Travel Management on the Willamette National Forest

We want to hear your response…
…to our proposed strategy for implementing the Travel Management Rule of 2005.

Our Strategy:

The Willamette National Forest invites you to review some of the progress we’ve made in developing a strategy for the implementation of the 2005 Travel Management Rule.

The following four actions are proposed:

1. Designate a system of roads and trails for motorized use
   
2. Amend the Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) to restrict motorized travel to the designated system of travel routes
   
3. Provide for continued motorized access to dispersed camping opportunities in a manner that protects natural, social and cultural resources through the designation of motorized routes and access ‘zones’
   
4. Continue to provide safe opportunities for both street legal and non-street legal vehicles to access the Forest Road System.

Some of the goals of this strategy include:

• Meet National Direction contained in the Travel Management Rule. The intent of the rule is to reduce and prevent adverse resource impacts caused by unmanaged OHV use.
  
• Continue to Provide Access to Dispersed Camping Opportunities in a Manner that Protects Resources.
  
• Amend the Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan to Provide Consistency with the Travel Management Rule.
  
• Codify existing road closures currently managed as closed to the public to protect resources.
  
• Provide for safety where motorized mixed use occurs.

Travel Management Strategy Summary
Look here for a full description and explanation of the key elements and goals of our Travel Management Strategy.

Questions & Answers about our strategy for Travel Management

How will this affect you?

We have put together a table that shows the anticipated changes for motorized public access for different recreational activities.

For example, if you like to camp outside of developed campgrounds, this table describes the current access, what changes might you experience and the reason for the change.

Table of changes by type of activity

What do you think?

In 2007, the Forest undertook an extensive public involvement effort to identify trails, roads, areas, and rustic recreation spots most frequently accessed by motor vehicles. We received 40 responses in which people told us the places they visit and the activities they enjoy.

Taking this input combined with forest information, the Willamette National Forest compiled an inventory of popular motor vehicle routes and dispersed campsites. Using this as a tool, planners developed the proposed strategy outlined above.

Now, we are interested in what you think about our proposed strategy. We welcome questions and comments and encourage individuals and groups to contact Ranger District offices or the project leader.

Comments received by September 30, 2008 will help the most.

Interdisciplinary Team Leader:
Ryan Brown
Middle Fork Ranger District
46375 Highway 58
Westfir, OR 97492
(541) 782-5211
rnbrown@fs.fed.us

What's next?

After we hear from you about the proposed strategy, the Willamette National Forest plans to analyze elements of this strategy using the NEPA process, beginning in the fall of 2008.

A signed decision is expected by the summer/fall of 2009 with the ultimate goal of publishing a Motor Vehicle Use map by November 2009.

Background

For more information about the Travel Management Rule and process, check out the following pages:

• Travel Management Overview
  Background about Travel Management planning on the Willamette National Forest including an overview of the three steps of the process
• Travel Management Rule
  Find out more from the national Forest Service website