USFS seeks input on FS roads in Chattahoochee NF (GA)

[BMThiker]

I was going to post this in the SE Expedition Society (regional chapter), but this is probably a more appropriate section.
Comments needed by April 13, 2012.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/co...100&width=full

Excerpted text from link above (emphasis added in bold):

This transportation study will help us find a way to use our limited resources to balance the needs for access to the forest with the protection of clean water and a healthy forest. The transportation study is not a proposal or decision, but is intended to help guide us in planning future road management.
The number of overdue road maintenance projects continues to grow, while public use of our roads is increasing. Roads that cannot be adequately maintained can be dangerous to visitors and threaten forest health. They can increase sedimentation into rivers and streams, degrading water quality and impacting fish and wildlife.
Possible options that may be considered for each road include:

• Maintaining at the current standard
• Changing the level of maintenance (ex., from passenger car to high-clearance vehicle)
• Adding seasonal restrictions
• Implementing year-long closures
• Decommissioning (this is by far the most popular option among cash strapped bureaucrats)

[Hilldweller]

[*]Changing the level of maintenance (ex., from passenger car to high-clearance vehicle)

I commented and volunteered us to help maintain the area...

[yeti_in_ga]

Well I put my 2 cents in, not that I feel it would do any good. I cant understand why they don't just put up some signs for high clearance like out west. Not all these roads impact streams or water ways. That sure is cheaper than tank trapping a road !!

[General Automag]

I was going to post this in the SE Expedition Society (regional chapter), but this is probably a more appropriate section.
Comments needed by April 13, 2012.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/co...100&width=full

Excerpted text from link above (emphasis added in bold):

This transportation study will help us find a way to use our limited resources to balance the needs for access to the forest with the protection of clean water and a healthy forest. The transportation study is not a proposal or decision, but is intended to help guide us in planning future road management.
The number of overdue road maintenance projects continues to grow, while public use of our roads is increasing. Roads that cannot be adequately maintained can be dangerous to visitors and threaten forest health. They can increase sedimentation into rivers and streams, degrading water quality and impacting fish and wildlife.
Possible options that may be considered for each road include:

• Maintaining at the current standard
• Changing the level of maintenance (ex., from passenger car to high-clearance vehicle)
• Adding seasonal restrictions
• Implementing year-long closures
• Decommissioning (this is by far the most popular option among cash strapped bureaucrats)

Are there any particular sections of roads that the USFS is considering? What specific map numbers are the roads located?

[BMThiker]

Once you start the survey you can select map grids from their screen and it will zoom in.

[kletzenklueffer]

Well I put my 2 cents in, not that I feel it would do any good. I cant understand why they don't just put up some signs for high clearance like out west. Not all these roads impact streams or water ways. That sure is cheaper than tank trapping a road !!

I recall seeing some road marked as such years back, particularly a section off Tray Mountain. The sign has a jeep image and "Off road vehicles only" and a pic of a corvette with a line through it. It's gone on that road now and a vette still couldn't make it through.

[Jackson"N"jeeper]

Be glad to help anyway I can, but we must all remember. Once these roads are closed even for an annual repair excuse they will not reopen them, They wont have the funds even though they have been using them for years, and your taxes have paid sufficently for them. They have a way of satisfing their greed by doing this. I have experienced this first hand, Ive seen roads that were in excellent condition, maintained by local Jeep groups, and because of a stupid move by a bureaucrat, and they let a fire go uncontrolled, they still have not reopened them. Is this our fault?? NO, Think about it.

[HillbillyfromAL]

Jackson's right but they are less likely to close roads that are not maintained (marked high clearance). Hopefully enough people put their stuff in, in time.

[mclovinal]

So has anyone heard anything else about this? I am planning a trip through this forest, hopefully a multi day trip, and see on the forest service map that many of the roads are marked "Not maintained for passenger cars." Given, that is what i'm hoping for.

[NMC_EXP]

Years ago fedgov agencies began soliciting "public comments" on proposed rule changes by the agency. I assume this was the result of a law passed by congress to "democritize" the rule making process.

Question: In general, does anyone have any evidence these public comments actually influence final rules?

My gut is that if the public comment "vote" conforms to the agency objective, the results are used to support it. If the public vote is contray to the objective, it is ignored and glossed over.

Regards

Jim