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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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St. Joe Travel Management Plan to go into effect

In the lower third of the St. Joe River roadless area, hikers get a good look at the ravages of bark beetles infesting the aging lodgepole pine stands that emerged from the 1910 fires.  The lodgepoles are near the end of their natural life cycle, and the beetles are feasting on the occasion. (Rich Landers)
In the lower third of the St. Joe River roadless area, hikers get a good look at the ravages of bark beetles infesting the aging lodgepole pine stands that emerged from the 1910 fires. The lodgepoles are near the end of their natural life cycle, and the beetles are feasting on the occasion. (Rich Landers)

PUBLIC LANDS -- The St. Joe Ranger District Travel Management Plan will be going into effect soon, designating where motor vehicles can go and where they are prohibited. 

The Forest Service selected Alternative D Modified, and motorized users came out quite well. Maybe better than bull trout.

The travel management plan covers 725,000 acres within the St. Joe Ranger District and Shoshone, Benewah, Clearwater, and Latah Counties, Idaho.

 
The plan will go into effect when the St. Joe Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) becomes available (free)  to the public, which is expected to be soon, although not date has been released.
 
“The extensive public involvement and collaboration we had for this project resulted in a range of route designations that balance the public’s desire for motorized access with our need to minimize damage to resources.” said District Ranger Matt Davis. 
 
This project was developed based on requirements of the 2005 Travel Management Rule.  The Rule requires each national forest to designate roads, trails, and areas that will be open to motorized travel, identify the type of wheeled motorized vehicles that are allowed to use these routes, and publish this information on a MVUM. 
 
After the map is published, cross-country wheeled motorized vehicle use will be prohibited, except in limited areas to access existing dispersed camping sites.
 
Info:  St. Joe Ranger District, St. Maries office (208) 245-2531.


Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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