BOZEMAN (AP)
The Gallatin National Forest has released the final version of its travel plan for the 1.8 million-acre forest, calling for more limits on where motor vehicles can travel. Forest Supervisor Becki Heath said the final document, some four years in the making, takes into account many of the concerns forest users raised during a contentious public comment period. Her final decision generally mirrors a draft document released almost two years ago, calling for large reductions in the areas available to motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, though it also opens some areas scheduled for closure in the draft document. It also calls on motorized users, mountain bikers, hikers and skiers to get together and work out “time share” plans for nine popular trails near Bozeman. The time-share trails, all in the southwest part of the Bridger Range or in the northern Gallatin Range, would see segregated use by the different groups. Trails likely would be open to hikers and horseback riders on some days and open to motorcycles and bicycles on others. Heath said she would like to see the groups develop a plan on their own in about a year. Otherwise, the Forest Service will make the decisions, she said. John Allen, deputy forest supervisor for the Gallatin, said he expects to hear from a number of motorized users that access to the most popular national forest in the state has been diminished, while others will argue the agency didn’t go far enough in limiting motorized use. “It’s an artful balance,” Allen said. “We’re trying to provide for people’s desired experiences, but we also have to consider grizzly bear recovery, winter habitat for deer and elk, water quality.” Under the final plan, the number of non-wilderness acres where snowmobiles are banned would grow from 185,000 acres to 505,000 acres, about 30,000 acres fewer than the draft document would have banned. About 18,000 acres in the Hyalite/Porcupine/Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area, in the Windy Passo area, would remain open to snowmobiles. The draft called for closing all of that area to snowmobiles. Also, the number of marked or groomed trail miles would increase by about 20 percent, and a large “play area” near Fairy Lake would remain open to snowmobiles. The number of trails open to snowmobiles shrinks from 458 miles to 278 miles, and trails open to all-terrain vehicles shrinks from 281 miles to 143 miles. ATVs would be banned from all of the WSA, which runs generally along the crest of the Gallatin Range. In addition, a number of currently closed roads would be opened to ATVs and motorcycles. Heath said she and her staff are proud of their work on the final plan. “We’re feeling a real sense of accomplishment,” she said. Implementation of the travel plan could begin as early as this spring. But the plan can still be appealed. The clock on the 45-day appeal process starts Dec. 18. “This decision is not everything for everyone,” Allen said. “We understand that Montanans love the Gallatin National Forest. Our decision seeks to keep the Gallatin a place Montanans will continue to love and want to go to.”
