Step 1: (2002 to 2005) - An inventory of existing roads,
trails, and open areas used by motorized wheeled vehicles was completed between
2002 and 2005. The route inventory includes global positioning system (GPS)
data of all routes on the Forest and provides the baseline data for the route
designation effort. In addition to agency crew surveys, the public provided the
Forest with input on various routes which may have been missed during initial
surveys.
Overall, approximately 2300 miles of native surface routes under Forest
Service jurisdiction were inventoried, of which approximately 800 miles had
never been designated on the Forest transportation system.
Step 2: (April 2007) - A temporary Forest Order prohibiting
motorized wheeled vehicle use off existing routes, as displayed on the
temporary forest order map, will be implemented starting on April 15, 2007.
This order does not close routes. The purpose is to keep use on existing
routes, prohibit cross-country travel with motorized vehicles, and prevent
resource damage and the creation of new routes. It will remain in effect for
one year and will be extended, if necessary until the completion of the Route
Designation process.
Step 3: (Spring 2006 to Fall 2007) - Using the inventory
developed in Step 1, a transportation system will be proposed in collaboration
with the public. This step began in spring of 2006, and included more than a
dozen public meetings and workshops during 2006. A Design Team of interested
citizens formed in September of 2005, has helped to develop ideas for the
process and communication tools to help gain public understanding and public
input. This has allowed the public to provide quality input about individual
routes and destinations, as well as conceptual ideas about the process to use
in the development of the proposed motorized transportation system.
Additionally, Forest Service resource specialists have been conducting field
surveys for heritage sites, threatened, endangered and sensitive plant and
animal species and watershed condition.
National criteria for analyzing routes for a proposed transportation system
were fine-tuned to local area needs by the public. These are currently being
used by an interdisciplinary team of Forest Service employees to develop a
proposed transportation system that will be analyzed in Step 4. Sample draft
versions of two of eleven analysis areas - known as our "Starting
Point" - were released in January 2007, to display how the proposed
system is being developed.
Step 4: (Spring 2007 to Fall 2008) - This begins the formal
environmental analysis following guidelines in the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA). This analysis will likely be a single Forestwide
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A "proposed action" will kick
off the process in Spring 2007 and start a 45 to 60 day public comment period.
A Draft EIS will be released in early 2008, with another 45 day comment period
following. The Forest intends to release the Final EIS in fall of 2008.
Step 5: (December 2008 or early winter 2009) - A Motorized
Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) will be published. This will be a legal document showing
the designated system of routes for motorized wheeled vehicle use. This map
will be reviewed and printed annually in order to display potential changes to
the designated system as needed.