Comment on the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains Proposed Action
The Coronado National Forest has presented proposed changes to the current system of roads on the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains. You now have an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to the road system. Unless management of roads and off-road vehicles changes, the quiet, pristine forests we value could slowly disappear. Now is the time to voice your concerns.
The Coronado National Forest has determined it can only afford to maintain 9% of the current road system. In light of this information, the Coronado is proposing to add 5.3 miles of road on the Santa Catalina Ranger District, and to close only 1.3 miles of road. Something doesn't add up!
We need to be more serious about protecting our National Forest to keep it quiet and free of pollution. This is your opportunity to protect the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains from further motorized destruction.You can view the Forest Service proposal and maps of the plan here. You can view a large map of the Coronado Planning Partnership recommendations, text comments and a table of recommended road closures with justification at the Sky Island Action Center Library.
Tell the Forest Service:
- The proposal for the Santa Catalina Ranger District is not acceptable. This is the opportunity to make positive changes in the management of motorized vehicles and to protect sensitive resources.
- Please take another look at the problems caused by off-road vehicles in the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains.
- Please consider additional restrictions on motorized dispersed camping in the Happy Valley area to protect wildlife habitat and water quality . Please fulfill your responsibility to manage the land by addressing off-road vehicle use and abuse in the Redington Pass area.
- Focus on closing roads that traverse, cross, or follow streams, arroyos, or riparian areas and sensitive wildlife habitat to reduce route density in the district to no more than one mile per square mile.
- Any proposed road system should be fiscally responsible and must be limited by the Forest Service's ability to monitor and manage it.
- Many roads are redundant or damaging to natural and cultural resources and must be closed.
- Please ensure that there are areas close to Tucson where I can get out into the forest and escape the sights and sounds of motorized vehicles.
- Please consider the Coronado Planning Partnership route recommendations.
Tell the Forest Service your stories about your forest experience being disrupted by off-road vehicle use, or the poor placement of roads.
Please help identify specific places based on your local knowledge that are not appropriate for off-road vehicle use or have already been damaged and should be restored and recommend closure of these areas.
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Let the Forest Service know what you think!
Send comments to Ms. Laura White at (520) 388-8419 or comments-southwestern-coronado@fs.fed.us.
For more information about Travel Management Planning click here.
For Questions and Further Information contact Louise Misztal at 520-634-7080.