| | San Juan National Forest releases preliminary Rico-West DoloresTravel Management Plan
Apr 24, 2009The Dolores Public Lands Office has released a preliminary Environmental Assessment on a plan to designate routes open to summer motor-vehicle use on Forest Service lands near Rico and Dunton, Colorado.News Release
USDA Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region
San Juan National Forest
APRIL 20, 2008
RICO-WEST DOLORES TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN
On Tuesday, April 21, 2009, the Dolores Public Lands Office will release a preliminary Environmental Assessment on a plan to designate routes open to summer motor-vehicle use on Forest Service lands near Rico and Dunton. The Rico-West Dolores Travel Management Plan encompasses Forest Service lands from Bear Creek north to Lizard Head Pass on the east side of Colorado Highway 145, and from the confluence of the West Dolores and Dolores Rivers north to the Lizard Head Wilderness on the west side of Highway 145. In addition to designating routes for summer motor-vehicle use, the plan also addresses other issues, such as dispersed camping, day-use parking, and seasonal closures. The plan does not address or change access related to winter recreational use of these areas.
The goal of the Rico-West Dolores Travel Management Plan is to improve management of motorized vehicle use on Dolores Public Lands to comply with the Forest Service's 2005 Travel Management Rule. The EA presents alternatives for proposals to enhance management of public lands, sustain natural-resource values through more effective management of motor-vehicle use, enhance opportunities for motorized recreation, and preserve areas for non-motorized quiet-use travel.
Three alternatives were analyzed in detail. The Preferred Alternative (Alternative E) eliminates unrestricted motorized cross-country travel throughout the analysis area by designating routes open for summer motorized and non-motorized uses on approximately 245,000 acres of federally owned public lands. Alternative E also identifies a total of 306 miles of recreational trail opportunities; 161 of which are exclusively designated for non-motorized uses and the remaining 145 miles are designated for shared use with motorized vehicles. In addition, the Preferred Alternative addresses issues, such as dispersed camping and parking for day use.
Copies of the Rico-West Dolores TMP EA are available at the Dolores Public Lands Office; Dolores, Mancos, and Cortez libraries; and at Rico Town Hall. A copy will be posted on the San Juan FS website at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/projects/projects.shtml.
This is the second of five travel-management areas that will be analyzed by the Dolores Public Lands Office. The next TMP to be analyzed will combine the Boggy/McPhee Travel Area with the Glade/Disappointment Travel Area. Scoping is expected to begin this spring, with a preliminary EA expected by summer.
Public comments will be accepted until close of business May 20, 2009 . Written comments should be mailed to Steven K. Beverlin, Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Hwy. 184, Dolores, CO 81323, ATTN: Rico-West Dolores TMP EA. Comments can be emailed to: comments-rocky-mountain-san-juan-mancos-dolores@fs.fed.us. Or will be accepted over the phone by calling Penny Wu, Dolores Public Lands Office, (970) 882-7296. San Juan National Forest |
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