After receiving additional public input, the Dolores Public Lands Office has developed a new Preferred Alternative and added new information on social and economic impacts to communities, a review of county land-use plans, and revised road density mileages in a Forest Plan amendment.
According to information from the Dolores Public Lands Office, the U.S. Forest Service met with Montezuma and Dolores county commissioners Monday on the revised pre-decisional Environmental Assessment for the Boggy-Glade Travel Management Plan.
Under the new alternative, Limited off-road use of all-terrain vehicles would be allowed for game retrieval during deer and elk fall hunting seasons. Off-road motorized game retrieval using an ATV less than 50 inches in width would be allowed one mile off of designated open routes in areas where cross-country travel was previously allowed.
Hunters would be required to choose the least ground-disturbing route and to carry a validated tag to indicate they are retrieving game. Hunters would not be allowed to use ATVs to travel cross-country to scout or for purposes other than strictly retrieving game. Off-road motorized retrieval would be allowed only during deer and elk archery, muzzle loader and first through fourth rifle seasons.
Also under the alternative, Montezuma and Dolores counties would work with the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife to assist the Forest Service with monitoring of compliance and hunter education in the field.
Continuation of the new game retrieval policy will be based in part on receiving assistance from the counties.
More miles of open motorized routes will remain open than the previous alternative, including 20 new open miles to offer loops on un-graveled roads, provide more dispersed camping spurs and increase motorized accessibility in the Thomas Mountain, Black Snag and Carlyle Point areas. Under the alternative, the total mileage of open motorized roads is 379 miles.
Day-use parking off of selected roads would also be allowed. Visitors would be allowed to park up to 30 feet on either side of the Dolores-Norwood Road and Forest Road 514. The allowance for daytime parking on other forest roads would remain at one car length off the side of the road. Methods of road closure with less ground disturbance such as installing boulders to block entry would be considered under the new alternative for decommissioning roadbeds. These would take priority over high-impact measures such as constructing large berms or ripping long distances of the surface.
The addition of a new mountain bike trail from Dolores to House Creek would also be allowed under the alternative.
The alternative would also clarify administrative, permitted and emergency uses. Federal, state, tribal or local government offices in the performance of official duties could be allowed to drive cross-country or on undesignated routes for activities such as emergency wildfire suppression and search and rescue activities.
The location of the Glade Off Highway Vehicle Trail would be adjusted to avoid conflicts with livestock operations and sensitive riparian habitat near Glade Creek.
Information on the upcoming public comment period for the new alternative and revised environmental analysis will be announced Friday, with the comment period expected to begin Monday, Oct. 24. A public meeting will not be held on the latest alternative. Public feedback may be provided by contacting Debbie Kill at 882-6822, Mark Lambert at 882-6834, or by stopping by the Dolores Public Lands office at 29211 Colorado Highway 184 near Dolores.
