Carson Ranger District implements travel management plan

Contrary to some rapidly-spreading e-mail chains, the Carson Ranger District is not closing down the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

They have not closed down any camp grounds and they are not restricting access to any hiking trails.

What the district has done, is implement its federally-mandated motor vehicle use plan in Alpine County, Douglas County, Carson City, Washoe County and Sierra County.

The district's motor vehicle use map identifies the roads and motorized trails that are open to motor vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles, off-highway vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, cars and 4-wheel drives.

Among the closures creating a bit of controversy are five routes, totalling about a half-mile of roadway, in the Blue Lakes area.

"That's been the hot spot," Carson District Ranger Genny Wilson said. "It's an area that has been in use for a number of years and the map upset some people that had traditionally used those roads.

"What it's turned into though is people generated these e-mails to hundreds of other people saying we are closing off the access to our national forests. That's not the intent at all."

As part of a 2005 national order signed by President George W. Bush, all national forests across the country were required to have a motor use vehicle plan in place by December of 2009. The order came as an effort to help manage the ever-growing trails and road systems within the national forests.

"As more and more people have frequented the forests, there has been a perpetuation of more and more roads," Wilson said. "The National Forest Service only has the capacity to maintain so many roads and have them still be safe to use, so that was what necessitated these plans."

Barriers, such as boulders, are being placed on unauthorized travel routes. The plan is to re-vegetate the routes over time. Recent work has focused on areas that are environmentally and culturally sensitive, such as wet meadows, perennial stream courses and tribal and historic sites.

"We are working to protect the very resources that bring people to the Eastern Sierra," Wilson said. "The beautiful scenery, the wildlife, fishing and the peaceful environment."

The Carson Ranger District has more than 560 miles of open authorized roads for motorized vehicles to enjoy. Routes open to vehicle use will be signed with road numbers that coincide with the motor vehicle map.

Dispersed RV camping is still permitted along the Scotts Lake Road and in Faith and Charity valleys. The Wolf Creek trailhead remains open, as does the popular horseback area.

Because the maps must be updated every year, Wilson said the district would likely be adding more access roads in the future.

"The updates are there for when we find flaws or mistakes in the maps," she said.

Nowhere in the plan, Wilson said, are any restrictions on foot traffic or dispersed camping.

"We implemented the plan in September 2008 and we've distributed over 8,000 maps to visitors," Wilson said, adding that the map is viewable online as well. "We have a billboard in south Douglas County now to help direct people to the Web site."

Violations of the road restrictions are punishable by a citation, but Wilson said the district is still primarily in education mode.

"Our main goal is just to educate people first," she said. "We've issued maybe two tickets to people who've repeatedly violated the restrictions, but for the most part it's a matter of letting people know what's going on."

Motor vehicle use maps are free and can be downloaded from the internet at www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/recreation/mvum/mvum.shtml or stop by a forest service office to pick one up.

For more information, contact recreation officer Marnie Bonesteel at 884-8140 or off-highway vehicle manager Dan Morris at 884-8101.

Joey Crandall can be reached at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.