Forest Service Adapting So. Hills Road Plan

By Sven Berg, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho

Apr. 29–U.S. Forest Service Minidoka District Ranger Scott Nannenga said Monday his office is working on a plan to free up more trails for off-road vehicles while restricting use on 95 miles of roads in the South Hills.

Before the new plan can be implemented, Nannenga said, an existing plan to eliminate about 350 miles of unofficial trails must pass an appeals process launched by advocates for trail riders. Nannenga said he expects that process to be resolved by the end of May.

Trail riders and other interest groups have opposed the Forest Service’s existing plan, saying it decreases recreation opportunities and access to public lands.

“If you can’t get there, you can’t hunt it,” said George Warrell, chairman of the Mini-Cassia chapter of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. “We’re against being so restrictive to where you’re not able to recreate on public lands. What (public land agencies) need to do is focus more on working with ATV groups and sportsmen’s groups and educating people.”

The Forest Service has countered with claims that many trails currently in use are not sanctioned and using them is causing ecological damage. While Forest Service officials point out many “user-created” trails have identical starting points and destinations, trail riders argue each one offers a unique experience and features.

Nannenga said the Forest Service’s new plan would reinstate some of the “user-created” trails. In return, he wants to close to motor vehicles about 95 miles of roadways in the South Hills.

“There were some of those that were high quality trails,” he said. “Just because of timing and the opportunity to review them on the ground, we weren’t able to take a look at them.”

Nannenga said a study headlined by Forest Service researcher Michael Wisdom concludes maintaining more than 1.7 miles of road per section negatively impacts wildlife populations. The study asserts higher public access to roadways leads to increased traffic, which leads to a decrease in wildlife habitat, as well as increased noise and poaching.

Currently, Nannenga said, Forest Service land in the South Hills is home to about 1.71 miles of active road per section. The agency’s new proposal would cut that number to less than 1.4 miles per section. Nannenga said most of the roads targeted are dead ends outside the regular road system.

Warrell said if Wisdom’s study is reliable, SFW — which regularly funds habitat improvement projects -would be glad to work with the Forest Service to encourage wildlife populations.

“We’re always willing to work with the Forest Service and the (Bureau of Land Management) — and everybody — to improve the habitat for hunting and fishing,” he said.

But Warrell said dead-end roads can be especially valuable to hunters.

“Those are areas that even though they’re a dead end we get out and hunt,” he said. “The spur roads are what rely on as hunters to access the mountain.”

Sven Berg may be reached at 208-677-8764 or sberg@southidahopress.com.

—–

To see more of The Times-News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.magicvalley.com

Copyright (c) 2008, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.