White River National Forest Management Principles

For Immediate Release
April 2000
Contact:
303-545-9011

Adopted by conservation and non-motorized recreation groups in Colorado

February, 2000

Conservation and non-motorized recreation organizations in Colorado met during the winter of 1999-2000 to discuss their mutually held ideas about management of the White River National Forest. In February, 2000, they agreed on the following principles.

Overarching Management Philosophy

1. We applaud the Forest Service's proposal to make the protection of wildlife and ecosystems a primary management principle by which to manage multiple uses, including recreation, on public lands.

2. The Forest Service should manage human use in order to maintain and enhance healthy ecosystems on the Forest (see principle #13).

Recreation

3. It is appropriate to manage location, intensity, type, and/or timing of recreational activities to protect biological and physical resources on the National Forest. A hierarchy of management options should be considered, from education up to and including - at certain times and in certain places - the restriction of human use (e.g., seasonal closures in raptor nesting areas).

4. Recreation management decisions should be based upon the best available science. Where information to determine the scope and severity of an activity's ecological impact is not available or not in sufficient detail, it is appropriate to give deference to protecting biological diversity and sustaining ecosystem health. When information on habitats and species is not adequate to predict the consequences of recreation, the Forest Service should research the subject to clarify problems and solutions. The Forest Service should and must solicit meaningful public input on such management decisions, and explain decisions thoroughly so as to justify conclusions to the public.

5. While we agree that recreation on trails may cause impacts to wildlife and ecosystems, we acknowledge that science today provides insufficient information to differentiate the ecological impacts of different types of nonmotorized travel on trails. Therefore managers should be careful in distinguishing between nonmotorized uses when considering the ecological impacts of trails, and should actively pursue and support recreational impacts research.

6. Currently backcountry motorized recreationists, representing only a minority of WRNF users, have access to a large majority of the WRNF, resulting in a disproportionately adverse impact on the health of the land, the viability of wildlife populations, and the safety and quality of nonmotorized recreational experiences. Consequently, it is desirable and appropriate for the Forest Service to more equitably zone the WRNF by reallocating a greater percentage of lands for nonmotorized recreation, both in summer and winter.

7. It is realized that the elderly and disabled populations may have special needs for participation in backcountry recreation. However, the special needs population is so large and diverse that claims that motorized transport is the only way for these citizens to travel in the backcountry is neither logical nor supportable. Other means are available, such as travel on horseback, in canoes and rafts, or on foot. We also acknowledge that use of wheelchairs is possible in campsites, and such usage is allowed even in designated Wilderness areas.

Ski Area Expansions

8. All forms of recreation -- including skiing -- can negatively impact the environment, and should be limited as necessary to protect the health of forests and wildlife and the quality of life in our mountain towns.

Travel Management

9. It is not appropriate or legal for any users to create trails and travelways outside of the public decision-making process.

10. Wheeled vehicles, both motorized and mechanized, should travel only on system roads and trails, thereby eliminating cross-country travel by these vehicles. We also support the travel management process in which land managers, with input from the public, decide which uses are appropriate for individual routes. In areas of high use or sensitive habitat, all recreationists should be limited to travel on designated routes only. All recreationists should follow Leave No Trace Principles.

Because trails and roads may harm wildlife and their habitats, the Forest Service should:

• Have all types of non-motorized recreationists share routes where uses are compatible (this may not be appropriate in very high use areas)

• Eliminate redundant, unnecessary, or ecologically damaging roads and trails

11. We agree that there should be some routes limited only to pedestrian users outside of wilderness. However, in general we feel that pedestrian, equestrian, and mountain bikers should be able to share trails in a spirit of common courtesy and accommodation. There are many management options short of separating uses -- such as education, peer-patrolling, or alternating days --which can work to manage diverse uses compatibly.

12. In making travel management decisions, the Forest Service should actively solicit public input in inventorying existing routes and designating appropriate travel routes. Because enforcement is and probably will continue to be insufficient, successful implementation of travel management requires substantial public education, discussion and support.

Habitat Management

13. In order to sustain the long-term ecological health of the landscape, natural processes (e.g., fire, insect infestations) should be allowed to prevail in interior areas away from human settlement.

Roadless Areas

14. Roadless areas should be maintained in a roadless state with no road building, logging or other development. New motorized uses of roadless areas should be prohibited.

Wilderness

15. We support the concept of wilderness and, specifically, the protection of additional lands on the WRNF as designated wilderness.

 

Agreed to and signed by:

Organization		CO members	Nationwide members	Contact
American Lands Alliance	n/a		4,000	Harlin Savage, (303) 473-9525
Bicycle Colorado	1,000		1,000	Martha Roskowski, (719) 530-0051
Backcountry Skiers Alliance	425		475	Kim Hedberg, (303) 494-5266
The Colorado Mountain Club	9,850		10,000	Vera Smith, (303) 279-3080 x106
Colorado Wild	380		380	Jeff Berman, President, (303) 475-4836
High Country Citizens' Alliance	877		877	Sandy Shea, (970) 349-6424
International Mountain Bicycling Association	2,050		16,000	Jen Lamb, (303) 545-9011
National Audubon Society	10,000		550,000	Susan Kirkpatrick, (303) 415-0130
Tenth Mountain Division	1,573		1954	Peter Looram, (970) 920-1749
TOTALS	11,573		551,954