Final Kaniksu OSV decision announced

A system of over-snow vehicle routes across the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry and Priest Lake ranger districts has gotten the final green light from the Forest Service.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests issued a final decision for the Kaniksu Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation Project in late December.

The project designates a system of over-snow vehicle routes and riding areas, along with seasons of use, for motor vehicles that travel over snow on tracks or skis. The project area covers more than 1,046,000 acres of National Forest System lands across the three districts.

The plan includes varying dates of when trails could be accessed, as well as the types of trails open to use, when they could be accessed, and in which areas.

The new winter travel plan will go into effect when the Forest Service produces an over-snow vehicle use map, expected to be available next winter. The map will describe riding routes and areas as well as seasons of use. The map will be free to the public and available in both hard copy and online.

Plans for motorized travel are required on all national forests and grasslands under the 2005 federal Travel Management Rule to create. That rule was later broadened to cover snowmobile and other over-snow vehicles. Under the rule, OSV routes are required to minimize damage to the soil, watershed and other forest resources. Care must also be taken to avoid harassment of wildlife and forest habitats as well as minimize conflicts between the different OSV classes.

As part of the planning effort, IPNF officials said a collaborative group, facilitated by the National Forest Foundation and made up of representatives from diverse, interested parties, Tribes and government agencies, met in 2022 to develop an initial set of recommendations.

The Forest Service gathered public input on an initial proposal during a scoping comment period from Aug. 16, 2022, to Sept. 15, 2022. Comments were again accepted during a draft environmental assessment period from March 22, 2023, to April 21, 2023.

"We want to thank everyone who participated in the process. Your engagement has made the final decision more representative of north Idaho and balanced motorized and non-motorized use while protecting important wildlife habitat," said Sandpoint District Ranger Jessie Berner.

Supporters of the plan said they favored access to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest lands for all types of recreation users. The lands, they commented, needs to be managed for the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

"I believe through proper management and education, trails, roads and areas can remain open without negative impacts," Jack Fennimore wrote in August. "Proper access will help mitigate damage by preventing concentration of use and impacts."

Supporters said the possible wilderness should not be a factor, adding they also oppose closing any areas, or restricting their use to certain dates.

"I believe in shared use and that there is enough public land for all to enjoy as long as agencies use best practices," Fennimore said.

Others contended the plan did not go far enough, saying that more areas should be opened under it, especially if a proposed bill to delist grizzly bears in the continental U.S. by U.S. Sen. James Risch goes forward.

Critics cited the proposal's impacts to area roadways due to the amount of traffic, saying the additional vehicles could pose a risk. Others said the Forest Service had failed to adequately analyze the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of OSVs in the project area.

Information: bit.ly/3m0OIiX