Comment Deadline is Tuesday October 9

The Stanislaus National Forest‘s draft winter travel plan attempts to establish a balance for winter management that allows for appropriate snowmobile routes and play areas, and also provides some limited protections for important non-motorized recreation zones, wildlife, and natural resources. Click here for a link to the high-res map (pdf) of the forest’s “preferred” Alternative 5.

However, the forest’s proposal, as written, fails to minimize user conflict and impacts to sensitive wildlife (including critically endangered Sierra Nevada red fox) in the following key areas:

• Pacific Valley and Eagle/Night Near Natural Areas
• The Herring Creek area immediately adjacent to the Leland Snowplay Area on Highway 108
• Osborne Hill and other Nordic touring terrain to the immediate east and west of Lake Alpine
• Areas between Cabbage Patch and Black Springs and Mattley Ridge off Highway 4
• Route 7N02 in the Big Meadow Area for non-motorized touring to the Stanislaus Canyon overlook

Use the easy form below to submit specific, customizable comments in support of wildlife and human-powered recreation.