Susanville, CA July 18, 2008 - Forest Supervisor Kathleen S. Morse has issued a Decision Memo extending the Temporary Forest Order that prohibited cross country motorized wheeled vehicle travel across the Lassen National Forest. The Order limits use of motorized wheeled vehicles to the existing routes and open areas shown on the maps that accompany the order. The extension of the Temporary Forest Order took effect on July 13.
The new Temporary Forest Order remains unchanged from the previous order with one exception. Several routes in the High Lakes area of the Almanor Ranger district will reopen under the new order. These routes will remain open pending completion of a management plan for that area.
According to Morse, "It is very important to understand the purpose of the Order. It's designed to keep motorized wheeled vehicle use on existing roads and trails to prevent resource damage and the creation of new routes while the Travel Management process is being completed."
The Lassen NF is currently developing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) as part of the Travel Management process. The DEIS will propose to designate a system for motorized vehicle use that provides access across the forest and loop opportunities for motorized vehicles while preventing resource damage. Copies of the Forest Order, maps, and related documents are available on the Forest's website.
Paper copies of maps displaying open routes are also available at Lassen National Forest offices in Susanville, Chester, Fall River Mills, and Old Station. More detailed maps of open routes can be found and printed from the Forest's website.
The public is encouraged to access the Lassen National Forest website for background information on the entire Travel Management planning effort. The Forest began the environmental analysis to designate routes last fall. For more information, contact Public Services Officer Christopher O'Brien at 530-252-6698, or email at: cjobrien@fs.fed.us.
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