Route Inventory Data Summaries: 7/06/05
Area: Bohler Canyon/William’s Butte
Observers: Mike Klapp and Chris Kassar

Route Z59

Narrative summary: This route begins on DWP land in an aspen grove and continues uphill through a wide open meadow and a riparian corridor on land managed by the Forest Service. The terrain along this route is variable; it passes through an aspen grove,  a meadow and a pinon-juniper forest, however, predominantly the route passes through riparian habitat. This habitat is dominated by willow, sagebrush, wood rose, iris, aspen, clover, Jeffrey pine, five-fingered cinquefoil, whorled penstemon, Sierra rein-orchid, and Brewer’s bittercress. We saw deer tracks, house finches, a western wood peewee, violet-green swallows and a spotted towhee. This low use route has pedestrian and full-size vehicle tracks visible on it, however, it is difficult to follow at times because the meadow has a significant amount of cover.

Near the border of DWP and Forest Service land, we encountered the first of four creek crossings along this route (Picture 706019). This unstable, 90 degree crossing has a width of 18 feet at the crossing and a creek width of 6 inches both above and below the crossing. In this area, there is damage to riparian habitat and ephemeral gullying that lasts for several hundred yards resulting in bank cut depths of 8 inches (Picture 706020).

The route continues up the canyon and travels adjacent to a closed meadow that shows signs of previous resource damage (Picture 706002). The closure appears effective for that specific area, however, route Z59 continues through the remainder of the meadow and riparian habitat (Picture 706003, 706004). The second creek crossing occurs 200 yards upstream from the closure (Picture 706006). This instance of single channel stream capture spans 21 feet 8 inches and resulted in a low-angle, unstable crossing. We recorded a crossing width of 4 feet while the width of the creek above the crossing was 11 inches and below was 8 inches. The capture resulted in gullying with a bank cut depth of 6 inches. There was emergent riparian vegetation (i.e. rushes, sedges, cattails) and aquatic insects present in the stream at the capture site.

As the route continues west through the meadow, there is a significant amount of mud and crushed center vegetation, and another, more substantial creek crossing (Picture 706007, 706008). The width at this crossing is 25 feet while the width of the creek is 10 inches above and 1 foot below the crossing. There is a good deal of pooling below the crossing and it appears to be unstable and expanding despite the fact that it is a 90 degree crossing.

As Z59 continues along the edge of an aspen grove through riparian vegetation, it becomes undefined and difficult to follow (Picture 706009).  Shortly after this, there is another unstable, 90 degree creek crossing with a width of 19 feet 4 inches.  The width above the crossing is 2 feet 2 inches, below the crossing it is 1 foot 4 inches and the water depth is 7 inches (Picture 706010).

The route continues to deteriorate and continues to travel through the open meadow (Picture 706011).  There is gullying at this end of the route that spans ~ 150 feet; this section of the route has no riparian vegetation in the center, however, rushes and sedges are abundant in areas above and below the gullying (Picture 706012).  Along the route, there is a camp site with an old fire ring that had no obvious signs of recent use (Picture 706013).  Shortly after this camp site, the route gets steeper and sandier and begins to travel into a pinon-juniper community. There is a closure barrier near the end of the route; however, it appears this closure is ineffective as there are tracks going around it (Picture 706014).  The tracks continue past the barrier, climbing a steep sandy hill where the route becomes less defined and a few tracks proliferate throughout the open country (Picture 706015).

Recommendation: We recommend closure of Z59 to motorized vehicles and management for non-motorized use. This route passes through a meadow and a riparian corridor; both show evidence of damage as a result of the use of motorized vehicles through this area. In order to minimize and mitigate the amount of resource damage in the meadow, the Forest Service has already closed part of it. We recommend, however, that this closure could be more effective if it was placed closer to the beginning of the route.  The current crossing at the meadow is ineffective because the surrounding area is wide open, allowing for many possible routes around the closure barrier. Placing a stronger barrier and signs at a spot in the route that is more forested and narrower, may prevent motorized users from bypassing the closure. For effective closure, signs and rocks or vegetation should be placed near the boundary of Forest Service land along this route, making it impassable to motorized vehicles.

Route Z60

Narrative summary: This route is very difficult to find and shows no signs of recent use or noticeable motorized vehicle tracks (Picture 706016). The route is very overgrown and the vegetation has not been recently damaged or crushed (Picture 706017).  The dominant vegetation along the trail is sagebrush, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush, bitterbrush and rabbitbrush) reaching a maximum center height of ~1.5 feet. We found a growing, low-use camp site with a fire ring (Picture 706018). There is no clear place to spend the night in this area so this camp site could easily expand and encroach upon more area.

