Smith Lake and Mt. Elwell Trail Reroute

Smith Lake and Mt. Elwell Trail Reroute

The proposed project is located in the Lakes Basin Recreational Area, Plumas County, California, which is positioned in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Beckwourth Ranger District has analyzed a proposal to reroute portions of the Smith Lake and Mt. Elwell Trails. This proposed project would move the Smith Lake Trail out of the riparian area and install one or two bridge crossings at Smith Creek east of Smith Lake. Boardwalks may also be constructed to raise the trail above the wet areas. It would also move the through trail around Smith Lake (which connects to the Jamison Creek Trail) to the ridge on the north side of the lake. Access for camping and fishing at the lake would still be available using the old trail. The existing trail at the west end of lake, as it climbs out, would be decommissioned. The fisherman path along the southern shore would remain. The reroute of the Smith Lake trail would require approximately 1 mile of new construction. The reroutes for the Mt. Elwell Trail would include the construction and realignment of about a dozen switchbacks. The grades would be reduced from 25%+ to a continuous 8-10%. There would be a few sections that would be slightly greater slope. The switchbacks will be placed to avoid "stacking" of the trail sections, which often leads to trail cutting. Brush and other obstacles will also be used to discourage hikers from leaving the established trail. The trail realignment location avoids all drainages and the cutting of live trees. Some brush work would need to be done. The reroute would include approximately 1 mile of new trail construction.

Plumas

Cal Fire, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Central Region 2 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 2 (DOT), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Redding Region 5 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Water Resources, Office of Historic Preservation, Resources Agency, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)

California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)

Recreational (trail relocation, bridge construction)

401,404

Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology/Soils, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Transportation