Tahoe snowmobile plans draw criticism
I wasn’t surprised when the updated over-snow vehicle (OSV) plan released by the U.S. Forest Service’s Stanislaus National Forest led to a lawsuit by several snowmobile groups. After all, it took a 2011 lawsuit to force Forest Districts around the country to follow a federal law enacted in 1972 to develop updated plans for the use of motorized vehicles on forest lands to minimize environmental conflicts. The plans for use by dirt bikes and motorized summertime vehicles was completed more than a decade ago, but the plans for OSVs – snowmobiles, snowbikes and the like – was largely ignored until ordered by the courts to do so.
What has followed was been a long process to manage the varied interests of winter users in our national forests from snowmobiles to skiers with environmental impacts on the land. It’s a hard balance to strike and in the end no user group will be fully satisfied with the final outcome for each district. But it is important to take these steps to manage the public’s interest in recreation (in whatever form that takes) on public lands with the need to protect the environment and the wildlife that inhabits these lands.
The greater Tahoe region, which we refer to as the Tahoe Sierra, includes six Forest Service districts, each of which must develop a plan specific to its district. Tahoe Weekly also includes the Lassen district in our coverage on this topic as it’s a popular snowmobile destination for our visitors and locals.
Stanislaus was only the first of these districts in our region to release its final OSV plan. Plumas, Tahoe, Eldorado and Lassen districts are expected to release final plans this year and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will release its revised proposal for public comment later this year. Humboldt-Toiyabe has not yet released any public proposals.
Sean McAlindin has dedicated several years and countless hours covering this important issue about public lands’ access for Tahoe Weekly and our readers. Read his latest installment in this edition: “Snowmobile access plan faces lawsuit.”
Tahoe Weekly print subscriptions
If you read my article on Tahoe Weekly’s 40th anniversary in the last edition, then you already know that one of the changes we’re most excited about this year is that you can now subscribe to our print edition. It’s been one of the things most requested by our readers and we’ll start mailing subscriptions this summer.
While we’re working out the logistics to manage our print subscriptions, you can email us at sales@tahoethisweek.com if you’re interested in subscribing. We’ll need to get at least 200 initial subscribers to qualify for the necessary postal permit to start mailing copies. I’ll announce details on pricing later this spring.
—
Dan Light, a tour guide for Lake Tahoe Snowmobile, enjoys a ride near Mount Watson in an area known as “Guides Lookout” on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore. Photography by Austin Taylor, anaturalimage.com
