South Rampart Recreation Travel Management public comment period ended Although the public comment period ended on October 17, you can read about Wild Connections' perspective below.
South Rampart Recreation Travel Management Protect the Rampart Range The United States Forest Service proposes several alternatives for future recreational use of the south end of the Rampart Range within Pikes Peak Ranger District. The travel plan spans some of the best remaining wild areas and some of the most heavily used areas on the Front Range.
Some changes would help protect the general environment and provide balance among various motorized and non-motorized uses. Other changes increase or relocate motorized use. Wild Connections has been following this planning process closely and we urge you to read on and then send comments to the Forest Service.
Alternatives are described in the Draft Environmental Assessment (USFS 10 MB). In addition to a “No Action” Alternative (Alternative A), the Forest Service has two “action” alternatives - B and C.
Alternative B, which is the Forest Service’s “preferred alternative,” would make a number of beneficial changes, and we generally support it. However, there are specific details that are not acceptable. It would expand or continue to allow off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in some areas which are presently roadless or where enforcement of OHV restrictions would be difficult.
Please oppose these particular provisions of Alternative B: ♦Most importantly, we urge you to oppose the creation of a new motorcycle trail OHV12 in Alternative B. This trail would allow motorcyclists to travel from the Rainbow Falls Motorized Use Area west of the Rampart Range Road, across the Rampart Range Road and into the vicinity of the Rampart East Roadless Area. This area has extensive illegal use on user-created OHV trails, and we creating an authorized trail in this area will only add to this problem. By not building this trail, by closing some routes, and by restricting motorcycle recreation to the areas west of the Rampart Range Road, the Forest Service would not only lessen the likelihood of abuse, but would also significantly reduce its enforcement burden. Elimination of this trail would also expand the Rampart East Roadless Area acreage. We urge you to ask the Forest Service to eliminate this proposed motorcycle trail and instead adopt the motorcycle trail route contained in Alternative C, which would also provide for a new motorcycle route, identified as OHV16, but would keep motorcyclists west of the Rampart Range Road and within the current Rainbow Falls Motorized Recreation Area.
♦ Please recommend against the portions of Alternative B that would 1) keep roads in the Schubarth Road area north of Rampart Reservoir open to all vehicles (including OHVs) and 2) create a new motorized trail, identified as OHV1, in this area. At present, OHV users travel beyond the ends of the designated motorized routes and there are conflicts with other forest users and with private landowners along Schubarth Road. The Forest Service has proposed conversion of these roads to licensed vehicles only under Alternative C, and we feel that this is the proper classification of these roads.
Ask the Forest Service to adopt the portion of Alternative C which would redesignate these existing roads as roads open to licensed vehicles only, and eliminate the new OHV route. ♦ For similar reasons, recommend against the portions of Alternative B which would keep roads in the Saylor Park area open to all vehicles. Motorized recreationists traveling illegally beyond the designated road-ends in the Saylor Park area are causing problems in the Rampart East Roadless Area. Ask that these roads also be converted to use by licensed vehicles only. On the positive side, Alternative B would close a number of problem roads, particularly in the vicinity of the Rampart East Roadless Area, and would convert some roads from all vehicles to licenses vehicles only. The provision in Alternative B that will close and rehabilitate FR 372, 300.D, 300.E (see map) would also increase the Rampart East Roadless Area and reduce habitat damage. We hope that in your comments you will support these changes. You can help protect the quiet recreational use and wildlife habitat of this important place. Send comments by e-mail to comment@southrampart.net. Written comments may also be mailed to: AECOM, Attn: South Rampart Draft EA, 240 E. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524. Comments must be received before October 17, 2011 If you would like more information about these or other issues raised by the Draft EA, contact Jim Lockhart at jlock@datawest.net
Wild Connections 2309 N. Logan Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80907 info@wildconnections.org 719-686-5905
