Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Projects & Plans - Travel Management Planning

On January 20, 2010, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest released the Record of Decision (ROD) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) regarding Motorized Vehicle Use on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. During this time hard copies of these documents were mailed to interested publics.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision are a culmination of four years of planning effort by the Forest Service.

Final Environmental Impact Statement: The FEIS discloses the environmental impacts associated with five alternatives for managing motor vehicle use on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and focuses on the change from the current condition.

Record of Decision: The final decision outlined in the ROD is based on Alternative 5 from the FEIS. This final decision documents the Forest Supervisor's reason for selecting Alternative 5. The decision reflects a balanced and responsive analysis in addressing the environmental and social issues raised during the entire travel management process.

The ROD is subject to administrative review (appeal) pursuant to 36 CFR 215.

The 45-day appeal period begins the day following the date the legal notice of this decision is published in the Newspaper of Record for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Medford's Mail Tribune. It is anticipated that this legal notice will appear in the Mail Tribune newspaper on January 25, 2010. Further details on the appeal review process are located in the Record of Decision at pages 16 and 17.

Information will continue to be updated on this web site and at our local Forest Service offices.

Next Steps

The Record of Decision will be used to prepare Motor Vehicle Use Maps.

These final motor vehicle use maps will be published in April 2010 and available free from local Forest Service offices or on the Internet.

The Motor Vehicle Use Maps will display designated roads, trails and areas for motorized use, identified vehicle types and season of use on National Forest lands.

The maps will also be updated annually to reflect any changed conditions relative to motorized vehicle use.

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Strategy

Compile Existing Travel Management Direction - 2006 / 2007

• The forest began compiling existing Forest Plan OHV direction and existing travel management decisions.
• Recreation and Engineering staff also began validating existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tabular (INFRA) road and trail data.

Assemble Resource and Social Data - 2007

• Review of data from Roads Analysis, Watershed Analysis, Late-Successional Reserve Assessments, and other existing road and trail related analysis.
• Initiation of public input and contacts.
• Begin preparation for Travel Analysis.

Use Travel Analysis to Identify Proposals for Change - 2007/2008

• Gather information, input, opportunities, and suggestions from the public.
• Begin sensing of proposals, preliminary issues and elements for alternatives.
• Review and analyze public comments, concerns, and needs.
• Define the Forest's travel niche and area suitability.

Environmental Analysis - 2008/2009

• Develop proposed action
• Begin Environmental Analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Develop and analyze alternatives / consequences.
• Finalize environmental documents and preferred alternative.
• January 2010 - Release Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.
• Issue environmental documents for public comment.
• Conduct internal and external briefings and respond to public comments.
• Make Decision.

Publish Motor Vehicle Map - April 2010

• Issuance of Motor Vehicle Use Maps

Implement, Monitor, and Revise - 2010

• Begin implementing education and public notification actions.

Contact Information

Steve Johnson
Travel Management Team Leader
Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District
645 Washington Street
Ashland, OR 97520-1402
(541) 552-2900

Paul Galloway
Acting Public Affairs Officer
Supervisor's Office
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, OR 97504
(541) 618-2113