After more than two years, a controversial plan to close hundreds of miles of roads and trails in Eldorado National Forest to motorized recreation is nearing its conclusion.

Released on July 20, a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on the forest's Route Designation Project lays out five possibilities for approximately 2,250 miles of existing roads and trails.

The statement cites resource protection and a proliferation of user-created trails as reasons for the alternatives presented.

"In their enjoyment of the National Forest, motor vehicle users have created numerous unauthorized routes," according to the draft environmental impact statement. "The number of such routes continues to grow each year, with many new routes having environmental impacts and safety concerns that have not been addressed."

While every national forest has been tasked with similar travel management projects, the completion of Eldorado National Forest plan has been expedited by a 2005 court order.

A lawsuit by conservation groups Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity and California Wilderness Coalition led to the order.

The groups successfully challenged the Forest Service's analysis of the impacts caused by motorized vehicles presented in a 1990 trail management plan.

"Hiking, viewing wildlife and natural features, and relaxing and escaping noise are far more important to visitors," according to a recent press release from the Center for Biological Diversity. "But the impact of off-road type vehicles is so pervasive that other forest visitors are frustrated by the decreasing quality of their experience."

Approximately 700 miles of roads and trails in the national forest have been closed since an Aug. 2005 forest supervisor's order and will remain so until the route designation process is complete.

Off-highway vehicle enthusiasts have taken issue with these closures, as well as additional restrictions called for in the plan, saying the increasing number of participants in off-road recreation and the decreased number of trails will create congestion and could lead to further resource damage.

The number of off-highway vehicle users has soared in the past 30 years, from approximately 5 million in 1972 to 36 million in 2000, according to the Forest Service.

"I'm just getting into the sport and I don't know what I'm going to be missing," said South Lake Tahoe resident Harlee Tuttle.

Although the Rubicon trail goes through Eldorado Forest, it is designated as a county road and will remain unaffected by the project.

The national push for travel management plans also won't affect the Lake Tahoe Basin directly, because the forest service's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit already has off-highway vehicle route designations.

"We've had them for years," said Rex Norman, spokesman for unit on Wednesday.

Public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Eldorado National Forest, which could lead to modifications of the final plan, will be accepted until Sept. 4.

"If you don't comment on the draft EIS, then you can't appeal the final decision," said Jason Nedlo, the Forest Service's team leader on the project.

The final decision is expected by December 2007 and a complete motor vehicle use map showing the officially designated routes will be available in 2008, according to the Forest Service.



Comments can be sent to:

Ramiro Villalvazo, Forest Supervisor

100 Forni Road

Placerville, CA 95667



Whom to contact

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is planning on submitting an application to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division of California State Parks for a grant to provide Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) law enforcement patrol, OHV education and installation of physical barriers for traffic control.

An application will be submitted on Sept. 16, 2007. Organizations or individuals with comments regarding the grant request are asked to send statements to:

Recreation Manager

c/o 35 College Drive

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Comments may also be faxed to Don Lane at (530) 543-2693 or e-mailed to dlane@fs.fed.us.

Conservation efforts recognized

Conservation efforts along the Rubicon Trail, a popular haunt for off road vehicle enthusiasts traveling through El Dorado and Placer counties, will get a leg-up this weekend, when tire-maker BF Goodrich presents a $4,000 check to four-wheel drive group, Friends of the Rubicon.

One of the group's goals is "to keep the Rubicon open and useable, while mitigating the erosion and water runoff problems from portions of the road," according to their Web site.

The money is designated for preservation of the scenic trail through BF Goodrich's 2007 Outstanding trails program.

"The volunteers who work to keep this trail alive and well, are setting the example worldwide for other trails and riding areas," said Del Albright, president of Friends of the Rubicon, in a press statement.

Five other trails in the U.S. and Canada were selected as part of the program.

Funds will be presented to the group on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Gerle Creek Campground. The presentation follows a trail clean up day starting at 8 a.m. Fore more information call John Ewert at (949) 274-6566.



Key points of Alternatives in the Draft EIS

Alternative A (No Action Alternative)

-- Use would continue on existing routes, no route designation would take place

-- No prohibition on cross-country travel

-- No seasonal closure

Alternative B

-- Allow for public motor vehicle use on 1,121 miles of roads and 241 miles of trails

-- Seasonal closure on designated roads and trails from Jan. 1 through March 31

-- Public, cross-country motor vehicle travel prohibited

Alternative C

-- Allow for public wheeled motor vehicles use on 1,064 miles of roads and 177 miles of trails

-- Seasonal closure on designated roads and trails from Nov. 1 through April 30

-- Public, cross-country motor vehicle travel prohibited

Alternative D (The Forest Service's preferred alternative)

-- Allow for public motor vehicle use on 844 miles of roads and 217 miles of trails

-- Seasonal closure on designated roads and trails from Dec. 1 through April 30

-- Public, cross-country motor vehicle travel prohibited

Alternative E

-- Allow for public motor vehicles use on 752 miles of roads and 136 miles of trails

-- Seasonal closure on designated system roads and trails from Jan. 1 through March 31

-- Public, cross-country motor vehicle travel prohibited.

More information of the project, including copies of the draft EIS, are available at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/projects/route/