Coronado National Forest

Travel Management

Overview and Details of Travel Management Rule

Implementation on the Coronado

The Forest Service published final travel management regulations (Travel Management Rule or TMR) in the Federal Register (Vol. 70, No. 216–Nov. 9, 2005, pages 68264 through 68291). The TMR requires that each Forest designate roads,trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicle use by the public by class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. It also prohibits the use of motor vehicles on routes and in areas that are not designated for such use.

Past and current motorized vehicle use on the Forest off the designated road system has created many unauthorized roads that are not part of the National Forest System and caused serious resource damage. Implementation of the TMR prohibits continued use of unauthorized roads unless they have been added to the NFS inventory.  Although cross-country (i.e., off-road) motorized travel is allowed on many national forests, it has been restricted on the Coronado National Forest since 1986 by direction in the Coronado Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), with an exception that provides for off-road vehicle travel up to 300 feet for the purpose of parking or dispersed camping.  In May of 2010, the Forest Plan was amended to replace language that was inconsistent with the Travel Management Rule.  Because the Coronado already prohibits cross-country motorized travel, implementation of the TMR would not have the same dramatic effect on motorized use of the Forest that this prohibition will have on other Forests where cross-country off-road travel has been permitted.

The Travel Management Rule clarifies current Forest Service policy regarding motor-vehicle use and provides management direction that allows sustainable access by motor vehicles, including OHVs, on national forests and grasslands.  Some Forest Service units, like the Coronado, have established systems of roads, trails and areas that are managed for motorized use.  The TMR does not require them to change existing plans and considers previous travel management decisions as having been incorporated into each designated system without additional or retroactive transportation analysis and NEPA review.  What the TMR does require is that each national forest and grassland that does not have a designated motorized travel system establish one, and for that system to be documented on a publicly available Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), which will be updated annually.  The MVUMs depicting the current designated system of roads for all of the districts on the Coronado are currently available free of charge, as of May 1st 2011 to the public at each District Office and Supervisor’s Office. They may also be viewed or printed from our web site (see link below). This MVUM established the road system for the entire forest. Travel on any route not depicted in the MVUM is prohibited.

Because the Coronado National Forest already has a designated system of motorized travel, the action of publishing a MVUM depicting that designated system is not subject to a NEPA review. However, proposals to add roads to the Forest travel system, remove them from the system, or change authorization of or prohibitions on motor vehicle use on a road or area are subject to a NEPA review.  Over the past 5 years the Coronado has completed Travel Analysis Plans (TAPs) on all districts in which the adequacy of the motorized travel system to meet Forest administrative and user needs was evaluated and the need for new or enhanced protection of natural resources and cultural resources was documented.  Each of the five districts is currently at different stages of initiating proposed Forest Service action (NEPA) to make changes to the motorized travel system on their districts based on the analyses done through their TAPS.  Numerous opportunities for public involvement in the NEPA process will be offered by future meetings and document reviews.  Completion of the NEPA process on all districts is expected in 2012 at which time updated MVUMs will be printed.

For more information, to provide comments, or to get on the mailing list to receive documents for review and comment – please contact the Ranger Districts directly and ask to speak to their Travel Management Project Leader.

Overview Map of Ranger Districts

Coronado National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps are now available online

Helpful map pdf instructions

Forest Plan Amendment for Consistency with the Travel Management Rule Covering all Districts

(August 2010)

Environmental Assessment(PDf, 436 kb): Proposed Amendment of Forest Plan for Consistency with Travel Management Rule

Decision Notice(PDF,50 kb): Non-Significant Amendments to Land and Resource Management Plan to be Consistent with the Travel Management Rule

Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact(PDF, 113 kb): Amendment of Coronado National Forest land and Resource Management Plan to be consistent with Travel Management Rule