Coronado National Forest Overall Plan in Development

[Rocky_LC]

I went to a meeting at Summerhaven, AZ saturday. The meeting was primarily with Stan Helin (Coronado NF Head Ranger). He gave about an hour of discussion on a new Forest Service Master Plan that has just been released in draft for comment.

Anyway - there are 4 types of main designations:

1. Wild Backcountry
2. Roaded Backcountry ("quiet" vehicle operation only)
3. Motorized Recreation
4. Developed Use

The majority of the area in the Rincons / Santa Catalinas are 1 & 2.

The only area for OHV (Motorized Recreation) seemed to be a (small) slice right along Redington Pass. This area is not in the Draft Plan, but was on a map shown by Ranger Helin at the meeting.

Anyway, their "philosophy" was to always attempt to upgrade regions from a higher level of people use to a lower (e.g. convert "Roaded Backcountry" to "Wild Backcountry" by converting roads into trails).

If you get a chance - please review and comment on the plan. It's a very "top level" (Strategic) plan that IDs "desired conditions", but it will shape the specific implementaitons for areas that we use / care about (like Charoleau Gap - which was NOT a "Motorized Recreation" area)


The plan is on the web at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/pl...orkingDraftForestPlan_March2010-ColorMaps.pdf

Generalities on the plan are at:

Coronado National Forest - Newsroom

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Did they mentions the "Trail closed unless signed open" plan? I am pretty sure this is a national concept, but not all districts are telling folks that this will be the way of the woods pretty damn soon for all of us. John

 

[Living in the Past]

So what does "quiet vehicle operation only " mean? Electric cars bicyles. I always enjoyed driving round forest service roads with top off and windshield folded down. At low RPM you couldn't even notice the engine running. Would see al kind of wild life. But some how I don't think the forest service would concider that quite vehicle operation

 

[Rocky_LC]

Living -

Based on what they said, that is about what they are expecting - Motorized use to get to more remote camping areas, on existing roads.

The issue I had was theior philosophy of "upgrading" towards more wilderness, less access.

I didn't hear about "Closed Unless Signed Open". That sounds bad...

Chuck

 

[inkpot]

Living -

Based on what they said, that is about what they are expecting - Motorized use to get to more remote camping areas, on existing roads.

The issue I had was theior philosophy of "upgrading" towards more wilderness, less access.

I didn't hear about "Closed Unless Signed Open". That sounds bad...

Chuck

Yup, it IS bad. At a Land Use meeting I attended for the Tonto NF, I asked specifically if a trail was supposed to have a sign that meant it was OK to drive, but, the sign was missing, was it still OK to drive, and the answer was "NO!". So if anyone takes the sign for a wall decoration, or uses it in their camp for firewood, or a radical Greenie just plain steels it, your SOL. You can, and will, be cited for driving on that trail. There may or may not be anyone out there to enforce these rules.

Another obvious trend that is common at the Travel Management Planning meetings is that the ONLY trails that will have the signs are the major arteries, from point A to point B. ALL of the little dead end spur trails will be off limits. This is where all the hunting and fishing camps are. This is where all the prospecting and rock collecting is. This is where all the solitude and scenery is at. Basically, they are working at boxing up all the 4x4 rigs in small confined areas. They have already had success doing this for the bikes and quads. Go look at the Rolls and the Boulders OHV areas. Pretty soon wheeling will be like kissing your sister: OK for practice, but ya ain't gonna git no buzz outa it!