Because of the popularity of forest recreation from the West Fork to Rico, the San Juan National Forest has decided a travel management plan will undergo a more rigorous Environmental Impact Study.<\/p>\n
Derek Padilla, Dolores district ranger, said the EIS was needed because the lesser environmental assessment study requires a finding of \u201cno significant impact,\u201d which is impractical.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo avoid an argument on a \u2018no significant impact\u2019 finding, we elevated it to an EIS,\u201d he said. \u201cAn EIS has more of a focus toward mitigating impacts to the landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n
A draft EIS is expected by this summer, said forest planner Debbie Kill, and is part of a process required under National Environmental Policy Act.<\/p>\n
A proposed action for travel management on the section of forest was released in December. Proposed closures and time restrictions for single-track motorized use wqere criticized by motorized users but supported by anglers and hunters.<\/p>\n
Kill said an EIS gives the public management scenarios to review.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on comments from the public, we will draw up alternatives to the proposed action that will be included in the draft EIS,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In June, a report was released framing concerns from 276 written responses from the public. It can be accessed at http:\/\/bit.ly\/1T3Fvgn<\/p>\n
Comment highlights<\/p>\n
Closing Ryman Creek, Bear Creek and others to single-track motorized eliminates loop opportunities, and reduces less technical riding options.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lower Bear Creek trail provides two great loop opportunities that would not exist if the lower four miles were closed to motorized,\u201d the writer stated.<\/p>\n
The plan needs a hiking emphasis. If motorcycles are allowed, there will be an emphasis on motorcycles and a de-emphasis on other uses.<\/p>\n
The plan discourages use of old logging roads in Black Mesa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a huge closure,\u201d the writer stated. \u201cBlack Mesa is a gorgeous trail ride, and OHV access should not be removed.\u201d<\/p>\n
A hunter wrote that he depends on Black Mesa motorized trails to access hunting grounds and will not return if they are closed.<\/p>\n
Another said ATV use on Black Mesa \u201ccauses elk to leave the area and spoils hunting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noise from motorized users is bad for anglers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBear Creek is a unique mountain forest area and one of the only drainages of its kind without a road running through it,\u201d the writer stated.<\/p>\n
Another stated that opening the Spring Creek trail to motorcycles threatens a waterway classified as Colorado Outstanding Waters with a pure strain of native cutthroat trout.<\/p>\n
The plan proposes closing single-track motorized from Sept. 9 through June 30 to eliminate overlap with big-game hunting and calving seasons.<\/p>\n
A writer pointed out that the restriction does not help the earlier bow season, and suggests that the closure begin on Aug. 15.<\/p>\n
Another wrote that the restriction reduces time to clear trails of deadfall in June, leading to trail braiding.<\/p>\n
Another said the motorized timing restrictions are in place when there is no hunting season from Sept. 9 to mid-November.<\/p>\n
A writer stated that the plan does not address user-created routes in riparian areas of Willow Creek and Fish Creek.<\/p>\n
\u201cIllegal motorized use is one of the largest fishery impacts in this area,\u201d a writer stated.<\/p>\n
A writer stated that closing Wildcat, Horse Creek, and Burnett trails to motorcycles, would prevent an emergency exit from the Calico Ridgeline to Colorado 145.<\/p>\n
Horse riders said that motorcycles startle their horses.<\/p>\n
The Burnett Trail needs improvement to be a loop for mountain bikers to Calico and Wildcat trails.<\/p>\n
A Rico writer said the plan doesn\u2019t provide easy access to Rico for motorcycles, thereby lessening revenues for stores, restaurants, and hotels. Another said a jeep closure to Engle Cabin limits maintenance needs.<\/p>\n
A Rico resident at Expectation Mountain stated that \u201cfor many years our neighborhood has been quiet. In the last several years, we have noticed a significant increase in 4-wheelers and dirt bikes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proposed action fails to use education to address conflict such as fostering an understanding of acceptable recreational uses and facilitating tolerance for users.<\/p>\n
After the draft EIS is released, an open house will be held to present the information, with a 45-day comment period. A Record of Decision is expected by the end of the year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rico-West Dolores comments hinge on motorized use<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6363],"tags":[188,13],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-111376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ds-news","tag-dolores-star","tag-frontpage-lead"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111376\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111376"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=111376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}