Roads

Objectives

Develop and maintain a transportation system that serves the needs of users in an environmentally sound manner. Arterial and major collector roads will form the backbone of the transportation system in the planning area.

Correct problems associated with high road density by emphasizing the reduction of minor collector and local road densities where those problems exist.

Manage roads to meet the needs identified under other resource programs (e.g., seasonal road closures for wildlife). Road management is mentioned or implied primarily under Aquatic Conservation Strategy and riparian reserve, late-successional reserves, Water and Soil, Wildlife, Fish Habitat, Special Status and SEIS Special Attention Species Habitat, Timber Resources and Recreation.

Land Use Allocations

There are approximately 24,000 acres (4,455 miles) of roads on BLM-administered land in the district.

Management Actions/Direction

Management Actions/Direction - Riparian Reserves

Cooperate with Federal, State, and county agencies and work with parties with road use agreements to achieve consistency in road design, operation, and maintenance necessary to attain Aquatic Conservation Strategy and riparian reserve objectives.

For each existing or planned road, meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy and riparian reserve objectives by:

completing watershed analyses, including appropriate geotechnical analyses (i.e., examining soil and rock conditions in riparian and stream crossings) prior to construction of new roads or landings in riparian reserves;
minimizing road and landing locations in riparian reserves;
preparing road design criteria, elements, and standards that govern construction and reconstruction;
preparing operation and maintenance criteria that govern road operation, maintenance, and management;
minimizing disruption of natural hydrologic flow paths, including diversion of streamflow and interception of surface and subsurface flow;
restricting sidecasting as necessary to prevent the introduction of sediment to streams; and
avoiding wetlands entirely when constructing new roads.

Determine the influence of each road on the Aquatic Conservation Strategy and riparian reserve objectives through watershed analysis. Meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy and riparian reserve objectives by:

reconstructing roads and associated drainage features that pose a substantial risk;
prioritizing reconstruction based on current and potential impact to riparian resources and the ecological value of the riparian resources affected; and
closing and stabilizing, or obliterating and stabilizing roads based on the ongoing and potential effects to Aquatic Conservation Strategy and riparian reserve objectives and considering short-term and long-term transportation needs.

New culverts, bridges, and other stream crossings shall be constructed; and existing culverts, bridges, and other stream crossings determined to pose a substantial risk to riparian conditions will be improved to accommodate at least the 100-year flood, including associated bedload and debris. Priority for upgrading will be based on the potential impact and the ecological value of the riparian resources affected. Crossings will be constructed and maintained to prevent diversion of streamflow out of the channel and down the road in the event of crossing failure.

Minimize sediment delivery to streams from roads. Outsloping of the roadway surface is preferred, except in cases where outsloping would increase sediment delivery to streams or where outsloping is infeasible or unsafe. Route road drainage away from potentially unstable channels, fills, and hill slopes.

Provide and maintain fish passage at all road crossings of existing and potential fish-bearing streams (e.g., streams that can be made available to anadromous fish by removing obstacles to passage).

Develop and implement a Road Management Plan or a Transportation Management Plan that meets the Aquatic Conservation Strategy and riparian reserve objectives. As a minimum, this plan will include provisions for the following activities:

inspections and maintenance during storm events;
inspections and maintenance after storm events;
road operation and maintenance giving high priority to identifying and correcting road drainage problems that contribute to degrading riparian resources;
traffic regulation during wet periods to prevent damage to riparian resources; and
establishing the purpose of each road by developing the road management objective.

Management Actions/Direction - Late-Successional Reserves

Construct roads in Late-successional reserves if the potential benefits of silviculture, salvage, and other activities exceed the costs of habitat impairment. If new roads are necessary to implement a practice that is otherwise in accordance with these guidelines, they will be kept to a minimum, routed through unsuitable habitat where possible, and designed to minimize adverse impacts. Alternate access, such as aerial logging, should be considered to provide access for activities in reserves.

Remove trees along rights-of-way if they are a hazard to public safety. Consider leaving material on site if existing coarse woody debris is inadequate. Consider topping of trees as an alternative to felling.

Management Actions/Direction - Key Watersheds

Reduce existing road mileage within key watersheds. If funding is insufficient to implement reductions, neither construct nor authorize through discretionary permits a net increase in road mileage in key watersheds.

Management Actions/Direction - All Land Use Allocations

Prepare a districtwide road management plan. The management plan will specifically address recreation use, road densities, road closures, wildlife protection, water quality, Port-Orford cedar management, timber management, construction and maintenance standards, fire suppression access, and coordination with adjacent landowners. Address road management planning on a watershed basis consistent with late-successional reserves, riparian reserves, and other major allocations. Specific road closures would be determined using standard analysis, public involvement, and notification procedures.

Determine standards for new road construction during the project planning process. Standards will be the minimum necessary to meet resource and allocation objectives (e.g., recreation site, timber sale, key watershed, etc.) while having minimal impacts on the environment.

Minimize new road construction in areas with fragile soils (granitic, schist, and pyroclastic soils) to reduce impacts to soils, water quality, and fisheries. Stabilize existing roads where they contribute to significant adverse effects on these resources.

Locate, design, construct, and maintain roads to standards that meet management objectives in accordance with the district road management plan.

Follow best management practices (see Appendix D) for water quality and soil productivity to mitigate adverse effects on soils, water quality, fish, and riparian habitat during road construction and maintenance.

Reduce road density by closing minor collector and local roads in areas or watersheds where water quality degradation, big game harassment, or other road related resource problems have been identified.

Acquire water rights for road management purposes.

Specifically address, either in the road management plan or in a watershed analysis, stabilizing existing roads located on fragile granitic, schist, and pyroclastic soils (e.g., West Evans Creek and the Upper Lake Creek drainages), watersheds with water quality limited streams, and other areas of the district where soil/water quality problems are known to exist.

Avoid road construction in special areas and special habitats.

Manage and design road systems to reduce public health and safety hazards, fire risks, and vandalism to public and private property. Of particular concern is unauthorized public use of nonthrough or "local" roads within rural interface areas and within one-quarter mile of existing dwellings. Gates and other types of traffic barriers such as guardrails, berms, ditches, and log barricades will be used as appropriate.

Reduce the further spread of blackstain fungus through proper timing of roadside brushing.

Determine necessity of road systems to meet initial wildfire suppression objectives prior to any prepared closure or modification.