The Tonto National Forest is hosting a series of travel management planning open houses during the month of November to give the public an opportunity to share ideas about the forest’s system of roads, trails, and/or areas, review the proposed system, and submit comments about the proposal.

Two open houses have already been held in Tonto Basin and in Globe. Remaining open house locations and times in the various ranger districts are:

• Cave Creek Ranger District, Monday, Nov. 9, 6:30-8 p.m., Black Mountain Elementary School, 33606 N. 60^th St., Scottsdale

• Pleasant Valley Ranger District, Thursday, Nov. 12, 6-7:30 p.m., Pleasant Valley Community Center, 47533 Highway 288, Young

• Mesa Ranger District, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7-8:30 p.m., Broadway Recreation Center, 59 E. Broadway Road, Mesa

• Payson Ranger District, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6-7:30 p.m., Julia Randall Elementary School, 601 S. Greenway Parkway, Payson

In a news release posted on the Tonto National Forest Web site, the Forest Service provides the following information:

In 2005, the Department of Agriculture enacted a new planning rule to manage motorized vehicle use on all national forests and grasslands. This rule requires the Tonto National Forest to designate those roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicle use. Designations will be made by class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. The final rule will prohibit the use of motor vehicles off the designated system, as well as use of motor vehicles on routes and in areas that are not consistent with the designations.

Tonto National Forest officials will be presenting a proposed system of roads, trails and areas. Based on public input, the alternatives will then be proposed in a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) which will be released to the public for comment. The final product will be a Motor Vehicle Use Map that shows which roads and trails will be open to motor vehicle use.

“Public involvement at this time is a critical component in developing a motorized travel system,” stated Delvin Lopez, Public Services Group leader for the Tonto National Forest. “By having these open houses in a variety of communities, we are hoping to get representative viewpoints and suggestions from a cross-section of forest visitors.

“The purpose of the Motor Vehicle Use Map is to comply with the requirements of the Travel Management Rule, to reduce problems caused by uncontrolled off-road travel, and to improve the current system of travel routes for public access and enjoyment,” said Lopez. “The development of a Motor Vehicle Use Map is an adaptive process in which future changes can be made in the public interest.”

For a copy of the forest travel management proposed action, visit the Tonto National Forest Web page atwww.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/travelmgt/index.shtml, or visit the Forest Supervisor’s Office at 2324 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, Arizona, or one of the forest’s district offices. For more information, contact Genevieve Johnson at (602) 225-5213.

Written comments regarding the proposed action may be submitted through December 4, 2009. Comments should be mailed to Travel Management Team Leader, Tonto National Forest, 2324 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85006.

For more information about the program, please visit the Tonto National Forest Web page atwww.fs.fed.us/r3/tontoor call the Tonto National Forest at (602) 225-5200.

The Working Draft is an important part of the forest plan revision process, as it is meant to provide a foundation for collaborative discussion and feedback in developing the Proposed Land Management Plan.

The Forest Service is encouraging the public to provide comments on the plan by Aug. 31, 2009. For more information about the plan and a link to the plan documents, visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/plan-revision/draftLMP/Mailing-Release-Working-Draft-Plan-2009-06-17.pdf.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department posts federal land management updates as it learns of them at www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/federal_land_management.shtml. However, for the most complete and up-to-date information, we recommend that people stay in touch with each of Arizona’s national forests and Bureau of Land Management field offices. Contact information can be found toward the bottom ofwww.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/federal_land_management.shtml.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tucson Field Office is proposing a transportation plan covering approximately 96,320 acres of public lands near Florence and Superior, Ariz., and is now seeking public comment during a 60-day review period.

Information on the BLM’s Web site says the purpose of the Middle Gila Canyons Transportation and Travel Management Plan and accompanying Environmental Assessment (EA) is to designate travel routes and identify use restrictions needed to protect sensitive resources in the planning area.

The transportation plan identifies approximately 263 miles of road or primitive road, along with several off-highway vehicle (OHV) sport sites. All routes in the plan are based on a comprehensive travel route inventory completed in 2003, as well as stakeholder meetings convened in 2007.

For more information on the proposed plan, including a link to download a copy of the plan and the EA, visit http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/info/newsroom/2009/march/march_10__2009_-_blm.html.

Comments may be submitted by May 8, 2009, to Mark Lambert or Francisco Mendoza, Outdoor Recreation Planner; BLM Tucson Field Office; 12661 East Broadway; Tucson, Ariz. 85748-7208, or by e-mail at mgc_travel@blm.gov.

