Contents Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for Action 1.1 CURRENT PLANNING ISSUES 1-1 1.2 PLANNING DIRECTION AND SITE OBJECTIVES 1-3 1.2.1 EXISTING FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE OF EACH PLANNING AREA 1-3 1.2.2 SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES OF EACH PLANNING AREA 1-3 1.2.3 GENERAL PARK SERVICE OBJECTIVES 1-4 1.2.4 SITE-SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 1-4 1.2.4.1 Rim Village 1-4 1.2.4.2 Park Headquarters Area - Munson Valley 1-5 1.2.4.3 Mazama Village 1-5 1.2.4.4 South Entrance Area 1-5 1.2.5 PUBLIC ISSUES IDENTIFIED THROUGH SCOPING 1-6 1.3 BACKGROUND OF PLANNING AT CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK 1-6 1.3.1 1977 GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 1-6 1.3.2 1984 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND 1985 INTERIM DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PLAN/AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 1-7 1.3.3 1988 DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PLAN AND AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 1-7 1.3.4 BRIEFING REPORT - RIM VILLAGE REDEVELOPMENT 1-8 1.3.5 WINTER USE PLAN 1-8 Chapter 2. Project Description and Alternatives 2.1 INTRODUCTION 2-1 2.1.1 ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 2-1 2.1.1.1 Concession and Park Service Housing - Alternatives Considered but Rejected 2-2 2.1.1.2 Parking Facility and Valley Road - Alternatives Considered but Rejected 2-2 2.1.1.3 Other Alternatives Considered but Rejected 2-3 2.1.2 PLANNED AND APPROVED ACTIONS THAT REQUIRE NO FURTHER EVALUATION 2-3 2.2 ALTERNATIVES 2-4 2.2.1 ALTERNATIVE 1 - SOUTH ENTRANCE FOCUS 2-4 2.2.1.1 Immediate Actions 2-4 2.2.1.2 Future Actions 2-6 2.2.1.3 Mitigating Measures 2-7 2.2.2 ALTERNATIVE 2 - MAZAMA FOCUS 2-11 2.2.2.1 Immediate Actions 2-11 xiv 2.2.2.2 Future Actions 2-11 2.2.2.3 Mitigating Measures 2-12 2.2.3 ALTERNATIVE 3 - CONTINUATION OF THE 1988 DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PLAN AND AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE) 2-12 2.2.3.1 Immediate Actions 2-12 2.2.3.2 Future Actions 2-12 2.2.3.3 Mitigating Measures 2-12 2.2.4 ALTERNATIVE 4 - PROPOSED ACTION 2-13 2.2.4.1 Immediate Actions 2-13 2.2.4.2 Future Actions 2-13 2.2.4.3 Mitigating Measures 2-13 Chapter 3. Affected Environment 3.1 INTRODUCTION 3-1 3.1.1 CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK 3-1 3.1.2 THE STUDY AREAS 3-1 3.1.3 CHAPTER CONTENTS 3-4 3.2 EARTH RESOURCES 3-5 3.2.1 TOPOGRAPHY 3-5 3.2.2 GEOLOGY 3-5 3.2.3 SOILS 3-6 3.3 SURFACE WATER RESOURCES 3-7 3.4 GROUNDWATER/WATER SUPPLY 3-8 3.5 WATER QUALITY 3-10 3.6 AIR QUALITY 3-11 3.7 VEGETATION 3-12 3.7.1 FLORISTIC SETTING AND SPECIAL-STATUS PLANT SPECIES 3-12 3.7.2 RIM VILLAGE 3-12 3.7.2.1 Unique Communities 3-12 3.7.3 MUNSON VALLEY (QUARRY FLAT) 3-14 3.7.4 MAZAMA VILLAGE 3-14 3.7.4.1 Unique Communities 3-18 3.7.5 SOUTH ENTRANCE 3-18 3.7.5.1 Unique Communities 3-19 3.8 WETLANDS 3-21 3.9 WILDLIFE 3-22 xv 3.10 SPECIAL-STATUS ANIMAL SPECIES 3-24 3.10.1 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES 3-24 3.10.2 FEDERAL CANDIDATE AND STATE-LISTED SENSITIVE SPECIES 3-24 3.11 ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES (FIRE) 3-27 3.12 CULTURAL RESOURCES 3-28 3.12.1 PREHISTORY 3-28 3.12.2 ETHNOGRAPHIC RESOURCES 3-29 3.12.3 HISTORY 3-29 3.12.3.1 