Naches Trail Decisions

[Grumpy]

U.S. FOREST SERVICE NEWS RELEASE

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

215 Melody Lane

Wenatchee, WA 98801



For immediate release: Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Contacts: Naches R.D. Visitor Services Specialist Doug Jenkins, (509) 653-1468

Naches R.D. NEPA Coordinator Michelle King, (509) 653-1420



NACHES RANGER DISTRICT SPRING

MOTORIZED TRAIL RESTRICTIONS

NACHES—Naches Ranger District is in the process of surveying trail conditions to determine if restrictions are necessary on motorized trails.

“We decided last month to go with trail evaluations to determine the necessity of restricting traffic on motorized trails this spring,â€

[tobyw]

[quote="Grumpy"]
“Volunteer groups are an invaluable asset and every year they donate their time, energy and money to maintain recreational opportunities on the district,â€

[Grumpy]

Yes and no. I'll let Lee give you the details from the last meeting as I was AWOL that night.

[iaccocca]

Long story short, I'm sure the club would be willing to take on a project, especially in coordination with PNW4WDA Region 4, but we do not want to adopt a trail. The concern being that we would do an initial trail clean-up, hang our sign, but then not get back to a distant trail often enough to maintain it and that would reflect poorly on us. Different deal, but Jim is currently looking into a DNR land project.

Addendum: And there is some interest with working with the Cle Elum Ranger District specifically.

[bobracing]

[quote]“Once we have completed our surveys we will ask for an Emergency Closure of trails beginning May 1st through June 1st. This doesn’t mean if trails dry out before June 1st they can’t be open,â€

[tobyw]

Long story short, I'm sure the club would be willing to take on a project, especially in coordination with PNW4WDA Region 4, but we do not want to adopt a trail. The concern being that we would do an initial trail clean-up, hang our sign, but then not get back to a distant trail often enough to maintain it and that would reflect poorly on us. Different deal, but Jim is currently looking into a DNR land project.

Addendum: And there is some interest with working with the Cle Elum Ranger District specifically.

Makes good sense... Kinda want/need such a trail to be readily accesible to be the best steward of the system. Having to make a 3-day trip every time isn't really feasible.

[iaccocca]

Long story short, I'm sure the club would be willing to take on a project, especially in coordination with PNW4WDA Region 4, but we do not want to adopt a trail. The concern being that we would do an initial trail clean-up, hang our sign, but then not get back to a distant trail often enough to maintain it and that would reflect poorly on us. Different deal, but Jim is currently looking into a DNR land project.

Addendum: And there is some interest with working with the Cle Elum Ranger District specifically.

Makes good sense... Kinda want/need such a trail to be readily accesible to be the best steward of the system. Having to make a 3-day trip every time isn't really feasible.

And I've been reading the draft... there is annual training and other requirements. I think we would do best to help out a group than adopts a trail. We could make it a regular annual run like Schamp or FYBR.

[SPR]

I might be stricken my neck out a bit because some of my information is second hand, but until recently, the Naches District Ranger, Irene D, has not been 4x4 volunteer friendly. This recent news release caught me by surprise. Keep in mind that her big closure plans got goofed by a nationwide injunction against the Forest Service. Now she is scrambling to move forth a different closure plan.

In short... Her original closure plan prohibited motorizes vehicles on motorized trails until June 1 unless she opened them early. Other users could use these trails while we were locked out. The new plan is like last year’s plan. It prohibits ANY user group from accessing the motorized trails until she opens them. Kind of strange that she is now eager to open the trails once they dry out.

[/b]