URGENT!!! COMMENTS NEEDED BY JAUNUARY 7^TH

The Payette National Forest is revising the Travel Plan. This revison will impact your backcountry experience. Your   comments are urgently needed! Submit comments to the Forest Service email sdixon@fs.fed.us, mail to Travel                Plan Revision, P.O. Box 1026 McCall, Idaho 83638 or fax 208 634 0744.by January 7th, 2005.

Suggestions for making effective comments

Identify yourself as an Idaho and/or local resident, CIRC member, type of user (backcountry skier, cat skier, alpine, Nordic skier, snowshoer, any, other, or all of the above.) If you make your living here, say so.

Explain the type of experience you are seeking on public lands.

Example: seeking solitude, free of noise and air pollution. Seeking fresh untracked snow.

Remind the Forest Service of their responsibilities.

Ex: to promote user enjoyment, ensure safety of all users, minimize conflicts, provide a quality experience for all users, provide a broad and balanced range of opportunities.

Explain how the type of experience you are seeking has been impacted                  by the motorized sector in recent years

Ex: Over the past 30 years snowmobiles have increased in both size and power and the number of these machines on public lands is ever increasing. Areas traditionally accessible only to human powered recreators now see far more use.

Explain your concerns for the current situation and your desires for the future.

Ex: the current multiple use management approach is not meeting the needs of all users. There is a significant need for non-motorized designations, which are accessible and large enough to provide for a reasonable expectation for solitude, free from traffic hazards, noise, and air pollution and competition with motorized users for "fresh tracks".

CIRC needs you to write a letter! Specific comments will make a difference. For more specific information regarding proposed non-motorized designations continue reading. (note: take a look at the attached map before you continue, it will help you better understand the following text).

Make specific suggestions to the Travel Management Plan. (the Forest’s proposed actions are available at the Forest Supervisors office or go to www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette/ If there is anything you do not understand, contact Gary Elliott 634 0400)

·         Bear Basin Area Closure

·         Support the Forest Service proposed non motorized designation "as is". Also support extending proposed Bear Basin closure North to existing Brundage Mountain closure, maintaining a motorized corridor. (see attached map)

·         Justification: need to provide opportunities for cross-country skiers, snowshoers. Need to consider potential opportunities for the Little Ski Hill. Increase buffer between motorized use and southern ski area boundary.

·         Granite Area Closure

·         Question the effectiveness of the Granite proposed closure having restrictions (closed only January 1- March 15th ) Suggest that the closure be CLOSED.

·         Justification: dates leave room for confusion with other users. Dates do not consider that,during pre and post cat ski season Granite provides excellent opportunities for backcountry skiers.

·         Extend North Boundary of Granite Proposal from the Goose Lake Road and the Association Cabin Road to the top of the Twin Lakes Ridge, West through Sections 2 and 3, up to Granite Lookout, following ridgeline North through Sections 4 and 33, West along North Section line of Section 33 to Browns Creek Road. (see map)

·         Justification: provides an identifiable and enforceable boundary in a high conflict area.

·         76 Area Closure

·         Suggest that the Southern end of Slab Butte known as "76" be designated non motorized. Boundaries defined as: southern boundary follows Goose Lake Road to No Name Creek running East West in middle of Section 13, follow drainage Northeast to ridgetop, head due East to flats North of Brundage Reservoir, follow west side of Brundage Reservoir to Goose Lake Road.(see attached map).

·         Justification: critical terrain for Brundage cat ski program half-day trips. Will provide terrain for human powered backcountry skiers, especially critical with future Brundage expansion into the Sargeants area.

·         Brundage Lookout Road Closure

·         Suggest that the Lookout Road from the Hartley Meadows Road to the Brundage Lookout be closed

·         Justification: allows for snowmobile traffic to enter into ski area permit boundary. Motorized users have proven themselves incapable of restricting themselves to the roadway, creating a safety hazard and tracking up precious powder for out of bounds skiers who frequent the area.

·         Lick Creek Area Closure

·         Support Forest Service proposed action

CIRC’s Proposed Closure

·         Support CIRC’s proposal "as is"(see dotted line on the attached map) as presented in the Winter Recreation Forum. (note: Any questions call Gabriela 634 5447).

