White River National Forest officials Thursday unveiled their draft travel- management plan for the country’s most popular national forest – designating some areas off-limits to some uses to reduce conflicts.
The draft – in the works since 1999 – calls for exclusive uses in some areas of the strained public lands to distance groups – separating, for example, backcountry skiers from snowmobile riders, and mountain bikers from horseback riders.
It also provides that all routes are “closed unless designated open,” mirroring a change in national policy from the previous “open unless designated closed” guideline that allowed vehicles to travel on virtually any terrain.
The increased and multiple uses and the more than 10 million visitors a year are becoming “problematic,” said forest supervisor Maribeth Gustafson.
Specific aspects probably will be disputed by user groups, such as restrictions placed on new road building for the oil and gas industry and the closure of some popular trails created illegally by mountain bikers and off-road vehicles.
“What we want it to be is a comprehensive plan that can easily be displayed and articulate what roads and trails are open to our users,” Gustafson said.
The agency’s preferred option – one of several possible approaches – emphasizes reducing conflicts and creating a sustainable network of trails.
It also proposes closing down some of the estimated 1,045 miles of routes that have been created illegally, often leading to problems such as erosion and disruption of animal habitat.
“We’ve fought hard to maintain access for people to their lands, and we still believe in that strongly, yet we also believe it’s our equal obligation to maintain the health of our forest environment that people seek out,” Gustafson said.
The plan – the first update since 1985 – comes as the agency struggles to meet competing demands and handle an increasing number of visitors, said Dennis Larratt, chairman of the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition.
Clare Bastable, the Western Slope coordinator for the Colorado Mountain Club, said she hopes the agency balances incorporating some of the illegal trails into the official network by closing some trails to maintain the natural landscape.
“I don’t envy the position the Forest Service is in now,” she said.
The agency plans a series of open houses at local ranger-district offices starting Aug. 8 to discuss the plan. Public comments will be accepted for the next three months.
