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Welcome. Opportunity to Learn – Public, Groups, Agencies and FS Patience Respect Ask. Tahoe National Forest Travel Management. Draft Environmental Impact Statement Overview. Purpose of Travel Management Process. Protect forest resources (soil, water, wildlife, etc)
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Welcome Opportunity to Learn – Public, Groups, Agencies and FS Patience Respect Ask
Tahoe National Forest Travel Management Draft Environmental Impact Statement Overview
Purpose of Travel Management Process • Protect forest resources (soil, water, wildlife, etc) • Challenging, diverse and sustainable motorized trail and road system • Access for a variety of recreation
Background • Growing OHV Use – especially in California • Aug, 2003 – MOIw/ State of CaliforniaOff Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission - designate OHV Roads, Trails, Areas • Nov, 2005 – National – Final Travel Management Rule (subpart B) – requires designation of roads, trails and areas; season of year and by type of vehicle
2003- TNF began inventorying roads and trails 2004 - First public meeting to review maps 2005 - Additional public meetings on process and map inventory 2006 - Workshops to develop proposed action - Public recommended trails to include. 2007 - Release of Proposed Action for public comment 2008 - Release of Draft EIS 2009 – Completion of Final EIS and Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) TNF Background
DEIS to Address: • Prohibiting cross country travel • Adding unauthorized, motorized routes to the established system of roads and trails • Changing the season of use on existing roads and trails • Changing the types of vehicles allowed on existing roads
1. Prohibiting Cross Country Travel All alternatives except Alt 1 prohibit cross country travel
2. Adding unauthorized, motorized routes to the established system of roads and trails • Approx 2800 miles of system motorized trails and roads in the established system for public use • Approx 1400 miles of unauthorized routes - old logging roads - historic mining trails - user created trails Which, if any, unauthorized routes should become part of the system?
3. Seasons of Use • Winter Deer Range and Deer Holding Areas • Wet Weather Restrictions • Other Site Specifics
Smoother roads (paved, chip sealed, graded roads) - “Open to Highway Vehicles Only” Dirt/rock or high clearance/rougher roads – “Open to All Vehicles” 4. Class of Vehicles on National Forest System Roads – Safety Concerns
No changes - baseline for comparison Cross country travel not prohibited Existing seasonal restrictions apply No additions to the system of roads and trails Alternative 1 – No Action
Cross country prohibited No wet weather restrictions Site specific suggestions for trails included 72 miles of trail added to the system – several “open areas” 481 miles of roads changed to “Open to All Vehicles” Alternative 2 – Motorized Recand Access Opportunities
Prohibit cross country travel and travel on 1400 miles of unauthorized routes No changes to seasons of use No trails added No changes to class of vehicle – smoother surface roads to be open to Hwy Legal vehicles only. Alternative 3 – Cross Country Travel Prohibited Only
Cross country travel prohibited Wet weather seasonal restrictions added - 31 miles of trail added – none in roadless areas, wild and scenic rivers, or goshawk or spotted owl PAC’s Alt 4 – Modified Proposal from Environmental Coalition
Cross country travel prohibited Wet weather and modified deer seasonal restrictions added 282 miles of trail added 481 miles changed to “Open to all vehicles” Alt 5 – Modified Proposal from Blue Ribbon Coalition
Cross country travel prohibited Wet weather and modified deer seasonal restrictions added 70 miles of trail added – no significant impacts to roadless character and spotted owl/goshawk PAC’s 276 miles of road changed to “Open to all vehicles” Alt 6 - Preferred
Cross country travel prohibited Existing seasonal restrictions 45 miles of trails added Faucherie Rd changed to “Open to all Vehicles” Alt 7 – Proposed Action (Spring, 07)
Air Heritage Resources Fire Plant Communities Recreation Water and Soil Wildlife Roadless Character Transportation Wild and Scenic Rivers Adjacent Ownerships Socio Economic Effects of Alternatives
Wide spots in the roads to be considered part of the road “Spurs” need to be identified – 180 – need public help to do this One car length - ok Dispersed Camping
Sept 26 – Nov 26 E-Mail or Hard Mail Full DEIS is available on the web Other opportunity for future participation MVUM – updated annually Public Review and Comment
Reservoirs East of Truckee Potential impacts on heritage resources
Roadless Areas Preferred Alt 6 - protects roadless character Mod Env Alt 4 – No recommended trails in roadless areas Mod Blue Ribbon – Alt 5 and Motorized Access Alt 2 – recommended trails in roadless