Project Details

This proposal will assist in the implementation of a previous Habitat Council proposal which provided funding for the survey and design of this project.  The proposal is being submitted through joint cooperation of Trout Unlimited and the Ashley National Forest.  Trout Unlimited is requesting the funds and will, in turn, partner with the Forest Service to accomplish the proposal.  This will allow Trout Unlimited to attempt to leverage any funds received by applying for other grant funding sources and include them in their partnership with the Forest Service.

Background:  This project includes reconstruction and repair of sections of the Little Hole National Recreation Trail, the most popular and highly used trail on the Ashley National Forest and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.  The project will reduce safety concerns and address ongoing maintenance issues associated with existing sections of the trail, providing sustainability of use.

The Little Hole Trail follows the Green River for seven miles between the Flaming Gorge Dam and Little Hole day use area, providing recreational access to the Green River (a blue ribbon trout fishery).  The trail provides amazing opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and viewing wildlife and the outstanding scenery and red rocks of the canyon.  The trail is the only river access route for the seven river miles between these locations for the over 90,000 visitors that frequent this location each year.

The need for this project stems from issues associated with the high water flows released from the reservoir and the impacts to the trail.  The trail was originally constructed in 1965 and designed to be above the water line of a 5,000 cfs flow. In 1983, release flows from the dam reached 10,000 cfs causing damage to several sections. Following this high flow event, gabion baskets with a soil surface tread were constructed on 21 sections of the trail totaling 3,400 feet. Yet each high flow event washed away the soil surface tread, leaving exposed wire as a tripping hazard. In 1998 a contract was awarded to construct treated timber boardwalk on the existing gabion baskets. However, in later high flow years, much of the wooden constructed boardwalk has broken loose and floated away due to buoyant nature of the material, requiring costly repairs.  It is a priority for the Ashley National Forest to replace the existing boardwalk with a sustainable material that can be submerged for up to 3 months/year and stand up to heavy visitor use.

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

The primary objectives of this project are to repair and reduce future damage to stream banks and sections of the trail that are damaged by high water flows. These improvements will directly assist in improving associated fish habitat by reducing the volume of sediment delivered to the stream from failing trail infrastructure and damaged stream banks.

In addition, anglers accessing the river have caused considerable damage by shortcutting. Continued shortcutting along the trail will lead to additional resource damage and further deterioration. The engineering and design portion of this project will consider this problem and provide solutions to improve river access along the trail. This will then reduce the number of user-created trails, as well as the associated volume of sediment delivered directly to the river (from the exposed trail surface). Sediment reduction contributes to redd survival rates increasing, maintaining healthy feeding habits for fish and other aquatic life, and improved quality of fishing.

Project Components:  In 2016, a $50,000 grant was obtained from the Habitat Council for an engineering survey and design to address these issues.  The engineering design was completed and in September of 2017, the Forest Service completed the proof of concept work by replacing 450 feet of treated timber boardwalk with a composite grating surface (Strongwell Duradeck) proven effective on off shore drilling rig platforms.  Each section is securely anchored into the existing gabion baskets utilizing all thread rod and steel plate anchors. This ensures that the sections will not detach from the gabion baskets and float away.

Since the initial proof of concept section in 2017, there has been around 900 feet of the trail completed, with an approximate 2500 feet left to finish.  The improvements will service over seven miles of trail that would otherwise be inaccessible and/or dangerous for trail users without high maintenance and replacement of the wooden boardwalk.  The new trail surface will provide a sustainable trail and support the high demand and use of this nationally designated trail.

The Forest Service has secured all but approximately $450,000 of the funds needed for the full project.  These funds have come from Forest Service funds, previous Habitat Council funds (for design), and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). This proposal will provide funding for additional sections of the trail and is part of a multiple year completion for the entire 3400 feet required.

The end result will provide enhanced angler and other visitor access to the Green River Blue Ribbon Fishery while at the same time addressing the resource issues identified above.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

As a National Recreation Trail, the Little Hole Trail is very high profile and receives substantial use. However, high water flows have undercut sections of riverbanks, weakened many of the gabion structures, and washed away all tread that is covering the gabion cages along the trail. This has resulted in unstable gabion structures and numerous tripping hazards along three miles of the trail. The high use of the trail compounds the possibility of injury from these hazards, and hence is a substantial concern.

