Gifford Pinchot National Forest Public meetings

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Public meetings will be held over the next several weeks in communities around the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to gather public input on a forest roads analysis. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest (GPNF) is working with Pinchot Partners and South Gifford Pinchot Collaborative groups on this effort.

The National Forest Service Travel Management Rule requires forests to identify sustainable forest road systems by 2015. In order to meet this requirement, the GPNF is completing a roads analysis responsive to ecological, economic and social concerns. “As public land managers trusted with maintaining a road system on this forest, it is very important to gather information on public road use and access needs in order to move towards a more durable and sustainable road network,” said Gifford Pinchot National Forest Supervisor, Janine Clayton.

To enhance public engagement, the Collaborative Groups are taking a facilitative role, helping the forest gather public input on road use, access and other road-related information. “I very much appreciate the collaborative groups, “Clayton said. “Their involvement in the roads analysis will help us gather useful public input.”

Public input concerning access will be used to better describe existing conditions, which would then lead to identifying issues and key public concerns. The next step in the analysis will be to integrate access needs with environmental risks and expected budgets. The outcome of the roads analysis will identify opportunities for changes to the road system, and be carried forward to inform future decisions regarding management of the forest transportation system. There will be future opportunities for public input under NEPA.

The current series of public meetings are scheduled for the purpose of gathering information on access needs for completion of the roads analysis. Please consider attending any of the following public meetings where small-group participation will be used to collect information on access needs. Meetings will occur:
Sept. 18, 2012, 6-8 p.m. at Yale School Gym 11842 Lewis River Rd. Ariel, WA 98603
Sept. 20, 2012, 6-8 p.m. at the White Salmon Fire Hall 119 NE Church St. White Salmon, WA 98672
Sept. 26, 2012, 6-8 p.m. at Forest HQ 10600 NE 51 Cir. Vancouver, WA 98682
Oct. 1, 2012, 6-8 p.m. at the Randle Fire Hall 9978 U.S. 12 Randle, WA 98377
Oct. 4, 2012, 6-8 p.m. at Stevenson Rock Creek Auditorium in Stevenson, WA
Oct. 18, 2012, 6-8 p.m. at Centralia Community College Cafeteria in the Student Center 600 Centralia College Blvd. Centralia, WA 98531

A questionnaire is available through Dec. 31, 2012 as an alternative way to provide input to the GPNF roads analysis. The questionnaire can be found here:http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/landmanagement?cid=stelprdb5388890

Please print, fill out and mail hard-copy questionnaires to c/o Ken Sandusky 10600 NE 51 Cir. Vancouver, WA 98682 by Dec. 31, 2012.

[fireweed]

Be sure to point out the Federal land that is landlocked behind private gates in the Gifford Pinchot with no easements to trailheads.  Hunt the Margaret?  Perfect example of trailheads locked behind Weyerhaeuser and Pt. Blakely gates that "travel management" should fix.  Nearly all of the west side of the Monument is landlocked.

[Dirtsquirt]

The forest service had their meeting in Stevenson last week and the way I understand it they plan to shut down a very high percentage of roads in the Gifford Pinchot.  I guess their done managing the forest for multi-use purposes.  Here in Skamania County that's the last nail for our coffin.  Wont even have a tourism economy now.

[logger]

The forest service had their meeting in Stevenson last week and the way I understand it they plan to shut down a very high percentage of roads in the Gifford Pinchot.  I guess their done managing the forest for multi-use purposes.  Here in Skamania County that's the last nail for our coffin.  Wont even have a tourism economy now.

skamania county is damn near all f.s. I am a firm believer that they should be abolished, they can't grade a road, but they can build paved sno parks all over the damn place, pisses me off.

[Elkaholic daWg]

 All the more reason to get the Republicans into office so they can name cabinet members who will STOP some or all of this!

[logger]

It is a absolute shame what the f.s has grown into, they have no interest in multiple use anymore, the one good thing they are good at is STUDYS,STUDYS, the only people I know that would study bird *censored*, I could go on for days but have given up, having to deal with these wing nuts on a regular basis gives me the drizzles.

[dbor]

Watch them, they will decommission way to many roads... Look at all the roads that have been put to sleep on the Olympic Peninsula...JMO

[fireweed]

Talked to a frustrated Margaret hunter who can't get into his unit because it is landlocked by private lands.  If enough people comment, maybe they will actually use a travel management plant to IMPROVE travel, instead of just cut.    The key is to get your concerns in and official during the SCOPING phase.  If you don't, they will say, "that never came up earlier, so we can't consider it now."   

[Huntbear]

Talked to a frustrated Margaret hunter who can't get into his unit because it is landlocked by private lands.  If enough people comment, maybe they will actually use a travel management plant to IMPROVE travel, instead of just cut.    The key is to get your concerns in and official during the SCOPING phase.  If you don't, they will say, "that never came up earlier, so we can't consider it now."

.

There are already so many roads closed off, due to slides, washouts, etc.. that they never fix..  I do notice though, that anyplace the Natives have "traditional" berry fields, they seem to make sure those roads stay open and fixed.   

[fireweed]

Survey for the Road Analysis

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S6B538Y

[logger]

I am sure i am part of the problem as I just put a bid in to decommision several roads off the 25 rd. I hate this game, but if it's going to happen I want the job.the f.s. is our enemy when it comes to multiple use for everybody.

[Simcoe hunter]

The turd muffins.  Hunting will become a rich mans sport.  You may think it is costly now, but you ain't seen nothin' yet.  Accessible land is disappearing at an alarming rate as it is.  Farms in Klickitat county are being developed left and right.  Almost half of the former Boise Cascade Tree Farm has been removed from open access.  The state land that was on the rest of the BC piece was traded to another part of the state so there wouldn't be any landlocked pieces that recreationists could ask for access to.  Now they want to close more FS roads.  We will have no hunting access in this county in short order, to speak of.  Oh sure, you can pay one of the gun clubs on the east end of the county $500.00 to hunt there.  We won't have a need for a WDFW if things keep going the way they are.

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