Inyo National Forest Travel Management Implementation – Observations Invited

Travel Management Implementation – Observations Invited
Release Date: Aug 10, 2012 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

Forest Service crews and partners have now spent a few months this summer maintaining and repairing roads and motorized trails, placing signs and blocking unauthorized routes to implement the 2009 Inyo National Forest Travel Management Decision. After over five years of planning that lead to the 2009 Decision, the plan is being implemented on the ground. The words in documents and lines on maps are being turned into a sustainable network of roads and motorized trails that will serve public transportation and recreation needs for the long term. In 2012 and beyond, the Forest Service will continue focusing field crews on efforts that improve the condition of roads and trails, as well as on the protection and restoration of resources that the routes traverse.

As the public is seeing the decision taking shape on the ground, the Forest Service has received comments and observations – some in support of the infrastructure and resource improvements, and others concerned with loss of access or the methods used to implement the decision. In many cases this information has been helpful, and will be used to change and improve the motorized transportation system. “I really appreciate those who’ve taken the time to provide thoughtful and detailed suggestions for improving the motorized system on the Inyo National Forest, and welcome more specific observations from those who are interested,” stated Forest Supervisor Ed Armenta. “General statements or non-specific comments in blogs are not as helpful in leading to meaningful assessments of each issue,” he added.

The Forest Service is tracking observations from the public and from its own staff about inadvertent errors, or decisions that may be creating unnecessary impacts to Forest visitors or resources. Because of the vast array and intensity of work during the summer season, the Forest Service plans to assess these after the field season, with the hope of responding to or prioritizing proposed modifications during the winter season.

Possible responses could range from simple corrections (errata) to the Record of Decision if errors were based on incorrect data (for instance if there were typographical, mapping, or other minor errors that would not affect assumptions about effects in the decision) to entering into new planning efforts for specific routes to add or remove them from the system. “The vast majority of decisions made in the analysis were based on good information and valid rationale, so just because we evaluate concerns does not automatically mean that we will change something….it may already be a very solid determination,” said Armenta. “However, if it makes good sense do something different, we will.”

Observation Forms that can help focus comments and help the Forest Service to organize and assess them are available on the Inyo National Forest Website at www.fs.usda.gov/activity/inyo/recreation/ohv (see “quick links”). As always, the public should feel free to contact Forest Service staff. Specific contacts for Travel Management include:
Marty Hornick, Trails Program Manager for the Inyo National Forest, 760-873-2461, mhornick@fs.fed.us, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514
Jon Kazmierski, Recreation Officer for the Mammoth and Mono Lake Ranger Districts, 760-924-5503, jkazmierski@fs.fed.us, PO Box 148, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Nick Ettema, OHV Leader for White Mountain and Mt. Whitney Ranger Districts, 760-876-6211, nettema@fs.fed.us, PO Box 8, Lone Pine, CA, 93545

You can also reach the Forest Service by going to the “contact us” link at the Inyo National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/inyo/