by Tracy Chamberlin

Off-roading in the western San Juan National Forest, once a common practice, could be lost to a by-gone era by next week.

The use of motorized vehicles like ATVs and dirt bikes would be confined to designated roads and trails under the proposed Boggy-Glade Travel Management Plan.

“This decision begins a new direction for the Boggy-Glade area,” Dolores District Ranger Derek Padilla explained.

For decades, residents moved freely across the Boggy-Glade area, northwest of Dolores, for firewood, recreation or hunting. However, under the Forest Service’s latest plan, released in December, motor vehicles would be limited to specific roads and trails with exceptions for limited big-game retrieval, dispersed camping and day-use parking.

The 59-page report, available on the Forest Service website, defines those exceptions and the reasons for arriving at the decision. However, it’s not written in stone just yet.

A total of 25 appeals were submitted – most opposing the prohibition of cross-country travel. One appeal argued that the Forest Service allowed for too much access.

This is actually a second go at the appeals process. The first draft plan was reversed in late 2010 after appeals were upheld. Public input followed, along with added alternatives and a revised Environmental Assessment.

The current plan, released Dec. 5, 2012, includes responses to some of the comments made during the original process.

Forest Supervisor Mark Stiles was and remains the deciding voice in the appeals. His decision on this second round is expected next week. If the proposed plan is upheld, it could go into action by early April. If not, the process begins anew with public input, revisions and appeals.

San Juan National Forest officials first reviewed the Boggy-Glade plan after the release of the 2005 Travel Rule, intended to rein in recreational motor vehicle use on national forest. It directed officials to review past policies and consider revisions.

Padilla explains that following the review, “it became evident that over time, the Forest Service had let the number of roads grow beyond the agency’s ability to maintain them.”

He added that a change was needed because the roads and trails had spread out over the landscape, disturbing wildlife and damaging the watershed.

One of the arguments made in an appeal from the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners, and shared with others, is the desire to have concrete scientific data to support Padilla’s claim that the wildlife and watershed have suffered from motorized use.

“If watershed health is to be used as a measure to influence management decisions,” the Montezuma County appeal reads, “it should at least have some reasonable thresholds established that help determine when management changes are justified … and why proposed management changes are needed.”

The Dolores County Board of Commissioners, which originally appealed the 2011 decision based on a lack of scientific data, echoed a similar concern. “Once again, we see the use of professional opinions to determine the existence of watershed, wildlife and habitat, recreation, 4 botany, heritage and engineering outcomes instead of true scientific methods,” it states.

The focus of the proposed plan is on the western border of the Dolores River canyon, running south to include McPhee Reservoir. In the east, it borders Highway 145 and lines up with the forest boundary to the north.

“This community has very close ties to the land and the traditional ways in which the landscape was used,” the Montezuma County appeal reads. “… (it is) one area within the whole San Juan National Forest where the terrain is suited for cross country motorized experiences … Motorized users deserve to have a special area set aside for them to enjoy freely just as wilderness areas set aside special areas where motorized use is not allowed.”

One appeal, submitted by Robert Marion, with the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, argues that too much access is allowed under the proposed plan. He refers to Padilla’s decision to add 42 miles of motorized trails to the already existing 379 miles, as well as plans to allow for limited game retrieval. He asserts that these allowances mean the Forest Service has not met its obligation to “minimize environmental damage.”

Under the limited game retrieval allowances, occurring for deer or elk during archery, muzzleloader, and the first through fourth hunting seasons, the vehicle must stay within 1 mile of the road and is restricted to a maximum of 50 inches in width. One vehicle can make two trips; two vehicles can make just one.

This is also subject to a five-year evaluation period to see if the exemption is being abused. Padilla said the Forest Service does not have a specific threshold that would determine abuse.

He said it’s difficult to define abuse with something like the number of citations given out since it will take time to educate the public on the changes. This is one of the reasons the evaluation period is five years. If citations diminish over that time, officials will know they are getting compliance.

Those planning to stay overnight, referred to as dispersed camping, are allowed to park 300 feet from the road; however, certain areas are off limits. Trailheads, the Sage Hen area and Dolores town site are some of those off-limits sites.

Day users would need to park one car length or less than 30 feet off of designated routes. Firewood collection is not considered a day-use activity because it falls under a different type of permitting process, according to Deborah Kill, National Environmental Policy Act coordinator for the Dolores District.

The current rule for firewood collection limits off-road access to 300 feet from the designated routes. However, it is an annual policy process and subject to change.

For now, residents who both support and oppose cross country, motorized travel for getting firewood, retrieving game, camping or just having fun in the Boggy-Glade area are stuck in the waiting room.

The entire decision and appeals can be found online at www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=19604.