A few day ago we learned about the Forest Service 2020 Plan where 70% of all Forest Service roads must comply with the Level 3
designation allowing a low ground clearance 2WD vehicle to drive on the road. We first thought that there was some good news
because the Forest Service plan did not include any means of funding. That actually may be bad news!
We were kicking around ways the Forest Service might implement the 2020 plan. One way is to pave over the dirt roads, which would
simplify maintenance and reduce cost in the long haul. That led to a rather frightening idea. In the Big Bear, we are blessed with over
600 miles of forest service roads, About 75 miles of those roads fit the Level 3 requirement or could very easily. Another 50 miles would
be fairly easy to bring up to that standard. So here in Big Bear, the Forest Service has a start with about 20% of the roads easily
brought to the level 3 standard. That means they would only need to bring about 300 miles of trails and roads up to Level 3 standards. It
would take a huge budget and more than 10 years to accomplish that. That is why it appeared to be good news. Here’s the bad news!
What if they simply closed 420 miles of Forest Service roads. Then the 125 miles that are easily brought up to Level 3 stands would be
just over 70% of the total road mileage. That would leave us with just 55 miles of high ground clearance 4x4 roads in the Big Bear area.
Inevitably, some great wheeling roads would disappear. Since the Forest Service has been closing trails for the last year in this area,
this just makes too much sense. We better take this threat seriously.
More bad news! We just learned the Angelus National Forest has stopped all recreational mining by reinstating a 1928 law. Now, even
gold panning is not allowed. Is this a conservation move or are the Feds planning to pan for gold to reduce the deficit?
But there us some good news! Congressman Wally Herger is planning to introduce a Travel Management Rule Bill. This bill will restrict
funds for Forest Service implementation of Subpart B of its Travel Management Rule (TMR) until the agency has performed the project-
level review under the Rule. The bill also addresses the very contentious issue of the Forest Service banning OHV use on dirt-covered
and roughly graded logging roads in rural sections of the state.
Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, states, "I feel this legislation has been proposed in direct response
to complaints from his constituents who have been locked out of federal timber lands by the misapplication of the Travel Management
Rule by government agents."
"This is the type of legislation that outdoor voters asked for in the last election. Congress has a duty to defend the public's right to
access federal lands in a responsible manner," Amador concludes.
This bill affects only California, but if it gains traction it may be used a model for other states to stop the closure of roads and trails by the
Forest Service. And this bill could put an end to the 2020 plan.
Here is the text of the bill,
CONSIDERATION OF ROUTES NOT PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED.
No funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Secretary of Agriculture may be used to implement or enforce Subpart B of
the Travel Management Rule (subpart B of part 212 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations), relating to the designation of roads, trails,
and areas for motor vehicle use, in an administrative unit of the National Forest System in California unless the Secretary has
completed post-Subpart B Project Level Trail Planning of unauthorized routes in the unit not considered in Subpart B.
(b) TREATMENT OF MAINTENANCE-LEVEL 3 ROADS.
In implementing Subpart B of the Travel Management Rule in an administrative unit of the National Forest System in California, the
Secretary of Agriculture may not treat a maintenance-level 3 road (as defined in 21 the Forest Service Handbook) as a ‘‘highway’’ for
purposes of determining applicability of division 16.5 of the California Vehicle Code (section 38000 et seq.), relating to off-highway
motor vehicles.
Please ask your Congressman to support this bill.
designation allowing a low ground clearance 2WD vehicle to drive on the road. We first thought that there was some good news
because the Forest Service plan did not include any means of funding. That actually may be bad news!
We were kicking around ways the Forest Service might implement the 2020 plan. One way is to pave over the dirt roads, which would
simplify maintenance and reduce cost in the long haul. That led to a rather frightening idea. In the Big Bear, we are blessed with over
600 miles of forest service roads, About 75 miles of those roads fit the Level 3 requirement or could very easily. Another 50 miles would
be fairly easy to bring up to that standard. So here in Big Bear, the Forest Service has a start with about 20% of the roads easily
brought to the level 3 standard. That means they would only need to bring about 300 miles of trails and roads up to Level 3 standards. It
would take a huge budget and more than 10 years to accomplish that. That is why it appeared to be good news. Here’s the bad news!
What if they simply closed 420 miles of Forest Service roads. Then the 125 miles that are easily brought up to Level 3 stands would be
just over 70% of the total road mileage. That would leave us with just 55 miles of high ground clearance 4x4 roads in the Big Bear area.
