purpose and need
for action. With this information, the responsible official must decide
whether to select the proposed action or one of any other potential
alternatives that may be developed, and what, if any, additional
actions should be required.
Substantive Provisions
The following substantive provisions of the 2012 Planning Rule (36
CFR 219.8-11) may be directly related to the proposed forest plan
amendment (219.13(b)(5)): 36 CFR 219.8(a) Ecological sustainability; 36
CFR 219.8 (b) Social and economic sustainability; 36 CFR 219.9(a)
Ecosystem plan components; 36 CFR 219.9(b) Additional, species specific
plan components; 36 CFR 219.9(c) Species of conservation of concern; 36
CFR 219.10(a) Integrated resource management for multiple use; and 36
CFR 219.10(a) Lands not suited for timber production.
Gregory C. Smith,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2024-09720 Filed 5-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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