TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANTRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANWallowa-Whitman National ForestWallowa-Whitman National Forest

March 2008 March 2008

Nez Perce Tribe UpdateNez Perce Tribe Update

OverviewOverview

Forest Service Travel Forest Service Travel Management PlanningManagement Planning

Wallowa-Whitman NF Wallowa-Whitman NF strategystrategy

Significant Issues from public Significant Issues from public ad other comments?ad other comments?

Planning Team updatePlanning Team update

WHY is the FS doing Travel Mgt. Planning?WHY is the FS doing Travel Mgt. Planning?

Jan. 2004 - Chief of the FS cited four major Jan. 2004 - Chief of the FS cited four major threats to NFS including threats to NFS including unmanaged outdoor unmanaged outdoor recreationrecreation . .

National direction - develop a strategy to National direction - develop a strategy to address motor- vehicle use on NFS lands . address motor- vehicle use on NFS lands .

Strategy would address issues like: Strategy would address issues like: • Damage to wetlands and habitat Damage to wetlands and habitat • Disturbance to wildlife Disturbance to wildlife • Spread of invasive species Spread of invasive species • Conflicts between users Conflicts between users

• 2005- FS Published this strategy as a final 2005- FS Published this strategy as a final Travel Management Rule in Travel Management Rule in Federal RegisterFederal Register . .

The rule provided direction for all national The rule provided direction for all national Forests & Grasslands to complete by 2009.Forests & Grasslands to complete by 2009.

Wallowa-Whitman NF OHV UsersWallowa-Whitman NF OHV Users

National growth in OHV use & users: National growth in OHV use & users: – 5 million = 1972 5 million = 1972 vs.vs. 36 million = 2002. 36 million = 2002.

2003 Oregon SCORP: 2003 Oregon SCORP: – 13.6% of NE Oregon population uses ATVs 13.6% of NE Oregon population uses ATVs

& 13.2% use 4 WD - & 13.2% use 4 WD - highest use in highest use in statestate

– 1987-2002 State trend …ATV use up 38.4% 1987-2002 State trend …ATV use up 38.4% 2004 WWNF Visitor Use Survey 2004 WWNF Visitor Use Survey

– 566,000 NF visits566,000 NF visits– 10.5% visitor use OHVs 10.5% visitor use OHVs – 37.9% pleasure driving37.9% pleasure driving

Strategy for CompletionStrategy for Completion

2006 2006 – Data Inventory Validation– Data Inventory Validation

2007 2007 – Public Involvement and – Public Involvement and Environmental Environmental

AnalysisAnalysis

2008 2008 – Alternative Development & – Alternative Development & Continuation of environmental Continuation of environmental analysisanalysis

20092009 – Draft & Final EIS, Designation – Draft & Final EIS, Designation of routes with mapof routes with map

2010 – Implementation – map 2010 – Implementation – map distribution, public information & distribution, public information & education education

WWNF Proposed ActionWWNF Proposed ActionSUMMARYSUMMARY

• WWNF published Proposed Action on WWNF published Proposed Action on May 3, 2007 in May 3, 2007 in Federal Register.Federal Register.

• Presented at Public meetings Presented at Public meetings May 15-17.May 15-17.

• Comment period closed Comment period closed on November 16, 2007. on November 16, 2007.

Proposed Action SummaryProposed Action Summary

Designate:Designate:– Portion of the existing NF system Portion of the existing NF system

roads, trails, and areas, open to roads, trails, and areas, open to public motor vehicle use.public motor vehicle use.

– Type of use(s) and season of use.Type of use(s) and season of use. Use off these designated routes Use off these designated routes

will be closed to motor-vehicles will be closed to motor-vehicles year-round (except the use of year-round (except the use of over-snow vehicles, aircraft, etc.)over-snow vehicles, aircraft, etc.)

Proposed ActionProposed Action

Only includes existing NF Only includes existing NF system roads and trails.system roads and trails.

Maint. Level 4 & 5 (ML 4-5) Maint. Level 4 & 5 (ML 4-5) – ie. Paved, 2 lane.– ie. Paved, 2 lane.

Maint. Level 3 (ML3) roads Maint. Level 3 (ML3) roads – improved, 1+ lanes.– improved, 1+ lanes.

