Cleveland National Forest

Projects & Plans - Travel Management Route Designation A Program for Motor Vehicle Route Designation

National Forests in Southern California have had a system of designated off-highway vehicle routes and areas in place for 15-20 years. During the recent revision of our Land Management Plans, the Cleveland National Forest received many suggestions from individuals who wanted changes to the existing system. The Forest Plan decision provided strategic direction through land use zoning.

They identify areas where off-highway vehicle use may be appropriate, but they do not make changes to existing route designations. Any changes must be consistent with the land use zoning, the Plan Standards, and all other requirements found in the Plan, as well as (NEPA) regulations. As a result, the greatest need in Southern California National Forests is to implement the direction in our new Forest Plans to protect resources during recreation activities. Improvements in the OHV system to help minimize off-trail trespass are a high priority in some locations, while restoring unauthorized routes to pre-existing natural conditions in sensitive locations is important in others.

BACKGROUND
TIMELINE with completed steps
FLOWCHART OF TIMELINE
IMPLEMENTATION
CURRENT STATUS
ROUTE DESIGNATION GUIDEBOOK
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Travel Management EA

EA MAPS

Alternative 1 Maps
Alternative 2 Maps
Alternative 3 Maps

Project Decision

Response to Comments
Cover Letter
Findings Statement
Travel Management Environmental Analysis (2/2009)

Q & A

BACKGROUND

Unlike Southern California National Forests, most forests in the nation currently allow vehicle use off of designated routes. That use is expanding rapidly, resulting in unplanned roads and trails, erosion, watershed and habitat degradation, and impacts to cultural resources. In order to insure that resources are protected, the Chief of the Forest Service recently identified sustainable land management as one of the goals in order to have a healthy, resilient forests and rangelands on federal, state and private lands.

Each Forest in the nation has to create a system of designated vehicle routes. In California, the Forest Service (Region 5) developed a Memorandum of Intent with the CA State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Commission that established a designation strategy and set a schedule for completion.

The primary purpose of the route designation process is to provide for resource protection by ensuring that vehicles are operated only on designated routes. Forests will not examine every possible user made vehicle route in detail. The amount of work to be done during route designation will vary by Forest.

The zoning decisions made in our new Forest Plans provide the foundation for the route designation effort. Proposed changes to the current route designations must be consistent with the zoning in the new Plan. In southern California, we expect only minor changes in our system. Those changes will occur gradually over time as staffing and budget allow us to complete the analysis.

- top -

TIMETABLE - Completed Steps for Cleveland National Forest

1. In 2005, the process identified in the Memorandum of Intent between the Forest Service and CA State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Commission is designed to facilitate new route and area designations in areas where none exist. Because there is already a system of designated routes in place in Southern California, most of those steps are not needed.
2. The first step in the process was the completion of an inventory of existing roads, trails, and off-route use areas. The public was asked to provide input on the accuracy of the inventories by reviewing them on the forest website, attending open houses or visiting the district and supervisor’s office.  Suggested adjustments were made writing and were completed October 31, 2006. 

   2006 Inventory Maps

3. After the inventory was completed, the Forest developed a list of opportunities for adjustments to the system. This list will be used as the basis for future travel management proposals as time and funding permits. It may include opportunities for additional trails and parking areas more than one car length off designated roads, as well as identification of system modifications which would help to prevent unauthorized use. Completed Summer 2007

   Criteria Used
   Motorized Roads and Trails Open (2007)
   Potential Additions Quad Maps (2007)
   Seasonal Closure for Raptor Protection
   Table summary of Potential Additions (2007)

4. Forests reviewed the list of opportunities, and identify those they want to carry forward into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process as time and funding permits. Completed January 2008

   PROPOSED ACTION - TRAVEL MANAGEMENT CHANGES Jan. 2008

5. Using the public comments provided on the January Proposed  Action and additional field review, a third alternative was developed.  The Environmental Assessment fully analyzed three alternatives.  We are asking the public to review this document and provide comments by August 13, 2008  Current Status

   Response to Comments
   Cover Letter
   Findings Statement

   Chapter 1 Purpose and Need
   Chapter 2 Alternatives
   Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences

   EA MAPS

   Alternative 1 Maps
   Alternative 2 Maps
   Alternative 3 Maps

   July 2008 Public Notice
   Letter

6. A final decision will be made by the Forest Supervisor and documented in a Decision Notice.  After the notice of decision is published in the San Diego Union Tribune, persons who have commented during scoping or the environmental review period or who otherwise meets the guideline of 36 CFR.215 may appeal the decision. Completed Fall 2008
7. After the NEPA process is completed, the forest will publish a Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) and mark forest roads and trails that are open for motorize use. Fall 2008.
8. Continue to be involved.  The Motorized Vehicle Use Map will be updated as changes are made.  The Forest will continue to make decisions regarding the unauthorized routes that have been identified throughout the last several years.  Some could become motorized roads or trails, non-motorized trails or restored.  This process will continue to evolve.  Working with the local District Offices is crucial in this continual process. 2009 and beyond.

