Public input sought for Gila off-road plan

SILVER CITY - The Gila National Forest is hosting a series of open houses on its proposed off-road plan to hear public input on the plan to designate a system of roads that will allow motorized travel on the forest in an attempt to address the growing demand for motorized recreation.

The open houses are designed to give the public opportunities to review, ask questions, and comment on the proposal for motorized travel on the forest.

The Forest Service's 2005 Travel Management Rule requires forests to designate a system of roads, trails, and areas to remain open to motor vehicle use while ensuring the best possible care of the land. It also addresses the growing demand for motorized recreation on the forest while protecting the environment. Motorized vehicles include off-highway vehicles (OHV's), trucks, passenger cars, 4x4's, and motorcycles.

"The feedback we received from the public last fall during the motorized travel workshops and other public contacts resulted in the creation of the proposal. This feedback assisted us significantly in its development by identifying public issues and concerns prior to entering the formal National Environmental Policy Act process," said Forest Supervisor Dick Markley.

The proposal allows for continued motorized access to the forest on a designated road and trail systems. It also includes significant changes on the use of motor vehicles such as:

•Cross-country motor vehicle use will no longer be allowed.

•Motorized dispersed camping, outside of developed campgrounds, will be only be allowed within 300 feet on either side of a designated road.

•Cross-country travel to retrieve elk and deer will be allowed as long as it is within a one-mile distance of either side of designated Forest Service roads, county roads, or state and federal highways.

The proposal also starts the public input/participation phase of the act.

Cyndi Tuell, southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the plan does little to protect natural resources and instead sanctions ongoing motorized uses that are causing damage to river corridors as well as threatened and endangered species.

One of the main concerns conservationists in the region have is the proposal to designate a road down the San Francisco River.

The San Francisco River area is home to threatened and endangered species including the loach minnow, spikedace, and southwestern willow flycatcher.

"The designation of a road through such fragile, important habitat represents the ultimate failure of travel management planning, which is supposed to protect natural resources," Tuell said.

The proposal and maps can be downloaded by visiting the Forest Service's Web site at: fs.usda.gov/gila.

For more information call Lisa Mizuno, forest travel management coordinator at (575) 388-8267.

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Source: http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_13390578