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FS road travel management work sessions set for March 1

The Kaibab National Forest will host two work sessions March 1 in order to collaborate closely with members of the public on a proposed transportation system for the Williams Ranger District.

The March 1 work sessions will be held at the Williams Ranger District office at Camp Clover. The first session will be from 2-4 p.m. The second session will be from 6-8 p.m. Two sessions are being held to accommodate various work schedules of members of the public. Interested individuals should plan to attend one of the sessions, as the same information will be covered at both.

During each of the sessions, resource specialists from the Kaibab National Forest will display maps showing their ideas for a proposed transportation system and the rationale behind those ideas. Members of the public will be able to review that information and provide input. Specific comments, such as the benefits or risks of a particular route, will be most valuable.

"We are literally going to have the map spread out on the table and say this is what we are thinking, what do you think?" said Acting Public Affairs Officer Jackie Denk. "We are really hopeful that people will actually come and sit at the table with us."

The public input received from the work sessions will be taken into consideration, along with the resource specialists' input and the other public comments received, in the development of a Williams Ranger District travel management proposal, called a proposed action. Once the proposed action has been released, which will likely be sometime in March, the public will again have the opportunity to provide comments.

The Kaibab National Forest, along with all the other national forests and grasslands in the country, is undertaking an analysis of its transportation system. That transportation system ranges from paved roads designed for passenger cars to single-track trails used by dirt bikes. In addition to this managed system of roads and trails, the Kaibab National Forest has many user-created roads and trails. The result of the travel analysis process will be the creation of a Motor Vehicle Use Map, which will identify all the roads, trails and areas on the forest that are open to motor vehicle use. Designations may also be made by class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. For example, a road could be designated for ATV use only.

"I think the reason that these work sessions are going to be so important is that it'll be us all working together on a final product," Denk added.

Those planning to attend one of the two work sessions should RSVP to Denk at (928) 635-8314 no later than Feb. 27 in order to ensure adequate seating. Comments can also still be submitted by visiting local Forest Service offices, going to the "Travel Management Rule" section of the Kaibab National Forest website, or calling project coordinator Chip Ernst at (928) 635-8317.

For more information, contact Denk at (928) 635-8314.


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