Recommendation: The purpose of this route is unclear; people may possibly visit this area for camping opportunities. Due to the fact that this route shows no signs of recent use and is so well vegetated, we suggest removing the route from the inventory so that it can continue to revegetate on its own.  This route is already not well-defined; our recommendations will make the road non existent over time.

Route N102

Route description: This spur route heads south and east off of Z56 (Picture 706021). 

Narrative summary: After this route drives directly through riparian vegetation and crosses a meadow, it leads to an open slope and abruptly ends (Picture 706024). The route is difficult to follow and shows no signs of recent use or noticeable motorized vehicle tracks (Picture 706023). The route is very overgrown; center vegetation includes aspens (4 foot maximum center height), rushes, grasses and willows. Columbine, sagebrush, valerian, pinon pines and whorled penstemon were found growing along the trail. The meadow crossing currently spans ¼ mile and appears to be expanding. There is ephemeral gullying with a bank cut depth of 2 feet (Picture 706025). Near the end of the route, we found a low--use campsite with a dilapidated fire ring (Picture 706026). There are no signs of recent use, however, if used more there is the potential that the campsite could expand because it is in a meadow and there are no clear boundaries. 

Recommendation: The purpose of this route is unclear; people may possibly visit this area for camping opportunities. Due to the fact that this route shows no signs of recent use and is so well vegetated, we suggest removing the route from the inventory so that it can continue to revegetate on its own.  This route is already not well-defined; our recommendations will make the route non existent over time and will restore the meadow and surrounding riparian habitat.

Route Z88

Narrative summary: Below its junction with 01N17, this route acts as a viable connector to the Aqueduct Road from Highway 395 because the alternative route (the southern section of Route 01N17) is steep and may be impassable for certain vehicles (Picture 706029, 706030). However, above this junction, Route Z88 is sandy, rocky, narrow and impassable for most vehicles (Picture 706028). The route deteriorates greatly after the junction. It passes through an open area where there is evidence of off-trail use and then becomes a steep, narrow trail where it appears the area is used as an OHV hill climb (Picture 706027). The route abruptly ends because of significantly rocky and steep terrain. At the top there is old fencing that has been cut and deteriorated.

We identified pedestrian and motorcycle tracks on this route and classified it as one of low use. The dominant vegetation along the trail is pinon-juniper, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush) reaching a maximum center height of ~4 feet. We identified other vegetation in the center, including sulfur buckwheat, bitterbrush and lupine.

Recommendation: Because this route serves as a viable connector to the Aqueduct road from Highway 395, we recommend that it remain open below its junction with 01N17.  The road is in good condition below this junction and has a clear purpose. Above this junction, the road has no clear purpose and is impassable to most motorized vehicles. We recommend converting this part of the route to a trail that is managed the area for non-motorized use.

South Lee Vining Tufa Route

Narrative summary: Along this sandy and narrow route, we identified full-size vehicle, pedestrian and motorcycle tracks (Picture 706034). The route heads toward the lake, paralleling 01N44 and ends abruptly into a salt grass parking lot that has a barrier on the north end (Picture 706033, 706032). The route shows signs of moderate to low use. The dominant vegetation along and in the center of the trail is sagebrush, reaching a maximum center height of 8 inches. We identified other vegetation along the trail including rabbit brush, salt grass and paintbrush.

Recommendation: This route crosses into the Mono Basin Scenic Area where motorized vehicle use is prohibited. We recommend placing closure signs and barriers at these points along the route to prevent users from driving in a closed area.

North Lee Vining Tufa

Route description: This route crosses DWP land and heads east off of 01N44 near Lee Vining Tufa where it ends in the Mono Basin Scenic Recreation Area (Picture 706036).

 Narrative summary: Along this sandy and narrow route, we identified full-size vehicle tracks. The route heads toward the lake and ends abruptly in a turn-around/ parking area within the state park boundary (Picture 706038). The route shows signs of moderate to low use (706037). The dominant vegetation along and in the center of the trail is sagebrush, reaching a maximum center height of 8 inches. We identified other vegetation along the trail including rabbitbrush and bitterbrush. We saw a jack rabbit and deer tracks.  

Recommendation: This route crosses into the Mono Basin Scenic Area where motorized vehicle use is prohibited. We recommend placing closure signs and barriers at these points along the route to prevent users from driving in a closed area.

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