Environmental Consequences

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IMPACTS OF IMPLEMENTING ALTERNATIVE 4

VISITOR USE

Diversity of Recreational Opportunity

Relative to the no- action alternative, alternative 4 would reduce the range of visitor experience. Visitor experience would stress low environmental impact on and harmony with the park’s resources. During the summer, many existing opportunities for scenic driving and back country hiking and camping would continue. Nature viewing and boat tours would also continue to be available. New opportunities for hiking and solitude along the caldera rim would be added with the closure of a portion of Rim Drive between Cleetwood Cove and Kerr Notch to vehicular traffic. Visitors would be able to experience the caldera rim and views of the lake without the intrusion of vehicular traffic. There would be a reduction in front country areas and a corresponding decrease in the number of short interpretive hiking trails. Backcountry hiking and camping opportunities would increase.

Winter access to the park beyond Mazama Village would be by snowcoach only, which would offer a new visitor experience. There would be no winter private vehicle access to Rim Village, which would eliminate the traditional visitor experience of driving to the rim in the winter. Snowmobile access along the North Entrance Road to North Junction would not be allowed, resulting in a loss of this winter visitor experience. There would be no motorized access and no maintained trail on Grayback Drive, which would be allowed to return to natural conditions. Visitors would gain a new winter snowcoach experience and the new experience of hiking without vehicular traffic on a portion of Rim Drive. These new experiences would be offset by a loss of the Rim Drive automobile experience which is very important to most visitors. Overall, the change in the diversity of visitor experience would be readily apparent and would affect a relatively large number of visitors, resulting in moderate, adverse impacts on the diversity of visitor opportunity.

Visitor Access and Circulation

Relative to the no action alternative, under alternative 4 motor vehicle accessibility to the park would be reduced. During peak use most of the park’s road system would be accessible and visitors would be able to drive to many locations in the park. A portion of Rim Drive between Cleetwood Cove and Kerr Notch would be closed to motorized travel. The Grayback Drive would also be closed to motorized travel and the centerpiece of the automobile tour experience in the park would be lost. During the winter months the park would not be accessible via private vehicle beyond Mazama Village. To alleviate traffic congestion, especially along Rim Drive during the summer season, use of a mandatory alternative transportation system would be explored. A feasibility analysis would determine whether the shuttle would be concession, Park Service operated, or a service contract.

Changes in motorized accessibility would be detectable and localized in area; however modification to traffic flow on Rim Drive would affect a large number of visitors, resulting in moderate, long- term, adverse impacts to motorized accessibility. Closure of a portion of Rim Drive may have moderate long- term, adverse, impacts on Rim Drive as the centerpiece of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway and All American Road.

Access to trailheads and opportunities for day hikes on frontcountry trails along the park’s road system would be reduced and many front country short trail hiking experiences would be lost. The entire trail system would be reviewed and new backcountry trails might be provided (e.g. low elevation nature trails). Some trails might be eliminated and the area rehabilitated. Rim Drive between Cleetwood Cove and Kerr Notch would be closed to private vehicles, and would thus offer new opportunities for non- motorized activities. Loss of frontcountry trails is important because visitor surveys indicate that short trails are extremely important to a majority of visitors. A reduction of frontcountry trail access would affect a relatively large number of visitors. Overall, changes in the way visitors access the park would be readily apparent and would affect a moderate number of visitors resulting in moderate, long- term, adverse impacts to park accessibility.

Education and Orientation

Under alternative 4 interpretive and educational programs would focus on stewardship and resource protection of the park’s natural and cultural resources. Interpretive programs would offer indepth information on park resources. Many orientation and education efforts would occur offsite to prepare visitors for and foster stewardship. Many interpretive opportunities at the park would be selfdirected or self- serve, and contact with park interpretive staff would necessitate visitors stopping at the Visitor Information Building or at Rim Village. Changes in interpretive programs would be detectable and would affect a relatively large number of visitors resulting in moderate, longterm, adverse impacts on visitor opportunities to participate in interpretive programs.

Visitor Facilities and Services

Opportunities for visitors to access and use park facilities and services would decrease. Most existing visitor use facilities would remain, however during the winter months facilities beyond Mazama Village would not be available. This decrease would be partially offset by a slight increase in visitor use of facilities at Mazama Village associated with snowcoach operations. Portions of park roads would be closed to private vehicles. Changes in visitor experience of park facilities would be readily apparent and would affect a relatively large number of visitors, resulting in a moderate, adverse impact on visitor experience of park facilities and structures.

Soundscapes and Scenic Quality

Opportunities to visit the backcountry to experience natural sounds and tranquility would increase. Frontcountry areas would be reduced and noise levels associated with trailheads and front country areas would also be reduced. During the long winter season, visitors would arrive at the caldera rim via snowcoach and would have the opportunity to experience what they perceive as a pristine winter landscape and untrammeled lake views at the caldera rim. The number of frontcountry developments would be reduced resulting in a readily apparent change in the way visitors view and perceive the park’s natural resources. Therefore alternative 4 would result in moderate, beneficial impacts to scenic vistas.

Cumulative Impacts. Past and ongoing projects including development of front country trails, reconfiguration of Rim Village, and adaptive reuse of historic structures in Munson Valley and Rim Village have long- term major beneficial impacts on visitor experience. Past actions, such as the relocation of the Cleetwood Trail and the development of the Castle Crest and Godfrey Trails, have increased visitor access to front country trails. Reconfiguration of Rim Village would change the way visitors view the lake at Rim Village. Overall these projects have the potential to increase the diversity, of visitor experience, enhance the range of interpretative programs, expand access to park facilities, and to improve the quality of visitor experience values such as sounds of nature and scenic views. Cumulative actions in conjunction with alternative 4 would have an overall major long- term beneficial impact. Alternative 4 would contribute a moderate, adverse increment to cumulative impacts to visitor experience. Alternative 4 would also contribute a moderate beneficial increment to cumulative impacts to scenic vistas.

Conclusion. Alternative 4 would have a moderate, long- term adverse impact on the diversity of visitor opportunities, visitor accessibility, and on the ability of visitors to participate in educational and interpretive programs. There would be moderate, long term adverse impacts on visitor enjoyment of park facilities and services. There would also be a moderate, beneficial impact to winter scenic vistas at the rim. Cumulative actions in conjunction with alternative 4 would have an overall major, long- term, beneficial impact. Alternative 4 would contribute a moderate adverse increment to cumulative impacts to visitor experience.