HomeMy WebLinkAboutusdaUS~,~ Urrited States Forest Lassen 2550 Riverside Drive
-~~~ Department of Service National Susanville, CA 96130
Agriculture Forest (530) 257-2151 Voice
(530) 252-6624 TTY
530} 252-642$ Fax
File Code: 2300/7700
Date: December 17, 2010
Bil] Connelly
Chairman
Butte County Board of SupErvisors
Administration Center
25 County Center Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
Dear Mr. Connelly:
I~~ your loiter of November 9, 2010, you expressed concern about three Lassen National Forest roads in Butte
County being "closed" to Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use by the recent Travel Management Decision. These were
25N05, 27N06, and 26N27.
All three roads are classified as Maintenance Leve] 3 (ML 3} roads and are maintained annually for passenger car
use. As such, the Forest Service considers them "Forest Highways" that are cun-ently not available for non-street
legal vehicle use. Please note that these roads were not closed to OHV use by the Travel Management Decision.
They were not available for legal OHV use prior to the decision and their status was not changed. All three segments
are longer than three miles, so are not eligible for combined use designation under California Vehicle Code Section
38026: Designating Highways Combined Use.
'I°ltie public did let us know about desired use of these roads during the Travel Management public input and
continent processes. Almoner District Ranger AI Vazquez has decided to begin the planning process of evaluating
these roads for mixed use to accommodate the existing and future demand. The District will be evaluating the
following options for each road:
• What changes are required to convert these roads to mixed use where all existing traffic can utilize tl~e
roads safely and inert USFS policy'?
• What options are available for adding OHV trails adjacent to these roads and/or utilizing portions of these
roads while still meeti3ig USFS policy and safety needs'?
• What additional trails or roads can we utilize and/or construct that wilt meet current and future access,
recreation and project needs'?
Road 25N05 was of particular concern and the District is initiating this effort with an evaluation of this road.
(valuation of the options will occur this year (2011) with field surveys expected in 2012 once an alternative for the
proposed action is decided upon. The District is expecting to issue a final decision during the winter of 20 ] 2. The
primary District contact for this project is Michelle Ahearn, District Recreation Oflicer.
Thank you for contacting us on this rnatter of concern by your constituents and our Forest visitors.
Sir e ,
.11rRRY BIRD
Forest Supervisor
cc: Congressman Wally Herger, Randy Moore, Alfred G Vazquez
rr Caring for the Land and Serving People
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B4AR0 OF S~PERUI50RS
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OIiOVIk.LE, CALIFORNIA
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