FR321C

[Dschur]

[Work on East Clear Creek Watershed Project Closes RoadsFor Immediate Release

Date: August 27, 2009

Contact: Coconino Supervisor's Office (928) 527-3600



Flagstaff, AZ —The Mogollon Rim District is implementing portions of the East Clear Creek watershed Health Environmental Assessment that identified the partial decommissioning of the 321C road. This road is very popular in the fall for viewing of Big-Tooth Maple and aspen. Currently, the road is in a meadow and has a direct crossing to Bill McClintock Draw that is adding sediments to the stream.The decommissioning is designed to reduce impacts to Bill McClintock Draw, which is a tributary to Dane Canyon that has the threatened Little Colorado spinedace. Also, there is a threatened Mexican spotted owl location adjacent to Bill McClintock Draw. In addition, Forest Plan direction states that roads in meadows should be decommissioned or moved out of the meadow system. As a sidenote, a portion of the Cabin Loop trail system goes through the same general area as the area planned for decommissioning.

The attached map

east-clear-crk-closure-map.pdf

(93.04 KiB) Downloaded 190 times

displays the work that will be taking place this fall. The installation of closure gates is under way on the the 321C road. The Forest C&M crew will be reconstructing the 218C road to provide a loop to access the Big Tooth maple draw beginning September 14. Also, the culvert at Bill McClintock Draw will be pulled and the channel re-contoured during the week of September 14.

Why are you closing off 321C? The District is doing the action to improve habitat conditions for the threatened and endangered species, as well as improving riparian conditions.

Where can I see maples now that you've closed the road? The south end of 321C has the majority of maples and is still open for maple viewing, and can be accessed from the north on the newly reconstructed 218C road, or from the south on the original 321C road. Access within the area that has been decommissioned can be done via non-motorized means (foot, horse, bicycle) via the Cabin Loop Trail system.

What gives you the right to do this? The Mogollon Rim Ranger District completed an extensive National Environmental Policy Act process in the East Clear Creek Watershed Health project that identified road related resource issues, thinning and burning needs, and channel restoration work. This was completed and signed in 2006 and is available for review on the Forest website.

[Grasshopper]

Why are you closing off 321C? The District is doing the action to improve habitat conditions for the threatened and endangered species, as well as improving riparian conditions. Where can I see maples now that you've closed the road? The south end of 321C has the majority of maples and is still open for maple viewing, and can be accessed from the north on the newly reconstructed 218C road, or from the south on the original 321C road. Access within the area that has been decommissioned can be done via non-motorized means (foot, horse, bicycle) via the Cabin Loop Trail system.

I am familiar with this area along FR321C and visit quite often (via hiking the Barbershop Trail). I am glad to see this closure of the middle-upper end of FR321C. Aside from the need to improve habitat conditions, I was starting to get frustrated always seeing 5th Wheel-RV's camped in one of the larger, beautiful-lush meadows right in the path of the Barbershop Trail (which is part-of the East Cabin Loop trail system). A good call!! .