Montana Trail Alert: Please send email comment in support of expanding OHV season on Gallatin NF

Shawn Tabb | October 28, 2010 | 0 Comments

BLUERIBBON COALITION LANDUSE UPDATE!

Gallatin National Forest Announce Proposed Change to Travel Plan

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber in Montana,

As you know, the travel plan on the Gallatin National Forest was a bitter disappointment for motorized and non-motorized users alike. Well-funded Wilderness activists groups leveraged their legal and political muscle to fit the travel plan into their agenda.

To their credit, the Gallatin has been making minor modifications to their closure plan, er, we mean travel plan. BRC is asking its members in Montana to send a quick email in support of the latest change.

We’ve pasted easy instructions and details below. Please send your email today.

Brian Hawthorne                                               Ric Foster
Public Lands Policy Director                           Public Lands Department Manager
208-237-1008 ext 102                                      208-237-1008 ext 107

Montana Trail Alert:
Please send an email comment in support of expanding OHV season on Gallatin NF.

Situation:
The Gallatin National Forest is proposing a change to their seasonal restrictions on the Bear Canyon Trail #440. The season for motorized use would be extended.

What you need to do:
Send a quick email to Lisa Stoeffler at lstoeffler@fs.fed.us .
Simply say that you support the proposed change to Trail #440 and please ask for additional projects that expand and enhance motorized, mountain bike and snowmobile recreation opportunities.

The Gallatin National Forest is proposing a change to their 2006 Travel Plan is giving the public the opportunity to comment on the change. The Forest Service (FS) is proposing to modify its travel plan on the Bear Canyon Trail #440.

The approved season of use for summer motorized vehicles (motorcycles and ATVs) would be extended from an open season of July 16 – October 14 each year to an open season of July 16 – December 1 each year. All other approved uses and seasons would remain the same for this trail.

Water quality in Bear Creek has long been of concern due to both natural and man made factors. As a result, motorized and mechanized travel on the Bear Canyon Trail #440 was seasonally restricted during the spring and fall when the trail, in its previous condition, was more subject to erosion and damage.

Since 2006 two important developments have occurred that will ultimately significantly improve water quality, reduce potential for sedimentation and stabilize the transportation system.

First, the trail location is being changed and stabilized, moving it to the drier, north side of the creek and eliminating several unmanaged stream crossings. Second, claims to the historic route across State and National Forest land along the bottom of Bear Creek will be resolved under an agreement between Gallatin County, the Montana DNRC and the Forest Service.

The period of spring breakup is still a sensitive time for the trail system due to deep moisture and frost leaving the ground. Therefore, the trail opening dates will remain the same.

The travel plan decision very clearly emphasizes opportunities for motorized and mountain bike use on this trail. It was a basic premise of the travel plan decision to offer the widest range and amount of travel and recreation opportunities within resource and social constraints. The watershed and soil resource conditions in Bear Creek have greatly improved and will continue to stabilize once a final agreement for management is reached between Gallatin County, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the Gallatin National Forest.

Extending the motorized season of use is part of this overall agreement that would ultimately resolve any future claims on the previously used route by Gallatin County. For these reasons, there is opportunity for an increased motorized season of use on the trail without impacting resource conditions.

The public is invited to review this proposal and submit comments. Please send comments to me, Lisa Stoeffler, at the Bozeman Ranger District, 3710 Fallon St, Suite C, Bozeman, MT, 59718. Your comments are always welcome, but will be most helpful if submitted by November 12, 2010.

For additional information, contact Lisa Stoeffler at (406) 587-6705 or by email to lstoeffler@fs.fed.us.