Temporary Relocation of the Enchanted Valley Chalet for the Protection of the East Fork Quinault River - Environmental Assessment

The purpose of the proposed action is to protect the East Fork Quinault River and its associated natural resources from imminent environmental harm. The need for the proposed action is the immediate risk of the Enchanted Valley Chalet falling into the East Fork Quinault River and adversely impacting the streambed, hydrology, water quality, fisheries, other associated natural resources, and local wilderness character. As the building becomes further undercut, its stability becomes compromised.

The proposed action is to temporarily move the chalet approximately 50-100 feet from the bank of the Quinault River and dismantle and remove the remaining non-historic foundation. The proposed action would temporarily mitigate the imminent collapse of the chalet into the river due to channel migration, and would allow time to conduct additional National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to determine the final disposition of the building, and additional National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) analysis on that determination.

The proposed action would require a team of skilled professionals (such as a professional house mover, and a team of four to six skilled labors), pack stock and type 3 helicopter support, and sufficient personnel to provide for visitor and resource protection in the area during the project period. The equipment required will likely include a hydraulic power pack pump driven by a small (less than 10 hp) motor, multiple hydraulic crib jacks, steel rails to support the structure, additional steel rails, an inert lubricant on which to slide the structure, and an assortment of hand tools. Bunch Field, which is located outside of wilderness, would be utilized as the helicopter staging area. A minimum requirement analysis has been completed for the action of moving the structure (see Appendix I).

The proposed action is consistent with the park's 2008 General Management Plan, as well as the Wilderness Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.

Document Content:

Enchanted_Valley_EA.pdf   (4.8 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.