CALIFORNIA - Eldorado National Forest Update

[Blue Ribbon Coalition]

Last Friday, the Eldorado National Forest issued formal notice that they will conduct an environmental analysis that will determine whether portions of 42 travel routes that were closed by court order will be re-opened to public wheeled motor vehicle use. (Read previous alert here) As many of you know, portions of 42 routes on the Eldorado National Forest were closed by court order last July. These closures were far from welcome, but were a far cry from those sought by anti-access activists in their sweeping challenge of the 2008 Travel Plan. The

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Eldorado National Forest, California


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[spressomon]

Four of us from the Northern Nevada Battle Born Cruisers club attended last night's meeting in Markleeville. The time, energy and gas was a good investment on our part IMO. Like my cohorts I definitely got the impression the FS wants these routes to remain open for all forms of travel including motorized.

They are looking for a variety of recommendations and input from our user groups about these trails and the potential hot spots/environmentally sensitive areas on some of the trails in jeopardy.

It seemed the biggest contention on some of the trails is the wet/meadow areas the trails either bisect directly or receive silt/run-off from the trails. Rerouting around these sensitive sections is one option although that involves more studies, EIS, etc. to be sure the re-route is acceptable. Another potential solution to mitigating damage to these meadow areas would be ladder log type "bridges" or similar. This, of course, also involves funding, planning, etc., but is one potential solution.

Some of the sensitive areas of some trails might be more prone to damage early in the wheeling season. So maybe a moratorium on trail use until those sections are sufficiently drained/dry enough would be the middle ground. Official adoption by local clubs for trail work, especially on the sensitive areas, can only weigh in our favor.

These are the types of ideas and/or recommendations the FS is looking for.


I asked, at last night's meeting in Markleeville, if the Eldorado USFS Supervisor Kathy Hardy has the authority to make final decisions regarding these trails and the official answer is "yes". Undoubtedly she will consider all the communications from both sides in her resolution so its vitally important we rally to this cause!

So put your thinking caps on everyone and most importantly get your comments written and sent via snail mail or e-mail to the USFS no later than November 7, 2012! More here including the e-mail address for comments: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/eldorado/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5362046&width=full

Dan Streight
BRC Life Member