Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate

Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Harmful New Mexico Forest Road Plan Blocked

in Response to Conservation Groups’ Appeal
Contact: Bryan Bird (505) 988-9126 x1157

Albuquerque, N.M.— In response to an appealby the Center for Biological Diversity, Amigos Bravos and WildEarth Guardians, onMonday the Southwestern Regional Office of the U.S. Forest Service reversed adecision to add user-created roads to the Carson National Forest’s officialroad system. The Carson must now close those roads and exclude them from mapsshowing which roads are open to the public.

“Closingharmful roads will help sensitive soils, watersheds and wildlife,” said CyndiTuell, a Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for BiologicalDiversity. “For years we’ve asked the Forest Service to protect our forestsfrom harmful roads. In this case they didn’t even bother to visit the roadsthey were proposing to add to the system.”

“User-created”roads are made when people drive off-road to camping spots with theirmotorhomes, trucks and off-road vehicles. “Over time these trips create tracksthat others follow, and before you know it a whole new road is in place,” saidTuell. “Because they’re not designed to any standard, these roads can causeerosion, destroy stream banks and critical wildlife habitat and even causesafety problems.”

Rachel Conn, projectsdirector of Amigos Bravos, said: “We are pleased that as a result of our appealthere will be clear direction about where it is inappropriate to drive in theForest. Unfortunately, despite recent planning efforts, roads and vehicle usein our national forests continue to be a major impact to water quality in NewMexico’s headwater streams.”

TheCarson National Forest has been developing a motor-vehicle use map since early2009. In May 2010, the Center and others criticized the Forest Service forreleasing an incomplete analysis of its proposed plan. Thousands of Centermembers contacted the agency, forcing them to release reports detailing theenvironmental impacts of their proposed plan.

TheNew Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance also appealed the Forest’s decision.That appeal was rejected by the Regional Office of the Forest Service. This isthe second appeal filed by the ORV users’ group rejected by the Regional Officefor the Carson National Forest. The appeal decision leaves more than 1,300miles of road open to public use for recreational access.

“Our national forests aretoo precious to allow ORV users to decide where they will ride without anythought about impacts to water and wildlife,” said Bryan Bird, a biologist withWildEarth Guardians. “This decision confirms that principle and protects theCarson National Forest.”

Moreinformation on the Carson National Forest Travel Management Planning isavailable at the Forest’s website.