Kiwi
09-27-2007, 11:37 AM
From the Sonoran News:
National change will impact Tonto
By Curtis Riggs
DESERT FOOTHILLS – Tonto National Forest officials will soon be seeking comment on pending changes on the use of off-road vehicles in the national forest nearby as well ones across the nation.
In 2005 the U.S. Forest Service instituted new rules on off-road access by motorized vehicles to national forests. Tonto National Forest and Cave Creek Ranger District officials are now in the process of trying to determine which roads and trails will remain open to off-road vehicles and which ones will be closed.
Last week Tonto Forest official Kelly Jardine, of the local district’s recreation and land staff, updated the Saguaro Group chapter of Sierra Club about the process for taking comments and other factors in implementing the changes on off-road vehicles. The Forest Service will be seeking comment on the proposed changes by November. He said the changes will impact hunters and people trying to access dispersed campsites. “It involves how they get to their favorite spot,” he said.
Cave Creek District Ranger Colleen Madrid said that off-road vehicle use has a huge impact on national forests across the nation.
“We want to make sure that we manage it so people can still have use of their vehicles and have a good experience, but we don’t want them to do anything that is detrimental to the environment,” she said. “They will have to stay on the route. Everything off of it will be closed,” she added. “People won’t be able to go off them and make rabbit trails everywhere.”
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hey, nice to see the forestry dept is keeping the Sierra Club informed about the process!
National change will impact Tonto
By Curtis Riggs
DESERT FOOTHILLS – Tonto National Forest officials will soon be seeking comment on pending changes on the use of off-road vehicles in the national forest nearby as well ones across the nation.
In 2005 the U.S. Forest Service instituted new rules on off-road access by motorized vehicles to national forests. Tonto National Forest and Cave Creek Ranger District officials are now in the process of trying to determine which roads and trails will remain open to off-road vehicles and which ones will be closed.
Last week Tonto Forest official Kelly Jardine, of the local district’s recreation and land staff, updated the Saguaro Group chapter of Sierra Club about the process for taking comments and other factors in implementing the changes on off-road vehicles. The Forest Service will be seeking comment on the proposed changes by November. He said the changes will impact hunters and people trying to access dispersed campsites. “It involves how they get to their favorite spot,” he said.
Cave Creek District Ranger Colleen Madrid said that off-road vehicle use has a huge impact on national forests across the nation.
“We want to make sure that we manage it so people can still have use of their vehicles and have a good experience, but we don’t want them to do anything that is detrimental to the environment,” she said. “They will have to stay on the route. Everything off of it will be closed,” she added. “People won’t be able to go off them and make rabbit trails everywhere.”
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hey, nice to see the forestry dept is keeping the Sierra Club informed about the process!