Current Status

Bitterroot Travel Plan

We have working on getting the bike ban removed since the release of the draft in 2009. Along with IMBA we submitted comments and saw the number of trails to be closed doubled.  We filed our objections, and participated in a reconciliation conference and at every step we have been rebuffed by the Forest Service.

At this point we have nearly run out of options. Our last avenue is to file suit over what our lawyer considers serious deficiencies in how the Forest Service implemented the Travel Plan.  In making significant changes in how they manage the forest, the Forest Service is required to follow the rules dictated by NEPA, which among other thing requires a "hard look" when doing their study. It is our belief that the Forest Service violated their own rules in implmenting the trail closures. At this point, we feel we have a strong case, and need your support to finance the legal expense.

What would a win mean?

A win would at least temporarily reopen the trails. I wish we could promise the trails would remain open permanently, but the best can expect is for the courts to require the Forest Service to a proper NEPA and during that process require them to prove that bikes are impacting the wilderness character, not just assume it.

Ten Lakes

Comments have been submitted.

TBD