Environmental assessment and h.b. 495 document, york bridge

34 Pages·1994·1.4 MB·English

by  Montana. Fisheries Division

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1420 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59620-0701
July 1994
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Environmental Quality Council, Capitol Building, Helena 59620
Montana Dept, of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Resource Assessment
Fisheries Division
Regional Information Officers
State Library
Jim Jenson, Montana Environmental Information Center,
P.O.Box 1184, Helena, Montana 59624
Janet Ellis, Montana Audubon Council, P.O.Box 595, Helena, MT 59624
George Ochenski, Government Affairs and Consulting,
P.O.Box 689, Helena, MT 59624
Montana Wildlife Federation, Box 1175, Helena, MT 59624
Ladies and Gentlemen:
An Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared for the
York Bridge Fishing Access Site construction project. This project
is being proposed for property owned by the Department. The
project mainly consists of leveling and re-shaping of the site to
accommodate additional parking spaces. Other possible project
features may include a new vault latrine and another boat dock.
The scope of the proposed work has been determined to be
sufficient to initiate the H.B.495 (Section 23-1-110,MCA) process.
Both the Montana Environmental Policy Act and H.B.495 report
considerations are included in a single document. The specific
items required in H.B. 495 are identified on the EA checklist and
addressed in comments of those respective sections.
This document is available for review at all Department
Regional Offices, Helena Headquarters, State Library and The
Environmental Quality Council. Any questions on this project
should be addressed to the undersigned by July 1, 1994. Written
comments should also be directed to the same individual.
Fisheries Division
SEP 30 1314 MDFW&P
MONTANA STATE LIBRAnV [phone]
1515 E. 6th AVE.
HELENA, MONTANA 59520
I
DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS
1420 E 6th Ave, PO BOX 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701
[phone]
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Project Title YORK BRIDGE FISHING ACCESS SITE
Division/Bureau FISHERIES DIVISION
Description of Project THE YORK BRIDGE FISHING ACCESS SITE IS IN
NEED OF EXPANDED PARKING CAPACITY TO ACCOMODATE THE INCREASED
ANGLER USE OF HAUSER RESERVOIR
POTENTIAL IMPACT ON PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
COMMENTS ON
ATTACHED
MAJOR MODERATE MINOR NONE UNKNOWN PAGES
1. Terrestrial & aquatic X
life and habitats
2. Water quality, quantity X
& distribution
3. Geology & soil quality, X
stability & moisture
4. Vegetation cover, X
quantity & quality
5. Aesthetics X H.B. 495
CAPACTIY
6. Air quality X
7. Unique, endangered,
fragile, or limited X
environmental resources
8. Demands on environmental
resources of land, water, X
air & energy
9. Historical & X H.B. 495
archaeological sites HISTORIC
RES.
c
POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
COMMENTS ON
ATTACHED
MAJOR MODERATE MINOR NONE UNKNOWN PAGES
1. Social structures &
mores X
2. Cultural unic[ueness
& diversity X
3. Local & state tax
base & tax revenue X
4. Agricultural or
industrial production X
5. Hximan health X
6. Quantity & HB 495
distribution of Tourism
community & personal X
income
7. Access to & quality
of recreational and
wilderness activities X
8. Quantity & X
distribution of
employment
9. Distribution & X
density of population &
housing
10. Demands for X HB 495
government services Maintenance
11. Industrial & HB 495
commercial activity X Tourism
12 Demands for energy X
.
13. Locally adopted
environmental plans & X
goals
14. Transportation X
networks & traffic
flows
15. Site Specific HB 495
Modification System X
wide
Other groups or agencies contacted or which may have overlapping
jurisdiction
Individuals or groups contributing to this EA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVAITON
OFFICE. SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE. MDFWP
Recommendation concerning preparation of EIS No EIS required,
EA prepared by Bruce J. Rehwinkel
:
Date: JULY 8. 1994
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Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Fisheries Division
Environmental Assessment and H.B. 495 Document
York Bridge Fishing Access Site Development Project
General Purpose The 1977 Montana Legislature enacted statute
:
87-1-605 which directs the Department to acquire, develop and
operate a system of fishing accesses. The legislation established
an earmarked funding account to ensure that this function would be
accomplished. The York Bridge site is currently operated by the
Department. With the expansion of the kokanee fishery in Hauser
Lake, the fishing pressure has increased substantially. This
increased use has necessitated further improvements to the site.
I. Location of the Project
The York Bridge Fishing Access Site is located on 10.45 acres
of Department owned property. The legal description of this site
is. Township 11 North, Range 02 West, Section 14 - Lewis and Clark
County. The most common travel route is 10 miles northeast of
Helena on York Road.
II Need for the Project
.
The total estimated fishing pressure in Montana for 1991 was
2,300,763 angler days. The Fishing Access Site program currently
has 313 sites distributed across the state in all major drainages.
This program is an essential component of fisheries management in
Montana because a large percentage of the angler use is achieved
through these sites.
The York Bridge site is located on Hauser Lake. This
waterbody currently supports an estimated 80,938 angler days year.
Hauser Lake has five public access points, one of which is a
privately operated marina. York Bridge is the most heavily used of
these sites. The proposed project is not intended to appreciably
increase the site capacity. Currently the site is randomly covered
with angler vehicles. This practice has destroyed much of the
site's vegetative cover. Additionally, the disorderly parking
scheme results in fewer anglers being accommodated by the site.
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III. Scope of the Project
The proposed site design will include some additional road
construction, parking spaces, a boat dock and a latrine. These
facilities are intended to improve the quality of access to Hauser
Lake
A preliminary site design is included as Appendix A.
The specific improvements being proposed are as follows:
Road construction is required to provide safe and
1)
convenient access to the river. There will be a total of
900 lineal feet roadway (20 foot wide) constructed on
this site.
Parking Areas need to be added to accommodate anglers and
2)
minimize weed problems associated with indiscriminate
vehicle use. The parking modifications will include
12,000 square feet of gravel parking. The parking is
intended to provide for 19 vehicles with trailers.
3) Boat Dock construction is needed to eliminate congestion
at the boat ramp. With the addition of a second dock,
boats can be loaded and unloaded in an efficient manner.
The new dock will be 6 feet wide by 50 feet long.
4) Latrine replacement is included with this site project.
These facilities are needed for convenience of the
angling public and sanitation of the sites.
IV. Environmental Impact Checklist
See the attached checklist.
V. Explanation of Minor Impacts to the Physical Environment
Water quality will be maintained despite this development
2)
project. Sediment contribution from the site to the
surface waters will be minimized by site grading, gravel
surfacing of roadways, and installation of a paved boat
ramp.
A temporary and slight degradation of water quality is
likely to result during the construction period. This is
usually unavoidable during boat ramp construction. Any
construction that might contribute sediment to the
surface waters, will be require to secure a Water Quality
"3A" exemption from the Montana Department of Health and
Environmental Sciences. Compliance with the stipulations
of these permits is required of all project contractors.
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