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Blue Ribbon Coalition is a good way to keep updated on issues in your area:

http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/index.cfm?mr=598

Action Alert: Gunnison Basin Draft Travel Maps Released for Review
Date: May 14, 2007

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BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Attention Colorado Recreationists!

The Forest Service (FS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are developing a Proposed Action for the transportation system for the Gunnison Basin. These agencies will be holding meetings during May and June for the public to review draft maps of the preliminary proposed action for that transportation system. Your involvement is vital to the success of this travel planning effort, so don't wait, get involved now!

The meeting will include a PowerPoint presentation on the travel analysis process, which will begin at 5:45 pm, followed by the opportunity to review and comment on the maps in small groups between 6:30 -8:00 p.m. Draft maps for the all areas will be available for review; however, maps of public lands in the vicinity of meeting locations will be emphasized.

These meetings are scheduled from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the following locations:

Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Paonia Town Hall
214 Grand Avenue
Paonia, CO

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Gunnison County Fairgrounds (Multi-Purpose Room)
(Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center)
275 S. Spruce Street
Gunnison, CO

Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Crested Butte Community School
818 Red Lady Avenue
Crested Butte, CO

Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Lake City Community School
(Middle/HS Wing, Room 6/8)
614 Silver Street
Lake City, CO

The finalized inter-agency travel plan will designate which roads or trails on BLM and FS lands within the Gunnison area are open to motorized travel. A Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) will depict routes open to motorized travel on these public lands. The MVUM will be available to the public and will be the primary tool used to determine compliance and enforcement with motorized and mechanized vehicle use designations on the ground.

Remember, those existing routes and other user-created routes not designated open on the MVUM will be legally closed to motorized and mechanized travel. The decisions on motorized and mechanized travel do not include over-snow travel or existing winter-use recreation.

Public feedback during this formal public scoping period will help refine important travel issues and develop alternatives to the transportation system that will be further evaluated through the environmental impact assessment process (NEPA). Comments concerning the scope of analysis must be received on or before August 31, 2007. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is expected to be released in early 2008 with a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and decision later in 2008.

To view the draft maps or other information on Gunnison travel, please check the GMUG National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/policy/travel_mgmt/. If you would like to be on the Gunnison Travel mailing list, please email r2_gmug_gunnison_travel@fs.fed.usor call (970) 874-6637 with your email or mailing address.

Gunnison Travel Management Plan Maps can be viewed on the Forest Service website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/policy/...gun_maps.shtml.

PLEASE, IF YOU RECREATE IN THE GUNNISON AREA, GET INVOLVED NOW!

Thanks in advance for your support,
Brian Hawthorne
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102