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Closure of 2,450 miles of trails proposed
Tahoe Forest plan cites damage caused by unmanaged riding
By Laura Brown, laurab@theunion.com
» More from Laura Brown
12:01 a.m. PT Apr 30, 2007
Tahoe National Forest is proposing to close 2,450 miles of unauthorized off-highway-vehicle trails that have been used for years to halt problems such as erosion and impacts on wildlife.
In turn, 50 miles of so-called OHV trails not previously in the forest's inventory will be added to a developing designated route system.
The crackdown is part of a nationwide effort that began three years ago to identify motorized roads and trails on federal lands and control unmanaged riding. Unmanaged recreation from OHVs is one of the "four key threats facing the nation's forests and grasslands," according to a report by the U.S. Forest Service.
"This kind of damage is just not acceptable," said Phil Horning, forest landscape architect with the Tahoe National Forest.
Last fall, groups participated in helping forest officials locate and map 110 trails that are now up for review during a public-comment period that will end May 15.
A crowd of 75 dirt bikers and ATV riders, horse riders and members of the environmental community packed the Banner Grange off McCourtney Road Thursday night to hear Tahoe National Forest officials lay out the plan.
The proposal outlined by the Forest Service also includes the addition of a 60-acre wheeled motorized area. It also allows nonstreet vehicles on a three-mile stretch of roadway where it currently isn't allowed.
A draft environmental impact report will come out in September, followed by a 45-day comment period. A final statement is expected to be complete by January of next year.
The cost of the studies for this fiscal year, from Oct. 1, 2006 to Sept. 30, is $500,000. A portion of the cost will be paid for by using state "green sticker" money from licensing off-road motorcycles and ATVs. The rest of the funds will come from forest services reserves, which are facing a 20-percent budget reduction this year.
Impacts
California is experiencing the highest level of OHV use of any state in the country. People registered 786,914 ATVs and OHV motorcycles in 2004, up 330 percent since 1980, according to documents handed out by the forest service at Thursday's meeting.
In 2005, an estimated 1,609,000 people visited the Tahoe National Forest. The number of motorized users is smaller than the number of "nonmotorized" users, which includes hikers, equestrian riders and mountain bicyclists, Horning said. Many people travel from the Bay Area, Sacramento and Reno to ride on trails within the forest.
The increased popularity of OHV users in the forests and the impacts created when motorized vehicles leave the trails and go onto sensitive soils in meadows and riparian areas is a nationwide concern for biologists.
A number of sensitive wildlife species, such as the spotted owl and bald eagle living near trails, are also a concern, as well as old forests, archeological sites and a number of plant species.
The trails that were rejected include historic mining trails and ones that weave through sensitive areas.
Mixed use
The trails - though designated for OHV use - are used by many, including anglers and campers, who have not been active in the route designation process so far, Horning said. Their input is needed to locate little-known trails that lead to favorite fishing streams or primitive campsites.
"We definitely encourage folks to take a look at the maps," Horning said.
More cuts in the future
The 50 miles of trails selected are a hodgepodge of small sections of trails from all over the forest. They were chosen for the loops, scenic vistas and access to campgrounds they provide.
The forest service will have 810 miles of motorized trails to manage with the 50-mile addition - at a time when the forest service is facing cutbacks.
Designated roads are in jeopardy of being closed over time because of the continuous budget decline, Horning said.
Limits may also be placed on the number of users permitted on the trails as the forest becomes more crowded, Horning said.
"I don't think users want to hear that," Horning said.
Not enough miles
On weekends, the Burlington Ridge area gets hundreds of OHV users who say they need 50 to 100 miles of trails to ride a day.
A five-mile trail created by the Nevada County Woods Riders 25 years ago was cut in the proposal. By reducing the number of trails in the area, people will grow bored and explore neighboring off-limit lands, said Woods Rider member Joseph Cochran.
"They're creating the exact problems their trying to prevent," Cochran said.
To review a map of the proposed OHV routes visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/.
Maps can also be viewed at various ranger districts, including the Supervisor's Office at 631 Coyote Street, Nevada City.