After consideration of the comments received, the BLM will implement the Middle Gila Canyons Transportation and Travel Management Plan beginning in the summer of 2009. For more information, please contact Kristen Lenhardt of the BLM at (520) 258-7200.

Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to stay engaged in the public input processes for federal land management and travel management efforts. Most of Arizona’s national forests and BLM field offices are in various stages of revising land use and travel management plans. Two of the ongoing processes involve the Kaibab National Forest (Tusayan Ranger District) and the Prescott National Forest.

Kaibab National Forest, Tusayan Ranger District

The deadline for public comment on the environmental assessment (EA) for the Kaibab National Forest Tusayan Ranger District’s travel management project is tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 30, 2009). The EA discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and two alternatives. Comments can be e-mailed to comments-southwestern-kaibab@fs.fed.us.

Information posted on the Kaibab National Forest’s Web site says the proposed action includes removal of about 163 miles of roads from public motorized travel from the existing open forest road system (resulting in the total miles of roads on the Tusayan Ranger District open to motor vehicle travel going from 709 miles to 546 miles). It also includes provisions to allow opportunities for motorized access to dispersed camping and motorized access by hunters to travel up to one mile cross-country in order to retrieve a legally downed and tagged elk.

The EA relates only to the Tusayan Ranger District. The Kaibab National Forest chose a district-by-district approach to its travel management planning. Separate planning processes are taking place on the forest’s Williams and North Kaibab districts.

To see a copy of the EA and its accompanying documents, visit the Kaibab National Forest Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/travelmanagement/documents.php. For more information, visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/news/releases/2009/20090107_tus-open-hse.php.

Prescott National Forest

The Prescott National Forest will hold two public meetings in preparation for revising its Forest Plan. The meetings will be held at:

• Camp Verde, Feb. 25, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Cliff Castle Casino, 555 Middle Verde Road.
• Prescott, Feb. 26, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Yavapai College, 1100 E. Sheldon St., Building 19, Room, 147.

Information posted on the Prescott National Forest’s Web site says the forest has spent the past year putting together information for two reports: (1) Economic and Social Sustainability Assessment and, (2) Ecological Sustainability. The goal of each report is to identify “concerns” that may need to be addressed in a revised Forest Plan based on comparison to stated reference conditions, on information heard from citizens, or on recent trends in conditions.

At the February public meetings (Feb. 25 in Camp Verde; Feb. 26 in Prescott), the Prescott National Forest would like to discuss the findings from those two documents, and get the public’s feedback on which items resonate as the most urgent at a policy level. From there, the forest will initiate the formal plan revision process and move into development of a Proposed Forest Plan.

For more information, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/plan-revision/pub-mtgs-february-2009.shtml.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will continue to post information as it learns of it at www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/federal_land_management.shtml. However, the best way for you to stay current on the latest updates is by contacting the individual national forests for USDA Forest Service plans, or the Bureau of Land Management for BLM plans. A list of contact information and Web links can be found in the “downloads” column at www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/federal_land_management.shtml.

Recent incidents involving thoughtless and even destructive acts by some outdoor recreationists have Arizona Game and Fish Department officials and responsible outdoor users concerned about retaining continued public access to vast tracts of public and private land.

“We work cooperatively with landowners, especially ranchers, to keep access for recreation open,” said Sal Palazzolo, the Game and Fish Department’s Landowner Relations Program manager, “but it is a daunting task because senseless acts by a few thoughtless outdoor recreationists can jeopardize relations and result in large tracts of land being closed to us all.”

Palazzolo said some of the lands in question happen to be premier hunting areas where outfitters are sometimes willing to pay landowners thousands of dollars for exclusive access.

“We can’t do it all ourselves. We need the assistance of sportsmen and other conscientious recreationists to help curb these senseless acts,” Palazzolo said.

Here are some examples of what is happening.

Recently, a rancher in northern Arizona had closed a section of road across a stream because the road crossing had become washed out.

“One one day this autumn, an elk hunter ignored the closure sign and promptly got his truck stuck in the creek,” Palazzolo said, “The rancher took it in stride and helped the individual contact a tow truck to haul the vehicle out.”

The following day, another person also ignored the closure sign and got stuck in the creek, but nobody was home at the remote ranch house. There was a bulldozer parked near the private residence that a contractor was going to use to repair the road crossing.

