File Code:

1350-2/6540

   Date:

June 14, 2004

/s/ Randy Swick

RANDALL G. SWICK

Designated Federal Officer

Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee

enclosures

Cc:

Dick Smith, Boise NF

Suzanne Rainville, Boise NF

Mark Madrid, Payette NF

Andy Brunelle, Capitol City Coord - Idaho

Dave Olson, Boise NF

Linda Steinhaus, Boise NF

Boyd Hartwig, Payette NF

Leadership Team, Boise NF

Leadership Team, Payette NF

Idaho Congressional Delegations

County Commissioners and Clerks

Maggie Mahoney, IAC

Project sponsors

Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee Meeting

AGENDA

June 23, 2004

Meeting location:    American Legion Hall

                                 Cascade, Idaho

10:30 AM                 Welcome, Meeting Objectives, and Agenda Review

                                 (Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson)

10:45 AM                Review of Project Proposals – Proposal Form Part 1 (D) and Part 2 (D/DR)

                                 (Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson; Randy Swick, DFO)

1.      Indian Mountain Allotment Bull Trout Exclosure Maintenance (#04022) – Weldon Branch

2.      Boise Peak User Created Trail Rehab (#04024) – Larry Tripp, Mountain Home Ranger District

12:00 PM                 Working Lunch (Lunch will be provided for RAC members)

12:30 PM                  Review and Approval of 4-21-04 Meeting Minutes (D), Review and Approval of RAC Expenses (D), RAC Funding Balance Update, and Project Log Update, Re-appointment process.

                                 (Randy Swick, DFO)

12:45 PM                 Public Forum

                                 (Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson)

1.      Comments and questions from the public to the committee

1:00 PM                   Review of Project Proposals – Proposal Form Part 1 (D) and Part 2 (D/DR)

                                 (Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson; Randy Swick, DFO)

1.      Dust Control and Road Stabilization (#04025) – Carl Phares, Mountain Home Highway District

2.      Monumental Creek (#04019) – Ryan Ojerio, Northwest Youth Corps

2:30 PM                   Future Meeting Dates and Location

                                 (Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson; Randy Swick, DFO)

2:45 PM                   Meeting Adjourned

(D) = Decision requiring quorum and simple majority for approval.

(DR) = Decision requiring quorum and majority of each Sub Group for approval.

10. Statement of Project Purpose and Expected Outcomes  [Sec. 203(b)(1), and (b)(5)]:

The purpose of this project is to restore bull trout spawning habitat while maintaining livestock grazing in the watershed.  By maintaining these exclosures annually (from August 15 through October 15 or when livestock are removed from the forest), cattle access will be reduced to a negligible level during the bull trout spawning season, streambank disturbance will be decreased, and erosion will decrease.  These exclosures meet the intent of consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to mitigate livestock impacts to bull trout spawning habitat on Anderson Creek, Sheep Creek, and Little Weiser River.

11. Project Description:  Hire a horseback rider to maintain the eight temporary electric bull trout spawning habitat exclosures from August 15 until October 15 or when the livestock are removed from the forest.

10. Statement of Project Purpose and Expected Outcomes  [Sec. 203(b)(1), and (b)(5)]:

 Several user created trails have developed in the Boise Peak/Eagleson Summit area. Several attemps to close these trails has been unseccessful. The experiences of land management agencies managing access in the Boise Front has shown that a substancial barrier that can't be easily removed is the only way to close this type of user created trails. We plan to close and rehabilitate 4 user created trails, totaling less than 1 mile.    

11. Project Description:

 We plan to use highway guardrail to block the trails and wing barbed wire fences to discourage people from tring to go around the guard rail. There are 4 trails that would be closed at 6 sites and all trails rehabilitated to prevent erosion and gully formation. A tracked ecavator will be used to install the guard rail and volunteers from the Idaho Bird Observatory and Idaho Fish and Game will be used to build fences, water bar the trails and cover them with slash to prevent erosion and gully formatation. To reduce costs we are using the Forest s' tracked  ecavator which is a shared resource in high demand. We are not sure that we can schedule enough time time this year to get the job done that why we are planning on two work seasons.     

10. Statement of Project Purpose and Expected Outcomes [Sec. 203(b)(1), and (b)(5)]:

Purpose:  Control dust and stabilize road surface.  The expected outcome of this project is to have less dust and smoother roadswhich is healthier for residents, businesses, agriculture, and forest ecosystems along these roadways.  To help with the large influx of recreational traffic in these areas.

11. Project Description:

In 2004 we plan to shape, water, roll and treat with mag chloride approximately 6.25 miles of road, mainly near businesses, houses, and some forest service guard stations.  In 2005 and 2006, we plan to expand the program to 19.65 miles to help some steep grades and corners where the dust and rough roads have caused problems. 

10. Statement of Project Purpose and Expected Outcomes  [Sec. 203(b)(1), and (b)(5)]:

(1) Offer local area youth a safe and supportive first work experience that incorporates education and mastery of basic employment skills including communication, conflict resolution and leadership, while promoting development of an individual work ethic and an understanding of resource management issues.

(2) Provide necessary deferred maintenance for the Monumental Creek Trail which is in need tread reconstruction, relocation of several sections, clearing, brushing and the construction of drainage structures and retaining structures.

11. Project Description:

1.)  This project will fund deferred maintenance on approximately 16 miles of the Monumental Creek Trail including relocation of trail segments that are currently exposed to erosion which degrades the trail and may be contributing to increasing silt loads in sensitive fish habitat.  Project goals also include tread alignment, construction of drainage structures, clearing and brushing, and building rock retaining walls to provide tread support.

2.)  Two years ago NYC created the Idaho Conservation Corps program as a way to increase job training and experiential education opportunities for the youth of Idaho.  In 2002 NYC served 14 youth and in 2003 that number more than doubled to 38 youth served.  Title II funding will allow NYC to provide continued youth development opportunities for the youth of Southwest Idaho by providing projects needed for NYC’s recruitment and employment of local youth.  Funding requested in this application will support ten-member youth crews for 12 weeks in 2005, USFS personnel support time, and USFS agreement overhead fee.  NYC is a regionally recognized leader in the service corps and youth development field.  Our programs feature a specially developed educational curriculum that is nationally accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.  All NYC activities focus on safety and emphasize challenge, teamwork and community development.  In 2003, over 90% of NYC program participants reported significant increases in their ability to: (1) work hard, (2) work safely, (3) communicate with others, (4) take responsibility for their actions, and (5) cooperate in a team effort.