The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to decommission a 1.6-mile portion of a road in the Volstead Creek area. The affected area is circled in red.
The Methow Valley Ranger District, working with the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration, is proposing to decommission a 1.6-mile portion of U.S. Forest Service Road 4225-200 in the Volstead Creek portion of the Beaver Creek drainage, the Forest Service said in a press release.
“Since the Tripod Fire burned much of this drainage in 2007, several debris flows have damaged this portion of the road, and reconstruction efforts have repeatedly washed out. The extent of the burned area upstream of this location makes it highly likely that further debris flows will occur, and the narrow topography of the drainage does not provide options to relocate the road away from Volstead Creek,” the press release said.
In the release, Methow Valley District Ranger Chris Furr said that continuing to repair damage to that section of the road will not reduce the likelihood of further erosion and would be cost-prohibitive.
An environmental analysis will be completed by WFLHD using its categorical exclusion category pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the release said. A decision on the proposal is expected this year, with implementation following soon afterwards, the press release said.
If you have questions regarding the project, contact Meg Trebon, North Zone Environmental Coordinator, at (509) 996-4032; or Furr, at (509) 996-4027. Comments on the proposal can be sent directly to Trebon at meg.trebon@usda.gov, or mailed to 24 E. Chewuch Road, Winthrop, WA 98862.
