Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
01/01/2024 to 03/31/2024
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
Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System
EIS

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Land management planning  Developing Proposal
Est. NOI in Federal Register 12/2023  		Expected:01/2025  01/2025 Jennifer Ruyle
520-388-8351
jennifer.mcrae@usda.gov 
Description: Amend all land management plans for units of the National Forest System to include consistent direction to conserve and steward existing and recruit future old-growth forest conditions and to monitor their condition across planning areas of NFS.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65356
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. National Forests and Grasslands (128 units).
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
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 02/11/2022
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 09/2023  		Expected:09/2023
  		01/2024 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. .
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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
Cat Creek Core Drilling Mining Exploration Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/01/2023  		Expected:04/2024
  		05/2024 Judith Perez
719-852-6240
Judith.Perez@usda.gov 
Description: Authorize the use of equipment to conduct exploratory drilling at two sites on the Conejos Peak Ranger District. Both sites would use core drilling techniques in the footprint of the existing roadbed along National Forest System Road (NFSR) 237.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - T.36N., R.6E., Section 4, New Mexico Prime Meridian. In the Cat Creek Drainage, on FSR 237.
Cat Creek Platoro
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Grazing management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/01/2023  		Expected:12/2023
  		06/2024 Kelly Garcia
719-274-6317
kelly.garcia@usda.gov 
Description: Construct earthen reservoirs to capture runoff from snow and rain. Underground storage tanks are also proposed at the current Schilling Springs well.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Approximately 16 miles southeast of Monte Vista CO; 1 mile north of Terrace Reservoir; 2.5 miles southeast of Alamosa Guard Station; 20 miles northwest of La Jara.
Dry Creek Trail Re-Route
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/01/2023  		Expected:02/2024
  		05/2024 Antonio Lucero
719-274-6329
antonio.lucero@usda.gov 
Description: Reroute a .75-mile section of the 700 trail east of Forest Service Road 334 and west of Marble Mountain. Check dams would be constructed in the existing section of trail to prevent further erosion and resource damage.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - T. 37 N, R. 4 E., Sec. 12; T. 37 N., R. 5 E., Sec. 7. 700 trail east of Forest Service Road 334 and west of Marble Mountain.
History Colorado Marker Reauthorization
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 12/07/2023  03/2024 Kyle Burton
719-852-6293
kyle.burton@usda.gov 
Description: The Forest Service proposes to reauthorize under a new special use permit a historical marker at Cumbres Pass. The current permit will expire soon and there are no changes to the authorized facilities or increases in scope or magnitude.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - A right-of-way for a historical marker at Cumbres Pass encompassing 0.01 acres in the NW1/4 of Sec. 17, T. 32 N., R. 5 E., NMPM, Conejos County, Colorado. Next to Highway 17 on Cumbres Pass in Conejos County, Colorado.
Jones Lakeview Access
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 12/05/2023  12/2023 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.
Osier Well
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Grazing management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/01/2023  		Expected:12/2023
  		06/2024 Kelly Garcia
719-274-6317
kelly.garcia@usda.gov 
Description: The purpose of this project is to provide water for livestock. The need is to establish water in areas to distribute livestock to areas on the allotment that do not have water but have forage.
Location: UNIT - Conejos Peak Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Conejos. LEGAL - T. 32N R. 6E Sections: 10 or 11 depending on engineering requirements. Generally, 16 miles southeast of Antonito, CO; 1.3 miles northeast of Osier Mountain, CO.
Sheepshead Enterprises, LLC Access.
CE
 - 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.
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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
Cattle Mountain Water Trap
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Grazing management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2024  		Expected:07/2024  08/2024 Madison Groven
719-937-3066
Madison.Groven@usda.gov 
Description: Create a fence around a boggy water trap. Cattle and wildlife get stuck in the boggy area and perish. Fence is estimated to be 40%u2019 x 60%u2019.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Rio Grande. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Cattle Mountain Allotment South-South-West of South Fork, CO.
Edge Access
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/17/2023  		Expected:06/2024
  		06/2024 Kyle Burton
719-872-4036
kyle.burton@usda.gov 
Description: The Forest Service proposes to authorize construction of approximately 250 feet of driveway for the purpose of accessing private property thus satisfying the proponents statutory right to reasonable access.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mineral. LEGAL - Sec. 23, T. 42 N., R. 1 W., NMPM, Mineral County, Colorado. Private Road permit off of NFSR 504.
Embargo Mastication
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 05/2024  		Expected:06/2024  07/2024 Kent Smith
719-655-6131
kent.smith@usda.gov 
Description: There is a need to reduce understory fuels to maintain desired conditions via mastication, consistent with the Rio Grande National Forest Land Management Plan as described in Management Area 5.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Rio Grande. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Embargo Creek area northwest of Del Norte Colorado.
