On March 1, the Carson Ranger District of the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest closed Forestdale Road to snowmobiles in the first implementation of the winter recreation plan. The closure extends from Red Lake to the Forestdale Divide and will be in effect until Blue Lakes Road has insufficient snow for snowmobile use. Enforcement actions by the U.S. Forest Service and Alpine County began March 3.
The plan for Alpine County is an agreement hammered out by motorized and non-motorized users in a series of consensus-building meetings during 2006. These strategy sessions resulted in a plan that would define areas of use, establish new routes and areas, create future campsites and provide relief for the congested parking along the shoulder of Highway 88.
Before the population explosions of the '90s, there was little need for a plan. User conflicts were few and each group had their "own" areas. Forestdale Road, which starts at Red Lake, was typically a non-motorized area while Blue Lakes Road was considered a motorized area. The groups often mingled with little conflict.
But use increased dramatically. For example, the adjacent Eldorado National Forest estimates that motorized use in their forest rose by a factor of 15 between 1992 and 2006, the last year for which statistics are available. Conflicts between users, wilderness incursions, environmental concerns and dangerous free-for-all parking became the norm.
In early 2006, Debbi Waldear, a former world-class cross country skier, and Alpine County Undersheriff Rob Levy, a dedicated motorized user, got together at the suggestion of District Ranger Gary Schiff and talked about conflict issues. These talks yielded a set of potential solutions that might be embraced by both groups.
The national forest, with the help of grant money from Friends of Hope Valley, hired a facilitator, lead both groups through the consensus process. Dialog guidelines that made the process manageable were agreed to at the outset. Marnie Bonesteel became team leader for the Humboldt-Toiyabe on the project and played a pivotal role in the discussions. Alpine County representatives took part. Between July 2006 and January 2007 the plan was discussed, debated and refined in a series of remarkably civil meetings.
The plan evolved around equal opportunity, a quid pro quo method whereby each group gained from each facet of the plan. Each group made concessions as well and each group benefited from the plan.
Highlights for motorized users include improved parking, restrooms and a camping facility at Blue Lakes Road as well as similar improvements at Centerville Flat for accessing Highway 4. A section of Forest Road 112 would be improved to avoid the avalanche prone "Flintstones" area along Highway 4. A sliding staging area for Highway 89 over Monitor is proposed subject to Caltrans ability to plow the road and California Department of Fish and Game and forest service lifting the wildlife closure (this area is winter deer range) on Leviathan Peak.
Motorized users would also benefit from a well marked corridor from Armstrong Pass through fish and game land to Blue Lakes Road which would permit access from the Tahoe Basin. Another corridor from Blue Lakes Road through the Deer Valley to Highway 4 would permit access to Bear Valley (Bring some extra fuel).
Non-motorized users gain; the closure of Forestdale Road to snowmobiles in midwinter when sufficient snow cover at Blue Lakes Road allows their use at that location; improvements to the Red Corral on Highway 88, including parking and restrooms and possible similar improvements at Burnside Lake Road. The areas northwest of Highway 88 would be closed to snowmobiles. Highway 4 and Monitor Pass remain open to non-motorized users.
Existing agreements for snowmobile grooming at the dog sled area and Burnside Road would not be affected and property owners would be able to access their land by snowmobile regardless of location.
Implementation is taking place on a stepped basis depending on funding and approval by other agencies. Monies have been approved for Centerville Flat restrooms and grant applications that would cover partial expenses submitted for the Blue Lakes and Red Corral areas. Alpine County has set speed limits of 15 mph within .1 mile of the staging area at Blue Lakes Road and 35 mph for the next mile.
Bonesteel commented that "the forest service doesn't have the funds to fully implement the plan and this is where 501c3 organizations can help by applying for grants for various aspects."
It's true. No one gives money to the government and non-profits are much more likely to receive grant money. Bonesteel said, "the jump from planning to implementation always contains an element of surprise and it takes time to get used to change." Waldear emphasized that "user groups and others affected need to see what the future benefits will be." Indeed.
While not everyone is happy with every element of the plan that has been laid out is far better than the chaotic conditions existing pre-plan.
On two recent visits to Forestdale Meadow and the divide, only traces of old snowmobile tracks could be seen and the quiet serenity was remarkable.
This beautiful area can again be enjoyed without the constant buzz of machines and the wonderful north facing slopes from the divide to the meadow can be skied on any route without the jolts of numerous tracks left by out-of-bounds machines.
I think too that one day soon someone on a snowmobile can pull up to an isolated overlook off Highway 4 and say similar things.
We all venture into the wild places for the same reasons. With respect for the land and a leave-no-trace ethic we can continue to do that with a minimum of control for some time to come.
n Jim Donald is a Markleeville resident and was a member of the ad-hoc planning group as a representative of the non-motorized community.
