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The Pioneer Press, at the very top of the State of California, grants permission for this article to be copied and forwarded.

Pioneer Press, Fort Jones, California
Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Vol. 32, No. 33 Page 1, column 1

F.S. to reduce use of off-road vehicles (in Klamath National Forest)

-- A change in the availability of off-road vehicle use is in the works.

By Liz Bowen, assistant editor, Pioneer Press, Fort Jones, California

GREENVIEW – Over the next four years, under agreement with the State of California Off-Highway Commission, all National Forests in California will under-go a new process to identify and designate routes where off-road vehicles will be allowed.

This is a change from the existing management of Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use on the Klamath National Forest.

The new management plan is expected to be in place by 2009.

Peg Boland, supervisor of the Klamath National Forest, is inviting “all interested individuals” to attend a workshop that will address the management of where and when off-road vehicles will be allowed or permitted to travel in the Forest.

On June 9, this workshop will be held at the Scott Valley Grange in Greenview from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

During May, like-meetings were held by Boland at the Goosenest Ranger District, Yreka and Happy Camp.

According to Boland, the OHV route and area designation effort is occurring in response to a dramatic increase in OHV use across the nation. The increased use has resulted in erosion and other problems in some locations, according to the Forest Service.

Enviro activists have continually complained about various uses by the public of the National Forest; and driving the many mountain dirt roads is a major objection. 

Anyone with an opinion about use of the public lands in the National Forest should attend the workshop and give voice to their concerns.

Once the routes-and-area-designation process is complete, only those roads, trails, and use areas designated through this process will be open to OHVs.

“OHVs are a great way to experience the National Forests, but because their popularity has increased in recent years, we need an approach that will sustain natural resource values through more effective management of motor vehicle use,” said Chief of the Forest Service, Dale Bosworth. 

 

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