From: Kristi M Ponozzo [mailto:kmponozzo@fs.fed.us]
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 7:01 AM
Subject: News Release: National Forest seeks input on horse and mountain bike use
Contact: Kristi Ponozzo, 802-747-6760
National Forest seeks input on horse and mountain bike use
Rutland, VT (March. 21, 2008) - The Green Mountain National Forest officials are looking at increasing opportunities for equestrian and mountain bike enthusiasts on some of the existing roads and trails throughout the Forest.
"We are looking for areas based on interest and compatible uses," said District Ranger Tracy Tophooven. "We are interested in input and comments from citizens on expanding these recreation opportunities on the Green Mountain National Forest."
Some examples of areas being considered are existing roads and trails in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area where specific single track hiking trails could be considered for mountain bike use.
The Appalachian Trail, Long Trail and Congressionally designated Wilderness Areas are not being considered for equestrian and mountain bike use because it would conflict with applicable laws and the 2006 Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
Through the forest plan revision process, the Forest identified providing a diverse range of high-quality and sustainable recreation opportunities as a priority for future management. Along with that, the Forest is focusing on enhancing existing trails before the development of new trails, providing multiple use trails instead of single use trails where possible and designing trails to adequately and safely accommodate demand and impact from use. The Forest will be looking to partner with local organizations to assist with maintenance, and will be considering issues like ample parking at trailheads, loop opportunities, potential user conflicts, monitoring of impacts of new use and mitigation measures for possible environmental impacts.
The Forest is requesting comments before April 21, 2008 on the best trails to provide such uses. Postal, hand-delivered, oral, electronic and facsimile (FAX) comments on the proposal will be accepted. Postal comments and hand-delivered comment can be submitted to the Rochester Ranger District, 99 Ranger Road, Rochester, VT 05767, the Manchester Ranger District 2538 Depot Road, Manchester, VT 05255, or the Middlebury Ranger District, 1007 Route 7 South, Middlebury VT 05753. Oral comments or questions about the project can be directed to David Harloff, North Zone Trails Manager, at (802) 767-4261 ext. 530, or Doug Reeves, South Zone Trails Manager at (802) 362-2307 ext 224. The office hours for those submitting oral or hand-delivered comments are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Word (.doc) or Portable Document Format (.pdf), to comments-eastern-green-mt-finger-lakes-middlebury@fs.fed.us. Comments must have an identifiable name attached or verification of identity will be required. Comments may also be submitted to me by FAX to (802) 767-4777.
###
Kristi Ponozzo
Public Affairs Officer
Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest
802-747-6760
kmponozzo@fs.fed.us
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 7:01 AM
Subject: News Release: National Forest seeks input on horse and mountain bike use
Contact: Kristi Ponozzo, 802-747-6760
National Forest seeks input on horse and mountain bike use
Rutland, VT (March. 21, 2008) - The Green Mountain National Forest officials are looking at increasing opportunities for equestrian and mountain bike enthusiasts on some of the existing roads and trails throughout the Forest.
"We are looking for areas based on interest and compatible uses," said District Ranger Tracy Tophooven. "We are interested in input and comments from citizens on expanding these recreation opportunities on the Green Mountain National Forest."
Some examples of areas being considered are existing roads and trails in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area where specific single track hiking trails could be considered for mountain bike use.
The Appalachian Trail, Long Trail and Congressionally designated Wilderness Areas are not being considered for equestrian and mountain bike use because it would conflict with applicable laws and the 2006 Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
Through the forest plan revision process, the Forest identified providing a diverse range of high-quality and sustainable recreation opportunities as a priority for future management. Along with that, the Forest is focusing on enhancing existing trails before the development of new trails, providing multiple use trails instead of single use trails where possible and designing trails to adequately and safely accommodate demand and impact from use. The Forest will be looking to partner with local organizations to assist with maintenance, and will be considering issues like ample parking at trailheads, loop opportunities, potential user conflicts, monitoring of impacts of new use and mitigation measures for possible environmental impacts.
The Forest is requesting comments before April 21, 2008 on the best trails to provide such uses. Postal, hand-delivered, oral, electronic and facsimile (FAX) comments on the proposal will be accepted. Postal comments and hand-delivered comment can be submitted to the Rochester Ranger District, 99 Ranger Road, Rochester, VT 05767, the Manchester Ranger District 2538 Depot Road, Manchester, VT 05255, or the Middlebury Ranger District, 1007 Route 7 South, Middlebury VT 05753. Oral comments or questions about the project can be directed to David Harloff, North Zone Trails Manager, at (802) 767-4261 ext. 530, or Doug Reeves, South Zone Trails Manager at (802) 362-2307 ext 224. The office hours for those submitting oral or hand-delivered comments are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Word (.doc) or Portable Document Format (.pdf), to comments-eastern-green-mt-finger-lakes-middlebury@fs.fed.us. Comments must have an identifiable name attached or verification of identity will be required. Comments may also be submitted to me by FAX to (802) 767-4777.
###
Kristi Ponozzo
Public Affairs Officer
Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest
802-747-6760
kmponozzo@fs.fed.us
