Carson National Forest

A decision notice on travel management for the Jicarilla Ranger District of the Carson National Forest was signed by the Forest Supervisor on August 13, 2010. A travel management decision for the west side (Canjilon, El Rito, and Tres Piedras Ranger Districts) of the forest was made on December 2, 2010.

An Prelinimary Environmental Assessment (PEA) for Travel Management on the Questa Ranger District is currently available on this website (use link). The PEA was available for 30-day comment starting July 1, 2011, the comment period ended August 1, 2011. The comments are being analyzed with a decision anticipated in November 2011. The PEA for travel management on the Camino Real Ranger District should be available for public review sometime in December, 2011.

Each decision related to travel management on the Carson National Forest makes changes to the transportation system and amends the Carson National Forest's Land and Resource Management Plan.

Thank you for visiting the Carson National Forest's Travel Management Planning website.

Background

On November 2, 2005, the Forest Service announced final travel management regulations governing OHVs and other motor vehicle use on national forests and grasslands. Under the new rules, forests that do not restrict OHV travel to "designated roads-and-trails" must do so. OHVs must remain on designated roads and trails systems while on the National Forest.

The Carson National Forest has a forest-wide designated road system; cross-country motorized travel permitted except in areas that are closed to off road travel or restricted to seasonal use prior to the completion of travel management decisions on the Jicarilla, Canjilon, El Rito and Tres Piedras Ranger Districts. These districts now have a designated road system with no cross country motorized travel.  The Questa Ranger District has been closed to cross country motorized travel since the mid 1990’s but has a designated road system. Camino Real currently is the only district with some areas open to motorized cross country travel with a designated road systems in the areas close do motorized cross country travel.  Link to order visitor maps.  Motorized trails are designated on the Questa and Camino Real Ranger Districts.

Regulations in effect on the Carson National Forest are explained on the OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES page.

In order to better comply with the new rule, the Carson Forest will be identifying a system of roads, areas, and trails across the entire forest to remain open to motorized use. Designation decisions will be made locally, with public input and in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.

What is the Travel Management Rule?

The final travel management rule requires each National Forest System unit shall:

• designate those roads, trails, and area open to motor vehicle use by vehicle class and, if appropriate, by time of year (36 CFR 212.51).
• Identify designated roads, trails, and areas on a motor vehicle use map (MVUM) (36 CFR 212.56).
• Prohibit motor vehicle use inconsistent with the designations on the motor vehicle use map, once published (36 CFR 261.13).
• Maintain in place current rules and authorities until designation is complete.

Criteria for evaluating and designating routes (36 CFR 212.55) are largely derived from Executive Order 11644.

Why is Travel Management Planning Important?

Outdoor recreation is central to our work. The demand for recreation opportunities is growing. These opportunities connect people with the land and foster healthy lifestyles.

Motorized recreation is a legitimate use of our national forests. The rule provides a uniform set of guidelines for travel management decisions. This will result in consistent, high quality motorized recreation opportunities on designated roads, trails, and areas on national forests and grasslands.

Route designations will involve working with local communities. The final rule itself doesn't open or close a single route. Those decisions will be made at the local level on travel planning process that anyone can join. Working with local communities, interest groups and tribal governments over the past years will result in a system of designated routes and areas tailored to local conditions and needs.

Together, we'll sustain our natural resources.The rule addresses the growing demand for motorized recreation while protecting the environment and assuring that our national forests and grasslands provide clean air, clean water, and abundant wildlife for future generations.

Collaboration is Key

All visitors and neighbors of the Carson National Forest will be invited and are encouraged to take part in helping to identify roads, areas, and trails to remain open to motorized use on the forest. If you would like to be involved in our travel management planning process or receive information about our progress, please contact us. We would also like to hear your ideas about how you would like to interact with our planning team, both now and over the course of the project.

Background

The number of OHV users in the Unites States has climbed tenfold in the past 32 years, from approximately 5 million in 1972 to 51 million in 2004. The Forest Service currently manages more than 300,000 miles of road and 35,000 miles of trail for motor vehicle use. More than 11 million people using OHVs visited national forests and grasslands in 2004.

Timeline

The Carson National Forest is committed to completing the designation process by September 2012.

Documents

Our online document archive will contain important documents related to the travel management process as they are developed.

Public Participation/Contact Us

Get involved in travel management planning. Your participation is important. Please contact us.