Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
01/01/2023 to 03/31/2023
Rio Grande National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Rio Grande National Forest,  Conejos Peak Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Rio Grande National Forest,  Divide Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Rio Grande National Forest,  Saguache Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Locatable Mining Rule - 36 CFR 228, subpart A.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  On Hold  N/A  N/A Sarah Shoemaker
907-586-7886
sarahshoemaker@fs.fed.us 
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes revisions to its regulations at 36 CFR 228, Subpart A governing locatable minerals operations on National Forest System lands.A draft EIS & proposed rule should be available for review/comment in late 2020
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57214
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. These regulations apply to all NFS lands open to mineral entry under the US mining laws. More Information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/minerals/locatable-minerals/current-revisions.
Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Land.
EIS

           *UPDATED* 		- Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 02/11/2022
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 01/2023  		Expected:01/2023
  		02/2023 Laura Conway
406-802-4317
laura.conway@usda.gov 
Description: Programmatic Supplemental EIS for the Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Land.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60450
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The direction in the SEIS will apply to use of aerially delivered fire retardant on all National Forest System land. .
Back To Top

Rio Grande National Forest,   Conejos Peak Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Acquisition of La Jara State Trust Lands
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Land acquisition  Completed  Actual: 12/05/2022  08/2023 Andrew Peterson
719-852-6206
andrew.peterson@usda.gov 
Description: It is proposed that the Rio Grande National Forest use LWCF funding to acquire approximately 20,000 acres of the La Jara State Trust Lands.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - Approximately 20,000 acres in T34N, R5E & T34N, R6E & T35N, R5E & T, 35N, R6E & T36N, R5E. La Jara State Trust Lands surrounding La Jara Reservoir approximately 20 miles west of La Jara, Colorado.
Iron Creek Access
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/11/2009  		Expected:09/2023
  		09/2023 Andrew Peterson
719-852-6206
andrew.peterson@usda.gov 
Description: Multiple private property owners have requested legal motorized access on the non-system road along Iron Creek in the vicinity of Prospect Mountain
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - A right-of-way approximately 6,700 feet in length and 24 feet in width encompassing 3.69 acres, more or less, in Secs. 1 & 12, T. 36 N., R. 3 E.; Sec. 7, T. 36 N., R. 4 E., NMPM, Conejos County, CO. The Iron Creek road leaves NFSR 380 and travels up Iron Creek east of Sheepshead Mountain.
Jones Lakeview Access
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/10/2022  		Expected:07/2023
  		07/2023 Kyle Burton
719-313-0873
kyle.burton@usda.gov 
Description: Issue a special use authorization for the motorized use and maintenance of a non-system route across National Forest System lands for the purpose of accessing private property.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - A right-of-way approximately 230 feet in length and 24 feet in width encompassing 0.13 acres, more or less, in Sec. 16, T. 36 N., R. 4 E., NMPM, Conejos County, Colorado. Proposed access is off of NFSR 247 to the Lakeview Lode along the west shore of Mix Lake approximately one mile west of Platoro, Colorado.
Sheepshead Enterprises, LLC Access.
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/03/2010  		Expected:09/2023
  		09/2023 Andrew Peterson
719-852-6206
andrew.peterson@usda.gov 
Description: A Forest Road Permit 8,000 feet in length and 24 feet in width encompassing 4.41 acres in Sec. 2, T. 36 N., R. 3 E., NMPM, Conejos County, Colorado for the use of the closed NFSRs 380.6A and 380.6H to access private property.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - 4.41 acres in Sec. 2, T. 36 N., R. 3 E., NMPM, Conejos County, Colorado. Approximately five miles northwest of Platoro, Colorado.
Trail Gulch Vegetation Management Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Completed  Actual: 10/27/2022  11/2022 Judith Perez
719-852-6240
judi.perez@usda.gov 
Description: The Conejos Peak Ranger District is proposing to treat up to 13,200 acres of the 51,460-acre project area. The Conejos Peak Ranger District has identified a need to improve overall forest health in the project area.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60258
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - T.33N., R.5E.; T.33N., R.6E.; T.33N., R.7E.; T.32N., R.4E.; T.32N., R.5E.; T.32N., R.6E.; and T.32N., R.7E., New Mexico Prime Meridian. Conejos Peak RD Generally, south of highway 17,south to NM/CO border, west to Cumbres Pass, east to Fox Creek then south along the RGNF boundary, generally 10.38 miles west of Antonito, CO.
Trujillo Meadows Reservoir Reauthorization
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 11/29/2022  12/2022 Andrew Peterson
719-852-6206
andrew.peterson@usda.gov 
Description: Reauthorize under a new FLPMA special use permit the use and occupancy of NFS lands by Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the Trujillo Meadows Reservoir.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - 71 acres, more or less, in Secs. 5 & 6, T. 32 N., R. 5 E.; Secs. 31 & 32, T. 33 N., R. 5 E., NMPM, Conejos County, Colorado. Trujillo Meadows Reservoir approximately nine miles northeast of Chama, New Mexico.
Back To Top

