Washington - Okanogan and Wenatchee NF Route Planning

[HummBebe]

Two areas in Washinton State - Route Designation is beginning.....

WASHINGTON--Update on the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests' Travel Planning Process
Jan 30, 2007



By: BlueRibbon Coalition

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Greetings Washington State Recreationists!

I wanted to send you Ric Foster's update on the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests' travel planning process. As you know, the FS will be developing a travel plan that will limit ALL vehicle use to designated roads, trails and areas. Ric works for BRC as public lands assistant and part of his job is to keep track the FS travel plans. You can check all of Ric's updates on BRC's Public Lands Webpage See: ( http://www.sharetrails.org/public_lands )

During the past summer the Okanogan and Wenatchee began the process by conducting several public meetings throughout the area. As a result of these meeting, they received comments from over 500 individuals and groups. The agency will now use those comments and suggestions in an analysis process on each Ranger District. The analysis process will begin this month and take approximately six months to complete. The forest has published the following timeline for completion of the Plan (see below).

The NEPA analysis will take 12-18 months, so a final decision could be made in early to mid 2009, with implementation through the publication on the Motor Vehicle Use Map in late 2009. Even though the public meetings are over, the agency will still accept input on specific roads, trails and areas that should be open for motorized vehicles. If you haven't sent the FS your ideas, please take the time to contact them soon (see below for phone numbers and email address).

We'll continue to keep you updated on the process and we'll let you know when the dates of the next round of meetings are set.

Thanks to all BRC members and supporters who commented on this important planning effort. If you have any questions or comments please call.

Brian Hawthorne

BlueRibbon Coalition

208-237-1008 ext 102

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Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests' Travel Plan Timeline:

Mid 2007 - Complete travel route analysis on each Ranger District and make those results available on maps and the website.

Late Summer/Fall 2007 - Hold a second series of public meetings to share the analysis results and see if your comments and suggestions are reflected on the maps. Gather additional input on Travel Management Planning.
Late 2007 - Begin the formal environmental analysis, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), by publishing a Proposed Action built upon your input and route analysis from earlier in the year.
Information is posted on the website. Also for additional information one of the individuals listed below.
Forest Contacts:
Marge Hutchinson South Zone Engineer and co-team leader (509) 653-1430
Mike Rowan Naches Ranger District (509) 653-1452
Tim Foss Cle Elum Ranger District (509) 852-1069
Lisa Therrell Wenatchee River Ranger District (509) 548-6977 ext 233
Randy McLandress Entiat Ranger District (509) 784-1511
Jennifer Zbyszewski Methow Valley Ranger District (509) 996-4021
Michael Alvarado Tonasket Ranger District (509) 486-5111
Joe Kastenholz Chelan Ranger District (509) 682-2576 ext 216
Comments may also be sent to: comments-pacificnorthwest-okanogan-wenatchee@fs.fed.us

WASHINGTON--Colville National Forest "Working Group" Meetings
Jan 30, 2007
By: BlueRibbon Coalition

BLUERIBBON COALITION PACIFIC NW REGIONAL ACTION ALERT UPDATE!

Attention Washington/Oregon/Idaho Recreationists!

This is an important update on the Colville National Forest "Working Group" meetings which are planned for late February and March. The forest has just released the schedule for the Working Group meetings (see Schedule below). During this round of meetings participants will develop specific recommendations for changes or additions to the OHV route system in each project area.

ACCESS ADVISORY:

The FS says in addition to OHV routes, the second round of meetings will also discuss the dispersed camping and changes to the non-motorized trail system. BRC supports active management of all trail-based recreation, and we support comprehensive recreation management. However, we have seen instances where the agency attempts to use the existing inventory of motorized routes to develop a non-motorized system. This is why it is critically important for the OHV community to become involved in the first round of meetings.

Please plan on attending one of the orientation meetings if you plan to attend any of the working group meetings. The dates, times, and locations for the working group meetings are shown below. If you can not attend one of the orientation meetings and you would like to attend a working group meeting, please call Debbie Wilkins at 509-447-7322 or Carmen Nielsen at 509-738-7761.

Reminder of the Colville National Forest Travel Management Orientation Meeting Schedule - all meetings are from 6:00-7:30 pm

* January 25 Argonne Library, 4322 North Argonne Road in Spokane

* January 30 Ione Community Center, 210 Lockwell Street in Ione

* January 30 Community College of Spokane, Colville Branch, 985 South Elm Street, Colville

* February 1 Republic Ranger Station, 650 East Delaware Avenue in Republic

The Colville National Forest Travel Management Working Group Meeting Schedule

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Bead Lake Project Area
5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Newport Ranger Station
315 N. Warren
Newport, WA


Thursday, February 15, 2007
Trout Project Area
5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Kettle Falls High School Cafeteria
1275 Juniper St
Kettle Falls, WA

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Tacoma Project Area
5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Cusick Community Center
107 1st Ave
Cusick, WA

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Swan Lake & Hall Creek Project Areas
5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Republic Ranger Station
650 East Delaware Ave
Republic, WA

Saturday, March 3, 2007

North Fork Chewelah Creek & Middle Fork Calispel Creek Project Areas
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Chewelah Peak Learning Center


Thursday, March 8, 2007
Vulcan Mt. Project Area
5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Republic Ranger Station
650 East Delaware Ave
Republic, WA

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Paupac, Snyder Hill and Little Pend Oreillle Project Areas
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Ione Community Center
210 Lockwell St
Ione, WA

For more information contact Donna Nemeth, Public Affairs Office, at (509) 684-7177 or Craig Newman, RELM Staff Officer, at (509) 684-7104 or cell at (509)675-0895. Information on OHV planning is also available at the FS website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/forest/recreation/ohv/index.html.

As always, if you have any questions please give us a call.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Brian Hawthorne

BlueRibbon Coalition

208-237-1008 ext 102

PLEASE IF YOU RECREATE IN THE COLVILLE NATIONAL FOREST GET INVOLVED NOW!

[KenP]

How do you pronounce those names?

[dochummer]

Oak-ah-noggin and When-at-chee

My HS was Kamiakin.... - gotta love the names up here....