Advocacy
Forest Service Caribou and West Magnolia Travel Management Plan
On Wednesday March 12, 2003 the USFS Boulder Ranger District held an open house to present an environmental assessment(EA) and their plans for travel management in the Caribou/West Magnolia area. As many of you know, this area may provide the best mountain biking in Boulder County. These plans were up for review and comments were taken until April 28, 2003.
BMA was pleased that the USFS proposed actively managing this area for recreation in the plans. We provided recommendations and comments that we felt would significantly enhance the mountain biking opportunities in the area. Our efforts were rewarded when the final travel management plan incorporated many of our recommendations. BMA's input and that of our members made a real difference!
Since the final travel management plan was completed BMA has been working with the Forest Service to improve the area trails. We ran two trail projects at West Magnolia in July of 2004 and plan to continue our efforts in the years to come.
Following are the BMA comments to the draft plan: (maps of the three Alternatives of the plan are available below).
- As mountain bikers, we are pleased that the USFS Boulder Ranger District will be actively managing the Caribou/West Magnolia area to best provide recreational opportunities that protect the natural and cultural resources of the area.
- We hope that the USFS will work closely with BMA in implementing the chosen plan
- We believe that CR 128J should be open on a seasonal basis. We like the addition of the old Switzerland RR heading South from Rainbow Lakes Road as a multi-use trail connecting to Boulder County's Caribou property
- We prefer Alternative C with the following suggestions:
1. 505.3 should be officially designated a USFS trail open to passive forms of recreation
2. Trail 927.1 should be kept open as in Alternative "B". BMA volunteers can realign the trail where it may conflict with private property
3. Sections of 355.1J, 355.1G, and 355.1N, that will be closed to all use, should be kept open to passive recreation in a loop design, closing the spur that heads west to private property only. This is nearly the case in Alternative B with seasonal closures. At minimum, a short section of 355.1 must remain open to allow for a western exit to soc2 or a short section of new trail be added to accommodate this.
By communicating how important this area is for recreation and volunteering to work together with the Forest Service to improve it, we made real contributions to the plan and formed a partnership for the future.
Caribou and West Magnolia Travel Management Maps
Caribou Management Area, Alternative A, No Action
Caribou Management Area, Alternative B, Proposed Action
Caribou Management Area, Alternative C, BMA Recommended
West Magnolia Management Area, Alternative A, No Action
West Magnolia Management Area, Alternative B, Proposed Action
West Magnolia Management Area, Alternative C, BMA Recommended