Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
01/01/2023 to 03/31/2023
San Juan 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, San Juan National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, San Juan National Forest,  Columbine Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, San Juan National Forest,  Mancos/Dolores Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, San Juan National Forest,  Pagosa 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. .
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San Juan National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Minerals - Metallic Minerals Exploratory Core Sampling
CE
 - Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/01/2022  		Expected:11/2022
  		05/2023 James Blair
970-882-6856
James.Blair2@usda.gov 
Description: Process application for exploratory core sampling to determine mineral potential in the area. ~14 drill sites located in Bedrock Creek (La Plata Canyon, Columbine RD) and headwaters of East Mancos River (Dolores RD). Some sites accessed by helicopter
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61638
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District, Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata, Montezuma. LEGAL - T36-37N R11W. Bedrock Creek (La Plata Canyon, Columbine RD) and headwaters of East Mancos River (Dolores RD).
Special Uses - LPEA Bayfield to Ponderosa Transmission Line Rebuild project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/01/2022  		Expected:12/2022
  		05/2023 Mary Kusnir
520-749-7709
mary.kusnir@usda.gov 
Description: Rebuild of an existing electric transmission line and clearing vegetation within the existing and proposed 100-foot ROW between the Bayfield and LPEA Ponderosa substations
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62988
Location: UNIT - Pagosa Ranger District, Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta, La Plata. LEGAL - Not Applicable. On Columbine and Pagosa Ranger Districts, from the Bayfield substation to the Ponderosa substation, along US Hwy 160.
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San Juan National Forest,   Columbine 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
AML - Bat Grates (Grouse Gulch and Ruby Lake)
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Minerals and Geology 		 Completed  Actual: 10/14/2022  10/2022 James Blair
(970) 882-6856
James.Blair2@usda.gov 
Description: Physical closure of 2 abandoned inactive mine open adits which pose a physical hazard to the public. Will consist of steel grated adit closures with bat ladders for wildlife access. Access to both sites is by foot from existing road
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62700
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata, San Juan. LEGAL - Grouse Gulch LB1: T36N R11W Sec. 21 Ruby Lake RL3: T42N R08W Sec. 33. Grouse Gulch LB1: La Plata Canyon south of Kroeger CG Ruby Lake RL3: near Columbine Lake and Ophir Pass.
Integrated - Junction-Falls Integrated Resource Management (J-FIRM) Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management
- Heritage resource management
- Special area management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
- Road management
- Climate Change Adaptation 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/14/2022
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 04/2023  		Expected:03/2024
  		06/2024 Timothy Leishman
970-884-1411
timothy.leishman@usda.gov 
Description: Improve the four core values of the RMRI across the project landscape : 1. Communities, 2. Clean Water, 3. Forests and Wildlife, and 4. Recreation. Proposed actions include vegetation management, Rx burning, recreation/trail management, and others.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62825
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Junction Creek Riparian Corridor and Trail, Logchutes, and Falls Creek/Hidden Valley.
Minerals - Catamount Spring Creek Gas Wells and Pipeline
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/18/2022
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 02/2023  		Expected:10/2023
  		05/2024 James Blair
970-882-6856
James.Blair2@usda.gov 
Description: Construction of an 8.4 mile pipeline system and the expansion of one existing gas well pad to facilitate re-completion of one existing gas well and horizontal drilling of seven new gas wells from the same pad.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63036
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta, La Plata. LEGAL - T34N R6W. Spring Creek Road in the HD Mountains.
Minerals - Petrox Northern Extension Pipeline and Horizontal Drilling Project
EA
 - Minerals and Geology
- Special use management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Walter Brown
970-385-1372
wabrown@fs.fed.us 
Description: Construction of a pipeline on FS, state, and private lands; construction of 1 new gas well pad and access road on FS land; and re-completion of 2 existing gas wells located on FS. The wells would be drilled with horizontal drilling techniques.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53825
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta. LEGAL - T34&35N R5&6W. Pipeline route runs from Lange Canyon to Fosset Gulch, 8 miles east of Bayfield.
Special Uses - Gloge Property USFS Access Road
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Lewis Sovocool
970-884-1433
lsovocool@fs.fed.us 
Description: Grant a special use permit for construction of dirt driveway across Forest Service lands to access a residential property.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60292
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Located on the southern slope of Shaefer Mountain. The proposed driveway would be accessed by Bear Creek Road, approximately 3 miles east of County Road 501.
