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.

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.

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.

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.

This project will improve access to the Green River corridor for 7 miles below Flaming Gorge Dam. While the project itself will not directly reduce hazardous fuels or risk of fire, the improved access may benefit future fire suppression or hazardous fuel removal projects.

The project will address existing concerns of trail surface erosion, shortcutting and introduction of new trails, and sloughing off of the gabion baskets into the Green River.

Archeology clearance is complete NEPA - Additional NEPA not required as project is categorically excluded from further consideration as maintenance of existing trail.

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.

The effectiveness of the project will be monitored on an ongoing basis, through regular trail surveys completed by Forest Service personnel. This includes an assessment of the trail and identification of any deficiencies or needs. The trail is inspected annually and any issues or concerns will be addressed if required. An initial 450 foot proof of concept construction was completed in 2017, which held up well during 2018. This included during periods of peak flows. Additional sections were completed in 2018, which are presently being monitored and will be closely examined after the spring high flows in 2019. It is anticipated that the new construction will provide a much more sustainable trail and future repairs and maintenance will be greatly reduced.

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.

The Little Hole National Recreation Trail will continue to be managed by the Ashley National Forest as a high priority trail. The Ashley National Forest Recreation Facility Master Plan ranks the associated facilities accessing the trail among the highest of developed recreational site importance and management is anticipated to continue to maintain the trail. This project will assist in implementation of measures to provide for long-term sustainability of the trail. The Forest and partners are applying for additional funding to provide for the full completion of the 3400 feet of trail. Once these are implemented (which it is anticipated will be in stages over the next two or three years) the need for additional emergency repairs, as well as concerns with safety issues will be significantly reduced. However, each year trail crews will still complete ongoing monitoring and provide required repairs.

The intent of this project is to replace the existing non-sustainable construction methods of the Little Hole National Recreation Trail with construction that will provide sustainable recreation opportunities for anglers and visitors to this popular recreation site. Once completed, the trail restoration and reconstruction will address the existing resource concerns associated with the previous failing trail components. It is anticipated that the project will provide recreation access for decades with minimal repairs and reduced resource concerns, providing more sustainable use.

07/01/2019

06/30/2020

2020

Restoration and reconstruction of this phase of implementation was completed in accordance with the engineering survey and design that was provided through previous funding by the Utah Habitat Council in 2016. Implementation included replacement of the treated timber boardwalk through installation of a composite grating surface (Strongwell Duradeck). Installation work was completed through utilization of a crew from Utah State University, Utah Conservation Corps. Installation was performed primarily by hand and with small tools due to remote location and accessibility of the site. Supervision and leadership of the project was provided through a Forest Service enterprise team, Trails Unlimited, as well as Ashley National Forest recreation specialists. Volunteers from Daggett County Trails and local outfitter and guides assisted in removing materials from the existing wooden boardwalk as well as transportation of materials to the site. Over 600 feet of the existing boardwalk was removed and replaced with new trail platform. Sections of the composite grating surface were securely anchored into the existing gabion baskets utilizing all thread rod and steel plate anchors. Damaged gabion baskets were repaired or rebuilt according to the engineering design. Funds from the Utah Habitat Council were used by Trout Unlimited in purchasing materials necessary for the project in spring 2020. Funding for additional supplies as well as labor were provided by the Ashley National Forest, which included a grant from the Federal Recreational Trails Program administered through Utah Parks and Recreation. Installation work to be completed primarily by hand and with small tools due to remote location and accessibility of the site. Installation reports provided by the Utah Conservation Corps and Forest Service Enterprise Team are attached, as well as other photos of implementation work.

Little Hole National Recreation Trail Stabilization Project a True Collaborative Effort The FY20 phase of the Little Hole Trail Implementation project was successfully completed as planned. In 2020, over 600 feet of additional trail platform was installed, utilizing the Utah Habitat Council funding provided to Trout Unlimited and in cooperation with the Ashley National Forest. The completion of this phase of the project was truly a collaborative effort. Funds provided through the Habitat Council were leveraged with Trout Unlimited funds, Federal Recreational Trail program funding, and Forest Service appropriated dollars. In addition, this phase of the project and funds spent in FY20 will be as matching funds towards a Utah Recreation Restoration Infrastructure grant approved for the project through yet another cooperator, the Flaming Gorge Community Foundation in the amount of $140,000 to be spent on the next phase of project implementation in FY21. Project goals have been met or exceeded as the sections of trail will directly reduce sedimentation into the Green River through the type of construction that can withstand the fluctuation river levels from varying volumes of release from Flaming Gorge Dam. In addition, improved access is now available on these sections for anglers and others utilizing the trail. Attempts were also made by Trout Unlimited to further leverage the funds in FY20 through applications to the National Forest Foundation, but unfortunately the project was not selected for funding under the program that year. Additional phases of the project are planned utilizing funds from the other grants mentioned and completion of all phases is hoped for by FY2023.

Additional phased completion will occur over the next few years, with an anticipated completion of all phases by 2023 (dependent on funding availability). The FY21 phase is currently funded through a grant from the Utah Recreation Restoration Infrastructure program, as well as Forest Service dollars. This grant was made possible utilizing the efforts completed in FY20 as match for FY21 improvements. The trail is continuously monitored through trail survey by Forest Service employees. Once all phases of the restoration is complete, continued survey and monitoring will include on-the-ground monitoring each year and maintenance as required. Additional funds are being sought for FY22 and FY23 phases, which include strong support from many different sources.