A rally organized by off-highway vehicle enthusiasts drew nearly 300 forest users to Placerville on Sunday to protest a proposal to significantly reduce the number of miles of roads and trails open to motorized recreational activities in the Eldorado National Forest.
Shannon Chard of Grizzly Flat joins other off-road vehicle advocates gathered on the Forni Road freeway overpass in Placerville to protest a plan to limit off-roading trails in the Eldorado National Forest.
Sacramento Bee/Lezlie Sterling
Demonstrators gathered at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. Equipped with signs and banners, they then took up posts at intersections and along highway overpasses.
Organizers said in a Monday news release that the event drew not only off-highway vehicle users, but also hikers, bicyclists, canoers, fishermen and horseback riders who use forest roads and trails.
The "preferred" travel management alternative, selected by forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo as the basis for the final environmental study, would allow use of 844.3 miles of roads and 217 miles of trails, compared with 2,003.5 miles of existing roads and 249.3 miles of existing trails.
Villalvazo, in a written statement Sunday, acknowledged the demonstrators, saying, "Their care and concern for the forest is welcome. We hope that they will continue to stay engaged and bring their thoughts into the environmental decision- making process that is in place as we work to create a designated system of travel routes in the Eldorado National Forest."
Forest Service officials reported that more than 1,100 people have attended informational meetings on the plan.
They also announced that the public comment period, which was to close Tuesday, has been extended for 45 days.
For more information, or to comment on the travel management plan, see the Web site at
www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado .
-- Cathy Locke
