Whitewater Access Comments

[admin]

For Immediate Release

Forest Service Seeks Public Comment on Kern River
Whitewater Access Improvements

LAKE ISABELLA, CA - The Kern River Ranger District of the
Sequoia National Forest is preparing an environmental
assessment for the Kern River Whitewater Boating Access
Improvement Project. The project proposes actions for the
development and improvement of six whitewater boating
access sites on the Kern River. A copy of the preliminary
environmental assessment is available at both the Kernville
Ranger Station, the Lake Isabella Visitor Center and
on-line at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/project ... ess_EA.pdf
for your review and comment.

Comments will be accepted until October 23, 2009. The
responsible official is the District Ranger, Rick Larson.
Comments may be submitted to Mark Stieler, Kern River
Ranger District, at P.O. Box 3810, Lake Isabella, CA 93240.
Comments may also be submitted by FAX (760) 376-3795 or by
hand-delivery to 105 Whitney Road, Kernville, CA 93238,
during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30
pm).

Electronic comments may be e-mailed to
comments-pacificsouthwest-sequoia-greenhorn@fs.fed.us with
Subject: Kern River WW Boating Access Improvement. Names
and addresses of those who comment will be considered part
of the public record on this proposed action, and will be
available for public inspection. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those
who only submit anonymous comments will not have standing
to appeal subsequent decision under 36 CFR 215. Each
individual or representative from each organization
submitting comments must either sign the comments or verify
identity upon request.

The proposed action includes the following activities:

Democrat Raft Take-Out:
Construct a boat ramp for use by both commercial and
private boaters using an articulating pre-cast concrete
revetment system. Cut existing pavement's jagged edge and
create an artificial ramp to allow easier access from the
river. Extend the existing loading zone's pavement to
create safer bus and private vehicle maneuvering space.
Design separate take-out areas for commercial and
non-comercial boaters with new signing. Remove and reset
the existing single bulletin board and other signs to
better accommodate traffic flow. Grade, reshape and pave
the existing one half mile of dirt road surface from
Highway 178 to the river access site.

Riverkern Beach Put-In/Take-Out:
Reconstruct the existing steep pathway by adding fill from
the existing edge of road for 60 feet towards the river.
Install an articulating pre-cast concrete revetment system
on top of this fill to create a ramp. Install one double
pre-cast concrete toilet building within the existing
pull-through.

Camp 3 Put-In/Take-Out:
Lengthen, widen and pave the existing turnout. Remove trees
and vegetation as needed to improve the sight distance on
County Road Mountain 99. Remove and reset the existing
single bulletin board and other signing as needed. Replace
the existing pathway to the river using an articulating
pre-cast concrete revetment system. Install one single
pre-cast concrete toilet building.

Thunderbird Put-In/Take-Out:
Pave the existing approach, parking lot and road. Install a
double pre-cast concrete toilet building. Install one
concrete pad for a trash dumpster.

Road's End Put-In:
Relocate the existing Fairview run Put-in (located on a
curve up river) to this site. Relocate the existing signs
to this location. Add additional signing for the
loading/unloading zone only. Pave the existing 250-foot
turn-around (loading and unloading zone) for river access.
Construct a pathway to the river using an articulating
pre-cast concrete revetment system. Install one double
pre-cast concrete toilet building. Construct one concrete
pad for a trash dumpster.

Willow Point Take-Out:
Install one single pre-cast concrete toilet building.
Construct pathway to the river using an articulating
pre-cast concrete revetment system. Replace existing river
warning sign for "dam structure (Fairview Intake)
downstream" with new sign.

The Kern River Whitewater Boating Access Improvement
Project was listed in the Sequoia National Forest Schedule
of Proposed Actions on January 1, 2009. The proposed action
was provided to individuals; local tribal organizations;
federal, state, and local agencies; and groups potentially
interested in or affected by this project for comment
during scoping from February 20, 2009 to March 6, 2009.

If you have any additional questions please call Roger
Porter at (559) 784-1500 extension 1136. Thank you for your
interest in the management of the Sequoia National Forest.