Stanislaus National Forest

News Release

USDA Forest Service
Stanislaus National Forest

Change of Location for Upcoming Route Designation Public Meeting

Sonora, CA (February 21, 2007) ... The Forest Service today announced a change in location for an upcoming route designation public meeting scheduled to be held from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. The new meeting location is the Sonora Opera Hall and Community Center at 250 South Washington Street. On and off street parking is available on Washington Street and adjacent side streets. The February 27 meeting will focus on a “Discussion Proposal” for travel route designation on the Mi-Wok Ranger District.

The meeting is one of three designed to provide the public with an opportunity for continued discussion on the designation of a Stanislaus National Forest Off Highway Vehicle Recreational Trails system. These meetings relate to Step 3 of the Forest’s Route Designation process, in which Forest recreation managers work with the public to identify a sustainable and manageable system of roads and trails that provide access to a variety of activities on the Calaveras, Mi-Wok, and Groveland Ranger Districts. The Summit Ranger District already has roads and trails management standards and guides in place.

The Forest will bring forward a “Discussion Proposal” for the roads transportation system and travel off of designated roads for parking and camping. The discussion will focus on defining any changes to the Discussion Proposal for a roads system on the Forest, and discussing ways to designate access off of designated roads for dispersed camping and parking.

Officials emphasize that the Discussion Proposal is not a proposed action. Continued discussion and dialogue with the public will help managers define and formulate a proposed action in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Each of the three community meetings will be focused on a specific Ranger District, and provides follow-up to three preliminary discussion meetings held last December.

Specific topics for the next meetings include:

• Developing a proposed action for any needed changes to the main road transportation system. Some examples could include changing the maintenance levels of some roads to allow non-street legal vehicles to travel on them; restoration of non-system roads (user-created roads not needed for the Forest transportation system); and reassigning some roads into the Forest trails system.
• Developing a proposed action to designate parking and access to dispersed camping areas.

Forest officials, specialists, and staff will be on hand at each meeting to answer questions related to the route designation process. The meetings and a subsequent open house are scheduled as follows:

February 21, 2007
Groveland Ranger District Discussion Proposal
Greeley Hill Community Club House
Fiske Road
Greeley Hill, CA
5:00-6:00 p.m. View the maps
6:00-8:30 p.m. Overview of process, hear the Discussion Proposal, and refine the Discussion Proposal

February 22, 2007
Calaveras Ranger District Discussion Proposal
Independence Hall
1445 Blagen Road
White Pines, CA
5:00-6:00 p.m. View the maps
6:00-8:30 p.m. Overview of process, hear the Discussion Proposal, and refine the Discussion Proposal

February 27, 2007
Mi-Wok Ranger District Discussion Proposal
Sonora Opera Hall and Community Center
250 S. Washington
Sonora, CA
(209) 533-4400
5:00-6:00 p.m. View the maps
6:00-8:30 p.m. Overview of process, hear the Discussion Proposal, and refine the Discussion Proposal

March 6, 2007
Additional “Open House”
Supervisor’s Office Stanislaus Room
19777 Greenley Road
Sonora, CA
3:00-6:00 p.m. View the maps, share ideas, and discuss.

Ways to Participate in advance of the discussions include:

• View the website map products available after the meetings http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus
• Get a CD version of the map products
• Make an appointment with district recreation staff
• Request a scheduled group presentation from the Forest Service

For further information or questions please contact Sue Warren by email at swarren@fs.fed.us or by phone at (209) 532-3671 ext. 321.