Tonto National Forest opens proposed travel management plan for public comment

If you're a frequent visitor to and camper in the Tonto National Forest you might want to know that the forest is on the verge of accepting its travel management plan that will govern how you may use the forest in the future.

The plan will determine which of the forest's roads you can drive on, which roads will close, and where you can camp/boondock. The following is a notification from the Blue Ribbon Coalition.

The Forest Service has announced the release the Travel Management Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Tonto National Forest for public review and comment. A 30-day public comment period began on January 6, 2012. Comments will be accepted through February 5, 2012. The action is a proposed system of roads, trails and areas. Based on previous public input, several alternatives are proposed in this draft Environmental Assessment. The final product will be a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) that shows which roads and trails will be open to motor vehicle use. The decision will also amend the Tonto National Forest Plan.

If you want a say in how the forest will be used, now is your chance to let the Forest Service know. If you don't respond, you may or may not get what you like, but your opportunity for input will be gone. Go to the Blue Ribbon Coalition's notification page for further information and links to post your opinions.