HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter received from Randy Moore regarding Plumas National Forest travel managemetn decision USDA United States Forest Pacific Regional Office,R5
Department of Service Southwest 1323 Club Drive
Agriculture Region Vallejo,CA 94592
(707)562-8737 Voice
(707)562-9240 Text(TDD)
File Code: 7710
Date: FEB 0 4 2014
Bill Connelly
Chair
Board of Supervisors, Butte County ROAM SUFERVISCRS
25 County Center Drive
Suite 200 FEB 10 2014
Oroville, CA 95965-3380
OROVILLE,CALIFORNIA
Dear Mr. Connelly:
Thank you for your October 22, 2013, letter regarding the Plumas National Forest travel
management decision. I appreciate the June 21, 2013, discussion and do not believe any of the
concerns raised are insurmountable. Forest Supervisor, Earl Ford is committed to working
collaboratively with the counties to resolve issues of mutual interest. In your most recent letter
you identify several projects of interest to Butte County. They are as follows:
1) As discussed between Forest Supervisor Earl Ford, and the Public Works Directors of Butte
and Plumas Counties on September 9, 2013, the Forest continues to look for opportunities to
reduce the maintenance levels of forest roads and consider designating them for motorized
mixed use. This requires a two-step process.
a) The first step requires completion of a Motorized Mixed Use Analysis by a Forest
Service qualified engineer. This analysis provides the Forest Supervisor with an
identification of potential risks to resources and public safety (Crash Probability and
Severity) and is subject to further review and approval depending on the length of the
road segment. If it is determined the risks can be mitigated the analysis is used to
establish a proposed action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
b) The second step requires NEPA analysis of the proposed action to designate the road
for motorized mixed use pursuant to the agencies travel management rule. In
virtually all cases this would require lowering the maintenance level and a lower
maintenance level means that these roads would no longer be maintained for
passenger car use. The Forest will continue to look for ways to move forward on this
issue, subject to available funding and other regional and forest priorities.
Currently, the Plumas National Forest does not have an engineer on staff that is qualified to
perform a Motorized Mix Use analysis. The Forest is in the process of hiring a Forest Engineer.
Once on staff, it will be that person's responsibility to conduct or arrange for mixed use analysis
to be completed.
2) The Plumas will continue to work to finalize the brochure illustrating permissible parking
locations and ensure conformity with the forest Motor Vehicle Use Map. The Forest looks
forward to any comments the counties may have about the draft sent in December.
11410
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Bill Connelly, Board of Supervisor's Butte County 2
3) The Forest conducted some red-legged frog surveys in the French Creek area this summer.
In order to designate OHV routes in this area, the forest will need to complete the
consultation process with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and may need to conduct
additional surveys. In addition, any proposed designations are subject to further NEPA
analysis pursuant to the agency travel management rule. The Forest will continue to look for
ways to move forward on this, subject to available funding and other regional and forest
priorities.
4) Granite Basin: Unfortunately other priority work has limited forest staff from completing the
process to designate additional OHV routes in the Granite Basin area. The Forest will
continue to look for ways to move forward on this project, subject to available funding and
other regional and forest priorities.
5) The forest will look into the feasibility and appropriateness of opening the Marble Creek
Trail to motorized use. However, like with many of these projects the ability for the forest to
move forward is subject to available funding and other regional and forest priorities.
For further information on these topics, please contact Plumas Forest Supervisor Earl Ford, 530-
283-7810, or Acting Public Services and Engineering Staff Officer Dave Wood, 530-283-7772.
Sincerely,
44/44A)
LI•-y�,,,� NDY MOORS
Regional Forester
cc: Earl Ford,David C Wood