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Hilary Eisen2018-02-06 13:43:342018-03-12 19:04:23Comment Now on the Custer Gallatin Forest Plan RevisionWinter Travel Planning: Finding Balance in California’s Backcountry
“Given that we’re all owners of our public lands, it’s really important that we speak up so that we can shape how we’re able to access them.”
Winter travel planning is the legal process by which each national forest in the country is required, with public input, to designate specific areas where snowmobiles and other motorized over-snow vehicles (OSVs) are and are not allowed to travel. This process is currently underway on six national forests in California — the first forests in the nation to undergo this kind of planning
Our goal is to ensure that these forests — encompassing 4.7 million acres of public land — have in place balanced winter management plans that provide quality recreation opportunities for both non-motorized and motorized winter recreation, minimizing conflict between users and impacts to wildlife and resources.
Helping your local forest draft these plans will be YOUR opportunity to protect high-value non-motorized experiences (backcountry skiing and riding, Nordic skiing, ice climbing, winter mountaineering, family snowplay, snowshoeing, etc.)in the Sierra Nevada, and to influence how YOUR backcountry is managed.
Sign up below to receive customized action alerts, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, or stay tuned to these pages to find out what comes next on which forest and how you can help us advocate for balanced solutions in those areas you care most about.
Timeline At a Glance
Here is the current estimated timeline for winter travel planning on national forests in the northern Sierra Nevada:
- Lassen National Forest: The Record of Decision (ROD) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (Vol. 1 & Vol. 2) were published on March 29, 2018.
- Tahoe National Forest: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published on April 13, 2018, initiating a 45-day public comment period to end on May 25, 2018.
- Eldorado National Forest: DEIS to be published in April 2018, followed by a 45-day public comment period.
- Stanislaus National Forest: DEIS to be published by April 2018, followed by a 45-day public comment period.
- Plumas National Forest: DEIS to be published by August 2018, followed by a 45-day public comment period.
- The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is also working on a winter travel plan. Although the LTBMU is in the same neighborhood as the 5 forests listed above, its winter travel planning process is not part of the same coordinated effort outlined above. However, we are also actively engaged in travel planning on this forest. Stay tuned for updates.
Background for California Winter Travel Planning
In 2015, as a result of a federal court order in a lawsuit brought by Winter Wildlands Alliance, the United States Forest Service amended Subpart C of its 2005 Travel Management Rule to require that all national forests that receive enough snowfall for Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) use designate routes and areas where OSV use is allowed. (For more detailed information on national winter travel planning, check out our Winter Travel Management Planning page.)
Also, as part of a separate legal agreement with Winter Wildlands Alliance, Snowlands Network, and the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Forest Service agreed to fully assess under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the impacts of snowmobiles on wildlife, plants and quiet recreation as a result of the State’s snowmobile trail grooming program on five specific national forests in California — Stanislaus, Eldorado, Tahoe, Plumas and Lassen. Such review is being undertaken concurrently with full winter travel management planning as coordinated by the Region 5 (California) office of the Forest Service.
As part of the agreement, each of these five forests must consider an alternative management scenario developed by Winter Wildlands Alliance and Snowlands Network. Groups representing the snowmobile community have been given this opportunity as well. As such, we worked with Snowlands to develop and submit a “Skiers Alternative” for each forest. These alternatives strive to balance motorized and non-motorized winter recreation by proposing areas for OSV use that do not conflict with places that are important for backcountry skiers and other quiet recreation activities.
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Hilary Eisen2018-02-06 13:43:342018-03-12 19:04:23Comment Now on the Custer Gallatin Forest Plan Revision
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Hilary Eisen2017-11-02 00:14:582018-03-21 11:13:04Final Comments Due November 20 for Lassen National Forest Winter Travel Plan
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Hilary Eisen2017-10-30 21:00:082018-03-21 11:13:49Comment now on the Lassen Winter Travel Plan