Maint. Level 2 (ML2) roads Maint. Level 2 (ML2) roads – unimproved, single lane– unimproved, single lane

No changes to existing No changes to existing use on MLs 2-5 in use on MLs 2-5 in Proposed Action = 3,572 Proposed Action = 3,572 milesmiles

ML 5 Road

ML 2 Road

ML 3 Road

Proposed ActionProposed Action

Prohibits motorized vehicle use on Prohibits motorized vehicle use on Maint. Level 1 roads (ML1) Maint. Level 1 roads (ML1) – Past project level decisions Past project level decisions

made to close these roads.made to close these roads.– Many are bermed, gated, or Many are bermed, gated, or

growing back with vegetation.growing back with vegetation.– Many were never formally Many were never formally

closed to ATV/full-size use, so closed to ATV/full-size use, so use of these un-maintained use of these un-maintained roads occurs. roads occurs.

Approx. 4300 miles within the Approx. 4300 miles within the Project area. Project area.

Open to comments with specific Open to comments with specific reasons or rationale reasons or rationale recommending change to the recommending change to the Proposed action.Proposed action.

ML 1 Road bermed

ML 1 Road gated

Proposed ActionProposed Action

Continues motorized use Continues motorized use on all 120 miles designed on all 120 miles designed OHV trails. OHV trails.

Ie. Blue Mtn OHV Trail & Ie. Blue Mtn OHV Trail & Winom –Frazier OHV Winom –Frazier OHV System.System.

Prohibits motorized use Prohibits motorized use on other FS system trails on other FS system trails not designed for OHV use.not designed for OHV use.

Proposed ActionProposed Action

Adopts travel mgt in these areas:Adopts travel mgt in these areas:– Congressionally designated Congressionally designated

wilderness areaswilderness areas– Areas with existing/recent Areas with existing/recent

decisions which meet the decisions which meet the direction and intent of the Final direction and intent of the Final Travel Management RuleTravel Management Rule. .

Hell Canyon NRA – 2003 Hell Canyon NRA – 2003 Comprehensive Management Comprehensive Management Plan.Plan.

Bald Angel, Sled Springs OHV Bald Angel, Sled Springs OHV Trail system & SF Burnt River Trail system & SF Burnt River OHV Trail SystemOHV Trail System

Baker City & La Grande Baker City & La Grande Municipal watershedsMunicipal watersheds

Proposed ActionProposed Action

Adopts existing travel mgt. decisions for Adopts existing travel mgt. decisions for areas with current forest orders. areas with current forest orders. Example: Example: ‘Chesnimnus Cooperative Travel ‘Chesnimnus Cooperative Travel management (‘green-dot’ areas).management (‘green-dot’ areas).

To meet Regional direction & To meet Regional direction & consistencyconsistency::– Dispersed camping may be allowed up Dispersed camping may be allowed up

to 300 feet off designated route.to 300 feet off designated route.– No provisions for big game retrieval off No provisions for big game retrieval off

designated routes.designated routes.

Proposed ActionProposed Action

Will not analyze any Will not analyze any new or “user created” new or “user created” roads and trails. roads and trails.

These are trails not These are trails not designed for OHV use, designed for OHV use, or managed by FS.or managed by FS.

However there are However there are opportunities in future opportunities in future to work with Districts on to work with Districts on site specific proposals.site specific proposals.

Public InvolvementPublic Involvement

3 informational meetings held in 3 informational meetings held in March, 2007 at Baker City, La March, 2007 at Baker City, La Grande & EnterpriseGrande & Enterprise

3 Meetings explaining Proposed 3 Meetings explaining Proposed Action held from May 15-17, 2007Action held from May 15-17, 2007

Internet site and info. @ each district Internet site and info. @ each district office.office.

County working groupsCounty working groups

Significant IssuesSignificant Issues

Recreation ExperienceRecreation Experience Resource ProtectionResource Protection AccessAccess Social & EconomicSocial & Economic

(See Newsletter)(See Newsletter)

Planning Team Planning Team UpdateUpdate

Planning Team and Steering Committee Planning Team and Steering Committee formed by Forester Supervisor in 2007formed by Forester Supervisor in 2007

Public comments reviewedPublic comments reviewed– 500 site-specific letter500 site-specific letter– 1,500 e-mails1,500 e-mails– 2000+ form letters2000+ form letters– Several petitionsSeveral petitions

Significant Issues determinedSignificant Issues determined Developing Alternatives in 2008Developing Alternatives in 2008 Working with tribes, counties and Working with tribes, counties and

government agenciesgovernment agencies

To learn moreTo learn more

Visit the Wallowa-Whitman NF websiteVisit the Wallowa-Whitman NF websitewww.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/recreation/ohv/ohv-rule.shtmlwww.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/recreation/ohv/ohv-rule.shtml