Gallatin releases proposed travel plan

By SCOTT McMILLION Chronicle Staff Writer

The Gallatin National Forest on Monday released the details of its proposed new travel management plan, a 1,200-page study that spells out who can travel where.

The environmental impact statement also explains Forest Supervisor Becki Heath's rationale for big cutbacks in motorized travel on the 1.8 million acre forest.

"For example, as motorized use increases, wildlife habitat security decreases," Heath wrote. "Conversely, the more restrictions one places on recreation use of the forest, the better it is for wildlife and other resources."

Still, making such decisions is a tough job, she said, and it's hard to "develop a travel plan that strikes the perfect balance between recreation opportunities provided and maintenance or improvement of other resource conditions."

A group of about 40 people gathered Monday at the downtown federal building to support increased emphasis on "muscle-powered" recreation.

That rally, sponsored by environmental groups, hikers and others that have organized themselves into a group called "Friends of the Gallatin Forest," described the travel plan and accompanying EIS as "a good start." They urged further restrictions on motorized travel in some areas, though speakers also stressed there is room in the forest for motorcyclists, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.

"They have a right to be there, too," said Jim Kraus, who identified himself as an area hiker and backpacker.

Conflicts between motorized and nonmotorized forest users have grown in recent years, partly because more people are using the forests and partly because better snowmobiles and ATVs make it possible for more people to take them into the backcountry.

In December, hundreds of people gathered at the Gallatin County Courthouse at a rally sponsored by Citizens for Balanced Use, protesting proposed restrictions on trail use.

The Gallatin's plan calls for cutting the miles of trails open to ATVs from 281 to 166; cutting the miles of motorcycle trails from 457 to 238; cutting the non-wilderness acres now open to snowmobiles from 84 percent to 65 percent.

Heath said she tried to provide a "mix" of quiet and motorized summer trails but "did not attempt to create an equal allocation of motorized and non-motorized opportunities based on factors such as miles of trail or volume of use."

Rather, she said she focused on what the land, wildlife and other resources, could tolerate.

"The capability of the land," she wrote, "was a greater factor in determining where opportunities could be provided."

The plan aims to focus most motorized use in areas that already have abundant roads and trails.

Horseback riders would lose access to about 34,000 acres in the high, rocky peaks of the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness area, and some routes would be closed to stock during spring breakup.

Mountain bikes would be restricted as well, primarily in the Hyalite/Porcupine Wilderness Study area in the Gallatin Range south of Bozeman.

In the Hyalite drainage, one of the most heavily used national forest recreation areas in the state, a variety of uses would be allowed, with two ATV/motorcycle loop trails, and mountain biking on existing roads. In the winter, the emphasis will be on "front country cross country skiing." Heath is proposing to ban snowmobiling there, but said she will examine other ideas.

She also calls for plowing the Hyalite Road to Chisholm Campground, but notes it is "questionable" whether she can find the money to do that.

A number of "non-system" roads and trails, which are routes built by users instead of the Forest Service, would be closed.

Copies of the EIS are available at Forest Service offices on computer disc, or by calling 587-6701. Paper copies were mailed from the printer Monday, forest spokeswoman Lorette Ray said, and should arrive shortly. The plan is also available on the Gallatin's website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/

There will be open houses around the region to discuss the plan and public comment will be accepted for 45 days.

Reader Comments