Public comment sought on forest management plans

The U.S. Forest Service is expected to release its long-awaited management plans for the Angeles and Cleveland national forests by the time you receive this issue of the Southern Sierran. These plans will set the priorities for what should happen on these public lands for 15 years or more. The Southern California Forests Campaign will be soliciting comments from Sierra Club members about how the plans can be improved, and it will deliver the comments to Forest Service management.

The Angeles National Forest and the northern section of the Cleveland National Forest in Orange County provide the majority of public open space in the Chapter and are home to hundreds, if not thousands, of Sierra Club outings each year. These 900,000 acres of national forest land serve as a vast natural heritage in the heart of one of the world's great urban areas.

As the amount of open space beyond forest boundaries dwindles and our population grows, protecting the unspoiled scenic beauty and recreational opportunities provided by the four forests is of ever-growing importance. However, the Forest Service must act now to preserve the forests for future generations.

The agency's new forest management plans are expected to be controversial since the draft plans released over a year ago were headed in the wrong direction. Their main recreational focus was on expanding trails for motorcycles and other off-road vehicles, offering little for the vast majority of forest visitors. Protective zoning that would forestall development on the forests was reduced. The agency recommended a scant 2 percent more unspoiled backcountry for wilderness protection.

This month, the Forest Service will be holding 10 open house meetings to present the plans (see Take Action below). The Southern California Forests Campaign and the Chapter's Santa Ana Mountains Task Force and Forest Committee will be working together to gather comments on the plans and to get the word out about the open house meetings. Sierra Club volunteers will be stationed near the entrance of key meetings to provide information.

This is our last chance to influence these forest plans, said Don Bremner, chair of the Forest Committee. They are likely to have some major problems, so it is very important that Chapter members turn out to the open house meetings and send in comments.

Visit the Southern California Forests Campaign website for an analysis of the new forest plans and a link to the Forest Service website with the detailed final management plans and maps (see address below). For more information, contact Juana Torres (213-387-6528, ext. 226) at the Southern California Forests Campaign.

John Monsen is Regional Conservation Organizer for the Southern California Forests Campaign. He can be reached at 213-387-6528, ext. 203.

Take Action

Write the Forest Service and let them know you want the Southern California Forest protected. www.sierraclub.org/ca/socalforests

Attend a Forest Service open house and speak up for local forests.

Open house schedule

Vicinity of Angeles National Forest

Huntington Park: Oct. 13, 6-8pm, Family Center-Old-timers Foundation, 3355 E. Gage Ave.

Rosemead: Oct. 17, 6-8pm, Garvey Center, 8838 E. Valley Blvd.

Santa Clarita: Oct. 18, 6-8pm, Santa Clarita Activities Center, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway

Wrightwood: Oct. 19, 6-8pm, Wrightwood Community Center, 1275 Highway 2

Claremont: Oct. 20, 6-8pm, Alexander Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Rd.

Los Angeles: Oct. 22, 9-11am, Glassell Park, 3650 Verdugo Rd.

Los Angeles: Oct. 22, 2-4pm, Watts Community Center, 10950 S. Central Ave.

West Covina: Oct. 24, 6-8pm, West Covina Senior Center, 2501 E. Cortez St.

Vicinity of Cleveland National Forest

San Juan Capistrano: Oct. 29, 6-8:30pm, Old Fire Station Complex, 31421 La Matanza St.

Fullerton: Nov. 2, 6-8pm, Community Senior Multi-Service Center, 340 W. Commonwealth