INTRODUCTION
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ISSUES AND IMPACT TOPICS
Impact Topics Selected for Detailed Analysis
Biotic Communities
NEPA calls for an examination of the impacts on all components of affected
ecosystems. National Park Service policy is to protect the components and
processes of naturally occurring biotic communities, including the natural
abundance, diversity, and ecological integrity of plants and animals (NPS
Management Policies 2001a). The proposed action has the potential to affect
biotic communities, so this impact topic is addressed in this environmental
assessment.
Threatened and Endangered Species and Species of Concern
The Endangered Species Act (1973), as amended, requires an examination of
impacts on all federally listed threatened or endangered species. National Park
Service policy also requires examination of the impacts on federal candidate
species, as well as state-listed threatened, endangered, candidate, rare,
declining, and sensitive species. Several consultations have occurred between
the National Park Service, Crater Lake National Park, and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Klamath Basin Field Office.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Basin Field Office, provided updated
species lists of federally threatened, endangered and proposed species that may
be present on or in the vicinity of Crater Lake National Park (Klamath County).
An updated list was received in April 2003 (see appendix 4). Based on the
federal species list, there are six listed species and two candidate species
that may occur in Klamath County, Oregon. Of these eight species, four species [shortnose
sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris), Lost River sucker (Deltistes luxatus), Oregon
spotted frog (Rana pretiosa), and yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)]
occur in habitats not found within the park or have not been observed in
presence/absence surveys over the last eight years. A “No Effect” determination
has been made for these species.
A meeting among Doug Laye and Leonard LeCaptain of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Klamath Basin Field Office, and Mac Brock, Chief, Resource Preservation
and Research at Crater Lake National Park was held on 10 April 2003 to discuss
the project’s potential effects to the Canada lynx. The park has conducted three
years of extensive surveys for Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the park—no lynx
have been detected. Within the project area there are patches of old growth
stands that contribute to potential lynx habitat. However the patches associated
with the project’s road corridor and limited realignment would not be readily
used and would probably be avoided by lynx due to the current and continued
presence of traffic. Therefore, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National
Park Service have determined that the project will have no effect on Canada
lynx.
Three listed species are known or likely to reside within Crater Lake National
Park. The species are:
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Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucophalus), federal threatened;
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Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), federal threatened; and
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Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), federal threatened.
The bald eagle is an occasional resident and may fly over the Highway 62 West
corridor but would avoid vehicle and human activity. The bull trout is only
located in the Sun and Lost Creeks outside of the project area. Therefore, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service have determined that
the project will have no effect on the bald eagle or bull trout. The park
determined that the proposed project “may affect” but was “not likely to
adversely affect” the northern spotted owl. On 23 August 2002, Crater Lake
National Park Superintendent, Charles Lundy, submitted a request for concurrence
on the park’s determination and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurred
with that determination (5 September 2002) (see appendix 5).
Threatened and endangered species are addressed as an impact topic in this
environmental assessment for the northern spotted owl—all other sensitive
species have been dismissed from further discussion.
Soils and Geology
Because the proposed action involves ground-disturbing activities on previously
undisturbed soil and further excavation of a quarry, soils and geology are
addressed as impact topics in this environmental assessment.
Cultural Resources
The National Historic Preservation Act (16 USC 470 et seq.), NEPA, National Park
Service Organic Act, NPS Management Policies (2001), Director’s Order – 12:
Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis and Decision-making (2001),
and Director’s Order – 28: Cultural Resources Management Guideline require the
consideration of impacts on cultural resources either listed in, or eligible to
be listed in, the NRHP. Cultural resources include archeological resources,
cultural landscapes, historic structures and districts, and ethnographic
resources. Although Crater Lake is known primarily as a natural park area, it
does have significant cultural resources.
