Decision Memo
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association
Upper Power Line Fuels Treatment
USDA Forest Service
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests
Ouray Ranger District
Ouray and Montrose Counties, Colorado
Summary of Decision
This decision memo addresses fuels reduction planned for a transmission line operated by Tri-
State Generation and Transmission Company (Tri-State). This is a 115 kV transmission-class
line that delivers power to local and regional energy providers such as DMEA and San Miguel
Power Company. Additionally, 8 communications sites are located at the Raspberry electronics
site in the southern end of the project.
The Tri-State fuels reduction project is located on the Uncompahgre Plateau, approximately 25
miles southwest of Montrose Colorado and is shown on Figure 1. In 2002, the U.S. Forest
Service (FS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducted a joint vegetation
management assessment of the Spring Creek and Dry Creek watersheds. The Dry Creek and
Spring Creek watersheds were selected for analysis and planning through a collaborative
community involvement effort with the Public Lands Partnership and an interagency planning
team. Documentation of the assessment, titled Dry Creek/Spring Creek Vegetation Management
Strategy, is available for review at either the Forest Service office in Delta, Colorado or at the
Public Lands office in Montrose, Colorado.
From the Dry Creek/Spring Vegetation Management Strategy, selected treatment proposals were
identified to take forward into the NEPA process for consideration for implementation in the
next five to ten years. These proposed treatments included prescribed fire and mechanical
treatments in the lower portions of Spring Creek/Dry Creek watersheds, and treatments to protect
two power lines which traverse the Uncompahgre Plateau. Fuels and vegetation treatments other
than power line proposals were addressed in an Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice
in 2003, and hav