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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUpcoming Lassen NF Meetings Re Travel Management and Mixed Use Roads Menchaca, Clarissa From: Clerk of the Board Sent: Friday, May 12, 2017 4:25, PM To: Menchaca, Clarissa Subject: FW: Upcoming Lassen NF meetings re:travel management and mixed use roads Attachments: Letter to Editor Milligan MMU road s-5-1 1201 7.docx; FactSheet.pdf,- Savec Date LassenNFOHV.pdf ........... From: Elizabeth Norton Sent: Friday, May 12, 2017 4:24:35 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US &Canada) To: Clerk of the Board; mcrump@buttecounty.net Cc: smilligan4732@sbcgloba1.net Subject: Upcoming Lassen NF meetings re: travel management and mixed use roads Ms. Snyder— mould you please forward this message to all the BC Supervisors, and Mike Crump. Thanks so much, Elizabeth Dear Butte County Supervisors and Mr. Crump — I wanted to be sure you saw this meeting announcement from the Forest Service. The FS is asking for public comment on managing national forest roads within the Lassen NF. Their decision will affect which, roads will be designated for motorized mixed use so green sticker OIVs may legally travel on them. I know Butte County has pursued this action item for many years to achieve compatible road management policies between the counties and the Lassen NF. Please don't give up, hope. We need your help to help the FS develop a rational road management policy. The Lassen NF should be coordinating with all 5 counties to achieve this. I've attached a Letter to the Editor from Sylvia Milligan, which explains IROC's position and the counties. I hope car loads, of Supervisors and County Public Works Directors will attend one of the meetings either in S,usaniville on May 22 or in Chico on May 23 (your own backyard). Please share this announcement widely with other County Supervisors and PWD's and with your constituents. Thank you. Elizabeth Norton (530-251-7368) Recreation Outdoors Coalition 4000 Beacon Drive Anderson, California 96007 Cell Phone: 530-949-6743 RE: Letter to the Editor(for immediate posting) From: Sylvia Milligan, Chair, Recreation Outdoors Coalition On May 22 and May 23, you have an opportunity to be heard at two Forest Service meetings on the travel management plan for ypur Lassen National Forest(LNF). It's important you attend if you enjoy driving on forest roads, especially with an off-highway vehicle. In February 2010,the Forest Supervisor of the Lassen National Forest issued her decision to prohibit unlicensed off-highway vehicles (OHVs with a California green sticker registration) on 658 miles of dirt and gravel roads through the forest, called "passenger car roads." The Forest Service in California considers these roads to be "highways" under the California Vehicle Code (CVC). OHV travel is prohibited on highways except to cross them or to travel short distances (3 miles or less)to access another OHV road or trail. There are a total of 319 miles of unpaved county roads through the LNF. These county roads connect with the 658 miles of LNF "passenger car roads"and look just the same as forest roads. OHV travel is legal on unpaved county roads because the counties determined they are exempt from the CVC definition of a highway. In their opinion, highways are generally paved roads. We stand with the counties' interpretation. Even before the LNF issued their travel management plan decision in 2010, Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama Counties all said conflicting road management policies on an inter- connected road system are not going to work. Since that time,the five counties and recreation enthusiasts have continued to complain about the restrictions. The LNF's 2010 travel management plan and accompanying map are so confusing no one can figure out where they can legally ride their OHV. Maybe the Forest Service figured they could ignore the counties and they'd eventually run out of gas, but this hasn't happened. The Forest Service overreached when they declared 658 miles of unpaved LNF roads were highways without coordinating with the counties. Then the Forest Service threatened to cite anyone who dared travel on these restricted roads with their OHV. Their travel management plan is so flawed,the Forest Service finally recognizes they need to address the situation. Make your voice heard. This is your national forest and your road system. The meetings will be held from 3 to 7 PM on May 22 in Susanville (2550 Riverside Drive) and from 3 to 7 PM on May 23 in Chico (Masonic Family Center, 1110 W. East Avenue). I USDA United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service ! tl' /ln ' Fact Sheet Although the Lassen National Forest has not Timeframe: experienced the same level of unmanaged OHV use as November 2005, the Forest Service revised its national some national forests, continued management is policy known as the Travel Management Rule (Subpart B) necessary to prevent additional impacts such as governing the use of wheeled motor vehicles to develop a unplanned roads and trails, erosion,watershed and system of roads,trails and areas designated for motor habitat degradation, and impacts to cultural resource vehicle travel to minimize or eliminate the undesirable sites. impacts from unmanaged motor vehicle travel. Improved management of wheeled vehicle use on • In 2010, the Lassen Nations[ Forest completed the travel National Forest System lands would allow the Lassen National Forest to enhance recreation opportunities for management route designations in the Motorized Travel all national forest users while protecting natural and Management Environmental Impact Statement. cultural resources. • In 2011, Motor Vehicle Use Maps(MVUMs)were published. _ f r • 2017, during the current phase of planning,we will review the Forest's Maintenance Level 3 routes to determine which should be designated for OHV use. l Maintenance Level 3 roads are typically maintained standard vehicle use and low speeds.The review may include an engineering safety analysis to determine the level of risk in allowing OHV use on a given route. ° Next, the Lassen National Forest will begin an SII � environmental assessment to consider how to best implement the plan to achieve an economical and environmentally soundness for the long-term. Once a Photo:Lassen National Forest spring colors formal decision is made, the 2011 Motor Vehicle Use The Lassen National Forest is working towards Map(MVUM)will be updated to show additional routes achieving a manageable transportation system that is that are open for OHV use. both environmentally sensitive and economically viable. . The final phase will include implementing and monitoring It also must meet the requirements of Forest Service the plan, and forest visitors can begin to enjoy the policy. additional OHV routes as identified on the MVUM. Throughout the process, the Lassen National Forest will engage the public to comment on the project through public meetings, notifications, social media, and the Lassen National Forest Website. Visit the Lassen National Forest Website at: httlas://www.fs.usda.gov/lassen/ USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. USDA irk United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service - s s Public Meetings Please join us atone of the following scheduled meeting locations to learn more about the project and provide your comments. May 22, 2017— 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lassen National Forest Headquarters Caribou Conference Room 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, California May 23, 2017—3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Masonic Family Center 9190 W. East Avenue, Chico, California USDA is an equal opportunity provider,employer,and lender.