Impact statement out today for new forest road rules

Staff Reports

A draft environmental impact statement on the Eldorado National Forest's system of roads for motorized vehicles is scheduled to be released today for a 45-day public review.

Alpine County residents will have a chance to share their views of the plan with the forest service 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Turtle Rock Community Center.

Five alternative ways to manage existing roads run the gamut from continuing the present use to limiting use to 751 miles of roads and 136 miles of trails, prohibiting cross-country travel and limiting access in winter.

A preferred alternative would allow use on 844.3 miles of roads and 217 miles of established trails. At present there are about 2,200 miles of roads and trails available to off-highway vehicles. Any change would cut the number of miles available nearly in half.

The impact statement examines five alternative ways to manage a designated system of existing routes running throughout the Eldorado National Forest. The statement describes these alternatives and the public input used to develop them, the analysis of the alternatives and the effects of implementing each one. The Eldorado National Forest supervisor's preferred alternative is also identified.

"This is an important step in our ongoing public involvement process," said Ramiro Villalvazo, Eldorado National forest supervisor, who will make the final decision. "It's my desire to balance the need to provide a diversity of road and trail riding opportunities with the need to protect forest resources."

Following the analysis of public comments, the Forest Service will create a final environmental impact statement and make a final decision.

The decision is scheduled to be made before the end of the year. Public information meetings are scheduled later in July and early August.

Villalvazo says that the travel management project is part of a forest service initiative designed to address the impacts of unmanaged recreation on the health of national forests. The statement proposes to regulate and manage wheeled motor vehicle use in the Eldorado National Forest and to identify roads and trails where this use will be allowed.

It also addresses seasonal closures of wheeled motor vehicle routes, and wheeled over-the-snow travel.

Other national forests in California are developing similar management direction.

The impact statement and other project information is available on the Eldorado National Forest Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/projects/route or a compact disc can be requested by e-mail from eldoradoroutes@fs.fed.us or by contacting Project Team Leader Jason Nedlo, at (530) 621-5276.

Public meetings explaining the DEIS and the 45 day public comment period will be held from 7-9 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

July 24 - Placerville at the Marshall Building, El Dorado

County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA 95667.

July 25 - Jackson at the Civic Center, 33 Broadway, Jackson, CA 95642.

July 26 - Markleeville at the Turtle Rock Community Center, 17300 State Route 89, Markleeville, CA 96120.

July 31 - Folsom at the Lake Natomas Inn, 702 Gold Lake Drive, Folsom CA 95630.

Aug. 2 - Concord at the Pleasant Hill Recreation Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.