| The CNF is in the process of analyzing the National Forest Road and Trail System through the National Forest Off-Highway Vehicle Route Designation Plan. They are moving forward with an Environmental Assessment (EA) to look into impacts associated with the route designation process. Some of the actions to be reviewed include recreational restrictions on un designated NFS roads, designation of miles of existing unauthorized roads, and the addition of a new OHV area. The primary purpose of the route designation process is to provide for resource protection by ensuring that vehicles are operated only on designated routes.
To manage increased motorized use, the Cleveland National Forest intends to a have a system of mapped designated motorized vehicle routes formalized by 2008. This system will provide the public motorized opportunities while protecting other forest resources. Across the National Forest System some roads may be closed and violators will be ticketed and some roads will be added to the system as designated roads. These newly designated roads would provide additional opportunities to access back country areas. These roads provide access to various hiking cycling, horseback riding, camping, and climbing areas.
The Cleveland National Forest is not proposing to eliminate any existing designated routes. The current action would add 4.9 miles of road to the National Forest Road and Trail System as Forest System Roads. Additionally, the current action would provide for an additional OHV area and 7.2 miles of new trails in the Corral Canyon Area. The current action would make travel along un designated roads, a violation. This ensures sensitive resources are protected while still providing for valuable recreational opportunities.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/projects/ohv/proposed-action.shtml
Tell the CNF that you support the Route Designation process and its dual mission to keep access open to back country areas and to protect natural resources in the Cleveland National Forest. For More Information contact Anne Carey at (858) 673-6180 or go to:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/projects/ohv/index.shtml
ACSD and the Access Fund support reasonable management of off-highway vehicle use and urge the Forest Service to prioritize valuable recreational access roads and to include these routes in the Vehicle Route Designation Plan. To learn more about Road Designation across the county and the potential affects to climbing access go to:
http://www.accessfund.org/display/page/AA/79
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