The Ashley National Forest located primarily in Utah but partially in Wyoming has not updated their management plan since 1986. The USFS has released the draft Environmental Impact Statement and the draft is open for public comment. This is the second stage in the whole management plan process. The forest already contains the High Uintas Wilderness Area. One concern that BlueRibbon always has is “buffer zones” to the wilderness which is a way for land agencies to launder wilderness protections where wilderness hasn’t been formally designated. You can see below the three proposed alternatives, yellow is general recreation. Alternative C is the most restrictive with Alternative D being the most sympathetic to recreation users. With that said, there is still more that Alternative D could be doing to provide continued access for the public.
The plan will affect both land and waters because the Green River and Flaming Gorge are within the Ashley. There is a push for more restricted access along the Green River south of the Ashley NF and you can learn more about that here. Although this part of the planning process won’t close or restrict anything site-specific it will create Recreation Opportunity Spectrum areas which will potentially limit roads and motorized use. If those areas are created then travel management that will happen later will close all routes and trails within the non-motorized areas both for summer and winter recreation.
You can read the Draft Environmental Impact Statement as well as the proposed plan and alternatives on the Forest Service website here.
The Forest Service will be holding two meetings before the comment deadline. One on January 19th 12:30-1:30 MST you can join here. This one is focused on recreation, wilderness and wild and scenic rivers.
The second will be January 25th, 12:30-1:30 MST. You can join here. This meeting is focused on active management and grazing.
BlueRibbon will be engaged on these meetings and will continue to update our members as we learn more about the plan.
We don’t need anymore forest locked up in wilderness.
Please, no more wilderness, there is enough already.
Quit locking up the forest. We need more trails to open space not less. As a avid hiker I can only access a very small portion as a motor vehicle user I can get away from others and not over use the few open spots
As a frequent user of national forests, I would like to see the management plan for Ashley National Forest to include more focus on recreation. The current proposed plans restrict recreation, rather than promote it, and I cannot support them.
More motorized access should be aloud not less.
Please keep this area open for us motorized users. It is unfair to lock Americans with disabilities out of public lands which they have enjoyed their whole lives, and often planned retirements around. We all deserve access to our public lands regardless of the means by which we gain that access.
Put the 4×4 community in charge of managing the trails. We have more influence on our community than you will ever have. We fully understand the ramifications of not staying on the trail and need to train all of our 4×4 counterparts in doing the same. The answer is not in shutting down access but in giving more responsibility to those who want to keep the trails open.
Public lands are for all to view and enjoy. If access is restricted, then what is the point!
We need more access not less. There are to many restrictions as is.
As a frequent user of national forests, I would like to see the management plan for Ashley National Forest to include more focus on recreation. The current proposed plans restrict recreation, rather than promote it, and I cannot support them. Access to national forests by/for all user types should be the focus of any/all management plans.
We all need to stand up and support multiple use . These government agencies seem to lean towards the hikers . We all want to do the same thing get out and enjoy our country. We all have different ways of enjoying it !
As an avid camper, fisherman and visitor of our public lands I am opposed to any further restrictions to recreational access on public lands especially in the Ashley National Forest. I am especially opposed to the closing of roads and trails which allow access by motorized users . Closures of any kind have the potential have serious negative economic impact on the small communities in and around the Ashley National Forest by removing millions of dollars spent by those that recreate there.
Although alternative D is the best choice given I feel it is still too restrictive.
Would like to see more access and some maintenance on existing Roads the best way to enjoy the out doors for most of us is in a vehicle we just don’t have time to hike for a week to access the forests but we can and will make a three hour drive to enjoy the out doors
We need to save motorized access and keep access for all. This is the people’s land not the governments and everyone should be able to enjoy it…
Having motorized access is more important than just some guys riding around. For some of us it’s therapy. I use my time exploring for mental therapy with my ADHD. We always try and pick up any trash we see while out exploring. As well as respect mother nature. Please don’t take away our access.
Forest and public lands are for all to use. Will not support it. Lands need to be open to all to enjoy and use.
