This past summer, the Dolores Public Lands Office re-initiated work on the Boggy-Glade Travel Management Plan and asked for public input on how we could improve the plan. We received a great amount of valuable comments from community members through discussions here at the office, during open houses and public hearings, and through letters.
We heard how important this area of the National Forest is to local communities and how our earlier proposal seemed to impose broad, sweeping changes to the ways people are accustomed to enjoying the area. In response, we have revised our earlier preferred alternative to try to maintain some of the distinctive traditional uses that have evolved on this landscape. However, the proposal still includes many travel management changes that we feel are necessary to sustain a healthy landscape and provide quality wildlife habitat.
One issue that rose to the top was big-game retrieval by motorized vehicles. After completing additional analysis and considering public comments, we have revised the new preferred alternative to allow off-road motorized game retrieval by ATV (less than 50-inch width), but there are specific limitations on location, timing and type of use.
Motorized big-game retrieval would only be allowed for one mile off of designated open routes in areas where cross-country travel is currently allowed (about two-thirds of the planning area). Hunters would be required to choose the least ground-disturbing route and carry a validated carcass tag to indicate they are retrieving game. They would not be allowed to use ATVs for cross-country scouting or other activities. Off-road use of ATVs for game retrieval would be allowed only during deer and elk archery, muzzleloader and first through fourth rifle seasons. Future continuation of the new game retrieval policy would be based, in part, on the Forest Service receiving assistance from Montezuma and Dolores counties with hunter education and monitoring of compliance. Keep in mind that this plan is not yet in effect and will not change rules and regulations during the 2011 hunting season.
If managed carefully, I believe this proposal for limited ATV use on the gentle terrain and relatively flat topography of Boggy-Glade should have less potential for resource damage than it would on steeper terrain. Allowing motorized game retrieval in this area will also offer a diversity of hunting opportunities across the San Juan National Forest from wilderness, which is open only to foot and stock travel, to portions of the Boggy-Glade, which I believe can sustain limited motorized game retrieval.
However, road closures are still imperative in Boggy-Glade to decrease bare ground erosion into waterways, protect wildlife habitat and increase forage. The entire landscape will be closed to cross-country travel, with the exception of the motorized game retrieval allowance during hunting seasons. This means that all other motorized travel would be restricted to designated, numbered forest roads.
The designated system includes 379 miles of open roads, well-distributed across the Boggy-Glade area. Compared to the earlier version of our preferred alternative, there would be 20 additional open miles of motorized routes offering loops on un-graveled roads, and more dispersed camping spurs. We are also proposing to amend the Forest Plan to change the allowed road density from one mile to 1.2 miles per square mile.
Keep in mind that the above changes in management pertain to general public use of the area. Those conducting administrative duties or permitted activities such as oil and gas development, range management, timber operations, etc. could be granted use of temporary routes, administrative use-only roads or allowed to conduct business via cross-country travel. Let me also be clear that emergency fire suppression activities and emergency first-aid response are exempt from restrictions on motorized access in this area.
I urge everyone to take time to read the revised analysis and provide input during this final 30-day comment period. Check out our websites or call to set up an appointment to meet with our staff. Larger scale maps showing the new changes are located at both Montezuma and Dolores county offices, at our office or can be printed on request.
As we move into the future, I want to reassure our communities of the commitment of the Forest Service to responsible resource management, as well as the desire to continue to work with all of our constituencies. I look forward to continuing the dialogue about travel management. Thank you.
Mark Lambert is acting Dolores District ranger for the San Juan National Forest.