Historic Structures. A rock revetment wall, located in the area of the upper
switchback curve, is a contributing structure to the “Wagon Roads in Crater Lake
National Park (Western Half)” historic district. The National Park Service
recommends and the Oregon SHPO concurred (see Appendix 2), that the historic
district is eligible for listing in the NRHP. Therefore, historic structures are
addressed under Cultural Resources in this environmental assessment.
Archeological Resources. In the vicinity of the project corridor are
historic-period archeological sites, which include sites and isolated finds
associated with segments of the Fort Klamath–Jacksonville wagon road. Highway 62
West passes over Whitehorse Creek in the vicinity of historic-period
archeological sites. The park archeologist conducted a survey of this area in
2000.
In July and August 2002, a pedestrian survey, conducted by park cultural
resource staff, employed 33-feet (10-meter) transect intervals at the proposed
switchback realignment, at the Pacific Crest trailhead, the area around turnout
B, and at the turnout to the west of Whitehorse Crossing. Meandering transects
along each side of Highway 62 at Whitehorse Creek and the Old West Entrance were
also employed. A portion of a 1911 road alignment was discovered roughly
parallel Highway 62, east of the modern road in the switchback area.
As proposed in the preliminary design, the realignment of the switchbacks in the
preferred alternative (alternative C) would avoid historic-period archeological
resources, including the 1911 road, resulting in no impact to archeological
resources in the switchback area. In other areas surveyed, all artifacts and
features lie beyond the area of potential effect. A report documenting the
results of the pedestrian
survey, together with an assessment of actions having an effect on cultural
resources, was submitted to the Oregon SHPO on 9 September 2002.
The National Park Service would use archeological monitors, as necessary, in the
project area to avoid disturbance of any as yet unknown cultural resources.
Because archeological resources would be avoided through highway design, no
impacts to archeological resources are anticipated. However, due to the
proximity to known archeological resources, this topic is addressed under the
Cultural Resources heading in this environmental assessment.
Visitor Use, Traffic, and Highway Safety
An estimated 445,000 people visited the park area in 2001. The proposed project
is a major access route to the lake and is needed to improve driving conditions.
All alternatives in this document have the potential to impact visitor use,
traffic, and highway safety. Therefore, visitor use, traffic, and highway safety
are addressed as impact topics in this environmental assessment.
Park Operations
Crater Lake National Park receives an average of 522 inches of snow each winter.
Although the proposed project would not diminish the need for or level of snow
removal, it would improve snow removal operations. The roadway is prone to
potholing and a new road surface would minimize maintenance and repairs.
Therefore, these activities under park operations are addressed as an impact
topic in this environmental assessment.
Air Quality
The 1963 Clean Air Act, as amended (42 USC 7401 et seq.), requires federal land
managers to protect park air quality, while the 2001 NPS Management Policies
address the need to analyze air quality during park planning. Crater Lake
National Park was designated Class I under the 1963 Clean Air Act, as amended. A
Class I area is subject to the most stringent regulations of any designation.
Should any of the action alternatives be selected, local air quality would be
temporarily affected by dust and vehicle emissions. Therefore, air quality is
addressed as an impact topic.
Noise and Soundscapes
In accordance with NPS Management Policies (2001) and Director’s Order – 47:
Sound Preservation and Noise Management, an important part of the National Park
Service mission is preservation of natural soundscapes associated with national
park units. Natural soundscapes exist in the absence of human-caused sound. The
natural ambient soundscape is the aggregate of all the natural sounds that occur
in park units, together with the physical capacity for transmitting natural
sounds. The frequencies, magnitudes, and duration of human-caused sound
considered acceptable varies among National Park Service units, as well as
potentially throughout each park unit, being generally greater in developed
areas and less in undeveloped areas.
Construction projects would be accomplished under the implementation of either
alternative B or C. Equipment and vehicles involved in hauling, construction
activities, and removal of existing switchbacks (alternative C) would generate
the primary source of noise. Therefore, soundscapes and noise are addressed as
an impact topic in this environmental assessment.
