Date: 01/02/2009 BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
Bull Creek and Upper Silver Creek Motorized Wheeled Vehicle Travel Management
The Boise National Forest, located in southwestern Idaho, is proposing to designate routes for public, motorized wheeled-vehicle travel on the Emmett Ranger District. This proposal focuses entirely on the "E" Travel Management Area ("E" areas) within the Bull Creek and upper portion of the Silver Creek drainages.
Heightened public interest in motorized access on the Bull Creek Trail 102 and Silver Creek trail 044 within these drainages has been identified. To better respond to public input and develop meaningful alternatives, the Forest Service (FS) has developed a separate Proposed Action (PA) for this area.
The two primary reasons for this project is the need to be compliant with recent regulations addressing motorized access on National Forests and National Grasslands and to address trail concerns and reroute options specific to the Bull Creek and upper portion of the Silver Creek drainage.
Currently, motorized wheeled-vehicle travel on the Emmett Ranger District within "C" Travel Management areas (west side of the District) is designated to specific roads and trails and no action is needed to comply with the Motor Vehicle Travel Use Rule (MVUR). However, within "E" areas on the Emmett Ranger District, motorized, wheeled-vehicle use is allowed on both established, but currently unauthorized, routes as well as on Forest Service designated routes.
The following decisions will be made within the Bull Creek and upper portions of the Silver Creek drainages:
1. Designate those trails open to motor vehicles including the class of vehicle and if appropriate, time of year for motor vehicle use.
2. Designate a reroute of the Silver Creek Summit Trail that avoids steep sections.
All documents and maps for the Proposed Action are available on the Boise National Forest's website. This proposal focuses on management of public, motorized wheeled-vehicle travel within the Bull Creek and upper portions of the Silver Creek drainage.
Included in the documents, you will find the following:
1. A table that summarizes and compares the Current Situation and the Proposed Action regarding the amount and type of motorized travel opportunities within the "E" Travel Management Area.
2. Figure 2, titled "Current Motor Vehicle Use", which displays the current system of motorized routes in the project area. Figure 3, titled "Proposed Action Motor Vehicle Use", which displays the motorized routes that would result if the proposed action was implemented.
3. A proposed Action narrative document which contains a detailed description of each proposed change in motor vehicle use designation.
4. A narrative document which displays the public comments received to date and a Forest Service response.
The proposed action was developed to address the concerns identified above and respond to public input received throughout this past summer. Each comment received in response to our public outreach was reviewed. Every one of the trails and many of the unauthorized were visited by FS personnel and each of the routes was assess as to how they are being used and what opportunities or issues exist.
The comment deadline is January 26, 2009
To aid public understanding and review of the Proposed Action, the Forest Service has scheduled three open house style public meetings in January, where Forest Service employees will be available to discuss the Proposed Action, provide detailed maps for your review, and address questions.
The following are the details for each of the three open houses:
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Emmett Ranger District Office
1805 Highway 16 #5
Emmett, Idaho
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Crouch Community Hall
Garden Valley, Idaho
Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Best Western Vista Inn
2645 Airport Way
Boise, Idaho
Public comments on the proposed action are welcomed and encouraged and will be used to evaluate the proposed action and alternative options for consideration. Comments will be most helpful if they address some of the concerns resource identified in this letter, provide specific changes to the proposed action you think are needed, explain why those changes should be made and how such a change would better meet your interests and the resources in the area. Comments submitted by January 26, 2009, will be most beneficial.
MAIL OR HAND DELIVER COMMENTS TO:
Emmett Ranger District
1805 Highway 16, Room 5
Emmett, Idaho 83617
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
EMAIL COMMENTS TO:
comments-intermtn-boise-mtnhome@fs.fed.us
Put "Bull Creek/Silver Creek Motor Vehicle Travel Proposal" in the subject line. Acceptable formats are MS Word, Word Perfect, or RTF. Comments should include your name and address.
Further information is available by calling the Emmett Ranger District at 365-7000 or by visiting the Boise National Forest web site at http://fs.usda.gov/boise.
JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!
Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
Link
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
Bull Creek and Upper Silver Creek Motorized Wheeled Vehicle Travel Management
The Boise National Forest, located in southwestern Idaho, is proposing to designate routes for public, motorized wheeled-vehicle travel on the Emmett Ranger District. This proposal focuses entirely on the "E" Travel Management Area ("E" areas) within the Bull Creek and upper portion of the Silver Creek drainages.
Heightened public interest in motorized access on the Bull Creek Trail 102 and Silver Creek trail 044 within these drainages has been identified. To better respond to public input and develop meaningful alternatives, the Forest Service (FS) has developed a separate Proposed Action (PA) for this area.
The two primary reasons for this project is the need to be compliant with recent regulations addressing motorized access on National Forests and National Grasslands and to address trail concerns and reroute options specific to the Bull Creek and upper portion of the Silver Creek drainage.
Currently, motorized wheeled-vehicle travel on the Emmett Ranger District within "C" Travel Management areas (west side of the District) is designated to specific roads and trails and no action is needed to comply with the Motor Vehicle Travel Use Rule (MVUR). However, within "E" areas on the Emmett Ranger District, motorized, wheeled-vehicle use is allowed on both established, but currently unauthorized, routes as well as on Forest Service designated routes.
The following decisions will be made within the Bull Creek and upper portions of the Silver Creek drainages:
1. Designate those trails open to motor vehicles including the class of vehicle and if appropriate, time of year for motor vehicle use.
2. Designate a reroute of the Silver Creek Summit Trail that avoids steep sections.
All documents and maps for the Proposed Action are available on the Boise National Forest's website. This proposal focuses on management of public, motorized wheeled-vehicle travel within the Bull Creek and upper portions of the Silver Creek drainage.
Included in the documents, you will find the following:
1. A table that summarizes and compares the Current Situation and the Proposed Action regarding the amount and type of motorized travel opportunities within the "E" Travel Management Area.
2. Figure 2, titled "Current Motor Vehicle Use", which displays the current system of motorized routes in the project area. Figure 3, titled "Proposed Action Motor Vehicle Use", which displays the motorized routes that would result if the proposed action was implemented.
3. A proposed Action narrative document which contains a detailed description of each proposed change in motor vehicle use designation.
4. A narrative document which displays the public comments received to date and a Forest Service response.
The proposed action was developed to address the concerns identified above and respond to public input received throughout this past summer. Each comment received in response to our public outreach was reviewed. Every one of the trails and many of the unauthorized were visited by FS personnel and each of the routes was assess as to how they are being used and what opportunities or issues exist.
The comment deadline is January 26, 2009
To aid public understanding and review of the Proposed Action, the Forest Service has scheduled three open house style public meetings in January, where Forest Service employees will be available to discuss the Proposed Action, provide detailed maps for your review, and address questions.
The following are the details for each of the three open houses:
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Emmett Ranger District Office
1805 Highway 16 #5
Emmett, Idaho
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Crouch Community Hall
Garden Valley, Idaho
Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Best Western Vista Inn
2645 Airport Way
Boise, Idaho
Public comments on the proposed action are welcomed and encouraged and will be used to evaluate the proposed action and alternative options for consideration. Comments will be most helpful if they address some of the concerns resource identified in this letter, provide specific changes to the proposed action you think are needed, explain why those changes should be made and how such a change would better meet your interests and the resources in the area. Comments submitted by January 26, 2009, will be most beneficial.
MAIL OR HAND DELIVER COMMENTS TO:
Emmett Ranger District
1805 Highway 16, Room 5
Emmett, Idaho 83617
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
EMAIL COMMENTS TO:
comments-intermtn-boise-mtnhome@fs.fed.us
Put "Bull Creek/Silver Creek Motor Vehicle Travel Proposal" in the subject line. Acceptable formats are MS Word, Word Perfect, or RTF. Comments should include your name and address.
Further information is available by calling the Emmett Ranger District at 365-7000 or by visiting the Boise National Forest web site at http://fs.usda.gov/boise.
JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!
Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
Link