From a BRC email that was forwarded to me


Attention Arizona Recreationists!

The Coronado National Forest, located in southeast Arizona, is revising their Land and Resource Management Plan. The Forest Service (FS) is asking the public to review the initial "working draft" of this Revised Forest Plan at a series of open houses to be held in communities surrounding the Forest during the month of March 2010. Forest staff and resource specialists will be present to discuss the draft, receive your ideas and respond to your questions.

The open house meetings will include an overview of the draft document through a short presentation describing the various plan components. They will also share the timeline for completing the revision process and tell you how to stay involved.

The presentation will be repeated once each hour to allow you to attend at the time most convenient to you. In between presentations, you are invited to interact one-on-one with the various revision team members and other Forest employees.

The working document includes draft management direction in the form of desired conditions, objectives, guidelines, standards, and suitable uses. You will also see reports that assess areas for potential Wilderness designation.


MEETING DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Santa Catalina Ranger District
Udall Regional Center
7200 E. Tanque Verde Road
Tucson, AZ 85715
Focus Areas - Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains

Thursday, March 4, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Nogales Ranger District
Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico, Sonoran South Ballroom
1069 Camino Caralampi
Rio Rico, AZ 85648
Focus Areas - Santa Rita and Tumacacori Mountains

Thursday, March 11, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Sierra Vista Ranger District
Windemere Hotel & Conference Center
2047 South Highway 92
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Focus Areas - Huachuca and Whetstone Mountains

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Douglas Ranger District
Douglas Visitor Center
345 16th Street
Douglas, AZ 85607
Focus Areas - Chiricahua, Peloncillo and Dragoon Mountains

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm**
Rodeo Community Center
Highway 80 and Hickory Street
Rodeo, NM 88056

Thursday, March 18, 2010 4:00 -7:00 pm
Safford Ranger District
Graham County General Services Bldg
921 W. Thatcher Blvd.
Safford, AZ 85546
Focus Areas - Pinaleno, Galiuro, Santa Teresa & Winchester Mts.

** Rodeo, NM time is one hour later than Arizona's MST due to Daylight Savings Time

If you have any questions about the upcoming meetings or the plan revision process, please contact Jennifer Ruyle, Forest Planner, by phone at (520)388-8351 or by e-mail at jruyle@fs.fed.us. You can also check their website for more background information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/plan-revision/index.shtml

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact BRC.
Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

I can make it to the one on Tanque Verde tomorrow after work

http://www.tucsonoffroad.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1500

Please check this part out in the Plan Kyle posted starting at the bottom of their pg57-p60



Land Use Zones
There are four land use zones on the Coronado National Forest:
Table 5: Land Use Zone Acres
Land Use Zone Acres
Wild Backcountry 646,456
Roaded Backcountry 609,104
Motorized Recreation 50,872
Developed Recreation 36,115


Wild Backcountry
Description
This land use zone is managed for a range of non-motorized uses. It includes Inventoried
Roadless Areas, areas adjacent to Wilderness areas, and other relatively pristine areas. It makes
up 628,500 acres, or about 35 percent* of the Coronado NF.

Desired Conditions
The wild character of these areas is preserved. Settings are natural, and the sights and sounds of
motorized vehicles, crowds or other urban elements are not evident. A few primitive or highclearance
roads allow motorized access into limited areas. Dispersed camping sites are used
infrequently. Vegetation within these sites is vigorous and quickly recovers from the impacts of
camping activities. Quiet experiences are available in this entire zone, with the exception of areas
directly adjacent to the small number of access roads.
Guidelines
1. Lands should be managed to maintain the primitive character of the areas.
2. Temporary roads should be allowed only for administrative access, national security, tribal
needs, forest health projects, or fires.
3. New roads should be allowed only as needed to restore motorized public access to NFS land.
4. When roads and temporary facilities are no longer needed, they should be removed or
converted to trails.
5. Scenic resources should be managed per the Coronado NF’s Scenic Integrity Objective (SIO)
maps. Wild Backcountry would generally be managed for an SIO of Very High.
6. New utility structures and power lines should not be allowed.
7. Vegetation treatments should reflect the natural disturbance regimes for the site.


Roaded Backcountry
Description
This land use zone is managed for a range of dispersed uses and motorized access, with an
emphasis on quiet recreation. These areas are managed to retain the natural character and limit the
level and type of development. Roaded Backcountry makes up 623,400 acres, or about 35%*, of
the Coronado NF.
Desired Conditions
Settings are natural and there are very few permanent facilities. Opportunities for quiet recreation
exist away from roads. Dispersed campsites are clean and impacts from campers are minimal.
National Forest System roads provide access to trailheads; remote, undeveloped camping areas;
and occasionally developed recreation facilities or administrative sites. Most roads are unpaved.
Guidelines
1. The level and type of development should be limited in order to protect the natural character
inherent in this zone.
2. When demand warrants, managers should consider expanding the ability of existing facilities
before proposing new facilities.
3. When facilities are no longer needed, they should be removed.
4. New roads may be constructed, reconstructed, or relocated for a variety of public and
administrative uses and needs.
5. When roads are no longer needed for public or administrative access, they should be closed
or converted to trails.
6. Scenic resources should be managed per the Coronado NF’s Scenic Integrity Objective (SIO)
maps. Roaded Backcountry should generally be managed for an SIO of High.