“Without any permission, the person who had gotten his vehicle stuck got into the bulldozer, fired it up, and pulled his truck out of the creek, causing damage to the fragile riparian area,” Palazzolo said. “We are still waiting to hear if the bulldozer was damaged in any way.”

That isn’t all.

On another ranch, a ranch hand had collected and displayed lots of deer and elk antlers over the years, and had actually made a fence of the antlers around his ranch house. While the cowboy was out working the range, someone stole all the prized antlers.

On yet another ranch, three men wearing camouflage clothing and riding all-terrain vehicles were seen shooting at a herd of grazing horses. Fortunately, these illegal road hunters didn’t hit anything.

Fences have been cut, windmills shot up and signs shot to doll rags. Trash and litter have been left to despoil the land. Vehicles have torn up cattle tanks and earthen dams.

These senseless acts and others are putting continued access for hunters, off-roaders, campers and other recreationists in danger – for many reasons.

For instance, one rancher in the area said it costs him about $5,000 annually to repair damage or address other issues associated with recreationists.

“Fortunately, this conscientious rancher still keeps working with us despite the fact he has been offered thousands of dollars by outfitters for exclusive hunting rights to his property,” Palazzolo said.

Incidents such as these concern the responsible majority of outdoor recreationists.

“I spend a lot of time working with ranchers and land managers on projects, and it’s appalling to see some of the damage,” says longtime sportsman John Koleszar. “Some people do it willfully, but others just don’t know any better and need to be educated on outdoor ethics. Remember, ethics is what you do when no one is watching.”

Koleszar has seen a great deal of good behavior by outdoor users, but some bad behavior as well.  Good behavior, he says, is respecting other people and the land, helping others out, asking permission to use private property. Bad behavior is ignoring posted signs, causing damage to habitat and property, cutting fences, among others.

These recent incidents also highlight a much broader issue facing outdoor recreationists.

Palazzolo pointed out that Arizona consists of about 72.6 million acres, of which 18 percent is privately owned. These lands represent important recreational opportunities as well as access corridors into other publicly owned lands.

Public access restrictions in Arizona have increased substantially over the last decade as more landowners exercise their right to deny access to or through their private lands. In many cases, access is prevented to State Trust and public lands as a result of these closures.

The seven most common reasons for landowners denying access are:

• Vandalism
• Trespassing
• Littering
• Off-road activities
• Disruption of landowner operations
• Liability Issues
• Undocumented Immigrants and drug trafficking (Southern Arizona)

“We can’t be everywhere. Recreationists, especially hunters, need to be our eyes and ears out there, and also be ambassadors for conscientious recreational ethics on the land,” Palazzolo said.

If you see someone doing one of these senseless acts, contact local law enforcement or call our Operation Game Thief at 1-800-352-0700.

“The thing that worries me is that some people seem unaware of the potential consequences of their bad behavior,” says Koleszar. “If you don’t exercise good outdoor ethics and educate others to do the same, land management agencies and private property owners could close off access. It’s in the hands of the users to demonstrate they’re responsible—or they could lose it forever.”

Palazzolo adds, “The tract of public land you help keep open might just be your favorite hunting ground or maybe one of your favorite places to ride your quad. These lands belong to all of us, so help us help others to treat them that way.”

With winter weather on the way, managers of the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests said it may become necessary to temporarily restrict motor vehicle travel. This is a seasonal restriction, which includes all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

Temporary travel restrictions will be implemented on the Coconino National Forest and on the Williams and Tusayan ranger districts of the Kaibab National Forest when soils become saturated due to precipitation.  The North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will not be included in the wet weather travel policy due to different soil conditions ands elevations.

If it becomes necessary to implement wet weather travel restrictions, cross-country motor vehicle travel will be prohibited, and many roads will be temporarily closed. A backbone system of roads may remain open to allow forest access. However, during times of heavy rain or snow, forest managers could choose to close all roads in affected areas to protect forest roads and resources and to provide for public safety. Roads that remain open are the most suitable for travel during wet conditions and will be strategically located to provide reasonable access to the forests.

During previous winters, forest roads, soils and vegetation sustained damage from motorized vehicles following periods of wet weather. Some forest travelers continued to use forest roads and travel cross-country despite extremely wet and muddy conditions, which led to deep ruts and the creation of alternate routes around problem spots.

