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SOURCE: Press Release, Angeles National Forest, May 24, 2007
The Angeles National Forest recently completed a field-checked, mapped inventory of existing roads and trails within the Forest that are currently used by wheeled vehicles, including all authorized and unauthorized routes. This inventory will assist Forest officials in making future, site-specific decisions regarding the unauthorized routes.
The Forest is asking interested persons to review the maps and validate the revised inventory to ensure that it is complete and accurate. Comments should be submitted by July 31, 2007.
Inventory maps, guidelines and forms for reviewing the maps and submitting comments are available on the Angeles National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/recreation/ohv. Comments can be e-mailed to r5_angeles_ohv_suggestions@fs.fed.us or mailed to:
On a national level, the Chief of the Forest Service has directed that each national forest create a system of designated vehicle routes in order to minimize or eliminate the undesirable impacts from unmanaged use of off-highway motor vehicles (OHVs). Unlike many national forests, the Angeles National Forest has had a designated OHV route system in place since 1987. The Forest's 2005 Revised Forest Plan and Record of Decision reconfirmed the OHV route system, with public input.
Any proposed changes to the current route designations would be consistent with the land use zoning of the Forest Plan, and would be accomplished incrementally over time using the required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Future, site-specific decisions regarding the unauthorized route inventory may include the removal of unauthorized routes and restoration of the land, the conversion of some unauthorized routes to non-motorized use such as hiking or mountain-biking, the rerouting of segments, and/or the addition of some routes to the designated system. These adjustments will occur gradually over time, on an area-by-area basis and as staffing, budget and workload permit.
For more information or for assistance with the Angeles National Forest route inventory validation, please contact Tom Kaucher, Forest OHV Manager, at 661-296-9710 ext 234.
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