Anglers accessing the river have caused considerable damage by shortcutting. Continued shortcutting along the trail will lead to additional resource damage and further deterioration. The engineering and design of this project considers this problem and provide solutions to improve river access along the trail. This will then reduce the number of user-created trails, as well as the associated volume of sediment delivered directly to the river (from the exposed trail surface). Sediment reduction contributes to redd survival rates increasing, maintaining healthy feeding habits for fish and other aquatic life, and improved quality of fishing.

In addition, if funded at this time, the Habitat Council or Blue Ribbon Fishery funds will assist in pursuing other grant opportunities this year, leveraging funds received with other funding sources.

LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.

TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.

The Ashley National Forest Strategic Plan includes the goal of providing high-quality outdoor recreational opportunities, of which the Little Hole National Recreation Trail and its corresponding access to the Green River is an integral part. In addition, the trail designation as a National Recreation Trail as well as its location within the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area highlights its importance for recreational opportunity.
Due to safety hazards to trail users and the resource damage that is occurring from high trail use, short-cutting and high water flows, enhanced management is necessary to correct these undesired conditions. The proposed project improvements will greatly reduce these concerns

Green River Management Plan, 1996 Record of Decision, page 9, Trail Management Strategies - "The Little Hole National Recreation Trail will be reconstructed where necessary and the segments under water at the 4800 cfs flow will be relocated. The gabion baskets along the river will be covered to remove the safety hazard of the exposed wire cages."

Ashley National Forest Plan, Objective #6 -- "Provide areas and opportunities for all types of recreation"

USDA Forest Service Strategic Plan Goal 3, Objective #1 - "Improve public access to National Forest Service land and water and provide opportunities for outdoor health-enhancing activities."

The project will directly address these goals and management plan objectives through addressing the existing issues with the trail construction by improving angler and visitor access to the Green River, reduce safety concerns, and address the erosion and resource damage that is occurring from the existing trail.

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

Restoration and reconstruction of the trail will be completed in accordance with the engineering survey and design (synopsis is attached as a supporting document to the application) completed in 2016.

Replacement of the treated timber boardwalk includes installation of a composite grating surface (Strongwell Duradeck) proven effective on off shore drilling rig platforms.  Each section is securely anchored into the existing gabion baskets utilizing all thread rod and steel plate anchors. This ensures that the sections will not detach from the gabion baskets and float away. Existing gabion baskets that have been damaged will be rebuilt according to the engineering design.

This proposal will provide funding for additional sections of the trail and is part of a multiple year completion for the entire 3400 feet required.  The grant funds would be used to purchase construction materials and installation.  Installation work to be completed primarily by hand and with small tools due to remote location and accessibility of the site.

Volunteers from local groups including Trout Unlimited, Green River Outfitter & Guides Association, state Dedicated Hunters would be used to transport the new material down the river and removal of the existing treated timber boardwalk.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

This project has substantial support from Forest visitors, trail user groups, local counties, town governments, outfitters and guides, and community members.  This interest is demonstrated in the attached five letters of support (over ten letters were received), and volunteer labor and funding.

Some factors that contribute to the support of this project include:
- National Recreation Trail Designation:  formally designated and also located within the Flaming Gorge NRA.  
- Recreation Site Access:  provides access to and between the Spillway Boat Ramp and the Little Hole Day Use Area. 
- High Use Recreation and Economic Generator:  highest used trail on the Ashley National Forest bringing in visitation and tourism dollars to local communities as well as income from outfitting and guides, vehicle shuttles, equipment rentals and lodging. 
- Public Land Area access: provides the only access to the Green River corridor for seven miles.

The project has been developed collaboratively with many agencies and groups, including Trout Unlimited , Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, BLM, outfitters and guides, and trail enthusiasts.

In addition to the sections of trail that is part of this proposal, the larger overall project is being funded though many different sources.  Habitat Council funded the engineering design through a $50,000 grant.  Additional funds in the amount of $278,000 for other trail sections have been approved and prioritized to be received in 2019-2021 in cooperation with FHWA through the Federal Lands Transportation Program.

It is the intent that if funds are received through this proposal, Trout Unlimited may be able to use the funds as leverage toward other potential grant opportunities.  
 
As part of this proposal, volunteers from local groups including Trout Unlimited, Green River Outfitter & Guides Association, and state Dedicated Hunters have shared their commitment and will be used to transport the new material down the river and removal of the existing treated timber boardwalk.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.