Closure of 2,450 miles of trails proposed
Tahoe Forest plan cites damage caused by unmanaged riding
By Laura Brown, laurab@theunion.com
» More from Laura Brown
12:01 a.m. PT Apr 30, 2007
Tahoe National Forest is proposing to close 2,450 miles of unauthorized off-highway-vehicle trails that have been used for years to halt problems such as erosion and impacts on wildlife.
In turn, 50 miles of so-called OHV trails not previously in the forest's inventory will be added to a developing designated route system.
The crackdown is part of a nationwide effort that began three years ago to identify motorized roads and trails on federal lands and control unmanaged riding. Unmanaged recreation from OHVs is one of the "four key threats facing the nation's forests and grasslands," according to a report by the U.S. Forest Service.
"This kind of damage is just not acceptable," said Phil Horning, forest landscape architect with the Tahoe National Forest.
Last fall, groups participated in helping forest officials locate and map 110 trails that are now up for review during a public-comment period that will end May 15.
A crowd of 75 dirt bikers and ATV riders, horse riders and members of the environmental community packed the Banner Grange off McCourtney Road Thursday night to hear Tahoe National Forest officials lay out the plan.
The proposal outlined by the Forest Service also includes the addition of a 60-acre wheeled motorized area. It also allows nonstreet vehicles on a three-mile stretch of roadway where it currently isn't allowed.
A draft environmental impact report will come out in September, followed by a 45-day comment period. A final statement is expected to be complete by January of next year.
The cost of the studies for this fiscal year, from Oct. 1, 2006 to Sept. 30, is $500,000. A portion of the cost will be paid for by using state "green sticker" money from licensing off-road motorcycles and ATVs. The rest of the funds will come from forest services reserves, which are facing a 20-percent budget reduction this year.
Impacts
California is experiencing the highest level of OHV use of any state in the country. People registered 786,914 ATVs and OHV motorcycles in 2004, up 330 percent since 1980, according to documents handed out by the forest service at Thursday's meeting.
In 2005, an estimated 1,609,000 people visited the Tahoe National Forest. The number of motorized users is smaller than the number of "nonmotorized" users, which includes hikers, equestrian riders and mountain bicyclists, Horning said. Many people travel from the Bay Area, Sacramento and Reno to ride on trails within the forest.
The increased popularity of OHV users in the forests and the impacts created when motorized vehicles leave the trails and go onto sensitive soils in meadows and riparian areas is a nationwide concern for biologists.
A number of sensitive wildlife species, such as the spotted owl and bald eagle living near trails, are also a concern, as well as old forests, archeological sites and a number of plant species.
The trails that were rejected include historic mining trails and ones that weave through sensitive areas.
Mixed use
The trails - though designated for OHV use - are used by many, including anglers and campers, who have not been active in the route designation process so far, Horning said. Their input is needed to locate little-known trails that lead to favorite fishing streams or primitive campsites.
"We definitely encourage folks to take a look at the maps," Horning said.
More cuts in the future
The 50 miles of trails selected are a hodgepodge of small sections of trails from all over the forest. They were chosen for the loops, scenic vistas and access to campgrounds they provide.
The forest service will have 810 miles of motorized trails to manage with the 50-mile addition - at a time when the forest service is facing cutbacks.
Designated roads are in jeopardy of being closed over time because of the continuous budget decline, Horning said.
Limits may also be placed on the number of users permitted on the trails as the forest becomes more crowded, Horning said.
"I don't think users want to hear that," Horning said.
Not enough miles
On weekends, the Burlington Ridge area gets hundreds of OHV users who say they need 50 to 100 miles of trails to ride a day.
A five-mile trail created by the Nevada County Woods Riders 25 years ago was cut in the proposal. By reducing the number of trails in the area, people will grow bored and explore neighboring off-limit lands, said Woods Rider member Joseph Cochran.
"They're creating the exact problems their trying to prevent," Cochran said.
To review a map of the proposed OHV routes visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/.
Maps can also be viewed at various ranger districts, including the Supervisor's Office at 631 Coyote Street, Nevada City.
