United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Alaska Region Tongass National Forest Yakutat Ranger District

P.O. Box 327 Yakutat, AK 99689-0327 Phone: (907) 784-3359 Fax: (907) 784-3457

File Code: 1950

Date: February 6, 2015 Dear Interested Participant,

We are seeking your input and comments on the Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement project on the Yakutat Ranger District and within the traditional territory of the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe. Whether you are a user of the Dangerous River Boat Launch or an otherwise interested party, your feedback is important and may result in forming new alternatives to be considered or designing modifications to the proposed action prior to a decision by the District Ranger. We want to make sure we analyze all the issues and effects that are of concern to you. Your comments, submitted to comments-alaska-tongass-yakutat@fs.fed.us, will help us complete a thorough analysis and will be most useful if received by March 13, 2015. A scoping report is attached and describes the proposed action, purpose and need for the proposed action and includes some preliminary ideas of the recreation site improvements. You can also access this report online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=45816. Following this comment period, the Yakutat Ranger District will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to present the project alternatives considered and disclose the environmental impacts of each. You, the public, will also be asked to provide comment on the EA. The Yakutat District Ranger is the Responsible Official for this decision. Based on the analysis documented in the EA, the Ranger will decide whether or not to implement the Proposed Action as described or to select another alternative based on input from interested or affect parties. The Ranger’s decision will be documented in a decision notice and made available to all participants. Information on where to submit comments are included in the attached scoping letter on page 3. It is important that your comments identify specific concerns to be considered or suggestions to improve or change the project. Individuals or non-federal organizations who submit written comments regarding this particular action during the comment period will be eligible to file an objection as specified at 36 CFR 218.25(a)(3). Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from: Teresa Swanson USDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, Yakutat Ranger District PO Box 327 712 Ocean Cape Road Yakutat, AK 99689-0327 (907) 784-3457

Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement Project

Introduction In the 2012 Yakutat Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Plan, the Dangerous River Boat Launch was listed as a top priority for the community due to the importance of accessing areas to hunt, fish and recreate on the Dangerous River, Harlequin Lake and surrounding areas. This plan is the product of more than a year of active, community-wide planning. It’s built from a spectrum of community perspectives, including views expressed in resident and visitor surveys, interviews with individuals, businesses and organizations, and a series of community workshops. Participants in drafting the plan include the City and Borough of Yakutat, Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, Yak-Tat Kwaan, Yakutat Chamber of Commerce, USDA Forest Service Yakutat Ranger District, and National Park Service.

In 2013, the Yakutat Ranger District submitted a proposal to the Federal Highway Association (FHWA) based on the interest received during the development of the Yakutat Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Plan, and received Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funding to construct a new boat ramp, and improve the parking area and recreational opportunities at the Dangerous River recreation site.

Where is the proposed project located? Dangerous River boat launch is located 26 miles southeast of Yakutat, Alaska off of Forest Highway 10 (Dangerous River Road) near the outlet of Harlequin Lake. The project area includes the existing primitive boat launch and parking area and the area immediately surrounding it.

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

What is being proposed with this project? The proposed enhancement sought by the Yakutat Ranger District includes constructing a safe and effective boat launch, improving vehicular flow at the launch site and providing some basic recreation amenities (informational kiosk, picnic area and toilet). See Design Concepts A and B below.

The proposed new ramp would be constructed at a more gradual gradient than the existing one with a hardened surface to allow boat trailers to back safely into the water. Due to a concern of ice flows damaging any structure built into the river channel, one option is to build the ramp in a constructed inlet. In addition to a new ramp, the parking area would be expanded to include a turn-around. A one-way traffic loop and 4 to 5 additional parking spaces for trucks and trailers are proposed with handicap accessible features. Bank hardening (rip-rap) on the upstream side of the ramp is proposed to prevent the eddy created by the nearby bridge structure from scouring the steep stream bank (see photo below). The addition of a kiosk, and ADA-compliant amenities (a picnic area with a table, fire pit and restroom facilities) are included in the proposal to enhance the site’s recreation opportunities.

While the general project area footprint has been determined, the design for the site, including the specific location of the boat launch, and whether or not any of the developments will be within the Alaska Department of Transportation’s right-of way (ROW), has not been finalized. The conceptual drawings provide a starting point to generate ideas with a visual of the project elements (boat launch, toilet, parking, access loop, ROW, etc.).

Improvements are scheduled for the summer of 2016.

Why is this project being proposed? How would this project meet the need? The primary land use designation (LUD) for the project area is Semi-Remote Recreation. Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines for Recreation and Tourism in the Tongass Land Management Plan states, the Forest Service will Identify opportunities to enhance existing, and provide additional, recreation activities, opportunities, and services where desirable to meet local or Forest-wide recreation demands (page 4-44, IIB).