Special Uses - Shelton's Spring Special Use Permit
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 10/28/2022  10/2022 Jason Mosher
000-000-0000
Jason.Mosher@usda.gov 
Description: Issue a 30-year FLPMA permit for the use and maintenance of existing spring and pipe facilities on NFS land.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60198
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Approx. 1.25 miles east of Fosset Gulch Road (FSR 613), south of Hwy 160.
Special Uses - True Creek Motorized Trail Access
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Lewis Sovocool
970-884-1433
lsovocool@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize motorized trail access, via FLPMA Private Trail Permit, to an isolated private parcel.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60139
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Southwest of Lemon Reservoir near the Aspen Trails subdivision.
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San Juan National Forest,   Mancos/Dolores 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
Lands - Atlantic Richfield STA Case No. 2020
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Land ownership management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/14/2022  		Expected:04/2023
  		05/2023 Emma Reinemann
000-000-0000
Emma.Reinemann@usda.gov 
Description: The Forest Service proposes to convey 20.9 acres of NFS lands to Atlantic Richfield under the mineral fraction category of the Small Tracts Act.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61785
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Dolores. LEGAL - W? of Section 25, Township 40 North, Range 11 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian (NMPM). One tract located east of the Dolores River approximately 0.2 miles north of the Rico Town Limits and include the existing settling ponds along the Dolores River to the south of the St. Louis Tunnel outlet.
Minerals - Alianza Minerals Limited Twin Canyon Exploration Drilling Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Minerals and Geology  Completed  Actual: 12/13/2022  06/2023 James Blair
000-000-0000
James.Blair2@usda.gov 
Description: Alianza Minerals Limited (Alianza)has submitted a preliminary Plan of Operations to explore its Twin Canyon property in the Caviness Mountain area for locatable minerals through a limited exploratory drilling program.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60254
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - T36N, R12W, Sections 13, 14, 23, 24. T36N, R12W, Sections 13, 14, 23, 24.
Minerals - Beaver Rim Pit Expansion
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Road management  Completed  Actual: 11/21/2022  05/2023 Cody Jones
970-385-1294
cody.j.jones@usda.gov 
Description: This project would expand the Beaver Rim Pit in order to extract rock for use to upgrade the road system.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61531
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - T39N, R14W, Sec 31 and 32. South of Beaver Creek, to the southwest of the intersection of FSR 526 and FSR 527.
Recreation - Chicken Creek Trail Reroute Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/26/2022  		Expected:12/2022
  		03/2023 Thomas Rice
970-882-6829
thomasbrice@fs.fed.us 
Description: Reroutes and trail additions in the Chicken Creek trail system area, including less than 2 miles of new trail and less than 2 miles of trail decommissioning
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62942
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Dolores. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Chicken Creek trail system.
Recreation - Dolores Recreation Access and Infrastructure Improvement Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 12/01/2022  		Expected:02/2023
  		03/2023 Thomas Rice
970-882-6829
thomas.b.rice@usda.gov 
Description: The project will improve recreation access and associated bathroom and parking infrastructure.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62582
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Boggy Draw area, Transfer Campground Horse Corral, FSR 385.
Special Uses - Farny Road Authorization
CE
 - Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/10/2021  		Expected:01/2023
  		05/2023 Mary Kusnir
520-749-7709
mary.kusnir@usda.gov 
Description: This project would authorize a change an existing trail easement to a motorized access easement and transfer ownership from David and Sharon Farny to Cindy Farny.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61557
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - Sec. 23, 24, 25, & 36 of T41N, R10W. NFSR Rd # 204A and 204A.1 near Lizard Pass off Hwy 145.
Special Uses - Redburn Ditch Access
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/11/2022  		Expected:01/2023
  		02/2023 Mary Kusnir
520-749-7709
mary.kusnir@usda.gov 
Description: The project would authorize an access route to the Redburn Ditch
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63013
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Approximately 1 mile southeast of the Town of Stoner.
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San Juan National Forest,   Pagosa 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
Interdisciplinary - Jackson Mountain Recreation, Veg Management, and Minerals/Gravel Pit project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Minerals and Geology 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 10/2022  		Expected:05/2023  06/2023 Paul Blackman
307-745-2363
paul.blackman@usda.gov 
Description: Landscape level analysis of recreation and veg mgmt opportunities in Jackson Mountain area, including consideration of mountain bike trails and associated facilities (parking areas, toilets, etc), veg and fuels mgmt opportunities, & gravel pit.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61809
Location: UNIT - Pagosa Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Jackson Mountain Area on the Pagosa Ranger District.
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