Forest Service seeks input on ATV use

Mountain Mayhem photo

Natural resource damage prompts need to reevaluate Travel Plan

ISLAND PARK. ID. — The Ashton/Island Park Ranger District is seeking public input on motorized recreation and its impact on the area’s natural resources and roads.

Motorized vehicles ‚ including OHV’s, ATV’s, 4 by 4’s and trail bikes — have been banned from riding outside of designated roads, trails, and areas in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest since the National Forest Service adopted its Travel Plan in 1999.

Most of the motorized travel routes on the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District are designated routes only, except for Areas “F”  and “D” on the Travel Maps. These are open to summer cross-country motorized travel.

Forest Service managers now say that monitoring over the years has determined that cross-country use in these areas needs to be reevaluated. Resource concerns include erosion of soils and loss of vegetation caused by a network of user-created routes. Also, unlawful use of the sides of paved highways and county roads is a public safety concern.
 
The Ashton/Island Park Ranger District is collecting ideas for management of Areas F and D in terms of providing motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities, if possible, while ensuring the best possible care of the land and safety of the public.  

Guidelines:
• No decision that modifies the Travel Plan will add miles to the forest’s motorized trail routes.
• Grizzly bear habitat security will remain a very important component related to motorized recreation opportunities.
• Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines will be followed. Motorized cross-country travel to a dispersed campsite will remain permissible within 300 feet of motorized roads and trails as per the 1997 Revised Targhee Forest Plan.
• Winter use will not be addressed in this effort.

“We are committed to a process that puts an emphasis on community-based approaches to implementing changes in the 1999 Travel Management decision,” says District Ranger Adrienne Keller.

She said the Forest Service must consider both local and national perspectives and policies, and there may not be consensus between various communities, groups, and individual users. 

The Forest Service needs your feedback and suggestions regarding these questions:

What Areas F and D do you use and what activities (motorized or non-motorized) do you participate in?

If it is possible, how should existing Area F and D be modified to provide a safe motorized and or non-motorized trail system while not exceeding motorized route densities?

Should certain county maintained roads allow OHV use (dual use)?

Is it possible to develop viable loop trails for motorized use – and where should they be located?

What other considerations should we include?

Send your comments to: Ashton/Island Park Ranger District, P.O. Box 858, Ashton, ID. 84320; Call 208. 652.7442; Fax 208.652.7863.

E-mail: comments-intermtn-caribou-targhee-ashton-islandpark@fs.fed.us

For more information:
National Forest Service Travel Management Web site

The Travel Management Rule

Forest Service Report-“Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation in the United States and its Regions and States: A National Report from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment

Caribou-Targhee National Forest 

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation – OHV site 

This is part of the September 3, 2009 online edition of The Island Park News.

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