PROCESS FOR DESIGNATING ROADS AND TRAILS FOR MOTORIZED TRAVEL ON MINIDOKA, KETCHUM AND FAIRFIELD DISTRICTS CONTINUES: MAPS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
TWIN FALLS, IDAHO.....The Sawtooth National Forest is continuing work on designating a system of roads and trails for motorized use on the Minidoka, Ketchum and Fairfield Ranger Districts.
According to Ruth Monahan, Forest Supervisor, opportunities will soon be available to review initial travel route concept maps for people who have an interest in motorized travel on the Forest. "We have prepared maps for the Minidoka District and portions of the Fairfield and Ketchum Districts," Monahan said. "These maps are the result of comments and suggestions received from the public over the last 18 months. This work is being done in order to have motorized travel on the Sawtooth National Forest consistent with the agency's effort to develop a nationally consistent approach to travel management on the National Forests."
Monahan stated that the Forest has been working with a number of organized user and interest groups, local governments and state agencies. "We will be going back out to these groups in April and May for a review of these maps. To provide an opportunity for people who are not associated with organized groups, the maps will be available at each one of our Forest Service offices beginning Thursday, April 20th."
Sawtooth National Forest office business hours and locations include::
Twin Falls - 2647 Kimberly Road East - M-F 8AM - 5PM
Burley - 3650 Overland Avenue - M-F 8AM - 4:30PM
Ketchum - 206 Sun Valley Road - M-F 8:30AM - 5PM
SNRA Headquarters - 5 North Fork Canyon Rd (north of Ketchum) - M-F 8:30AM-5PM
Stanley - south of Stanley - M-F 8:30am-12:00, 1 - 4:30PM
Fairfield - 102 First Street East - M-F 8AM - 4:30PM
"This review process of the maps is additional opportunity for interested people to give us feedback and let us know if we have missed anything significant," stated Monahan. "Our next step will be to develop a proposed action which we will then submit for formal public review and comments prior to making a final decision. Our target date is to have a system of designated roads and trails and a final map in place by May 2007."
"To be the most helpful, we would like feedback by May 22nd, 2006," added Monahan.
"The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is not involved in this effort. Motorized travel on that unit is already restricted to designated roads and trails. Winter use is not addressed in the current planning effort. Over snow vehicle use will continue to be managed under the current Sawtooth National Forest Travel Plan."
Monahan expressed appreciation for the many people who have been involved with the Forest Service to date on this project and looks forward to their continued involvement.
