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Bridges and culverts will be installed to minimize sedimentation and turbidity
resulting from excavation for in-channel structures. Wet drainages will have
temporary crossings and cross at right angles to keep temporary roads from unduly
damaging streams or disturbing channels. Culverts will be maintained annually or as
necessary.
The Bear Lodge Project Weed Management Plan (Appendix O) will be followed
during implementation of the Project.
5.17 RECREATION
5.17.1 Recreation Opportunities/Conflicts
Recreation within the Project Area and vicinity includes hunting, hiking, mountain biking,
horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, scenic road trips, all-terrain vehicle riding,
and dispersed camping. Motorized recreation and access are available within the Project Area
and vicinity on a seasonal basis. The Forest Service manages the area east of the Project Area
with an emphasis on backcountry non-motorized recreation.
5.17.2 Design Features/Environmental Protection Measures
RER has identified the following design features/environmental protection measures to reduce
potential impacts to recreation:
Non-motorized trails will remain open, to the extent possible, to public use for hikers,
mountain bikers, and horseback riders outside of the Mine Area.
The PUG Plant will be fenced and signed for public safety and the plant area will be
enclosed with a 6 foot chain link fence with a “V” top, 6-strand barbed wire
configuration at the top of the fence for additional security. There will be a security
gate manned 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Roads and non-motorized trails within the Mine Area will be closed for the life of the
mine.
5.18 FOREST SERVICE MANAGEMENT AREAS
5.18.1 Baseline Description
The BHNF includes several management areas that define where various kinds of resources
and use opportunities are available to the public and where different management practices
may be implemented. The majority of the Project Area (5,481 acres or 62.7 percent) is in a
portion of the BHNF that is managed for resource production (Management Area 5.1).
Management of these areas emphasizes wood products, water yield and forage production,
while providing other commercial products, visual quality, diversity of wildlife, and a variety of
other goods and services. The eastern portion and a portion of the southwest corner of the
Project Area (2,215 acres or 25.3 percent) are managed with a big game winter range emphasis
(Management Area 5.4). These areas are managed to provide high-quality winter and
transitional habitat for deer and elk, high-quality turkey habitat, habitat for other species, and a
variety of multiple uses. The area east of the Project Area is managed with a backcountry non-
motorized recreation emphasis (Management Area 3.32). These areas are managed to provide
recreation opportunities in a semi-primitive setting. A small sliver of this management area (30
acres or 0.3 percent) extends into the southeastern corner of the Project Area (see Table 5.18-1
and Map 5.18-1). Approximately 1,024 acres within the Project Area are private and federal
lands that are excluded lands that do not have a Forest Service management designation. The
Miller Creek Access Route passes through management areas 5.1 and 5.4.