I recognize that a small portion of OHV users are not very conscientious when they ride and unfortunately that makes the rest of us look bad. The same can be said for many different groups in other situations, but surely, it doesn’t call for closing-off access. Doing so will cause more harm than good and punish those who wish to respectfully enjoy the beautiful place we call home.
To restrict motorized access is to selectively restrict access biased on physical ability and age.
When those that can, deem themselves the only ones that should be allowed, they are by definition restricting access from those that can’t. These areas are loved and need to be experienced by all.
Hence the inclusive names of, public lands, national parks, national forest etc.
We need to keep the land open for all users, wether that be hiking, mountain bikes or UTV’s. This land is for the public to use in a respectful manner, not to be closed off.
Restricting access to motorized recreational vehicles would be heartbreaking. Not only do I enjoy recreating in Ashley national forest, but it is an activity that I want to pass down as I grow older. This is something that cannot he replaced or replicated anywhere else, please don’t take away our access and our escape to the outdoors. It is therapy and healthy to our wellbeing.
I appreciate the need to protect the national forests to ensure the longevity of our natural resources. However, there should be compromise which allows for motorized recreation through the use of trails as well as off-road education. To take a hard stance against motorized recreation vehicles is discriminatory and other avenues need to be explored. Please keep these areas open to us to enjoy!
We need more access not less. Please do not restrict the use of motorized vehicles on already established traps and roads. Those should always be accessible. Please let the motorized off-road community have more odds a voice when it comes to making decisions.
Please keep the land open for outdoor recreational use, to include ATV’s and UTV’s. My family and I enjoy exploring the natural beauty of all U.S. lands, and have a great many more areas to see in our life time!
Keep public lands open and accessible for everybody, motorized and non motorized
I thought public land meant for the public for everyone just not a certain group of people to do a certain kind of activities in our public lands I should be open to all weather it is motorized horseback bike riding hiking it should be open for all
Let us access our National Forest on atvs and Utvs. Billion dollar industry always looking for new trails. Build trails and alow access.
There are many of us that use these recreational areas to vacation and spend time with family and friends. Enough already with more restrictions. The money we spend to maintain and the pride we have in OUR lands should remain just that, OUR lands.
Motorized recreation should be top consideration in this forest plan. Motorized has been the least considered in every forest plan that has been revisited to date.
I like many people my age are not able to hike into these areas but still like to see them. Please do not close them down to off road travel.
We need more access—not less. Let responsible riders ride, and punish the irresponsible riders, dangerous riders, vandals and those who leave trash in our forest with fines etc.
land restrictions shouldn’t exlude those who use it most… multiple uses of public lands are what make them public lands… last time i checked you can show up to the post office by foot, by 4×4, motorcycle, street legal UTV’s because its for the public.. with covid and travel restrictions how do you fully intend on restricting more wildreness area? because the masses can go jump on a cruise ship anytime they feel like?
come one come all! for the public…
let us respect each others right to enjoy lands as we have traditionally, weather it be hiking, biking, 4×4.. you get the idea. lets us enjoy what god gave us to enjoy!
We should all be able to enjoy the land. It’s doesn’t belong to anyone for anyone to shut down. It’s not our governments land it’s the people land.
We need to work together for multi use. More families are opting to go outside for our physical and mental health. We don’t need less area to responsibly recreate.
Less goverment, less restrictions. More Motorized access, recreational access. 30×30 is a terrible government land grab.
We need more access not less. This is our land and we should have access to enjoy it!
Please do not restrict public access to national forest lands. So many more benefit if it remans multi-use and allows all to enjoy and protect our national treasures. Don’t lock anymore land up please!
A Utah family since 1870
As an avid motorcyclist, camper and visitor of our public lands I am opposed to any further restrictions to recreational access on public lands especially in the Ashley National Forest. I am especially opposed to the closing of roads and trails which allow access by motorized users. The use of Wilderness study areas or buffer zones around designated wilderness is a dishonest bypass of congress who is the only group that can legally designate wilderness.
Closures of any kind have the potential have serious negative economic impact on the small communities in and around the Ashley National Forest by removing millions of dollars spent by those that recreate there.
Although alternative D is the best choice given I feel it is still too restrictive.
We need more access not less…Quit taking!!!