Dixie National Forest

Dixie National Forest > Projects and Plans > Motorized Travel Planning Project

Dixie National Forest Motorized Travel Planning Project

DEIS Availability and Public Meetings

Introduction

Where Are We Now?

Maps

Proposed Action - December 2006

Route Analysis - December 2006

Background on the Planning Process

Timeline

Contact Us

DEIS Availability and Public Meetings

The DEIS webpage contains the DEIS, information on public meetings, links to DEIS maps, and the background specialist reports used in preparation of the DEIS.

Dixie National Forest extends Motorized Travel Plan comment period to July 22 - June 26, 2008

Introduction

In accordance with new travel management policy, Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use; Final Rule, the Dixie National Forest is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to establish a forest wide system of designated routes and areas for motorized travel.

In 2004 we began working with the public and other agencies to develop a route evaluation process. In 2005 an interdisciplinary team began evaluating all the routes on the Forest using that process. Reviews by Forest staff and cooperating agencies continued through 2006. The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published on December 15, 2006, with a public scoping period extending through January 31, 2007.

Where are we now?

The DEIS was released in May 2008. Public meetings are scheduled for May through July. Times and locations are listed on the DEIS webpage.

Maps

Enter this site to view maps of the proposed action and existing condition.

ArcIMS Interactive Travel Planning Maps - These interactive maps are your best bet for reviewing the proposed action and existing condition. They provide information using ESRI's ArcIMS software on the web site and allow you to query for information on each route. No software is required on your computer to view the maps or the data.

MTP Alternative Maps - These maps display areas affected on each Ranger District by Alternatives B, C, D and E of the draft Motorized Travel Plan.

• Alternative B
• Alternative C
• Alternative D
• Alternative E

Proposed Action Maps - December 2006 - This is an index to pdf maps for areas on each District.

Inventory Maps - Existing Condition - This link will take you to a web page with an interactive PDF format map of the planning area route inventory.

Proposed Action - December 2006

The proposed action shows a system of routes that would be designated open to motorized use. With designation of a motorized travel system, cross-country travel (travel off designated roads and trails) would generally be prohibited. The Forest would remain open to other forms of cross-country travel such as hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobile uses.

• Scoping Letter
• Scoping Document
• Notice of Intent (NOI)
• Public Meeting Dates and Locations
• Locations to View Hard-Copy Project Maps - Large scale maps have been set up at various locations for public viewing.

Route Analysis - December 2006

• Overview and Instructions
• Route Report Sample
• Roads Analysis Report - This is a hyperlinked pdf document that opens the Road Analysis Report. The Road Analysis Report contains links to many data files as well as a Microsoft Access database.
• Database - This is a Microsoft Access database
• Dixie-Fishlake Roads Analysis Report Cover Letter
• Dixie-Fishlake Roads Analysis Report (2003) - This is a hyperlinked Microsoft Word document that incorporates maps and appendices into the Roads Analysis Report.

Background on the Planning Process

The Dixie National Forest's desire is to better protect resources while meeting public and administrative transportation needs. The proposed designated system was developed after nearly three years of agency route evaluation, conducted with input provided by interested citizens, clubs and groups, and local governments. The planning approach was designed to build a comprehensive inventory and plan that can be used for decades to come, to inform a multitude of future projects.

Over the course of nearly a decade, we have compiled an inventory of all routes on the Forest. These routes include constructed roads and trails; as well as routes created over time by people driving their vehicles cross-county. We have used this inventory as the base layer in developing the proposed designated motorized travel system.

Each route was evaluated using an extensive series of questions developed and reviewed by Dixie National Forest employees, a citizen’s working group, interested public and cooperating governments. In October 2004, a series of workshops were held at Cedar City, St. George, Ruby's Inn, Torrey, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Participants were asked to review the inventory and evaluation questions, and provide feedback on the evaluation process. At the same time, a working group of citizens who provided suggestions for motorized travel in revising the Dixie and Fishlake National Forests' Land and Resource Management Plan was reconvened to make suggestions for the proposed travel system and evaluation process. The work group met five times over the pre-NEPA life of this project and we deeply appreciate their contribution of time and energy. Input received from cooperating agencies, the public and the work group not only contributed to the proposed action, but also to the process used to develop it.

During the scoping period, a series of public open-houses were held in Cedar City, St. George, Ruby's Inn, Torrey, and Salt lake City. Interested people were able to come in from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m., allowing an open schedule for one-on-one discussion, map review, and demonstrations of the website and interactive online maps. We collected hundreds of comments from government officials, interest groups and organizations, and individuals. This information is now being used to develop alternatives to the proposed action and conduct environmental analysis.

Timeline

Contact Us

• Email: comments_dixie_motorized_travel_plan@fs.fed.us
• U.S. mail: Motorized Travel Planning, Dixie National Forest, 1789 North Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, UT 84720
• Fax: 435-865-3791 (please include "Motorized Travel Plan" in your subject line)
• Phone: 435-865-3700

Motorized Travel Plan Links

Motorized Travel Planning Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

Dixie National Forest Releases Motorized Travel Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Plans Public Meetings Across Southern Utah - News Release May 12, 2008

Related Links

Dixie National Forest Off-Highway Vehicle Riding

USDA Forest Service Off-Highway Vehicle Program

Utah OHV Information

The documents are in pdf format. You will need a PDF reader to view them. If you do not have one Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded free of charge to read and print PDF files.

Pre-NEPA Planning

• MTP Citizens Workgroup
• Public Workshops
• Interdisciplinary Route Evaluation

Milestones

• Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS (December 15, 2006)
• Scoping Period (December 15, 2006 - January 31, 2007)
• Release of the Draft EIS (May 2008)
• Public comment period (May 23 - July 22, 2008)