Wetlands Statement of Findings

In December, 2011, the Alaska Regional Director signed the Record of Decision for the Nabesna Off Road Vehicle Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. One element of the decision was to improve six trails in the area to a maintainable condition. These trails have been degraded to severely degraded by Off Road Vehicle (ORV) use, resulting in impacts to vegetation, soils, and wetlands. One of the trails proposed for improvement is the Copper Lake trail, which traverses 19.4 miles to the wilderness boundary, where it accesses subsistence Dall sheep and moose hunting opportunities. The EIS considered a range of trail improvement and ORV management options for all motorized trails in the area.
The Record of Decision states: "Implementation of trail improvements or new trail construction may require additional NEPA compliance to address cultural resource clearance, proposed trail construction in wetlands, or the need for development of gravel sources. Subsequent NEPA compliance will be tiered off the FEIS."

Because the prescription for improvement of the Copper Lake trails includes work in wetlands, this Wetlands Statement of Findings is required to comply with NPS Director's Order #77-1: Wetland Protection, which establishes the policies, requirements, and standards for implementing Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands). This Statement of Findings:

1) Presents the rationale for implementation of the project with regards to wetlands, and documents the anticipated effects on wetland resources.
2) Describes the effects on wetland values associated with the proposed action.
3) Provides a description of mitigation measures.
4) Ensures "no net loss" of wetland functions or values.

This Wetlands Statement of Findings is available for public review and comment for 30 days.

Document Content:

WSOF_Copper_Lake_trail.pdf   (1.5 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.