080820_v1DP TRAVEL MANAGEMENT - PROCESS ON THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST

080820_v1DP What is the purpose of the Process?  To designate a system of roads, trails, and areas that will be open to motor vehicle use on the Gila NF

080820_v1DP What approach has the Gila taken?  A single, Forest-wide approach  This provides consistency: InternallyExternallyMaps

080820_v1DP Focus of the Gila’s Process  Analysis will be limited to existing roads and trails.  Only roads/trails shown on current FS map and those roads added by the public will be considered for possible designation.

080820_v1DP  All motorized vehicle types will be considered for use on roads (e.g. full size vehicles, SUV’s, ATV’s, motorcycles, etc.)  Trails designated for motorized use will be limited to use by: –Motor vehicles less than 50” or to single track (motorcycle) use  Seasonal restrictions may be considered on a case by case basis

080820_v1DP  Road closures / decommissioning of non-designated roads may be considered.  New road/trail construction requests may be considered on a case by case basis or analyzed in the future under a separate NEPA process.  Non-motorized types of uses will not be considered at this time

080820_v1DP Route Designation

080820_v1DP Routes were assessed using:  Resource Concerns or “Coarse Filter”  Public Input  Fine Filter

080820_v1DP Resource Concerns  The Forest developed a “coarse filter” –A GIS model that prioritized roads for field verification based on input by resource specialists. Inputs included:  NMED 303(d) list of Impaired Surface Waters  ESA aquatic and terrestrial species; critical habitat; or habitat specified in recovery plans  NMED identified public (community) water supply source  Large drainages that flow into any of the previous 3 points  Perennial channels with non-listed fish species

080820_v1DP Resource Concerns (cont.)  Maps and tables have been developed for: –Road densities by 5 th and 6 th code watersheds –Road density by section in relationship to wildlife species and habitat including Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive

080820_v1DP Public Input  From November 2005 into 2007 the Districts had: –Met with all 4 County Commissioners –Held 46 public meetings / open houses with over 900 attendees –Met with over 380 individuals including range permittees, landowner, outfitter guides, etc. –Received hundreds of route specific information.

080820_v1DP Other Agencies  Worked with other agencies: –A-S National Forest –US Fish and Wildlife Service –New Mexico Department Game and Fish –State Historic Preservation Office

080820_v1DP Fine Filter  Public input  Priority 1&2 roads (coarse filter)  LRMP Standards and Guides  Escape routes / access to safety zones  Current road status  Rights of Ways (granted / acquired)  Permitted uses (range, utilities)  Current recreation uses & opportunities

080820_v1DP Fine Filter (cont.)  Current erosion processes  Steep slopes / sensitive soils  Cultural resources  TES habitat & other wildlife resources  Road densities (Coarse filter)  Relation to stream channels  Road overlap trail (e.g. CDT)  Parallel or duplicate (goes to same location) routes  Road position on slope

080820_v1DP Motorized Dispersed Camping

080820_v1DP Locations for Motorized Dispersed Camping was assessed using:  Public Input  Criteria Filter

080820_v1DP Criteria  Proximity to Private Land  Fire hazards –Fuels conditions –Vegetation type –Prevailing wind direction  Threatened, Endangered, & Sensitive species habitat  Riparian values  Relation to stream channels

080820_v1DP Criteria (cont.)  Steep slopes  Sensitive soils  Known sensitive cultural resource sites  Maintenance level of road  Speed / traffic levels  Public safety  Current dispersed use pattern  Road jurisdiction