Public Meetings March 5-10 for Virginia and West Virginia's George Washington National Forest Plan Revision
Action Alert
For Immediate Release
02-28-07
Contact: Drew Vankat
303-545-9011
Mountain bikers should plan on attending important public meetings as the George Washington National Forest (GWNF) in Virginia and West Virginia revises its forest-wide management plan. The meetings, held March 5-10, will be the first step in determining the future of mountain biking in the GWNF for the next 15-20 years.
The GWNF is home to many popular rides, including the IMBA Epic Southern Traverse and the Big Schloss area. As the forest plan is revised, management policies for recreation, including mountain biking, will be updated. Strong support from the mountain bike community will help maintain the high level of access in the GWNF and possibly result in increased trail opportunities.
If you are unable to attend this round of meetings because of short notice, you can share your thoughts with other mountain bikers at the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) website. These meetings are the beginning of the planning process and additional comment periods will be scheduled in the coming months. Sign up for the mailing list to receive all forest plan revision updates or submit comments.
Talking Points
Forest Service officials hope these five public meetings will identify high-priority issues and areas and set strategic direction for the two- to three-year plan revision process. Feedback on the issues and areas most important to you is vital. Talking points include:
- Thank you for currently allowing mountain bikes on the vast majority of trails.
- Please retain access to my favorite trails and areas--be specific.
- Please consider land prescriptions that protect natural resources and allow continued bicycle access.
- Please apply consistent management policies to bicycling, hiking, horse use and other non-motorized activities. Bicycles should be managed separately from motorized use.
- Mountain bikers value singletrack experiences in backcountry areas.
- Shared-use trails are the most efficient use of agency resources and help build a community of trail users.
- Please implement policies allowing local clubs to form volunteer partnerships with their local ranger districts.
Meeting Schedule and Locations
Monday, March 5. 6-9pm
Hot Springs Presbyterian Church
7433 Sam Snead Hwy
Hot Springs, VA, 24445
Tuesday, March 6. 6-9pm
Rockbridge High School
143 Greenhouse Rd
Lexington, VA 24450
Wednesday, March 7. 7-10pm
National Guard Armory
451 Hoover Rd
Woodstock, VA 22664
Thursday, March 8. 6-9pm
Allegheny County Governmental Complex
9212 Winterberry Ave
Covington, VA 24426
Saturday, March 10. 1-4pm
Rockingham County Government Office Building
20 E. Gay St
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
This schedule is subject to change. Please check the Forest Service website for final dates, times and locations.
The Forest Service and IMBA have been formal partners since 1994 and mountain bikers donate thousands of volunteer hours annually on Forest Service land. Local advocates have a very positive relationship with the George Washington National Forest.
More information on IMBA's work with the U.S. Forest Service can be found on IMBA.com.