- top -

IMPLEMENTATION GOALS

The national goal is to have a motorized route system that is both manageable and sustainable. Options that arise through analysis may include (but are not limited to) making adjustments to the designated system to improve some routes through re-routes and/or additions, consolidate others to eliminate duplication, and close routes that are unable to be maintained in a manner compliant with applicable laws, regulations and policies.

A 'manageable' system would be designed and located on the landscape such that routine maintenance - barring the impacts of unforeseen events such as wildfires or floods - would allow the motorized system to be maintained annually in a condition compliant with applicable laws, regulations and policies. A 'sustainable' motorized system would be an environmentally sound system that could be maintained in an acceptable condition throughout many consecutive years.

- top -

CURRENT STATUS - November 2008

Cleveland National Forest Supervisor Will Metz has signed the decision notice and finding of no significant impact for the Motorized Travel Management Environmental Assessment (EA).  Metz selected Alternative 3, as described in the EA, for implementation.  The selected alternative will add approximately 1.0 mile of existing, user-created trails and 5.2 miles of new trail construction to the transportation system to maintain a diversity of motorized recreation opportunities in the Corral Canyon OHV area.  Approximately 1.27 miles of routes for highway-legal vehicles will be added to the transportation system for access to dispersed recreation opportunities.  A 2.0-acre open riding area and several areas totaling 12.8 acres adjacent to existing and proposed trails in the Corral Canyon OHV area will remain open for continued use, as will a 0.2-acre open riding area adjacent to the Wildomar OHV trailhead.  All other OHV use in the Corral Canyon and Wildomar OHV areas will be restricted to designated routes.  The Cleveland NF Land Management Plan will be amended to adjust land use zones and recreational opportunity spectrum designations on approximately 10 acres of land to reflect existing on-the-ground conditions.  As per Forest Service policy and regulations, this amendment will be non-significant.

No arroyo toad habitat or riparian conservation areas will be intersected by the additions to the transportation system.

Implementation of this alternative will lead to publication of a motor vehicle use map reflecting these changes in the transportation system. 

• The decision is subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215.  To initiate an appeal, a written notice of appeal must be postmarked within 45 days of the publication date of the legal notice of this decision in the San Diego Union-Tribune on November 16, 2008.  Attachments received after the 45-day appeal period will not be considered.  The publication date in the Union-Tribune is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an appeal.  Notices of appeal must meet the specific content requirements of 36 CFR 215.14.  Persons who wish to appeal must meet the requirements of 36 CFR 215.13.

- top -

ROUTE DESIGNATION GUIDEBOOK

The Forest Service in California (Region 5) has prepared a Route Designation Guidebook to assist Forests in following the route designation process. Although much of the information contained in the guidebook does not apply in Southern California, other information may be useful. The Guidebook includes a glossary of terms, a copy of the MOI with California State Parks, background information and references to applicable laws, regulations and policies.

Download the Route Designation Guidebook on the Region 5 web site »

Download the Region 5 Guide for parking, dispersed camping, and big game retrieval »

- top -

CRITERIA USED

The routes identified in the inventory process were screened through the following criteria. The routes that passed through these screens are displayed on the "Potential Addition" maps.

Screening Criteria for motorized routes:

1. Must be an existing route at time of inventory.
2. Routes designated for mix use road or OHV trails must provide a significant experience for Forest users – greater than 3 miles in length or provide a loop opportunity off an existing designated route.
3. If originate on or cross thru private property, routes must have a legal right-of-way or long history of being open to the public.
4. Land use zones are: Developed Areas Interface and the Back Country Motorized.
5. Do not include routes that are:
   1. Associated with a special use permit or provides exclusive access to private property
   2. In riparian areas and other sensitive areas.

- top -

THANKS for YOUR HELP!!