The current boat launch (see photo and Design Concept C) at the Dangerous River recreation site is very steep with loose gravel. These factors discourage users from backing trailers into the water due to the likelihood of getting stuck and/or damaging personal equipment. As a result, the site has been used less, and access to recreation, subsistence and commercial fishing on the river and on Harlequin Lake are limited.

In addition, commercial fishermen often choose to leave their boats in the water to avoid the hassle and increased hazards of multiple launches. This can be an inconvenience to other users in close proximity to the launch due to added congestion and unattended boats run the risk of sustaining iceberg damage.

The interdisciplinary team (IDT) is also interested in minimizing or eliminating bank erosion between the boat launch and the bridge, which could compromise the rock on the stream bank. To prevent additional scouring by the eddy created by the nearby bridge structure, bank hardening (rip-rap) on the upstream stream bank is proposed.

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

Another issue the project proposes to address is improving access to the boat launch from the Dangerous River road. Currently it’s difficult for users coming from the bridge to enter the recreation area due to the sharp turn and steep grade.

The desired boat launch is one easily accessed from Forest Highway 10, where trailers can be backed safely and easily into the water for efficient launching and removal from the river. The site includes a use-appropriate number of on-site parking spaces for trucks and trailers and a design that minimizes congestion and the need for backing.

What happens if project needs are not met? If the substandard, unsafe conditions at the existing boat launch are not addressed, use of the area will continue to decline; access to the Dangerous River and Harlequin Lake will be further limited; erosion will continue at the recreation site’s junction with the Dangerous River Road; the risk of iceberg-damage to unattended boats in the river will remain high; and vehicular flow at the site will not improve.

Public Participation A proposal to upgrade the existing boat ramp and parking area was presented at the Yakutat Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Action Plan meetings held between 2011 and 2013. The most recent meeting was on November 25, 2013. The Forest Service has coordinated project development with the Yakutat City and Borough and the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe (YTT). The YTT and NPS have written letters of support for the project as documented in the 2013 Alaska Federal Lands Access Program Project (FLAP) Proposal (AK-17).

So far, public scoping has shown an interest in use-appropriate improvements to the area. Stated top priorities are safety and ramp usability by modifying the boat ramp to a more typical slope. An additional priority for the District is to have the improvements as low maintenance as possible.

The project is listed in Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) report which contains a list of proposed actions on National Forest lands that will begin or are currently undergoing environmental analysis and documentation.

Commenting on this Project Proposal Your input is important in completing the Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement Project. We want to hear all of your ideas. Comments are most helpful when they refer to specific areas or resources within the project area. Please refer to the conceptual drawings and fill out the attached comment sheet and return it to us. You can also call (907) 784-3359 and talk to Teresa Swanson. Comments may also be faxed to (907) 784-3457 or e-mailed to comments-alaska-tongass-yakutat@fs.fed.us with “Dangerous River” in the subject line. The IDT will review and potentially modify the proposed action based on comments received. It would be most helpful to have comments by March 13, 2015, for this process; however, comments will be accepted at any time.

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

We look forward to your participation. Your input and ideas will help ensure a successful assessment. Thank you for taking time to help manage your National Forest!

Current state of the boat launch – rocky and steep.

DRAFT DECISION

DOCUMENT

July 2015

PUBLIC SCOPING

30-day comment

period

NOW

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT

Out for public comment (30 days)

April 2015

OBJECTION PERIOD

45 days IMPLEMEN-

TATION

2016

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

Design Concept A. Proposed boat launch ramp within Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) right-of-way (ROW). Ramp is shown approximately 15 feet downstream of current location. Drawing illustrates traffic flow, head-in truck/trailer parking and location ideas for picnic area, kiosk and toilet.

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

Design Concept B. Proposed boat launch approximately 50 feet downstream from existing ramp and outside of State DOT’s ROW. Drawing illustrates traffic flow, the option of back-in trailer parking and possible locations of the kiosk, toilet and picnic area.

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

Design Concept C. Dangerous River Profile. The ramp currently has a 28% slope. The proposed project would reduce the slope to 15% making access to river easier and safer.

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

Please comment on specific aspects of the Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement Project. Let us know if there are specific areas, resources or elements that we should consider in the planning process. The IDT will review all comments and incorporate them into the planning process.

This form can be faxed to (907) 784-3457.

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

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Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

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TO:

Yakutat Ranger District Tongass National Forest Attn: Teresa Swanson

Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement PO Box 327

712 Ocean Cape Road Yakutat, AK 99689-0327

Dangerous River Boat Launch Enhancement – Scoping February 2015

Yakutat Ranger District Tongass National Forest Comments requested by

March 13, 2015

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Yakutat Ranger District Tongass National Forest PO Box 327 Yakutat, Alaska 99689-0327