Inevitably, some great wheeling roads would disappear. Since the Forest Service has been closing trails for the last year in this area,
this just makes too much sense. We better take this threat seriously.
More bad news! We just learned the Angelus National Forest has stopped all recreational mining by reinstating a 1928 law. Now, even
gold panning is not allowed. Is this a conservation move or are the Feds planning to pan for gold to reduce the deficit?
But there us some good news! Congressman Wally Herger is planning to introduce a Travel Management Rule Bill. This bill will restrict
funds for Forest Service implementation of Subpart B of its Travel Management Rule (TMR) until the agency has performed the project-
level review under the Rule. The bill also addresses the very contentious issue of the Forest Service banning OHV use on dirt-covered
and roughly graded logging roads in rural sections of the state.
Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, states, "I feel this legislation has been proposed in direct response
to complaints from his constituents who have been locked out of federal timber lands by the misapplication of the Travel Management
Rule by government agents."
"This is the type of legislation that outdoor voters asked for in the last election. Congress has a duty to defend the public's right to
access federal lands in a responsible manner," Amador concludes.
This bill affects only California, but if it gains traction it may be used a model for other states to stop the closure of roads and trails by the
Forest Service. And this bill could put an end to the 2020 plan.
Here is the text of the bill,
CONSIDERATION OF ROUTES NOT PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED.
No funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Secretary of Agriculture may be used to implement or enforce Subpart B of
the Travel Management Rule (subpart B of part 212 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations), relating to the designation of roads, trails,
and areas for motor vehicle use, in an administrative unit of the National Forest System in California unless the Secretary has
completed post-Subpart B Project Level Trail Planning of unauthorized routes in the unit not considered in Subpart B.
(b) TREATMENT OF MAINTENANCE-LEVEL 3 ROADS.
In implementing Subpart B of the Travel Management Rule in an administrative unit of the National Forest System in California, the
Secretary of Agriculture may not treat a maintenance-level 3 road (as defined in 21 the Forest Service Handbook) as a ‘‘highway’’ for
purposes of determining applicability of division 16.5 of the California Vehicle Code (section 38000 et seq.), relating to off-highway
motor vehicles.
Please ask your Congressman to support this bill.
| Motorized Vehicle Use on Public Lands Information & Issues Vital for Continued Access to OUR Lands! |
Copyright 2009 Don Alexander
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Trail Indexes
Click on a Link
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Congressman Jerry Lewis
Representing California's 41st District
Send a Message to Jerry Lewis
District Office
1150 Brookside Avenue
Suite J-5
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: (909) 862-6030
1-800-233-1700 (within California)
Washington, D.C. Office
2112 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5861
Representing California's 41st District
Send a Message to Jerry Lewis
District Office
1150 Brookside Avenue
Suite J-5
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: (909) 862-6030
1-800-233-1700 (within California)
Washington, D.C. Office
2112 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5861
San Bernardino National
Forest CONTACTS
Supervisor's Office
602 S. Tippecanoe Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 382-2600 (Voice)
(TDD/TTY dial 7-1-1)
Arrowhead Ranger Station
(909) 382-2782
Barton Flats Visitor Center
(909) 794-4861 Summer
Season Only
Big Bear Ranger Station &
Discovery Center
(909) 382-2790
Idyllwild Ranger Station
(909) 382-2921
Lytle Creek Ranger Station
(909) 382-2851
Mill Creek Ranger Station
(909) 382-2882
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains National
Monument
(760) 862-9984
Forest CONTACTS
Supervisor's Office
602 S. Tippecanoe Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 382-2600 (Voice)
(TDD/TTY dial 7-1-1)
Arrowhead Ranger Station
(909) 382-2782
Barton Flats Visitor Center
(909) 794-4861 Summer
Season Only
Big Bear Ranger Station &
Discovery Center
(909) 382-2790
Idyllwild Ranger Station
(909) 382-2921
Lytle Creek Ranger Station
(909) 382-2851
Mill Creek Ranger Station
(909) 382-2882
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains National
Monument
(760) 862-9984
TEMPORARILY CLOSED TRAILS AND ROADS LIST
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
San Bernardino National Forest Fire Conditions
(CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Weather Conditions
(CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Off Highway Vehicle
Info (CLICK HERE!)
Road Conditions (Highways) (CLICK HERE!)
Fire Restrictions (CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Alerts and Notices
(CLICK HERE!)
