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Travel Management Directives
The Forest Service is
amending internal directives regarding
travel management to make them
consistent with and to facilitate
implementation of the agency’s final
travel management rule. The travel
management rule requires each Forest
Service administrative unit or ranger
district to designate those National
Forest System (NFS) roads, NFS trails,
and areas on NFS lands that are open to
motor vehicle use.
Explanatory Notes – Travel Management Schedule
General
The current status of each forest and mileage of NFS roads and trails is current as of January 20, 2006. These values will change as each unit makes travel management decisions to construct new roads and trails, decommission existing roads and trails, change restrictions or prohibitions on motor vehicle use, and otherwise implement the travel management rule. We expect to update the schedule annually. In the meantime, the schedule does not reflect actions taken since January 20, 2006.
Column A -- Region
The National Forest System is divided into nine regions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 – there is no Region 7). Each region is reflected on one page of the schedule.
Column B – Forest and Column C – District
All national forests and grasslands are represented on the schedule. Different units are organizing travel planning differently in response to their different geographic, ecological, and social environments. Some national forests will complete travel planning for an entire national forest or grassland in a single process – these are represented by a single row in the spreadsheet. Others will complete travel planning on a district by district basis.
Column D -- NFS Acres
Displays the total acres of National Forest System lands on the unit or district. Column E -- Current Status Reflects the current status of travel management direction. Each unit has its own unique history of travel management direction, and many subtle distinctions cannot be represented in a national database. For the purposes of this schedule, units are grouped into the following broad categories. Readers should not rely on this categorization alone. Contact the local national forest for a complete discussion of current travel management direction.
System – The unit or district already manages motor vehicle use on a designated system of NFS roads, NFS trails, and/or areas on NFS lands, and prohibits motor vehicle use off the designated system. Units in this category may be able to implement the travel management rule without major new planning efforts by publishing a motor vehicle use map reflecting current designations.
Existing – The unit or district restricts motor vehicles to “existing” routes, including user-created routes which may or may not be inventoried and have not yet been evaluated for designation. Site-specific planning will still be necessary to determine which routes should be designated for motor vehicle use.
Open – Portions of the unit or district (larger than individually designated “areas” under the new rule) are currently open to cross-country motor vehicle travel. Note that units in this category also contain wilderness and other places where motor vehicle use is restricted or prohibited.
Column F -- Projected Date for Designation
This column displays the projected date for publication of the motor vehicle use map. Designation is complete when a motor vehicle use map is published for that unit or district, reflecting a system of designated routes and areas for motor vehicle use. Note that most units will need to begin travel planning 1-3 years before they are able to complete the motor vehicle use map.
Column G -- Existing NFS Roads
Shows the total miles of National Forest System roads on the unit or district. Does not include state or county roads, temporary roads, and user-created roads. Does include roads closed to public motor vehicle use. Refer to definition of “National Forest System Road” in 36 CFR 212.1.
Column H -- Existing NFS Roads Open to Motor Vehicle Use
Displays the subset of NFS road miles currently managed as open to public motor vehicle use. Does not include roads closed by order or physical barrier, or temporary roads. Does not include gated roads used only administratively, or by those with written authorizations.
Column I -- Existing NFS Trails
Shows the total miles of existing NFS trails on the unit or district. Includes trails managed for non-motorized use. Does not include user-created trails. Column J -- Existing NFS Trails Open to Motor Vehicle Use Shows the subset of NFS trail miles currently managed as open to motor vehicle use. Does not include trails closed by order or physical barrier, or used only administratively or with written authorizations.
Column K -- Existing NFS Trails Open to Motor Vehicle Use (Single-Track)
Show the subset of NFS trail miles currently managed as open to motor vehicle use for single-track vehicles (motorcycles) only. These miles are also included in Column J.
Column L – Acres Currently Open to Cross-County Motor Vehicle Use
This field is used only if the “current status” (column E) is “Open.” Displays the NFS
acreage currently open to cross-country motor vehicle use. This acreage is normally less
than that in Column D because even “open” forests contain wilderness and other areas
where motor vehicle use is restricted or prohibited
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