HIAWATHA COULD CLOSE ROADS UNLESS YOU GET INVOLVED

US Forestry Service LogoHiawatha National Forest manages more than 3,000 miles of roads. While many Forest roads provide land management- and user-related benefits, some may also pose risks to forest resources. Increased use of an aging roads infrastructure increases safety and maintenance costs, impacts wildlife, and contributes to degradation of water quality.
Over the past several years, even as maintenance needs have increased, funding to maintain National Forest system roads across the country has decreased dramatically. Because of this, there is a national Travel Analysis Process to define safe, fiscally feasible minimum road systems that provide the greatest benefit to the largest number of visitors with the least risk to the environment. Essentially, the U.S. Forest Service is proposing to down scale their road system to meet their budget.
What does that mean for hunters, trappers and anglers? 
They need to hear from YOU on what roads or types of roads are important to accessing your recreation! MUCC members have time and time again opposed road closures where it might impact access to hunting or other recreation opportunities, including ORV use. Now that there is a move to “shrink” the system, we need to be involved in defining what roads should remain.
Please provide your input via the comment form linked below or via mail. If you would like to provide input about a specific road or area, please include details such as section, township, range or latitude/longitude.
Your comments are requested by 9/29/2014.
Online — You can submit information about benefits and risks of particular roads using the USFS website here.
U.S. Mail — Print the this form, fill it out, and send to:
Hiawatha National Forest attn: TAP Comments 820 Rains Drive Gladstone, MI 49837
Paper copies of the form are also available at all district offices.
Questions— Still not sure how this process works?  Call Ginger at 906-428-5800.

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