Rio Grande National Forest,   Divide Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Benino Trail Reroute
CE
 - Recreation management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/17/2021  		Expected:06/2022
  		08/2022 Jody Fairchild
719-658-2556
jody.fairchild@usda.gov 
Description: The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a sustainable 0.1 mile reroute of the Benino Trail. The existing trail in this section needs to be rerouted to avoid crossing Benino Creek two times in quick succession, which causes riparian damage.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Saguache. LEGAL - Not Applicable. 14 miles north of South Fork, CO.
Five Below Timber Management Project
EA
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 01/2023  		Expected:05/2023  06/2023 Kevin Duda
719-657-6037
kevin.duda@usda.gov 
Description: The purpose of this project is to implement timber harvesting for the purpose of timber production (regulated harvest) and sanitation-salvage harvesting to utilize commercially valuable hardwood and softwood species within the project analysis area.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62319
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Rio Grande. LEGAL - New Mexico Principal Meridian, T.39 N., R.3 E., and T.39 N., R.4 E. Generally, the Del Norte Peak area, located south of U.S. Highway 160 between Del Norte, CO and South Fork, CO.
Recreation parking area creation: San Luis Peak, Pool Table Road, Poage Lake
CE
 - Recreation management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/30/2022  		Expected:05/2022
  		06/2022 Martha Williamson
7196573321
martha.williamson@usda.gov 
Description: This project will delineate and harden (grade and road base) parking areas at the San Luis Peak trailhead, an OHV unloading area on the Pool Table road (NFSR 600) and the Poage Lake trailhead. This will make these areas resilient to additional use.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mineral, Rio Grande. LEGAL - Not Applicable. San Luis Peak TH: 7 miles N of Creede, CO, at the junction of NFSR 503 and NFST 882. Pool Table: 7 miles SE of Creede, CO, approx. 3 miles up NFSR600. Poage Lake TH: 11 miles S of South Fork, CO.
Tucker Ponds Snowmobile Parking Lot expansion
CE
 - Recreation management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/01/2021  		Expected:05/2021
  		10/2021 Martha Williamson
719.657.6007
martha.williamson@usda.gov 
Description: The purpose of this project is to expand the existing Tucker Ponds winter parking area by 0.8ac in order to alleviate congestion at the US160 chain station. This project is in cooperation with CSP, CDOT, Mineral County, and snowmobile clubs.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mineral. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Intersection of NFSR 390 and US 160, approximately 13 miles west of South Fork, CO.
Back To Top

Rio Grande National Forest,   Saguache Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Cantonment Vegetation Management Project
EA
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 02/11/2022  		Expected:02/2023
  		06/2023 Rachael Sanchez
719-657-6023
rachael.sanchez@usda.gov 
Description: The Rio Grande National Forest proposes to initiate multiple treatments within the Cantonment Creek and Luders Creek Drainages,including prescribed fire, salvage, precommercial thin, intermediate harvest and regeneration harvest.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61592
Location: UNIT - Saguache Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Saguache. LEGAL - New Mexico Principal Meridian, T.45N., R.4E., sec. 6-8, 16-23, 27-30 and 34; T.45N., R.3E., sec. 1, 11-15, 23-28, and 33-36; T.44N., R.3E., sec. 1-3; T.44N., R.4E., sec. 6. The analysis area is located approximately twenty-five miles west of the town of Saguache, Colorado.
Oyler Beetle Salvage
CE
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/08/2022  		Expected:09/2022
  		09/2022 Rachael Sanchez
719-657-6023
rachael.sanchez@usda.gov 
Description: The proposed action consists of salvage harvest of approximately 250 acres of dead/dying Engelmann spruce within stands adjacent to and surrounding the Oyler parcel located on NFSR 681.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61584
Location: UNIT - Saguache Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Saguache. LEGAL - T.43N., R.4E., sections 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, NMPM. Project area is located adjacent to NFSR 681, off NFSR 675. Project borders the Oyler private property boundary.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.