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Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Travel Management Planning
and
Medford District Bureau of Land Management Off–Road-Vehicle  Decisions from the Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR)

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has began the process of writing their Travel Management Plan, with the goal of publishing a map that shows which roads and trails are open to motorized travel. If it is not on the map then it is not open to public use.

Attached is a sample comment letter you can use to help. Please down load it and make the changes you like and send it in today! (the attchemnt is a Word document) For more information read below.

The final plan will determine much about how we see, and protect the unique values of our National Forest. Siskiyou Project’s goal is to ensure that destructive roads are closed through this process. Roads which cause harm to sensitive botanical areas, create sediment sources impacting fish, and create conflicts with quite recreation uses are the focus of our attention.

Siskiyou Project, with KS Wild and other allies, submitted a Citizen’s Alternative to the Forest Service’s Travel Management analysis team.

The major points of our proposal:

• Existing roads to recreational sites such as campgrounds, trailheads, lakes, and boat launches would be maintained for low clearance vehicles and open to licensed (street legal) vehicles only.

• Motorized travel would not be allowed on user created roads.

• Non-licensed motorized vehicles would be prohibited in campgrounds, day use areas, established hiking and equestrian trails, roadless areas, botanical areas, research natural areas, riparian reserves, and wild and scenic corridors except for specified areas in Prospect Off-Highway Vehicle Area.
• Some logging and mining roads would be maintained for high clearance vehicles and limited to administrative Forest Service use, special permitted use (e.g. miners, contractors, wood cutters, etc…), and non-licensed motorized use during fall center fire deer season (October 1-November 10). 
• Mandatory monitoring, public education, and law enforcement equally distributed on all ranger districts.

Travel Management is a nationwide Forest Service public planning process primarily designed to identify roads, trails and areas open to non-licensed motorized vehicles such as motorcycles and all terrain vehicles (quads) and routes open to both licensed vehicles  and non-licensed users (mixed use by passenger cars and off- road-vehicles).(1) Currently, most public lands in the Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest (Forest) are open to cross country or off highway travel by non-licensed motor vehicles. The Forest is now in the process of preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement expected February\March 2009.(2) Later in 2009, an amendment  to the Forest Plan will be issued that to prohibit motor vehicles from  leaving the designated road system as well as prohibit use of motor vehicles on routes and in areas that are not designated. Persons exempt from the final rule prohibitions would be those with a permit specifically authorizing access. Examples include access to private property, a mining claim or a communication site. Over-the–snow vehicles are also exempt from this proposed action.

The proposed motor vehicle use maps and travel planning process can be accessed on the Forest’s website. Proposed Motor Vehicle Use Maps are also available for review at Forest Service District Offices. Prior to publishing these draft maps the Forest held a series of “open house” public meetings during June 2007 to obtain information and recommendations from the public. Forest planners and resource specialists have verified and completed an inventory of existing open roads and trails. Currently, there are approximately 4,620 road miles and approximately 1,155 trail miles. The proposed motor vehicle use maps retain the 250 mile Prospect OHV Trail System in the Rogue River National Forest. Motorized use to many user created mining roads in the Siskiyou National Forest that receive little or no maintenance were eliminated. Following a decision on this proposal, the Forest will publish a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) identifying all Forest roads, trails and areas that are designated open for motor vehicle use by the public. The MVUM shall specify the classes of vehicles and, if appropriate, the times of year for which use is authorized.

The Forest Service currently has seven law enforcement officers covering the 1.8 million acre forests or one enforcement officer for each 260,000 acres.   

The Medford District Bureau of Land Management is ahead of the Forest Service on travel management in that the BLM issued a decision on December 31, 2008 which restricts Off-Highway Vehicles (e.g., 4-wheelers, non-licensed motorcycles, and quads) to designated roads and trails only.(3)  The public is no longer allowed to operate motorized vehicles “off-highway” on any Medford District BLM lands, on undesignated user created roads and trails, or on routes abandoned by the agency subsequent to logging or mining activities. The 2008 Medford District Resource Management Plan (p. 56-60) identifies specific areas closed to motorized vehicle use (60,508 acres) and identifies seven OHV emphasis areas totaling 69,182 acres.  The Grants Pass Resource Area is currently in the early planning stages for the Quartz Creek OHV emphasis area west of Merlin which would provide staging areas and motorized trails for all classes of vehicles and abilities.

On May 18th, 2007 the Medford District temporarily closed several areas within the Timbered Mountain off-highway vehicle (OHV) area – also commonly referred to as the John's Peak area. The purpose of the emergency closure is to protect soils, water, and fisheries resources that are being adversely impacted by OHV use. The closure is also needed to protect public safety on Forest Creek County road. Regulations (43 CFR 8364.1) authorize the BLM to close or restrict use of public lands in order to protect public safety and resources on public lands.(4) 

The Medford District has 4 full time law enforcement officers for 862,000 acres or 1 officer for each 216,000 acres.