Rio Grande forest

[DOOin it]

Hey guys just got this email yesterday. I know a lot of you guys ride the rio grande forest and need to know what changes are coming, good and bad for us down here in southern colorado. Thanks

Dear Stakeholder,

The following is a news release that was sent to our media list on October 16. Sorry for the delay with getting this information out to you – we just now transitioned our forest plan contact list from the National Forest Foundation to us. All updates should be much more timely from now on!

Thank you for your continued interest in the Rio Grande National Forest plan revision process. Please let me know if you ever wish to be removed from this list.

Mike


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2015

Rio Grande National Forest to hold four forest plan public meetings

MONTE VISTA, Colo. – The Rio Grande National Forest will hold four public meetings during the first two weeks of November. The purpose of the meetings is to provide an update on the status of the forest plan revision and to share information about draft assessments.

Each meeting is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Presentations will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by an open house where people will be able to interact with specialists to discuss specific plan revision topics. The meetings are scheduled for:

Wednesday, November 4, at the Saguache County Road and Bridge Building, 305 3rd Street, Saguache.

Thursday, November 5, at the South Fork Community Building, 254 State Highway 149, South Fork.

Monday, November 9, at San Luis Valley Conservancy District Office, 623 Fourth Street, Alamosa.

Thursday, November 12, at the North Conejos School District board room, 17890 Highway 285, La Jara.

The forest plan is the overarching document that guides all management decisions and activities on the entire Rio Grande National Forest, including activities such as preservation of cultural and historic resources, grazing, timber production, recreation, wildlife management, firewood cutting and gathering of special forest products.

For more information, visit the Rio Grande National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande and click on the forest plan revision link or contact Mike Blakeman at the Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 719-852-5941.

###


Mike Blakeman
Public Affairs Specialist
Forest Service
Rio Grande National Forest, Supervisor's Office
p: 719-852-6212
c: 719-850-2360
mblakeman@fs.fed.us
1803 W. U.S. Hwy 160
Monte Vista, CO 81144
www.fs.fed.us

Caring for the land and serving people

 

[capulin overdrive]

Hopefully some folks are at least going to the Southfork meeting?

 

[CO Powder]

If this is indeed the very beginning of the revision process, keep in mind that actual changes will not take place for 10-15 years from now. I am sure CSA will be involved from the start.


Also keep in mind that winter recreation is only a VERY minute part of thee plan process so do not expect to get a lot of attention. If the skiers in the area get crazy, like the do when these things come up, watch out for revisions to the part of the plan you are most interested in, I assume winter rec area designations.


Some forest planners would just prefer the status quo on winter rec. It gets really contentious at meetings if you have skiers and sledders. This is not productive for them.


I would kind of hang back and see if there is a proposed land grab. They will take input and compose several options. Then there will more rounds of meetings in a couple years to revise the proposals. Couple of years after that they should have some final drafts... You will be allowed input along the way through these public meetings. You can also request smaller meetings directly with USFS BLM decision makers. I have attended a couple 8-10 person meetings, just CSA and USFS/BLM.


This is a VERY LONG, PAINFULLY OBTUSE process. Buckle up if you intend on getting truly involved.


Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully riders from the area will make themselves known!

 

[AndrettiDog]

Get friends, family, enemies anyone involved in that public comment session. It seems like it doesn't matter but the more controversy to these FS closures, the harder it is for them to make that decision. We stopped the FS from making very "odd" closures in our area by teaming up with other motorized clubs and calling on the FS to address our concerns. It does help.