FINAL REHABILITATION REPORT 1992 NATIONAL RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERING

The primary objective, relative to environmental impacts, of "Ensuring that environmental safeguards are available and the site is returned to a near natural condition," was met. Residual impacts on the Overland Reservoir site, at the time of this report, are limited to (1) a reduction of down and dead trees (fuels) in the areas used extensively as campsites (approximately 60 acres along the edges of Elk Park) and (2) approximately 10 acres of trails and areas of concentrated activity scattered throughout the 2,000 acre site that will require at least one growing season for vegetative recovery. Initial efforts during the seed camp phase of the Gathering to limit environmental impacts by drawing participants away from sensitive sites were successful. This was accomplished by working with Family members to locate trails, kitchens, water systems and other features of the gathering on the more resistant and resilient sites. Accomplishment of other objectives set forth in the Rehabilitation Plan dated July 6, 1992, were as follows:

  1. Physical evidence of human presence will be removed from the site or rearranged to present a natural appearance. This objective was fully met. The site was completely "naturalized" as specified in the General Clean Up section of the Rehabilitation Plan.
  2. Areas of exposed mineral soil will be scarified/aerated, seeded and fertilized as necessary to insure revegatation within one growing season. Accomplishment of this objective will require that seeding is completed prior to August 1st. This objective was partially met. Certified seed of the specified mix was used. However, the quality of scarification and seed application is variable throughout the site. It is expected that by next spring, all areas will have sufficient vegetative recovery to preclude the establishment of noxious weeds. Revegetation will be monitored throughout the fall and next spring and remedial action taken if needed.
  3. A tread width of 24 inches will be reestablished for the Elk Park and Peter's Creek pack trails by revegetating the excess width as specified in objective 2 above. All other trails will be obliterated. Results relative to the object are similar to hose discussed under Objective 2 and will also need to be monitored.
  4. To minimize erosion, all trail segments and disturbed areas on slopes over 10% will have erosion control structures in place prior to August 1st. Erosion control measures were installed o the most vulnerable areas. Density and quality of waterbars were less than desired but sufficient to prevent gullying and significant soil loss. 5) Access roads (FDR 701, 705, and 265) will be maintained to pregathering conditions. Access Road 705 was the only road with maintenance needs that could be identified as being associated with the Rainbow Gathering. This road has since been maintained by the Forest Service.
  5. Cleanup and rehabilitation will be conducted in an orderly manner from the perimeter of the site inward towards the "front gate"/supply area. Cleanup was reasonably orderly, however, it was not particularly timely. Untimely closing of three kitchens delayed cleanup until much of the available work force had left the site. Closing of all kitchens except those near the road by July 8 would probably have resulted in the site being cleaned up and attractive to other National Forest users 10 to 14 days earlier than it was. Rehabilitation called for in specific areas was, for the most part, met within the context of the objectives discussed above. In that the impact on vegetation in the bus village area was less than anticipated, the requirements for mechanical scarification and fertilization were waived in favor of spot scarification and interseeding so as not to excessively disturb the residual vegetation. With the primary objective of the site being returned to near natural conditions being fully met and all secondary objectives being reasonably met, I determined that clean up and rehabilitation was complete prior to the last Rainbow Family members leaving the site on August 3, 1992.

Steven L. Posey
District Ranger