Shasta-Trinity roads plan angers off-highway riders

| March 24, 2010 | 0 Comments

Source: http://www.redding.com/news/2010/mar/24/shasta-trinity-roads-plan-angers-off-highway/

Shasta-Trinity National Forest’s road rules changes announced Tuesday revved up rapid and angry responses from off-highway drivers and riders and drew strong criticism from Shasta County supervisors.

While forest Supervisor Sharon Heywood says the motorized travel management plan she signed earlier this month opens up more roads to recreational use, critics argue the opposite and county supervisors accused forest officials of ignoring their concerns.

“This decision balances motorized recreation opportunities with the protection of natural and cultural resources,” Heywood said.

She said the plan will add 32.1 miles of formerly unauthorized routes to Shasta-Trinity’s road system, which already consists of more than 4,000 miles.

That number of miles is deceiving though, said Randy Mitchell, a member of the Redding Dirt Riders.

The plan will restrict travel to cars, trucks and motorcycles with license plates – cutting out most off-road specific rides, he said.

“They are limiting who can travel on those roads,” Mitchell said.

He said the U.S. Forest Service didn’t listen to his concerns and those of others who want to keep roads in the Shasta-Trinity open to recreational motor vehicles.

“We have the same complaints we had a year ago and two years ago,” Mitchell said.

Shasta County supervisors voiced similar concerns Tuesday, saying the Shasta-Trinity didn’t involve them in creating the plan.

“They have ignored us as the local county Board of Supervisors,” said Supervisor Les Baugh.

On Tuesday, the board unanimously approved a letter telling Heywood the Shasta-Trinity needs to coordinate with the county as it finalizes the plan. The coordination is required under federal forest guidelines, said Supervisor Glenn Hawes.

“They need to read their own rules and abide by them, and they haven’t done that for a long time,” he said.

Mooney said the Shasta-Trinity did coordinate with the county’s leaders. Shasta-Trinity workers compiling the plan met with supervisors in October 2008 and November 2009, according to the travel plan.

“It’s not as if the board of supervisors has been left out of the process completely,” Mooney said.

He also said the Shasta-Trinity held at least eight public meetings during the creation.

And although the plan is signed, the public’s involvement isn’t over, he said.

People who filed comment on the plan are allowed to appeal it in a 45-day window set to open on March 26, he said.