Cal4wheel news for May 21 - http://t.co/Xn95YiBG
13
May
Inyo Travel Management public meetings at end of May
The Forest Service will be hosting two public meetings in the end of May to update the public on the implementation of the 2009 Motorized Travel Management decision for the Inyo National Forest. The meetings will be held on:
Tuesday May 29 - Mammoth Lakes, Forest Service Auditorium, 2500 Highway 203, 6:30-8:00 pm
Thursday May 31 - Bishop, Inyo National Forest Supervisor?s Office Conference Rm., 351 Pacu Lane (behind the DMV), 6:30-8:00 pm
20
Apr
Bullards Bar Area recreation upgrades
Workshops May 2 and 3
Oroville - The Forest Service is interested in community ideas for recreation activities, improvement of existing facilities, and where new services might be needed in the Bullards Bar Reservoir area. Ideas gleaned from several workshops will be used to prepare a preliminary recreation development plan.
The Pendola Fire resulted in a settlement, part of which is to address the need for future recreation services and facilities. In addition, Bullards Bar Reservoir is under federal energy relicensing and recreation issues are part of the relicensing discussion. The two areas are adjacent each other.
20
Apr
Six Rivers begins Travel Management Planning
Comments are due by June 4
The Six Rivers National Forest in California has published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) associated with implementing a Travel Management Plan (TMP) for the Smith River National Recreation Area in the Gasquet Ranger District. This notice constitutes the beginning of the scoping and comment period for the TMP.
The Forest proposes the following changes to its transportation system: 1) add 28 user-created routes as roads, totaling 16 miles; 2) add 45 user-created routes as motorized trails, totaling 44 miles; 3) implement seasonal gate closures on 2 roads and 5 motorized trails, totaling 13 miles; 4) implement mixed-use access of 1 road (17N49), totaling 4 miles; 5) close 118 roads, totaling 57 miles, and; 6) close 173 user-created routes, totaling 80 miles.
14
Apr
CA4WDC issues position on Eldorado
For background, the Center for Sierra Nevada Conservancy and their partners (PLAINTIFFs) filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service (DEFENDANTS) to CLOSE routes in the Eldorado National Forest due to inadequate NEPA analysis during the Travel Management process. BlueRibbon Coalition, CA4WDC and AMA-D36 filed as INTERVENORS on the side of the Forest Service to keep the routes OPEN. BRC, CA4WDC and AMA D36 stepped in and represented OHV interests. NO OTHER GROUP WAS WILLING TO STEP IN AND BECOME INVOLVED.
At a hearing in April 2011, the judge ordered the parties named in the lawsuit to enter into settlement negotiations and reach a mutually agreed settlement.
BRC and partners DID NOT accept a number of alternatives proposed. Nor did the Department of Justice negotiators representing the Forest Service accept any of the alternatives proposed.
