National Forest Service OHV Travel Management Plan

Understanding the National Forest Service OHV Travel Management Plan.
Jennifer Rails (February 2010)

We recently received a package from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest containing several packets of info about the Motorized Travel Management Plan that has been in the works since 2005.  It took several reads to eventually understand exactly what they were planning, and in many ways it was the typical, bloated government verbiage and complex approach to something that seems so simple in concept.  While we respect the enormous task they are trying to undertake, we instantly felt we could do a better job of explaining what's happening in a simpler way.  So, we will keep it simple and sum up what they are working on and planning to do, specifically on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.  This should help you understand the overall national plan as well.

Back in 2005 the United States Forest Service created a huge project that said all routes that are open to OHV use must be documented.  Since there are numerous National Forests across the United States and each have individual districts within, the deadline to have everything wrapped up and published is January 2010.  This means that there will be a finalized map (Motorized Vehicle Use Map, or MVUM) showing all of the trails and roads that you are allowed to ride on – everything else will be off-limits.  

In 2005 the Shasta-Trinity National Forest completed an inventory of all the roads and trails they could find in the forest (both designated and unauthorized routes).  They came up with 5,329 miles of roads, 87 miles of designated OHV trails, and 1,252 miles of unauthorized OHV trails, so the next step was to figure out what trails will get approved for motorized use in the future, and hence be shown on the MVUM map.

Obviously there is a long and lengthy process involved, requiring input from many departments and organizations and the general public.  According to the Forest Service, in order for a road, trail (this also applies to unauthorized routes) or open area to be considered for OHV use, it must be first added to the official National Forest Transportation System (NFTS).  And in order for this to happen, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) must approve of the trail/route and add it to the NFTS.

The DEIS has two main purposes.  The first purpose is to evaluate unauthorized routes and put them into the NFTS, but the second purpose is to establish what method of action is going to be taken to add trails to the forest.  Once a route is added to the NFTS, it must then be evaluated and then approved so it can get added to the Motorized Vehicle Use Map.

The Forest Supervisor will make the final decision on the permitted use of the trails, and the official MVUM can then be created.

So here is an approximate breakdown of the process:

Stage 1: Identify existing trails
Stage 2: Add trails to NFTS
Stage 3: Public feedback and debate
Stage 4: Classification of each trail - (with final bessing given by the forest supervisor)
Stage 5:  Creation of the MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map)

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Currently, the Shasta-Trinity NF DEIS is approximately in stage 3 as listed above.  They have possible plans of action, with one plan being to take no action at all. This table shows a breakdown of the possible plans.

As a member of the general public, if you want to be involved in the decision making process, now is the time. The first thing to do is to call or e-mail your local ranger district.  The Shasta-Trinity NF requires that comments be received within 45 days from the time they publish the DEIS notice which was published in the Federal Register on June 26. This opened the 45-day comment period that is the only time where public comments will make the difference.  All comments will be accepted and considered however only those that have verification information can appeal the subsequent decision, so anonymous suggestions carry less weight.

When sending e-mail comments, put in the subject line Travel Management - Comments.  Also add the following info:

• Name, address and telephone number
  
• Title of Project
  
• Specific comments
  
• Your signature or verify identity upon request
  

Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Travel Management
3644 Avtech Parkway
Redding, CA  96002
(530) 226-2421
comments-pacificsouthwest-shasta-trinity@fs.fed.us

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/