Background 3-29 3.12.3.2 Rim Village 3-30 3.12.3.3 Munson Valley 3-30 3.12.3.4 Mazama Village 3-30 3.12.3.5 South Entrance 3-31 3.13 LOCAL ECONOMY 3-32 3.14 VISITOR EXPERIENCE 3-33 3.14.1 RIM VILLAGE 3-33 3.14.2 MUNSON VALLEY 3-34 3.14.3 MAZAMA VILLAGE 3-34 3.14.4 SOUTH ENTRANCE 3-34 3.15 EMPLOYEE COMMUTING AND DELIVERY OF SUPPLIES 3-35 3.16 LAND USE AND ZONING 3-36 Chapter 4. Environmental Consequences 4.1 INTRODUCTION 4-1 4.1.1 DEFINITION OF TERMS 4-1 4.1.2 IMPACT TOPICS DISMISSED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION 4-2 4.2 ALTERNATIVE 1 - SOUTH ENTRANCE FOCUS 4-3 4.2.1 IMPACTS ON EARTH RESOURCES - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-3 4.2.1.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-3 4.2.1.2 Methods 4-3 4.2.1.3 Analysis 4-3 4.2.1.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-3 4.2.1.5 Conclusions 4-4 4.2.2 IMPACTS ON SURFACE WATER - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-4 4.2.2.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-4 4.2.2.2 Methods 4-4 4.2.2.3 Analysis 4-5 4.2.2.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-6 4.2.2.5 Conclusions 4-6 xvi 4.2.3 IMPACTS ON GROUNDWATER/WATER SUPPLY - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-7 4.2.3.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-7 4.2.3.2 Methods 4-7 4.2.3.3 Analysis 4-7 4.2.3.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-10 4.2.3.5 Conclusions 4-12 4.2.4 IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-12 4.2.4.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-12 4.2.4.2 Methods 4-13 4.2.4.3 Analysis 4-13 4.2.4.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-13 4.2.4.5 Conclusions 4-13 4.2.5 IMPACTS ON AIR QUALITY - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-14 4.2.5.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-14 4.2.5.2 Methods 4-14 4.2.5.3 Analysis 4-14 4.2.5.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-14 4.2.5.5 Conclusions 4-14 4.2.6 IMPACTS ON VEGETATION - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-15 4.2.6.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-15 4.2.6.2 Methods 4-15 4.2.6.3 Analysis 4-15 4.2.6.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-17 4.2.6.5 Conclusions 4-17 4.2.7 IMPACTS ON WETLANDS - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-18 4.2.7.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-18 4.2.7.2 Methods 4-18 4.2.7.3 Analysis 4-18 4.2.7.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-18 4.2.7.5 Conclusions 4-18 4.2.8 IMPACTS ON WILDLIFE - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-18 4.2.8.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-18 4.2.8.2 Methods 4-18 4.2.8.3 Analysis 4-19 4.2.8.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-21 4.2.8.5 Conclusions 4-21 4.2.9 IMPACTS ON SPECIAL-STATUS ANIMAL SPECIES - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-22 4.2.9.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-22 4.2.9.2 Methods 4-22 4.2.9.3 Analysis 4-22 4.2.9.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-24 4.2.9.5 Conclusions 4-25 4.2.10 IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES (FIRE) - ALTERNATIVE 1 4-25 4.2.10.1 Applicable Regulations, Policies, and Past Planning Objectives 4-25 4.2.10.2 Methods 4-26 4.2.10.3 Analysis 4-26 4.2.10.4 Cumulative Impacts 4-26 4.2.10.5 Conclusions 4-26 xvii