St. Joe Ranger District Seeks Comments on Motorized Travel Plan
The St. Joe Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest has released their Travel Management Environmental Assessment (EA).
The local OHV users are asking all of Idaho’s OHV and snowmobilers to help by sending in comments by the October 13 deadline.
We’ve put together another one of our INSANELY EASY 3-step action item below. Please send your comment email today.
More information and a copy of the EA is available from the Forest’s website at http://www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/stjoe/travelplan/nepa/. You can also call the St. Joe office at (208)245-2531
How to make comments:
NOTE: Please be polite and, if possible, make your comment letter as personal as you can.
STEP 1: Open your email program and start a draft email. Address the email to
comments-northern-idpanhandle-stjoe@fs.fed.us.
Put “St. Joe Travel Management EA” in the Subject Line.
STEP 2: Use the comments below as a guideline for comments in your email.
Cut and paste is okay, but try to make your comment letter as personal as possible.
STEP 3: Take just a minute to add a bit about where you live, where you like to ride
and how much trail-based recreation means to you. Be certain to include your
name and address. A return email address is NOT sufficient! (“anonymous” emails
are often discarded).
Sample comments
Charles A. Mark, District Ranger
St. Joe Ranger District
222 S 7th St., Suite 1
St. Maries, ID 83861
RE: St. Joe Travel Management EA
Dear Mr. Mark:
The EA recognizes that the St. Joe Ranger District provides the last remaining, high difficulty, remote backcountry trails for motorcyclists in northern Idaho. It is certainly true for the St. Joe single-track motorcycle trail niche. In response, the agency proposes to close a significant percentage of these trails. This is not logical, nor is it consistent with the agency’s own Travel Management Rule implementation directives. We encourage you to properly consider both the need for motorized recreation and the single-track niche as you move toward a final decision.
I strongly oppose the manner in which the co-called “sideboards” have narrowed the range of Alternatives and precluded some popular and needed user-created trails from being added to the travel system.
I strongly oppose the Clearwater’s approach to managing recommended Wilderness Areas (RWA). Simply stated, if OHV use did not preclude these areas being designated as RWAs, then continued OHV use would not significantly impact their RWA status. To argue otherwise is arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of authority. The inventory criteria must not deviate substantially from the management prescription.
Excluding motorized uses in RWAs is inconsistent with the Forest Plan. Motorcycle use on single-track trails in the Mallard-Larkins Recommended Wilderness has been occurring for the past 40 years.
If forced to choose between the Alternatives presented, Alternative C best meets the need and the niche and is also most consistent with the existing Forest Plan. However, the final plan should also include these routes:
The Pierce Ridge Trail #563 is a very important trail for experienced riders who want to make a loop that includes Trail #555 Lemonade Hill, Trail #8 CDA Divide, and Trail #44 Big Creek. The Pierce Ridge Trail #563 should be designated for single-track motorized use at least on a seasonal basis.
The Cabin Ridge Trail #565 is part of a loop opportunity that includes Trail #252 Daugherty Hill, Trail #155 Bronson Meadows, and Trail #44 Big Creek. Trail #565 is a technical single-track that St. Joe visitors seek out.
The Fly Creek Trail #629 is important for single-track trail looping opportunities in the Upper Saint Joe River country. This trail should be open at least on a seasonal basis.
The Mosquito Creek Trail #631 provides a technical challenge for experienced motorcycle riders. The agency has closed a high percentage of the high difficulty trails across the region. This type of experience is becoming rare and therefore highly valuable. Please keep Trail #631 open to motorized use.
The Packsaddle Trail #26 provides a loop opportunity with Trail #186, Trail #191, and then ties into trails that access Shefoot Mountain. The Turner Peak Trail #191 is a popular Single Track Motorized trail and without it one would have to ride both ways on the Turner Peak Trail #191.
In Alternative C, the Lower Big Creek Trail #44 would be designated for single-track motorized use from July 15th through Labor Day. This trail should be open until at least the start of the big game hunting season.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
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Category: Access Issues
