CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Cathedral Toilet and Connector Trail RED ROCK RANGER DISTRICT COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST

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1 CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Cathedral Toilet and Connector Trail RED ROCK RANGER DISTRICT COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST 1. Proposed Action: The project proposal includes the installation of a vault toilet at the Cathedral Rock Trailhead and the development of a short connector trail from parking to the new toilet, fencing of an adjacent area to prevent social trails from developing and installation of appropriate signage. All work will be in accordance with Forest Service sustainable construction standards and best management practices (BMPs), in particular to prevent sediment transport. The Cathedral Rock Trail receives over 80,000 visitors per year. Most visitors start their hike at the Cathedral Rock Trailhead. The Forest Service proposes to install a vault toilet at this trailhead to address human waste issues and protect water quality of nearby Oak Creek. The purpose of this project is to: 1. Increase visitor service. Visitors to high use areas such as this typically expect to have developed parking, sanitation, trash and information services provided for them. Some visitors cannot use forest access if a toilet facility is not available. The provision of recreation amenities increases the opportunity for forest access by a variety of visitors including elderly, mobility impaired and families. 2. Improve watershed health by improving sanitation. Placement of a vault toilet at the trailhead will reduce human waste contamination of Oak Creek. 2. Category: This project is categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement. This action falls within a category of actions that are not subject to appeal, as stated in 36 CFR (f): Decisions for actions that have been categorically excluded from documentation in an EA or EIS pursuant to FSH , Chapter 30. The actions described above fall under the authority of the category described at 36 CFR 220.6(e)(1), which reads as follows: construction and reconstruction of trails. No extraordinary circumstances exist for this proposal. 3. Project Location: The project area is located at the current Cathedral trailhead located on Back O Beyond Road between the Village of Oak Creek and Sedona. The attached Google map shows the proposed additions to this existing trailhead (the blue line is the connector trail, the black polygon is the existing trailhead, the red polygon is the City s proposed parking area, and the toilet will be located between the red and black polygons. Page 1 of 8

2 4. Data, Inventories, and Surveys: The 2013 Regional Forester's Sensitive Species List, along with the Forest and district Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TE&S), Rare Plant, Fish and Wildlife Species List were reviewed for species of concern for this activity. Furthermore, District TE&S files and atlas were consulted for literature and sighting information. No threatened, endangered, or proposed, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, invertebrates, or plants occur within the proposed permitted areas. However, the sensitive peregrine falcon nests within 0.4 miles of the trailhead. Construction activities during the breeding season may result in visual and aural disturbance to peregrines nesting in the area. In order to reduce impact to peregrine falcons nesting nearby, it is recommended to not conduct construction that results in relative noise levels of extreme or very high (see appendix A for definitions) during the breeding season which is March 1 through August 31. Refer to the attached TE&S list for sensitive species that occur or may potentially occur in the project area. 5. Species Identification: Scientific Name Common Name Status a. Strix occidentalis lucida Mexican Spotted Owl Threatened b. Empidonax traillii extimus Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Endangered Page 2 of 8

3 c. Rallus longirostris Yuma Clapper Rail Endangered d. Coccyzus americanus occidentalis Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Threatened e. Ptychocheilus lucius Colorado Pikeminnow Endangered f. Xyrauchen texanus Razorback Sucker Endangered g. Tiaroga cobitis Loach Minnow Threatened h. Oncorhyncus gilae Gila Trout Endangered i. Meda fulgida Spikedace Threatened j. Gila intermedia Gila Chub Endangered k. Poeciliopsis occidentalis Gila topminnow Endangered l. Gila nigra Headwater Chub Proposed m. Gila robusta Roundtail Chub Proposed n. Lithobates chiricauhuensis Chiricahua Leopard Frog Threatened o. Thamnophis eques Mexican Gartersnake Threatened p. Thamnophis rufipunctatus Narrow-headed Gartersnake Threatened q. Pyrgulopsis morrisoni Page Springsnail Candidate r. Purshia subintegra Arizona Cliffrose Endangered 6. Habitat: a. Mexican Spotted Owl b. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher c. Yuma Clapper Rail d. Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Page 3 of 8

4 e. Colorado Pikeminnow f. Razorback Sucker g. Loach Minnow h. Gila Trout i. Spikedace j. Gila chub k. Gila Topminnow l. Headwater Chub m. Roundtail Chub n. Chiricahua Leopard Frog Page 4 of 8

5 o. Mexican Gartersnake p. Narrow-headed Gartersnake q. Page Springsnail r. Arizona Cliffrose 7. Effects: Mexican Spotted Owl b. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher c. Yuma Clapper Rail d. Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo e. Colorado Pikeminnow f. Razorback Sucker g. Loach Minnow h. Gila Trout Page 5 of 8

6 i. Spikedace j. Gila Chub k. Gila Topminnow l. Headwater Chub m. Roundtail Chub n. Chiricahua Leopard Frog o. Mexican Gartersnake p. Narrow-headed Gartersnake q. Page Springsnail r. Arizona Cliffrose 8. Finding:(Threatened and Endangered Listed Species); X No effect to species or its habitat. May affect species, not likely to adversely affect species or its habitat. May beneficially affect species or its habitat. Likely to adversely affect species or its habitat. Page 6 of 8

7 I find the proposed action will have NO EFFECT on any threatened, endangered, or proposed species and recommend that this proposed action be categorically excluded from documentation in an EIS or EA. This determination is made based on the fact that the above-mentioned project will not alter or impact habitat conditions, nor will they create a disturbance to the threatened and endangered species of concern listed above, but also to all species on the District's TE&S List developed in Signatures: Prepared and Approved By: /s/ Janie Agyagos Date: October 29, JANIE B. AGYAGOS District Wildlife Staff Page 7 of 8

8 Appendix A Typical Noise Levels for Most Equipment Types at 50 feet (If not on list, must look up) Equipment Decibel Range (db) Relative Noise Level Explosives Extreme Helicopter 800 ft 100 ft Extreme Pneumatic tools, Very High jackhammers, & pile driver Road grader 50 Rock drill 50 Very High Heavy Trucks Very High Jake Brake on Truck 8 High Jackhammer 74 (when muffled 50 High Dozer 50 High Front-end Loader 50 High Crane 85-88@ 50 High Hammer Hoe 50 High Excavator 50 High Pumps, generators, Medium compressors Chainsaw Medium Road Grader 50 Medium Concrete Truck 50 Medium Concrete Mixer 50 Medium Dump Truck 50 Medium Crane 50 Medium Backhoe 50 Medium Roller 50 Medium Auger Drill Rig 50 Medium Zero: < 45 dba Very low: dba Low: dba Medium: dba High: dba Very High: dba Extreme: >108 dba Page 8 of 8