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Tahoe National Forest Travel Management

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Overview

Purpose of Travel Management Process

• Protect forest resources (soil, water, wildlife, etc)

• Challenging, diverse and sustainable motorized trail and road system

• Access for a variety of recreation

Background• Growing OHV Use – especially in

California

• Aug, 2003 – MOI w/ State of California Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission - designate OHV Roads, Trails, Areas

• Nov, 2005 – National – Final Travel Management Rule (subpart B) – requires designation of roads, trails and areas; season of year and by type of vehicle

• 2003- TNF began inventorying roads and trails• 2004 - First public meeting to review maps• 2005 - Additional public meetings on process and

map inventory

• 2006 - Workshops to develop proposed action - Public recommended trails to include.

• 2007 - Release of Proposed Action for public comment

• 2008 - Release of Draft EIS• 2009 – Completion of Final EIS and

Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM)

TNF Background

DEIS to Address:

1. Prohibiting cross country travel

2. Adding unauthorized, motorized routes to the established system of roads and trails

3. Changing the season of use on existing roads and trails

4. Changing the types of vehicles allowed on existing roads

1. Prohibiting Cross Country Travel

All alternatives except Alt 1 prohibit cross country travel

2. Adding unauthorized, motorized routes to the established system of

roads and trails• Approx 2800 miles of system motorized trails

and roads in the established system for public use

• Approx 1400 miles of unauthorized routes- old logging roads- historic mining trails- user created trails

Which, if any, unauthorized routes should become part of the system?

3. Seasons of Use

• Winter Deer Range and Deer Holding Areas

• Wet Weather Restrictions

• Other Site Specifics

4. Class of Vehicles on National Forest System Roads – Safety Concerns

Smoother roads (paved, chip sealed, graded roads) - “Open to Highway Vehicles Only”

Dirt/rock or high clearance/rougher roads – “Open to All Vehicles”

DEIS includes 7 Alternatives

Alternative 1 – No Action• No changes -

baseline for comparison

• Cross country travel not prohibited

• Existing seasonal restrictions apply

• No additions to the system of roads and trails

Alternative 2 – Motorized Recand Access Opportunities

• Cross country prohibited

• No wet weather restrictions

• Site specific suggestions for trails included

• 72 miles of trail added to the system – several “open areas”

• 481 miles of roads changed to “Open to All Vehicles”

Alternative 3 – Cross Country Travel Prohibited Only

• Prohibit cross country travel and travel on 1400 miles of unauthorized routes

• No changes to seasons of use

• No trails added

• No changes to class of vehicle – smoother surface roads to be open to Hwy Legal vehicles only.

Alt 4 – Modified Proposal from Environmental Coalition

- Cross country travel prohibited

- Wet weather seasonal restrictions added

- 31 miles of trail added – none in roadless areas, wild and scenic rivers, or goshawk or spotted owl PAC’s

Alt 5 – Modified Proposal from Blue Ribbon Coalition

• Cross country travel prohibited

• Wet weather and modified deer seasonal restrictions added

• 282 miles of trail added

• 481 miles changed to “Open to all vehicles”

Alt 6 - Preferred• Cross country travel

prohibited

• Wet weather and modified deer seasonal restrictions added

• 70 miles of trail added – no significant impacts to roadless character and spotted owl/goshawk PAC’s

• 276 miles of road changed to “Open to all vehicles”

Alt 7 – Proposed Action (Spring, 07)• Cross country travel

prohibited

• Existing seasonal restrictions

• 45 miles of trails added

• Faucherie Rd changed to “Open to all Vehicles”

Effects of Alternatives• Air• Heritage

Resources• Fire• Plant

Communities• Recreation• Water and Soil• Wildlife

• Roadless Character• Transportation• Wild and Scenic

Rivers• Adjacent

Ownerships• Socio Economic

Dispersed Camping

• Wide spots in the roads to be considered part of the road

• “Spurs” need to be identified – 180 – need public help to do this

• One car length - ok

Public Review and Comment

• Sept 26 – Nov 26

• E-Mail or Hard Mail

• Full DEIS is available on the web

• Other opportunity for future participation

MVUM – updated annually

Thanks for your time!

Reservoirs East of Truckee

Potential impacts on heritage resources

Roadless AreasPreferred Alt 6 - protects roadless character

Mod Env Alt 4 – No recommended trails in roadless areas

Mod Blue Ribbon – Alt 5 and Motorized Access Alt 2 – recommended trails in roadless