Embargo Trail motorized single-track to motorized 50" conversion
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management  Cancelled  N/A  N/A Tanner Dutton
719-655-6114
tanner.m.dutton@usda.gov 
Description: This project will convert 0.6 miles of the Embargo trail (NFST 792) from motorized single-track to motorized 50" to allow loop options. There will be no net change to the mileage of motorized trails.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Saguache. LEGAL - Not Applicable. 14 miles north of South Fork, CO.
Luther Driveway Realignment
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/17/2023  		Expected:06/2024
  		06/2024 Kyle Burton
719-872-4036
kyle.burton@usda.gov 
Description: Approximately 80 feet of a 150 feet driveway would be relocated to a gentler grade. The purpose is the need for reasonable access and the need is for a driveway more able to accommodate emergency vehicles, septic trucks, cement trucks, etc.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mineral. LEGAL - A private road right-of-way approximately 150 feet in length and 20 feet in width encompassing 0.07 acres in Sec. 11, T. 42 N., R. 1 W., NMPM, Mineral County, Colorado. Off of NFSR 504.
Powers Access
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/28/2023  		Expected:05/2024
  		05/2024 Kyle Burton
719-852-6293
kyle.burton@usda.gov 
Description: It is proposed to authorize under a new special use permit a right-of-way 12,500 feet in length and ten feet in width encompassing 2.87 acres, more or less, for a 50 inch or less motorized trail for the purpose of accessing private property.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mineral. LEGAL - A trail ROW 12,500 feet in length and ten feet in width encompassing 2.87 acres, more or less, in Secs. 5 & 6, T. 41 N., R. 1 W.; Secs. 28, 29 & 32, T. 42 N., R. 1 W., NMPM, Mineral County. A permit for 50" or less motorized use of the nonmotorized Forest Trail 897.1 for access to the Legal Tender Lodes in the Shallow Creek drainage approximately 4.5 miles west of Creede, 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:07/2023
  		09/2023 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.
Sheep Sanitation Timber Harvest
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 Completed  Actual: 07/25/2023  07/2024 Kevin Duda
719-657-6037
kevin.duda@usda.gov 
Description: The proposed action includes harvest of dead trees, trees likely to die in the next several years, and trees contributing to the actual or anticipated spread of insects or diseases.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mineral. LEGAL - T41 N, R3 E, Sec. 24, 25, and 26; T41 N, R2 E, Sect. 30, NMPM. The project area is located 8 miles southeast of Creede, Colorado, Mineral County. The project is located near Spring Gulch along National Forest System Road 600.
Vista Grande Road and Sign
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/17/2023  		Expected:01/2024
  		01/2024 Kyle Burton
719-872-4036
kyle.burton@usda.gov 
Description: Authorize an existing driveway crossing approximately 670 feet of NFS land. A 24 feet wide right-of-way would encompass 0.37 acres. And there is an existing entrance sign on NFS land encumbering 0.01 acres.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mineral. LEGAL - A rights-of-way for a road 670 feet in length and 24 feet in width encompassing 0.37 acres and an entrance sign encompassing 0.01 acres in the SW of Sec. 11, T. 41 N., R. 1 W., NMPM, Mineral County. Located off of NFSR 550.
West Pinos Well
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Grazing management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2024  		Expected:07/2024  08/2024 Madison Groven
719-937-3066
Madison.Groven@usda.gov 
Description: Create a solar powered well to provide water to livestock and wildlife.
Location: UNIT - Divide Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Rio Grande. LEGAL - Not Applicable. West Pinos Allotment Southwest of Del Norte, CO.
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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
Blue Crow Mastication
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2024  		Expected:07/2024  08/2024 Kent Smith
719-655-6131
kent.smith@usda.gov 
Description: The purpose of the Blue Crow Mastication project is to reduce stand density in TPJ (Pinyon-Juniper trees) to improve wildlife habitat and forest health via mastication.
Location: UNIT - Saguache Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Saguache. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project area lies within the La Garita Hills EIS boundary and is adjacent to a BLM mastication project.
Razor Lodgepole Pine
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Forest products  Completed  Actual: 11/01/2023  11/2023 Rachael Sanchez
719-657-6023
rachael.sanchez@usda.gov 
Description: Maintain or improve ecosystem function, resilience, and sustainability, Support a sustainable level of economic activity in the local timber industry, Provide commercial and nonnative invasive species.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=64532
Location: UNIT - Saguache Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Saguache. LEGAL - Not Applicable. T.47N., R.4E., section 34; T.46N., R.4E., sections 2, 3, 10, 11, and 15, NMPM.
The General Lodgepole Pine
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Forest products  Completed  Actual: 11/01/2023  11/2023 Rachael Sanchez
719-657-6023
rachael.sanchez@usda.gov 
Description: Maintain or improve ecosystem function, resilience, and sustainability, Support a sustainable level of economic activity in the local timber industry, Provide commercial wood products.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=64531
Location: UNIT - Saguache Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Saguache. LEGAL - T.46N., R.5E., sections 2, 11, and 12, NMPM. All or portions of T.46N., R.5E., sections 2, 11, and 12, NMPM.
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