UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
Logan Ranger District
P.O. Box 448
Logan, Utah 84321 7730
November 26, 1979
Brian Beard
93 East 100 South
Logan, Utah 84321
Dear Brian:
I received your inquiry today regarding the proposed 3rd phase
reconstruction of the Logan Canyon Highway.
In reply to your questions:
1. Ricks Springs Campground Development proposed.
No, we do not plan to construct a campground at Ricks Springs
in conjunction with the Logan Canyon Highway proposal.
Yes, there is an inventoried recreation site on the opposite
side of the Logan River at Ricks Springs. The site was selected
back in the NFRS Inventory done in 1962. There has
been no site plan developed for recreation development there;
however, by our management we are protecting the inventoried
recreation site to prevent loss of resource values per chance
there may one day be a need to develop the site.
There has been some rough draft planning to protect and enhance
public safety at the Ricks Springs Natural Feature. There is
no approved plan for undertaking any development as yet.
2. Wood Camp Hollow Campground proposed.
No, we do not plan to construct a campground in Wood Camp
Hollow in conjunction with the proposed highway improvement
program.
Yes, there is an inventoried recreation site in Wood Camp
Hollow. It was also selected in the NFRS Inventory completed
back in 1962. There is no detailed plan for development as
yet, and there are not, now at least, any plans for development.
Yes, there was a preliminary ground survey made in Wood Camp
Hollow for an improved access road up to the Old Juniper Trailhead.
As I recall, the survey was done in 1969. There are
still one or two engineering survey pegs in the ground there.
The bridge that crosses Logan River at Wood Camp and the construction
of the Old Juniper Trail were part of the recreation
development originally programmed for public outdoor recreation
6Z00-11 (1 /69)
development within the Logan Canyon Recreation Complex. It
was also originally planned that overburden from the proposed
3rd phase Logan Canyon Highway improvement project would partially
be utilized in developing the Old Juniper Trailhead
access road. This road was a part of the resource evaluations
considered with the Environmental Analysis Report done by the
F.S. on the 3rd phase of the Logan Canyon Highway back in 1973.
3. Disposal of fill material?
During the evaluation processes of the upgrading of the Logan
Canyon Highway we have always been concerned about disposal
of overburden and excess cut material. You may already be
familiar with uses that were made of excess material from the
previous phase. Some clean rock was used to stabilize the
river channel bank, some rock was used to reestablish the
stream hydrology as in the lower box culvert below the Big Hole.
Some rock was used to enhance fisheries. Top soil was saved
and put back on cut slopes for better establishment of vegetative
ground cover. Some excess material was used to surface
portions of the Cowley Canyon forest road, and of course a
great deal of cut material went back into Logan Canyon Highway
road itself. Any material in excess was wasted in the "Grubic
Mountain" where it was molded and landscaped to a near natural
land form.
Possible uses of overburden and excess cut material from the
proposed 3rd phase Highway Improvement program may be similar
or hauled out of the canyon. We have looked at and are still
looking at possible beneficial uses should the road work be
undertaken.
The Cowley Canyon road could benefit from additional material
to improve the driving surface as well as to lift the road
above the drainage channel and improve water quality. There
may also be a similar opportunity for improvement to the
Temple Fork road. There may also be an opportunity to utilize
clean rock to stabilize stream channels in Logan Canyon and
side drainages. Perhaps the fisheries of Logan River, Right
Fork, and Temple Fork could be improved with appropriately
designed structures utilizing clean rock. There may be other
uses as well, but environmental assessments of each would be
necessary before any undertaking. The same with any actual
waste sites selected. Some waste disposal sites looked at to
date include the Twin Bridges, both the upper and lower end;
the Wood Camp area, mentioned earlier; the draw immediately
below the lower of the Twin Bridges; and the bench at the present
site of the Logan Cattle Allotment corral are a few of the
possible waste sites looked at. There has been no definite
selection as yet and there would be an environmental assessment
made to determine if there is an appropriate waste site.
4. Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Environmental assessments will be prepared to meet the National
Environmental Policy Act for any project we propose to undertake
that will have significant resource impact. As I have previously
stated, there are no plans to develop either Wood Camp or Ricks
Springs in conjunction with the proposed Logan Canyon Highway
project. As a matter of fact, I do not see any development
for these areas in the forseeable future.
We have asked our Fisheries Biologist and Hydrologist to study
the Logan River, Temple Fork, and Right Fork Streams to determine
whether there could be something done to improve the fish
pool-riffle ratios and to stabilize the stream banks to improve
water quality. Should these studies suggest the opportunity
for improvement we will do an environmental assessment to
determine feasibility before any undertaking. These will be
made available to you for your input.
We are now in the process of responding to the Utah
of Transportations most recent plan and design for the proposed
3rd phase of Logan Canyon Highway Improvement.
A copy of this will be made available to you.
I appreciate your personal interest and the interests of the Sierra
Club in protecting the resource values of Logan Canyon. I solicit
your input in all proposed activities involving National Forest
lands of the Logan Ranger District.
I am equally concerned for your support of proper and wise use of
all lands within and adjacent to the National Forest lands regardless
of ownership. Periodically there are proposals and activities in
the private and state sector within the National Forest Boundary
that could adversely change the values and uses of the forest. I
am sure the county and state planners and administrators would
welcome your input and support as well.
Should you have any questions regarding this reply, please get in
touch.
Sincerely, M.J. Roberts
District Forest Ranger
