Travel Management: Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use ALL Trails Users Affected

1. Travel Management:Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle UseALL Trails Users Affected

2. Background • Unmanaged Recreation: a key threat facing national forests and grasslands • Environmental and social impacts from unmanaged recreation (e.g. social – hikers and ATV’s sharing trails) • Motorized recreation is a legitimate use of National Forest System lands – in the right places

3. Requirements of the Rule • Each unit or district shall designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicle use by vehicle class, and if appropriate, by time of year (36 CFR 212.51) • Designated roads, trails and areas shall be identified on a motor vehicle use map (36 CFR 212.56) • Once the map is published, motor vehcile use inconsistent with designations is prohibited (36 CFR 261.13) • Until designation is complete, current rules and authorities remain in place.

4. Designation Process Travel Analysis Proposed Action Environmental Analysis (NEPA) Implement Decision Motor Vehicle Use Map

5. Exemptions from Designated Routes • Aircraft • Watercraft • Over-the-snow • Limited Administrative Use • Emergency Purposes • National Defense purposes • Law Enforcement purposes • Use specifically authorized under a written authorization (e.g. fuelwood, grazing, etc..)

6. The Rule Requires Public Involvement “The public shall be allowed to participate in the designation of National Forest System roads, National Forest System trails, and areas on National Forest System lands and revising those designations… Advance notice shall be given to allow for public comment on proposed designations and revisions.” (36 CFR 212.52) • This is more than a formality. • The Chief expects an open, collaborative process. II.B.-6

7. General Criteria (212.55(a)) • Consider: • Effects on NFS natural and cultural resources. • Public safety. • Recreational opportunities. • Access needs. • Conflicts among uses of NFS lands. • Need for maintenance and administration. • Availability of resources for maintenance and administration. II.F.-7

8. Dispersed Camping and Game Retrieval • May include in the designation the limited use of motor vehicles within a specified distance of certain designated routes, solely for dispersed camping or big game retrieval (36 CFR 212.51 (b)). • Dispersed Camping access by designation of short access routes, route associated facilities, or roadside parking are preferred over fixed-distance.

9. Motor Vehicle Use Map (and signing) • The map identifies those roads, trails and areas designated for motor vehicle use, by vehicle and time of year. • Available on the web, and in black–and-white single-purpose publication • Signing will be done, but is not required for enforcement. • Signs have proven difficult to maintain and subject to vandalism. The rule places more responsibility on the users to get motor vehicle use maps.

10. Getting Involved in TMR Implementation • 11 National Forest’s in different stages of implementation of the Travel Management Rule. • The key to making these designations, and ensuring they are sustainable over the long term, will be working together at the local level. (Forest or District). • Opportunities for input will be into “travel analysis” (pre-NEPA) and during NEPA scoping.