Dear interested citizen,
The Forest service proposes to reroute the Barrett Lake Jeep Trail (Forest Road 12N77) to reduce resource impacts if the current trail. The current Barrett Lake Jeep Trail crosses the Jones Fork of the Silver Creek in a wet crossing, where vehicles drive through the water to cross the creek. If the proposed reroute is approved, the following activities would occur:
• Approximately 0.41 miles of new trail would be constructed for the reroute. Since the new trail crosses primarily exposed bedrock granite and decomposed granite soil, most of the proposed trail is void of vegetation. However, some brush removal and brush pruning will occur.
• A new approximately 46 feet long wooden and steel bridge would be constructed to cross the creek at the new location. The foundation of the new bridge will be grantitic bedrock that is currently exposed at the proposed bridge site.
• Approximately 0.44 miles of existing trail would be abandoned and restored by using mechanized equipment and hand work to rip and re-contour the road, and placing native materials on the abandoned road. Placement of native materials will provide vegetative cover until native plants reestablish, as well as to visually deter further use of the abandoned section of the trail. Native materials will be from weed free sources
The purpose and need for this project is to reduce sediment delivery of the existing Barrett Lake Jeep Trail to the Jones fork of the Silver creek, while continuing to provide a high quality motorized trail experience. Reducing sediment delivery to the Jones Fork of the Silver Creek will improve habitat for the Yellow-Mountain Legged Frog, a Forest service Sensitive Species, as well as improve watershed health and water quality. The Barrett Lake Jeep Trail is in the Pyramid Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA), and this project is anticipated to also improve IRA characteristics.
Attached is a map of the proposed and existing Barrett Lake Jeep Trail. If you have any questions or need more information regarding this proposal, feel free to contact Jessica Ilse at (530) 647-5433 or jisle@fs.fed.us
At this time a decision has not been made regarding this proposed project. If you have information you feel the Forest service may not be aware of, or you feel you have issues (points of dispute, debate, or disagreement) regarding the potential effects of the proposed project, please send these in writing to Diane Rubiaco, Pacific District Ranger, 7887 Highway 50, Pollock Pines, CA 95726 on or before April 4th 2008. We will use significant issues that are identified to develop alternatives to the Proposed Action.
DIANE RUBIACO
Pacific District Ranger
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