Cal 4 Wheel Safety Requirements (CLICK HERE)
(CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Weather Conditions
(CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Off Highway Vehicle
Info (CLICK HERE!)
Road Conditions (Highways) (CLICK HERE!)
Fire Restrictions (CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Alerts and Notices
(CLICK HERE!)
Cal 4 Wheel Safety Requirements (CLICK HERE)
What you can do!
Click HERE!
Click HERE!
Travel Management Directives; Forest
Service Manual 2350, 7700, and 7710
and Forest Service Handbook 7709.55
From the Federal Register, 12-09-08
this document covers amendments to the
Forest Service Travel Management plan.
Service Manual 2350, 7700, and 7710
and Forest Service Handbook 7709.55
From the Federal Register, 12-09-08
this document covers amendments to the
Forest Service Travel Management plan.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS FOR YOUR
INFORMATION
CLICK ON THE DOCUMENT NAME TO DOWNLOAD OR OPEN
In the coming months, we will post articles offering opinions about these
documents and how you can use them and/or their contents to keep access to
the San Bernardino National Forest. For now, continuing to use the land and
your vehicles in a resonsible manner is the most important tool we have.
INFORMATION
CLICK ON THE DOCUMENT NAME TO DOWNLOAD OR OPEN
In the coming months, we will post articles offering opinions about these
documents and how you can use them and/or their contents to keep access to
the San Bernardino National Forest. For now, continuing to use the land and
your vehicles in a resonsible manner is the most important tool we have.
Travel Management;
Designated Routes and
Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
this document covers: The Department of
Agriculture is revising regulations
regarding travel management on
National Forest System lands to clarify
policy related to motor vehicle use,
including the use of off-highway
vehicles.
THIS IS THE MASTER DOCUMENT FOR ALL
NATIONAL FORESTS TO USE AS A GUIDE
FOR LOCAL TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANS
Designated Routes and
Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
this document covers: The Department of
Agriculture is revising regulations
regarding travel management on
National Forest System lands to clarify
policy related to motor vehicle use,
including the use of off-highway
vehicles.
THIS IS THE MASTER DOCUMENT FOR ALL
NATIONAL FORESTS TO USE AS A GUIDE
FOR LOCAL TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANS
LINKS TO IMPORTANT
INFORMATION WEB SITES
INFORMATION WEB SITES
The Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976
this document was created by Congress
to establish public land policy; to
establish guidelines for its administration;
to provide for the management,
protection, development, and
enhancement of the public lands; and for
other purposes.
Management Act of 1976
this document was created by Congress
to establish public land policy; to
establish guidelines for its administration;
to provide for the management,
protection, development, and
enhancement of the public lands; and for
other purposes.
FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 20
this document is CHAPTER 20 - TRAVEL
ANALYSIS
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 20
this document is CHAPTER 20 - TRAVEL
ANALYSIS
FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 10
this document is CHAPTER 10 - TRAVEL
PLANNING FOR DESIGNATIONS
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 10
this document is CHAPTER 10 - TRAVEL
PLANNING FOR DESIGNATIONS
FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 7710
this document is CHAPTER 7710 –
TRAVEL PLANNING
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 7710
this document is CHAPTER 7710 –
TRAVEL PLANNING
Environmental Assessment
Motorized Travel
Management EA
San Bernardino National
Forest
this document published in January,
2009, is the key document covering, if you
looking deep enough, what is going on in
the San Bernardino National Forest right
now.
Motorized Travel
Management EA
San Bernardino National
Forest
this document published in January,
2009, is the key document covering, if you
looking deep enough, what is going on in
the San Bernardino National Forest right
now.
 |  |
Road Analysis Process
In August 1999, the Washington Office of
the USDA Forest Service published
Miscellaneous Report FS-
643 titled "Roads Analysis: Informing
Decisions about Managing the National
Forest Transportation
System".
In August 1999, the Washington Office of
the USDA Forest Service published
Miscellaneous Report FS-
643 titled "Roads Analysis: Informing
Decisions about Managing the National
Forest Transportation
System".
ACTION
NEEDED
ITEMS
NEEDED
ITEMS
Click on a link for
more INFO!
Senator Boxer
Legislation Info
Senator Feinstein
Wilderness Bill
more INFO!
Senator Boxer
Legislation Info
Senator Feinstein
Wilderness Bill
| The Forest Service 2020 Plan may mean fewer four wheeling opportunities |