Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Recreation

TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

NATIONAL TRAVEL MANAGEMENT RULE

AND

WALLOWA-WHITMAN NATIONAL FOREST TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN

[Background] [Forest Strategy] [Public Participation] [Frequently Asked Questions] [Proposed Action] [Project Documents] [National Travel Management Rule]

Spring 2009 Update

During the spring of 2007, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest began updating the forest's travel management plan to designate motorized vehicle use. Due to the complexity of the forest and the high degree of public interest, this will be a multi-year process. The objective of the process is to develop a travel management plan that balances public and agency needs with forest resource objectives and allows for long-term sustainable motor vehicle use on the forest for all to enjoy.

Background

In 2004, the Chief of the Forest Service cited four major threats to National Forest System (NFS) lands. One of these threats included "unmanaged outdoor recreation". To address this issue, the Forest Service developed a national strategy to evaluate recreational motor vehicle use on NFS lands. The strategy would work towards resolving issues such as damage to wetlands, wildlife habitat and fragile soils, disturbance to wildlife, spread of noxious weeds, and conflicts between recreationists. Following a national public comment process, this strategy was then formalized as new national travel management regulations and published as a final Travel Management "Rule" in the Federal Register in 2005. (A 'rule' establishes enforceable regulations that have gone through a national public process). To meet the direction and intent of the Final Travel Management Rule, every national forest and grassland is to develop or revise their travel management plan for motorized vehicle use by 2009.

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Forest Strategy

To meet the national timeline and objectives in the National Travel Management Rule, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is working on a four-year schedule;

2006 - Data Inventory Validation

• Compiled existing Forest Plan off-highway vehicle (OHV) direction, and existing travel management decisions and direction for the inventory
• Recreation and Engineering Staff began validating existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tabular (i.e. INFRA) road and trail data

2007 - Public Scoping and Initiation of Environmental Analysis

• Conducted preliminary briefings of travel management process with elected officials
• Continued validating road and trail data with information displayed on maps and associated tables
• Completed compilation of past access and travel management decisions
• Initiated public information and scoping meetings in March and May
• Published Proposed Action in the Federal Register. It was available for public scoping for over 180 days
• Responded to public inquiries and material requests
• Presented proposed action to a variety of service organizations and at public forums
• Evaluated public comments to determine issues

2008 - Continuation of Environmental Analysis

• Developed other alternatives to the Proposed Action with travel management planning team
• Analyzed effects to resources and social/economic values
• Updated elected officials and interested publics
• Completed the Cooperating Agency Agreement with 5 local county governments and Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
• Continued consultation with regulatory agency and tribal governments
• Compiled a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

2009 - EIS and Record of Decision

• Release draft EIS for public comment
• Continue internal and external briefings
• Respond to public comments and make any necessary changes to EIS
• Continue regulatory agency and tribal consultation
• Finalize EIS and issue Record of Decision
• Begin Appeal period - work to resolve any appeals
• Develop monitoring plan, communication roll out and information strategy for public notification and education
• Print and dsitribute Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM)

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Public Participation

Public participation in this planning process can continue to be done in several ways. Beginning in the spring of 2007 interested publics attended the travel management 'open house' presentations, scheduled a visit with the planning team leader, or submitted written comments

Questions and information requests can be sent via e-mail or hard copy to the address listed below. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Attn: Travel Management Planning 3502 Highway 30 La Grande, OR 97850

Or send an e-mail to: wwnf_travel_mgt_plan@fs.fed.us

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (32 KB)

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Proposed Action

The Forest Travel Management Proposed Action including maps, Public Comment Form, and tables of existing road, area and trail prohibitions was presented at the spring 2007 public meetings and were available for public review and comment from May 3 through November 16, 2007.

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Project Documents

09-09-2008 Travel Management Newsletter - September 2008

02-07-2008 Travel Management Newsletter - February 2008

11-05-2007 News Release - Travel Management Plan Scoping Period Ends November 16, 2007

08-00-2007 Letter - New Proposed Action Working Maps

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National Travel Management Rule

In 2005, the Forest Service finalized new travel management regulations for motor vehicle use on National Forest System lands.   These rules were published on Nov. 9, 2005 in the Federal Register as the Final Rule for Travel Management - Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use and became effective in December 2005. The Rule revises several regulations to require designation of roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle use on National Forests and National Grasslands.

Highlights of the Travel Management Rule are:

• Each National Forest or Ranger District to designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicles.

• Designation will include class of vehicle and, if appropriate, time of year for motor vehicle use.   

• Once the designation process is complete, the rule will prohibit motor vehicle use off the designated system or use that is inconsistent with the designations.

• Designation decisions will be made locally, with public input and in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.

The objectives of the planning process are to have:

• Better opportunities for sustainable motorized recreation and access to the National Forest System (NFS) lands

• Better protection of the environment

• Increased public safety

The process of inventory, designation, and public participation will be guided by a national protocol. This national protocol is known as the “OHV Route Inventory and Designation Guide” which was developed by a Forest Service OHV Implementation Team. Major steps in the process include:

• Compile Forest Plan direction and existing data
• Inventory existing roads, trails and areas
• Evaluate roads, trails and areas for resource and social issues.
• Plan and design OHV opportunities
• Conduct analysis and make Decision(s)
• Complete administrative actions to implement decisions for designations.
• Implement and monitor

This National Forest Service OHV website includes links to the:

• Final Travel Management Rule as published in the Federal Register
• Latest figures on OHV use from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment
• National OHV Collaboration Summit Proceedings
• Case Studies

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