Motorized Recreation
Description
This land use zone is assigned to areas that have a high level of motorized use. Management of
these areas is focused on providing a wide variety of recreational experiences, including Off
Highway Vehicle (OHV) use and driving for pleasure, while mitigating effects of motorized use
and minimizing conflicts with other users. This land use zone covers 46,000 acres, or around 3
percent* of the Coronado NF.
Desired Conditions
Forest visitors can enjoy casual, semi-primitive motorized recreation and explore in off-highway
vehicles along designated roads and routes. Several scenic highways provide opportunities for
driving for pleasure. Long distance loop routes exist that provide varying experiences for
different vehicle classes. Separate motorized trails (e.g., single track motorized trails for dirt bikes
and All Terrain Vehicles (ATV)) exist to minimize conflicts among OHV vehicle types. Where
non-motorized trails traverse this land use zone, adequate signing and enforcement deters
motorized use of these trails. OHV and ATV use is concentrated in defined areas that promote a
high-quality, motorized use experience. The sights and sounds associated with OHV use are only incidentally apparent outside of these areas. There are opportunities for managed shooting.
Shooters promote a safe experience and do not cause resource damage.
Guidelines
1. The level and type of development in this zone should be focused on providing OHV
facilities to protect the natural resources.
2. When facilities are no longer needed, they should be removed.
3. Scenic resources should be managed per the Coronado NF’s Scenic Integrity Objective (SIO)
maps. Backcountry Recreation would generally be managed for an SIO of High.

Developed Recreation
Description
These are the major public access corridors into the Coronado National Forest. The roads in this
land use zone are mostly paved, and are popular sightseeing routes. In some cases, the main roads
are designated as scenic byways. Visitors often spend the day in these areas, and destinations
include campgrounds, picnic areas, vista points, visitor centers, and lakes. Organization camps
and recreational residences are found in some areas. There are many popular trailheads in these
areas, and hiking trails generally provide access to Roaded Backcountry, Wild Backcountry and
Wilderness. This Land Use Zone covers 36,115 acres, or around 2 percent* of the Coronado NF.
Desired Conditions
Facilities are in good condition and blend into the forest setting. Visitors can enjoy natural
settings with a high level of comfort. Roads are well maintained, and accommodate all types of
vehicles.
Guidelines
1. These areas should be managed to protect the natural character and in according with
guidance provided in existing plans (such as Corridor Management Plans, Recreation
Concept Plans, etc.).
2. Facilities should be well maintained and would blend into the forest setting.

3. As public facilities are constructed or renovated, they should be made more accessible to
meet or exceed accessibility guidelines.
4. Scenic resources should be managed per the Coronado NF’s Scenic Integrity Objective (SIO)
maps. These areas should be managed for an SIO of High. and areas with facilities (such as
campgrounds and picnic areas) should generally be managed for an SIO of Moderate.
5. New utility structures and power lines should not be allowed.
6. Wood gathering in recreation sites should be limited to 'dead and down'.
7. In general, livestock grazing should not be permitted within Developed Recreation sites,
except where designated allotments overlap with recreation area boundaries, or for the
purposes of targeted grazing for vegetation management.

This glossary is not attached to this current draft plan
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/perp/deis/glossary.pdf
Forest Road
A road wholly or partly within or adjacent to, and serving the National Forest System and which is necessary for the protection, administration, and utilization of the National Forest System and the use and development of its resources.

Off-road Vehicle (ORV)
Any motor vehicle which can be operated cross country without benefit of a road or trail over land, snow, and other natural terrain, and includes all of the following: multi-track and multi-wheeled vehicles; all-terrain vehicles (ATV); motorcycles and related 2-, 3-, and 4-wheeled vehicles; amphibious machines (water to land and back); hovercraft; and any other vehicles that use mechanical power, including 2- and 4-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles that are highway registered, when operated off highways and roads. This definition includes snowmobiles.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Pinaleño Ecosystem Restoration Project 205
Glossary


Or as Bill Clinton put it: "It depends on what your definition of the word 'is' is."



*For those who can count, find the red % above:
Wild Backcountry 646,456
Roaded Backcountry 609,104
Motorized Recreation 50,872
Developed Recreation 36,115

Add this up and compare their numbers......, 35+35+3+2= 75%where's the other 25%?

I guess it's a good thing this is a draft...........

I know I got some comment papers from the meeting some where, I think we need to schedule to have everyone to drop off the comment slip in person at their office at the same time.:evil:
I can't believe the amount of people we were able to get to the meeting with only two full days notice. It definitely shows that are email list (while still some what smaller then I'd like) is working vary well. Now if we had only had the three weeks notice that FS had sent out to their email recipients imagine what we could have done! I wont be joining BRC for this reason :shaking: and I think we can more done in our area without charging anyone a penny.:p