Mark your calendar!
It’s always a pleasure to support Forest Service officials who do the right thing for the right reason. As you may know, national regulations require each forest to plan for summer motorized travel but leave the decision to manage winter motorized use up to each individual forest (WWA is working to change this). Not surprisingly, faced with budget shortfalls and limited staff, most forests put off winter planning.
The Clearwater National Forest is an exception. Their Travel Plan honestly evaluates the impacts of snowmobiles on wildlife and other winter uses, and closes some motorized recreation areas in an effort to address resource concerns. It’s a good plan, allowing for motorized use where appropriate and protecting sensitive areas with the goal of minimizing adverse effects.
The Forest’s preferred alternative, Alternative C, is an acceptable compromise between non-motorized and motorized winter uses. It does the following:
· Recommends that areas currently designated Recommended Wilderness (where some motorized use is allowed) be managed to maintain wilderness characteristics (with no motors allowed)
· Protects 503,057 acres from over-snow vehicle use (as compared to 302,856 acres now).
· Prohibits over-snow vehicle travel from October 1 to November 15.
So why bother commenting on such a stellar plan? Because pro-motorized groups are organizing against this alternative. If we want to see this travel plan implemented, we need to let the Forest Service know that there are plenty of us who appreciate their efforts to uphold their conservation mandate.
A sample letter is below.
Personalized letters always carry more weight so please modify your letter incorporating the following talking points:
Alternative C (the preferred alternative) -
· Protects the most habitat for lynx, elk and other wildlife.
· Protects the wilderness character of Recommended Wilderness Areas.
· Reduces conflict between non-motorized and motorized users by setting aside appropriate areas for each use.
· Leaves plenty of space--1,322,943 acres and thousands of miles of roads and trails—for over-snow vehicle use.
You’ll be commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or DEIS, for the travel plan. You can learn more about the planning process and the DEIS here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/Projects/TravPlan/ClwTravel.htm
A helpful summary of the travel plan is here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/Projects/TravPlan/Assets/DEIS/Misc/090710_travel_plan_summary.pdf
Comments must be received by Thursday, October 1. According to the Clearwater National Forest website:
Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an e-mail message, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), or a Microsoft Word (.doc) document. Send electronic comments to: comments-northern-clearwater@fs.fed.us. E-mail comments must include the commenter’s name, and the words “Travel Planning” should appear in the subject line of the message. Comments must be submitted by the close of the comment period. For further information, contact Lois Foster at (208)935-4258
Written comments should be submitted to the project team leader at the following address:
Kamiah Ranger Station
Attention: Lois Foster, Travel Planning Team Leader
903 3rd Street
Kamiah, ID 83536
Sample Letter ____________________________________________________________________
Kamiah Ranger Station
Attention: Lois Foster, Travel Planning Team Leader
903 3rd Street
Kamiah, ID 83536
RE: Clearwater Travel Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Dear Lois:
I’d like to thank the managers of the Clearwater National Forest for choosing to include winter in their travel planning. I understand that not every National Forest chooses to plan for winter uses. As a backcountry skier/snowboarder/snowshoer, I appreciate your efforts at protecting this important recreational resource. Good planning efforts, such as the plan you’ve put together for the Clearwater, not only go a long way to protecting the environment, but also reduce conflicts between motorized and non-motorized recreationists.
I agree with the USFS that Alternative C (the preferred alternative) is the best alternative for the forest.
Alternative C:
· Protects the most habitat for lynx, elk and other wildlife.
· Protects the wilderness character of Recommended Wilderness Areas.
· Reduces conflict between non-motorized and motorized users by setting aside appropriate areas for each use.
· Leaves plenty of space--1,322,943 acres and thousands of miles of roads and trails—for over-snow vehicle use.
Thank you for your thoughtful time and attention toward protecting the Clearwater National Forest for all users.
Sincerely,
Name
Address