When wet weather travel restrictions become necessary, they will be implemented in a similar way to fire restrictions and area closures. Based on conditions on the ground, the forest supervisor will issue an official order which restricts use to those roads that are most suitable for travel. The restrictions will be lifted as soon as conditions allow. Just as with fire area closures, wet weather travel restrictions will likely not have to be implemented annually.

John Booth, Forest Engineer for both the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests, emphasized “The wet weather road restrictions are a proactive attempt to protect roads and soils during the times when they are most susceptible to damage.”

The Kaibab and Coconino National Forests developed the wet weather travel policy in coordination with the Arizona Game and Fish Department due to the large numbers of hunters in the woods during the times when cold, wet weather is most likely to occur. The goal of the partnership between the forests and the department is to provide reasonable motor vehicle access while also protecting forest roads and resources and providing for public safety.

“Besides the damage to the forest that occurs following very wet weather, we also have drivers getting stuck in the mud and having to call for help from towing companies to have their vehicles extricated,” Booth said. “We had to find a solution to this problem.”

When restrictions are implemented, signs reading, “Entering wheeled motorized restriction area. Use only roads and trails shown on official map,” along with a second sign displaying a map showing open routes in the area, will be posted at strategic access points on the forests. Motorized travelers will be required to stay on those designated routes until the soils dry out and the restrictions have been lifted.

If wet weather travel restrictions are implemented, information including maps showing routes to be left open will be posted on the forest websites:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/

On the Coconino National Forest, several other roads may be closed due to winter conditions:

• Road Closures – Higher elevation roads which will be closed this weekend include: Lockett Meadow Road 552 and Elden Lookout Road 557.
• Pre-Season Snowbowl Road Closure – Snowbowl Road is closed on weekends and holidays when winter road conditions exist and the ski area is not open. Arizona Snowbowl is responsible for all snowplow and cinder operations on Snowbowl Road, but does not plow on weekends and holidays when they are closed.
• Seasonal Motorized Vehicle Closures – Two areas off of Highway 180 are subject to a “Seasonal Motorized Wheeled Vehicle Closure” from December 1 – March 31. These areas will be closed to wheeled vehicles.  The Wing Mountain Vehicle Closure encompasses the cross-country ski trails, the snowplay area, and includes Forest Roads 222, 519, 519A and 222B beyond Wing Mountain parking area. The Flagstaff Nordic Center Vehicle Closure includes the trail system and Forest Road 151E. These seasonal closures are implemented in order to provide managed winter recreation areas.

• Are there roads you would like to see closed or opened, and why?
• Can you identify areas that are best for off-road vehicles, horseback riding, hiking, or other uses?
• Should areas be provided for safe target shooting?
• What access points should be provided for recreation areas?
• Are there needs for additional parking/trailheads?
• What private property access issues need to be considered?
• Are there valid existing rights that need to be considered?
• What other issues for the area are important to you?

The input will assist the BLM in development of a Recreation Activity Plan/Travel Management Plan and Environmental Assessment.

Written comments can be submitted from now through December 20 via e-mail to AZ_PDO_Routes@BLM.gov.

One remaining public meeting to provide information will be held this evening (Thursday, Nov. 20) in Anthem at the Anthem Community Center, 41130 North Freedom Way.

For more information, visit the BLM’s Web site at www.blm.gov/az and click on the Table Mesa link under “In the Spotlight,” or call Project Manager Tom Bickauskas at (623) 580-5502.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has rescinded its fire restrictions on wildlife areas in the high country to correspond to the lifting of fire restrictions on the Prescott, Coconino and Tonto national forests.

State wildlife officials said that while fire restrictions can sometimes get confusing this time of year, there is a logic you can follow.

“If a state wildlife area is located within a national forest that has rescinded fire restrictions, then just expect the Game and Fish Department to follow suit and lift its restrictions,” said Field Operations Director Mike Senn.

“On the flip side,” Senn explained, “Many of the desert jurisdictions such as the Bureau of Land Management areas in the desert or along the Colorado River still have fire restrictions in place, so you can expect corresponding state wildlife areas such as the one at Alamo Lake and Mittry Lake to retain their restrictions as well.”

For the latest updates on fire restrictions in Arizona, visit the Public Lands Information Center at www.publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php.

