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Four SoCal Forest Plans
Hello All, Jim Hasenauer here. The Final Southern California Forest Plans EIS have just been released. Recall that while they did planning together, per regulation, now each forest (Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland) is releasing its own individual plan. The plans are readable and searchable at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/scfpr/projec.../openhouse.htm There will be a number of public workshops explaining the plans beginning October 11. Their times and locations is at the same url. I've posted the schedule at the bottom of this alert. I've looked the plans over and they look very good for us. The forest was responsive to some of our most important concerns. Their language about mountain bicycling in both the plans and the responses to comments was very positive and fair-minded. This is a credit to the high road commitments, partnerships and involvement of the mountain bike community. There may still be some problem with some trails in some proposed Wilderness (If you ride these areas, please check this out). Remember, that only Congress can designate Wilderness, so if there are problems with the plan, we still have time to deal with that issue. The Forests chose alternative 4A which was a modification of the preferred alternatives they put out for comment in summer 2004 (4 for the Angeles, Los Padres and San Bernardino and alternative 2 in the Cleveland). Alternative 4A emphasizes recreation and acknowledges that managed recreation is consistent with good conservation practices. The modifications were in response to public comment. Thank you to the many mountain bikers who participated. Now, please go to one of the open houses, express your thanks and any particular concerns to the Forests representatives at the meetings. We will need to be involved and vigilant as the plan is put into practice. Here's what it looks like in terms of our comments last year. 1. Critical Biological Areas The Forests had proposed a designation called "Critical Biological Area" where there were rare or endangered species or habitat. Originally they had proposed banning mountain bikes, but allowing hikers and horses in these areas. IMBA urged the forests to recognize that bikes were low impact users who were acceptable in such sensitive areas. The final EIS accepts our position. Bikes will be allowed in these and all other areas of the forest (except Wilderness and Experimental Forest) "unless otherwise restricted." This is a major victory, and will be a foundation for future opportunities in the Forests (and elsewhere). 2. Designated Trails Across the nation, the USFS uses the term "designated trails" in different ways. In the four Southern California Forests, it means bicycles may only ride official system trails (riding cross country or on bootleg or social trails is forbidden). We commented that by limiting bikes to only official system trails, we would lose historical riding opportunities on the many fine unofficial trails in the Forests. Equestrians and hikers can use any trails official or not. This is still a concern. The Forests feel they have a big problem with cross country riding, bootleg and social trails and the plans have a great deal of language about getting these under control. As part of their OHV inventory, all of the CA forests are currently inventorying all routes (official and unofficial) used by wheels. At the completion of that inventory, some of the unofficial routes may be adopted and designated official. The OHV rule was not intended to deal with mountain bikes, but it's important that bicyclists look at the OHV inventories as they become available and make sure every trail we ride is on them. There is talk in the plans about using the OHV inventory to designate bike routes. That's not its purpose, but we have to be prepared by making sure our trails are on the maps. The Forest Plans do acknowledge that there are many unofficial trails that mountain bikes ride and suggest that some of these should be brought into the system. This is something that we have to be continuously involved with. 3. The PCT. We asked that the Forests consider opening some sections of the PCT to bikes. This was not addressed, presumably because it was considered outside of the scope of the plan. 4. Proposed Wilderness. We were concerned that there were some proposed Wilderness Areas that would close some significant mountain bike riding. As you know, IMBA's position is that while we can often support new Wilderness, we cannot support it when significant bike opportunities are within the Wilderness boundaries. In those cases we