Payette National Forest

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Payette National Forest

Contact: Laura Pramuk (208) 634-0784, cell (208) 634-6945

Date:  March 17, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PAYETTE NATIONAL FOREST WORKSHOPS ON YELLOW PINE/BIG CREEK ROADS & TRAILS PLANNED FOR NEXT WEEK

If you have an interest in helping the Payette National Forest (PNF) take another look at the summer motorized and non-motorized road and trail system in the Big Creek and Yellow Pine areas on the Krassel Ranger District, then you will want to attend one of the workshops being hosted by the District this month.  The first workshop will be held Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the PNF Supervisor’s Office in McCall.  A second workshop will be held in Yellow Pine on Saturday, March 28, at 1:00 p.m. at the Community Center.

“I’m expecting participants to role up their sleeves and work in groups to develop their vision of how roads and trails in the Yellow Pine/Big Creek area need to be designated”, said Krassel District Ranger Joe Harper.  Harper went on to say that both he and Forest Supervisor Suzanne Rainville will be in attendance to assist participants as they consider what roads and trails in the area should be opened or closed and what criteria need to be considered in their deliberations.

In October of 2008 PNF Forest Supervisor Suzanne Rainville signed the Record of Decision for the Snow-free Travel Management Plan for McCall and Krassel Ranger Districts.  This decision designated the road and trail system for the snow-free season.  The decision received numerous appeals regarding roads and trails in the Big Creek and Yellow Pine area.  In the appeal response letter the forest received from the Forest Service Regional Office in Ogden the Regional Forester directed the PNF to further evaluate the concerns raised by appellants regarding the decision not to include certain motorized and non-motorized roads and trails in the Big Creek and Yellow Pine area and to involve the public in this evaluation.

If you have questions or concerns about the meetings or the travel management process, please contact District Ranger Joe Harper at 208-634-0601.

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