BRC Alert:Colville Natl Forest Travel Plan Meeting Update

[pipebomb]

"BLUERIBBON COALITION PACIFIC NW REGIONAL ACTION ALERT UPDATE!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Attention Washington/Oregon/Idaho Recreationists!

This is an important update on the Colville National Forest "Working Group" meetings which are planned for late February and March. The forest has just released the schedule for the Working Group meetings (see Schedule below). During this round of meetings participants will develop specific recommendations for changes or additions to the OHV route system in each project area.

ACCESS ADVISORY:
The FS says in addition to OHV routes, the second round of meetings will also discuss the dispersed camping and changes to the non-motorized trail system. BRC supports active management of all trail-based recreation, and we support comprehensive recreation management. However, we have seen instances where the agency attempts to use the existing inventory of motorized routes to develop a non-motorized system. This is why it is critically important for the OHV community to become involved in the first round of meetings.

Please plan on attending one of the orientation meetings if you plan to attend any of the working group meetings. The dates, times, and locations for the working group meetings are shown below. If you can not attend one of the orientation meetings and you would like to attend a working group meeting, please call Debbie Wilkins at 509-447-7322 or Carmen Nielsen at 509-738-7761.

Reminder of the Colville National Forest Travel Management Orientation Meeting Schedule
- all meetings are from 6:00-7:30 pm

January 25 Argonne Library, 4322 North Argonne Road in Spokane
January 30 Ione Community Center, 210 Lockwell Street in Ione
January 30 Community College of Spokane, Colville Branch, 985 South Elm Street, Colville
February 1 Republic Ranger Station, 650 East Delaware Avenue in Republic
The Colville National Forest Travel Management Working Group Meeting Schedule

Thursday, February 8, 2007 Bead Lake Project Area 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Newport Ranger Station
315 N. Warren
Newport, WA

Thursday, February 15, 2007 Trout Project Area 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Kettle Falls High School Cafeteria
1275 Juniper St
Kettle Falls, WA

Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Tacoma Project Area 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Cusick Community Center
107 1st Ave
Cusick, WA

Thursday, February 22, 2007 Swan Lake & Hall Creek Project Areas 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Republic Ranger Station
650 East Delaware Ave
Republic, WA

Saturday, March 3, 2007 North Fork Chewelah Creek & 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Middle Fork Calispel Creek Project Areas
Chewelah Peak Learning Center

Thursday, March 8, 2007 Vulcan Mt. Project Area 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Republic Ranger Station
650 East Delaware Ave
Republic, WA

Saturday, March 17, 2007 Paupac, Snyder Hill, and 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Little Pend Oreillle Project Areas
Ione Community Center
210 Lockwell St
Ione, WA

For more information contact Donna Nemeth, Public Affairs Office, at (509) 684-7177 or Craig Newman, RELM Staff Officer, at (509) 684-7104 or cell at (509)675-0895. Information on OHV planning is also available at the FS website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/for...ohv/index.html

As always, if you have any questions please give us a call.

Thanks in advance for your support!
Brian Hawthorne
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102

PLEASE IF YOU RECREATE IN THE COLVILLE NATIONAL FOREST GET INVOLVED NOW! "