Date: 08/13/2008
BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
San Juan Public Lands Center to Hold Public Meeting on Travel Management
The Columbine Ranger District/Field Office of the San Juan Public Lands Center is conducting public scoping to gather input for the designation of a system of roads and trails for summer motorized vehicle use within the Beaver Meadows-Sauls Creek Landscape.
To begin the travel-planning process, the San Juan National Forest will hold a public meeting from 6 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, 2008, at Bayfield High School, 800 County Road 501, Bayfield, Colorado.
Proposed preliminary alternatives will be presented at the meeting and are available online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/projects/projects.shtml
The landscape analysis area includes Beaver Meadows and part of the Sauls Creek area (approximately 54,000 acres) within the San Juan National Forest and approximately 720 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered land.
Much of the project area is currently roaded from recent and previous timber sales and existing gas roads. The current travel management designations in the project area include:
"A" - Closed yearlong to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle, ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile
"B" - Closed yearlong to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle, ATV and motorcycle; Open to snowmobile
"C" - Closed yearlong to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle, snowmobile, ATV and motorcycle from 12/1-5/31
"D" - Closed yearlong to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle; Open yearlong to ATV, motorcycle, and snowmobile
"E" - Special Closure areas
"F" - Open to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle, ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile
The "C", "D" and "E" areas allow for cross-country motorized travel by ATVs and motorcycles. The "E" area in the Beaver Meadows has a special order that prohibits the possession or use of motorized vehicles within that area from October 15 to November 15 annually. The "C" areas, in Sauls Creek, are closed seasonally to all motor vehicles, including ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles, from December 1 through May 31 annually for big game winter range. The "C", "D" and "E" areas will be the main focus of the proposed action for the Beaver Meadows/ Sauls Creek travel management project.
The Columbine District/Field Office will consider all comments received and issues generated to determine the appropriate level of environmental documentation needed. The environmental document is expected to be released for a public comment period in the winter of 2008.
Input is requested by September 22, 2008. Comments may be sent to Nancy Berry, Project Leader, Columbine Ranger District/Field Office, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO, 81301; or via e-mail to nberry@fs.fed.us. For more information, contact Nancy Berry at 970-375-3304.
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
BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
San Juan Public Lands Center to Hold Public Meeting on Travel Management
The Columbine Ranger District/Field Office of the San Juan Public Lands Center is conducting public scoping to gather input for the designation of a system of roads and trails for summer motorized vehicle use within the Beaver Meadows-Sauls Creek Landscape.
To begin the travel-planning process, the San Juan National Forest will hold a public meeting from 6 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, 2008, at Bayfield High School, 800 County Road 501, Bayfield, Colorado.
Proposed preliminary alternatives will be presented at the meeting and are available online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/projects/projects.shtml
The landscape analysis area includes Beaver Meadows and part of the Sauls Creek area (approximately 54,000 acres) within the San Juan National Forest and approximately 720 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered land.
Much of the project area is currently roaded from recent and previous timber sales and existing gas roads. The current travel management designations in the project area include:
"A" - Closed yearlong to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle, ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile
"B" - Closed yearlong to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle, ATV and motorcycle; Open to snowmobile
"C" - Closed yearlong to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle, snowmobile, ATV and motorcycle from 12/1-5/31
"D" - Closed yearlong to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle; Open yearlong to ATV, motorcycle, and snowmobile
"E" - Special Closure areas
"F" - Open to passenger car, 4-wheel drive vehicle, ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile
The "C", "D" and "E" areas allow for cross-country motorized travel by ATVs and motorcycles. The "E" area in the Beaver Meadows has a special order that prohibits the possession or use of motorized vehicles within that area from October 15 to November 15 annually. The "C" areas, in Sauls Creek, are closed seasonally to all motor vehicles, including ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles, from December 1 through May 31 annually for big game winter range. The "C", "D" and "E" areas will be the main focus of the proposed action for the Beaver Meadows/ Sauls Creek travel management project.
The Columbine District/Field Office will consider all comments received and issues generated to determine the appropriate level of environmental documentation needed. The environmental document is expected to be released for a public comment period in the winter of 2008.
Input is requested by September 22, 2008. Comments may be sent to Nancy Berry, Project Leader, Columbine Ranger District/Field Office, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO, 81301; or via e-mail to nberry@fs.fed.us. For more information, contact Nancy Berry at 970-375-3304.
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