·         Justification: As use increases and disperses across the entire Payette National Forest, human powered recreators are being pushed out of traditional ski areas at an alarming rate. Despite recent efforts to alleviate friction between users, the number of conflicts continues to escalate and the experience of the backcountry user who chooses to travel on foot is adversely affected. Due to the illustrated disrespect for other users and the" we see no conflict here" attitude coming from the motorized crowd, we feel that designating one, large area with inarguable, identifiable and ENFORCEABLE boundaries is the best solution for alleviating conflict, providing the desired opportunity spectrum and meeting the needs of ALL users. . Feel free to mention that, in light of the fact that 1.1million acres are open and accessible to the average motorized user(this estimate was determined by the Forest in the Winter Recreation Forum, this proposal (approx. 65,ooo acres or 5%) is very reasonable.

·         Or…explain that, while you feel that CIRC’s proposal continues to be the best alternative, you understand concessions must be made from time to time. Suggest to the Forest Service the following areas be closed to winter motorized use. Explain that the following proposal presents a "bare minimum" alternative

·         Boulder Lakes Area Closure: close an area beginning at the intersection of the Southern end of the existing winter closure and State Lands in Section 22, head East following existing closure to Rapid Peak in NW corner of Section 31, then head SW through Section 36 and 2 to Rapid Creek trail, then follow trail south through Section 11,14 and 23 to Paddy Flat Road. This closure absorbs the current Jughandle closure.

·         Justification: provides access to Forest Lands for skiers seeking a purely non-motorized experience. Does not currently serve as a major portal for motorized use. Excellent ski terrain. Has potential to be developed as a Park and Ski.

·         Twenty Mile Creek Area Closure: close an area extending from Twenty Mile Creek drainage East through Section 29 and 28 to the current existing closure, then South through Sections 27,34,3,11,and 14 to adjoin the proposed Forest Service closure, then west through Section 14and 15 to Outlet Creek, then follow creek Northwest through Sections 16,9,4, 32 and 28.(see attached map).

·         Justification: provides access to Forest Lands for skiers via Warren Wagon Road. Does not currently see significant motorized use. Excellent ski terrain. Potential to create a Park and Ski or possible multiple use parking facility in the future.

·         Cougar/ Camp Creek Area Closure: close an area beginning at West end of Upper Payette Lake, following the shoreline North through Sections 36,25,19,continue North along warren wagon Road to the Southeast corner of Section 18, then West through Section 19,13,14,15 to Black Tip Peak, then follow ridgeline South to Camp Creek drainage through Sections 22,26, and 25 to western shoreline of Upper Payette Lake.

·         Justification: provides access to Forest Lands via Warren Wagon Road for skiers. Does not currently see significant motorized use. Excellent ski terrain. Potential to create a Park and Ski or possible multiple use parking facility in the future.

·         Twah Creek Area Closure: close an area adjoining State lands east and Northeast of Payette Lake. Follow Box Creek East through Section 30 to the Crestline Trail, follow trail South through Sections 32,5,8,18,19,30 then West through NW corner of Section 31 adjoining State Lands.

·         Justification: provides access to Forest Lands for skiers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers. Is accessible to human powered recreators. Potential to develop a Park and Ski in the North Beach area, or other points along east side of Payette Lake.

Justifications for all of the above: Separating users will minimize conflicts, promote user enjoyment and quality of experience for all, promote safety, and achieve a balance of uses. These proposed closures will provide areas large enough for forest users to have a reasonable expectation for solitude and an increased range of opportunities for all users, allowing better utilization of available terrain. Future growth for non-motorized winter sports can occur within these closures. Motorized recreation can then occur and grow in all other areas without causing conflict throughout the entire forest. We believe this solution considers all interests, resolves conflicting interests to a standard of fairness, is durable, and takes community interests into account.

Other comments you might want to make

·         A balance of uses and a broad spectrum of opportunity on public land is critical to a stable economy for Valley County

·         State that opening any areas currently designated closed is not acceptable.

·         State that the skiing community remains committed to the collaborative effort.