The Game and Fish Department has lifted fire restrictions at:

• Lamar Haines Wildlife Area
• Raymond Ranch Wildlife Area
• Sunflower Flat Wildlife Area
• Roosevelt Lake Wildlife Area
• Three Bar Wildlife Area

Those state wildlife areas with fire restrictions remaining are:

• Alamo Lake Wildlife Area
• Arlington Wildlife Area (Maricopa County)
• Base and Meridian Wildlife Area (Maricopa County)
• Colorado River Nature Center
• Mittry Lake Wildlife Area (Yuma area)
• Powers Butte Wildlife Area
• Quigley Wildlife Area (Yuma area)
• Robbins Butte Wildlife Area
• Upper Verde Wildlife Area

In those wildlife areas with restrictions, no open fires are allowed – including charcoal-burning barbecues. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, is prohibited. However, you can still use gas and propane stoves, lanterns or heating devices.

“These are pretty much the same restrictions you will see at other locations. It’s all simple and straightforward – enjoy the outdoors but take the simple precautions to be safe out there,” Senn said.

Remember that just because fire restrictions have been lifted for many areas, this is still the fire season. “Fire Weather Watches” are issued when there is a possibility of critical fire weather conditions and you should listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.

Come out to help clean up some prime wildlife habitat and meet other sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts. The 16th annual Boquillas Ranch cleanup event, west of Seligman in northwestern Arizona, will be held on Saturday, June 7.

The Mohave Sportsman Club sponsors this annual family event in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Volunteers will meet at Pica Camp at 8 a.m. and receive gloves, trash bags, tools and maps, along with information and an orientation. The volunteers will then disperse across the large (730,000-acre) ranch in their own vehicles, collect litter, and bring what they’ve collected back to Pica Camp at the end of the day for transfer to an Arizona Game and Fish Department trailer.

To get to the cleanup site from Phoenix, take I-17 north to I-40 at Flagstaff. Head west on I-40 and get off at exit 123 (State Route 66) towards Seligman/Peach Springs. Pass through Seligman heading west. To get to the Pica Camp meeting place, continue on State Route 66 to milepost 123.5, turn north and go two miles.

The Boquillas Ranch allows recreational access and offers great opportunities for wildlife watching, camping, and hunting, but ATVs are not permitted. For those participating in the cleanup, camping is available on the ranch if you would like to stay overnight.

For more information, contact Troy Christensen, Public Access Program Coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, at tchristensen@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7492.

If you are headed out of doors this Memorial Day holiday weekend, keep in mind that some agencies have implemented fire restrictions, including the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Mike Senn, who heads the field operations division for Game and Fish, said people can exercise a common-sense approach to determining if any state wildlife area has fire restrictions.

“If a wildlife area is located within a national forest or other jurisdiction such as the BLM or State Land Department that has implemented fire restrictions, then just expect Game and Fish to follow suit,” Senn said. “Taking precautions is not about political boundaries, it is about habitat conditions and being safe out there.”

For the latest updates on fire restrictions in Arizona, visit the Public Lands Information Center.

The Game and Fish Department has implemented restrictions at:

• Alamo Wildlife Area
• Allen Severson Wildlife Area
• Chevelon Canyon Ranches Wildlife Area
• Chevelon Creek Wildlife Area
• Colorado River Nature Center
• Jacques Marsh Wildlife Area
• Luna Lake Wildlife Area
• Mittry Lake Wildlife Area
• Upper Verde Wildlife Area
• Roosevelt Lake Wildlife Area
• Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area
• Three Bar Wildlife Area

In those affected wildlife areas, no open fires are allowed – including charcoal-burning barbecues. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, is prohibited. However, you can still use gas and propane stoves, lanterns or heating devices.

“These are pretty much the same restrictions you will see on the national forests and other locations. It’s all simple and straightforward – enjoy the outdoors but take the simple precautions to be safe out there,” Senn said.

The Kaibab National Forest is seeking comment on its proposal for managing off-highway vehicles and other motor vehicles on the Williams Ranger District in northern Arizona.

The Proposed Action document and accompanying maps are posted on the Kaibab National Forest Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/travelmanagement. The Proposed Action focuses on changes to the existing motorized transportation system on the district.

Comments should be submitted by May 9. Written or oral comments may be submitted to: TMR, Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Rd., Williams, AZ 86046; telephone (928) 635-5614; FAX (928) 635-5680. Hand-delivered comments may be submitted to the Williams Ranger District office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, excluding holidays. Comments may also be submitted electronically on the Kaibab National Forest Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/travelmanagement.