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United States Forest Service
Route Designation Team
Tahoe National Forest, Region 5
631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
Re: Tahoe National Forest OHV Route Designation – Little Truckee Trail TKN-M3
Dear Supervisor Quinn,
The change that we find the most in conflict with our mission and the Travel Management Rule in the TNF Proposed Action is the 2.83 mile segment of route TKN-M3 that parallels the west side of the Little Truckee River from Stampede Reservoir to Boca Reservoir. This trail is slated for motorcycle use and yearlong access with no seasonal closures.
The Little Truckee River Watershed is an invaluable resource to all users of the Tahoe National Forest. The biotic communities the Little Truckee River watershed supports, both aquatic and terrestrial, are arguably unrivaled by any other watershed in the Tahoe National Forest. The Little Truckee River is one of the premier trout fishing destinations in the State of California. Specifically, the tailwater trout fishery that exists below Stampede Reservoir is among the best in the United States, and anglers from all over the world come to the Truckee Area to recreate here. This fishery has gained a reputation among fisherman nationwide, not just California, as being one of the best places to catch large wild trout on a dry fly. The reputation and quality of this unique fishing experience needs to be protected.
Trail TKN-M3 will undoubtedly increase the frequency of inter-user group conflicts between anglers and OHV users along the Little Truckee River. Anglers seek solitude and escape among a myriad of other values when recreating outside. These characteristics are especially true for fly fishermen/women, which are the prevailing constituency represented on the Little Truckee River between Stampede and Boca Reservoirs throughout the season. Inclusion of trail TKN-M3 will significantly increase noise pollution along this premier section of the Little Truckee River, invariably changing the fishing experience on this destination river. There is also a potential for collision and serious injury, as many anglers use the area of the proposed trail to walk from spot to spot. This will lead to inter-user group conflicts between anglers and OHV users, as well as cause inter-site displacement among local anglers adding to increased pressure on other resources in the TNF, causing future management issues/concerns. Anglers from all over have been enjoying this wonderful resource for decades, and the executive orders and travel rules specifically state that OHV use cannot conflict with existing neighboring recreation values.
Trail TKN-M3 will increase resource impacts to the riparian zone along the Little Truckee River. The Little Truckee River has been recognized as an area of high ecological significance and boasts a “high biotic integrity” rating and an “especially pristine watershed.” Trail TKN-M3 crosses eight ephemeral tributaries to the Little Truckee River and 5 out of 23 trail segments are located in riparian areas. Although these tributary drainages and riparian areas might not support any trout species perennially, they do provide the Little Truckee River with supplemental flows of cold water at times throughout the year which is important for creating and maintaining critical spawning habitat for trout. This proposed trail is specifically in conflict with the stipulations listed under the execute orders and travel regulations that govern the protection of resource and watershed values on public lands.
The area located between Prosser, Stampede and Boca Reservoirs has a route density of greater than eight miles of roads/trails per one square mile. This is already the highest route density area within the Tahoe National Forest. Trail TKN-M3 will connect the myriad of existing OHV trails and roads to the west side of the Little Truckee River. Trout Unlimited feels that the Interdisciplinary Team did not take into consideration the amount of potential use trail TKN-M3 will receive and what resource impacts that might comprise for the fragile meadow the Little Truckee River flows through, as users are inevitably likely to illegally venture off trail. We are aware that this trail is designated for motorcycle use only, but we feel it is unreasonable to assume that it will be used exclusively by motorcyclists if included. It can be accessed far too easily, and OHV enforcement has been a long time issue for the Forest Service. It is the opinion of Trout Unlimited that there are already enough OHV trails in this region of the TNF, and this additional trail poses serious and significant social and environmental implications that should deny its inclusion in the final OHV Travel Plan.
We look forward to working closely with the Forest on implementation and enforcement of its provisions and infrastructure. Having attended several of the public meetings hosted by the TNF to solicit public feedback, we are aware that the issue of off-highway vehicle use is divisive and emotional, and commend the Forest and its personnel for their professional conduct during these meetings. OHV enthusiasts may be justified in saying they need more areas and routes for their activity, but that does not mean that a majority of the TNF is suitable for such activity, and some resources are so sensitive, rare or ecologically important that they trump any proposed addition or existing OHV route in their proximity.
On behalf of the fish and game resources of the TNF, and of hunters and anglers who believe that hunting and fishing opportunities in the Forest are threatened by OHV use, we thank you for the opportunity to comment on the motorized travel and route designation plan for the TNF. We look forward to working closely with you to develop ecologically sustainable, manageable, and enforceable management plans in the future. Thank you.
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