Proposed repairs and reroutes of Rocky Mountain National Park hiking trails damaged or washed away by storms in September 2013 are now available for public review.
Park staff prepared an environmental assessment on the proposed changes and reapirs to address damaged portions of the trails while protecting natural and cultural resources and preserving wilderness character.
The EA evaluated the park’s preferred alternative, which is to maintain and establish a travel route for each of the trails, and a no action alternative, in which damaged trails would not be substantially repaired and the park would continue the present level of trail management and maintenance. The trails remain open to the public, but portions of the trails and bridges were washed out by flooding and landslides or are badly damaged.
The following outlines how the park is proposing to deal with the storm damage for specific trails:
* Lawn Lake Trail – Three trail sections would be rerouted and an informal social trail would be improved for visitor travel. Pedestrian and equestrian use would be allowed.
* Ypsilon Lake Trail – A new timber bridge across the Roaring River and new trail approaches on either side would be constructed. Pedestrian and equestrian use would be allowed.
* Alluvial Fan Trail – A new accessible trail would be constructed between the existing east and west parking lots with a new bridge across the Roaring River. An accessible overlook trail to Horseshoe Falls would be constructed. A small portion of the accessible trail would extend into wilderness to reach the overlook. Only pedestrian use would be allowed.
* Aspen Brook Trail – Four trail sections would be rerouted upslope from damaged trail sections and a trail extension would be constructed to provide a connection with an existing trail outside the park. Pedestrian and equestrian use would be allowed. An adaptive management option includes abandonment and restoration of the trail if funding, easements, and agreements for the trail extension outside the park are not secured.
* Twin Sisters Trail – Existing social trails that connect portions of the trail not damaged by the landslide would be incorporated into the trail maintenance program. Only pedestrian use would be allowed on this trail. An adaptive management option includes construction of a new realigned trail if use of social trails results in resource damage or presents visitor safety concerns. Pedestrian and equestrian use would be allowed under the adaptive management option.
Park staff encourage public participation throughout the planning process. The park will host a public meeting on Wednesday, April 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Town of Estes Park Town Hall Board Room at 170 MacGregor Avenue in Estes Park. At the meeting information will be provided about the EA and park staff will be available to answer questions. There will be a short presentation at 5:30 p.m., and park staff will be available to answer questions about the EA until 7 p.m.
The EA is available for public review through Monday, April 2. The document is available electronically for review and comment.
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Comments
The EA is open for public comment at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=54725