landusepbb
11-01-2005, 11:40 AM
Off-road routes proposed
Amanda Fehd
October 28, 2005
Eldorado National Forest announced last week its proposal for how many trails should become official off-highway vehicle routes. Around 700 miles of user-created trails could become officially off limits, while 590 miles of formerly off-limits roads could be officially opened.
Public feedback is invited for the next 30 days to help refine the plan.
A judge in May ruled 700 miles of user-created trails be closed until the U.S. Forest Service perform an environmental review of wildlife habitat, user conflicts and noise impacts. Conservationists and off-road recreation groups both lauded the decision. The ruling came after a lawsuit was filed by conservation groups.
But off-roaders have expressed concern that closing trails just concentrates people into one area and could increase environmental damage to open trails.
"Basically you are going to have twice as many people packed into a smaller area, so it's just going to make it worse," said Brian Jones, owner of Mountain Moto in Placerville, whose business depends on the fast-growing off-highway vehicle industry.
There's a number of ignored positives to the sport, Jones said, especially in a small town where there's not a lot for kids to do.
"It's a way to keep kids out of trouble," Jones said. "If they aren't doing well in school, you pull the dirt bike away. I (think they would) straighten up right away."
It's also a very physical sport, and one which whole families usually do together, he said.
None of the trails in question are in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The portion of Eldorado National Forest in the basin is managed by a different section of the Forest Service, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
"We'll be making a new decision through this process, and that decision may not be what we have now; it probably won't be," said Lester Lubetkin, who is responsible for the OHV program at Eldorado.
Copies of the plan are available at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/. A separate plan will be prepared for the Rock Creek area. Rubicon Trail is not part of the proposal. While it passes through the national forest, it is a county road governed by the county.
In the past, while some trails in the forest were managed for ATVs and dirt bikes, none were officially designated OHV trails. Over the years, closed roads were used, and other trails were created.
The lawsuit asked for environmental review of wildlife habitat, user conflicts and noise impacts.
"The judge ruled that we had started managing for this use without the proper environmental analyses," Lubetkin said.
The route designation pro cess began two years ago and should be done by December 2006, according to a Forest Service statement.
Public comment
Open until Dec. 1
Contact: Anthony Scardina, route designation leader
Phone: (530) 621-5276
Address: 100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667
E-mail: eldoradoroutes@ fs.fed.us
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051028/NEWS/110280045&template=printart
Amanda Fehd
October 28, 2005
Eldorado National Forest announced last week its proposal for how many trails should become official off-highway vehicle routes. Around 700 miles of user-created trails could become officially off limits, while 590 miles of formerly off-limits roads could be officially opened.
Public feedback is invited for the next 30 days to help refine the plan.
A judge in May ruled 700 miles of user-created trails be closed until the U.S. Forest Service perform an environmental review of wildlife habitat, user conflicts and noise impacts. Conservationists and off-road recreation groups both lauded the decision. The ruling came after a lawsuit was filed by conservation groups.
But off-roaders have expressed concern that closing trails just concentrates people into one area and could increase environmental damage to open trails.
"Basically you are going to have twice as many people packed into a smaller area, so it's just going to make it worse," said Brian Jones, owner of Mountain Moto in Placerville, whose business depends on the fast-growing off-highway vehicle industry.
There's a number of ignored positives to the sport, Jones said, especially in a small town where there's not a lot for kids to do.
"It's a way to keep kids out of trouble," Jones said. "If they aren't doing well in school, you pull the dirt bike away. I (think they would) straighten up right away."
It's also a very physical sport, and one which whole families usually do together, he said.
None of the trails in question are in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The portion of Eldorado National Forest in the basin is managed by a different section of the Forest Service, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
"We'll be making a new decision through this process, and that decision may not be what we have now; it probably won't be," said Lester Lubetkin, who is responsible for the OHV program at Eldorado.
Copies of the plan are available at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/. A separate plan will be prepared for the Rock Creek area. Rubicon Trail is not part of the proposal. While it passes through the national forest, it is a county road governed by the county.
In the past, while some trails in the forest were managed for ATVs and dirt bikes, none were officially designated OHV trails. Over the years, closed roads were used, and other trails were created.
The lawsuit asked for environmental review of wildlife habitat, user conflicts and noise impacts.
"The judge ruled that we had started managing for this use without the proper environmental analyses," Lubetkin said.
The route designation pro cess began two years ago and should be done by December 2006, according to a Forest Service statement.
Public comment
Open until Dec. 1
Contact: Anthony Scardina, route designation leader
Phone: (530) 621-5276
Address: 100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667
E-mail: eldoradoroutes@ fs.fed.us
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051028/NEWS/110280045&template=printart