ask for boundary adjustments, alternative designations or corridors. In response to last year's preferred alternatives, we specifically identified problems with: a. the Madulce-Buckhorn Proposed Wilderness in the Los Padres (the Forest acknowledged our concern and adjusted the boundary so that the Buckhorn trail is outside the new proposed Wilderness b. the Sugarloaf proposed Wilderness near Big Bear (the Forest changed its recommendation for Sugarloaf and now will treat it as a Backcountry non-motorized zone that will allow bikes.) c. the San Gorgonio Southwest Proposed additions. The Forest now proposes a smaller addition of Wilderness. We need to examine the maps and ensure that the trail to little San Gorgonio Peak (#1W08) remains outside the Wilderness. The new proposed alternative 4A proposes some new Wilderness areas that we did not consider last summer. In general the Forest has been very responsive in making sure our trails are outside the proposed boundaries (even commenting that trail reroutes should be provided if access is cut off). When you go to the open houses, please examine the maps and makes sure that trails we ride are not inside the new proposed Wilderness areas. These plans are final. The only recourse for those unhappy with the plans is to appeal. The Forests ran a good public process, and generally mountain bicyclists can be satisfied with the final plans. Thanks again to those who participated. ================================================== =============== Here's the schedule of Open Houses: The four southern California national forests (Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino) have published their revised Forest Land Management Plans (aka Forest Plans). Mark your calendar! The four forests will host community open houses to introduce the new Forest Plans. Vicinity of Los Padres National Forest Salinas: October 11, 5:30-8:30pm, Salinas Community Center (Santa Lucia Room), 940 N. Main St. Big Sur: October 12, 5:30-8:30pm, Big Sur Lodge Conference Room, Highway 1 Arroyo Grande: October 13, 5:30-8:30pm, South County Regional Center, 800 West Branch Street Ventura: October 17, 5:30-8:30pm, Avenue Adult Center, 550 N. Ventura Avenue Goleta: October 19, 5:30-8:30pm, Los Padres NF Headquarters, 6755 Hollister Avenue #150 New Cuyama: October 21, 5:30-8:30pm, Cuyama Elementary School Cafeteria, 2300 Highway 166 Frazier Park: October 22, 10:00am-1:00 pm, Community Center, 300 Park Drive Vicinity of Angeles National Forest Huntington Park: October 13, 6:00-8:00pm, Family Center-Oldtimers Foundation, 3355 E. Gage Ave. Rosemead: October 17, 6:00-8:00pm, Garvey Center, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard. Santa Clarita: October 18, 6:00-8:00pm, Santa Clarita Activities Center, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway Wrightwood: October 19, 6:00-8:00pm, Wrightwood Community Center, 1275 Highway 2 Claremont: October 20, 6:00-8:00pm, Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Road Los Angeles: October 22, 9:00-11:00am, imba Park, 3650 Verdugo Road Los Angeles: October 22, 2:00-4:00pm, Watts Community Center, 10950 S. Central Avenue West Covina: October 24, 6:00-8:00pm, West Covina Senior Center, 2501 E. Cortez Street Fullerton: November 2, 6:00-8:00pm, Community Senior Multi-Service Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Vicinity of Cleveland National Forest Alpine: October 11, 6:00-8:30pm, Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard. Escondido: October 12, 6:00-8:30pm, East Valley Community Center, 2245 E. Valley Parkway Ramona: October 18, 6:00-8:30pm, Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane, San Diego: October 21, 6:00-8:30pm, Balboa Park Club, 2150 Pan-American Road West Corona: October 27, 6:00-8:30pm, Corona Public Library, 650 S. Main Street San Juan Capistrano: October 29, 10:00am -1:00pm, Old Fire Station Complex, 31421 La Matanza Street Fullerton: November 2, 6:00-8:00pm, Community Senior Multi-Service Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Vicinity of San Bernardino National Forest San Bernardino: October 12, 6:00-8:00pm, Danny Rhynes Training Center, 4121 Quail Canyon Road Twin Peaks: October 13, 6:00-8:00pm, Mtn Communities Senior Citizens Center, 675 Grandview Road Hesperia: October 19, 6:00-8:00pm, Holiday Inn Express, 9750 Keypoint Avenue Fawnskin: October 27, 6:00-8:00pm, Big Bear Discovery Center, 41397 North Shore Drive, Hwy 38 Rancho Cucamonga: October 26, 6:00-8:00pm, Lions Center West, Felipe Room 9161 Baseline Road Idyllwild: November 1, 6:00-8:00pm, Idyllwild Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Rm, 26700 Hwy 243 |
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