Trail news - Lincoln National Forest

	LNF Requests Public Input on Recreation Sites
	Providing the public with quality sustainable recreation sites is a responsibility the U.S. Forest Service and the Lincoln National Forest strive to achieve and meet. Many of the Lincoln National Forest campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads were created in the 1950s and 60s and are showing their age. Some are in need of reconstruction to improve a quality experience and, improve sanitation and accessibility. Since these sites were built, demographics have changed, use patterns have changed and type of use has changed.. Some facilities have grown in popularity and often filled to capacity, while other sites are not used as much. Frank Martinez, Lincoln National Forest Public Services Staff Officer said, “The Recreation Facility Analysis is a tool to display the tasks needed over the next 5 years to bring the Forest’s recreation infrastructure in alignment with the resources available to operate and maintain to standard. The program of work that will be identified annually needs to be sustainable and flexible to respond to available resources and , our intent is to reduce deferred maintenance by 20% over the next 5 years.” A recreation niche was developed by Lincoln National Forest through public feedback surveys conducted at campgrounds and picnic areas and daily interaction of those using recreation facilities, while visiting the Forest: The birthplace of Smokey Bear, the mountains of the Lincoln National Forest are green islands above the Chihuahuan desert. This high country recreation area lets visitors escape the heat in the summer and experience “Southwest Snow” in the winter through easily accessed day use activities. World class caves offer unparalleled opportunities for scientific, educational and carefully managed recreational discovery. The forest connects communities, state lands, Tribes and other federal agencies through long-term cooperative partnerships. Of the 51 recreation sites on the Lincoln National Forest, proposed changes are: * Add host to 5 sites * Decommission Lookout Mountain observation site * Convert Monjeau FC to day use * Partial decommission of Skyline FC (reduce capacity) * Evaluate fee increase at three sites * Decrease capacity at Deerhead CG – reconstruct campground starting in 2008 * Decrease capacity at Sleepy Grass CG – reconstruct campground starting in 2009 “The RFA process will help to align our sites with user demands and expectations and provide consistency in terms of user fees and services throughout the Lincoln National Forest,” said Martinez. I encourage public input in this proposal,” said Martinez..” Please submit input, comments, or suggestions by June 30ly xx, 2008. The Forest anticipates completing the RFA by the end of August 1, 2008, with implementation to begin in the fall of 2008 with the start of reconstruction of Deerhead Campground. A complete copy of the Recreation Facilities Analysis, complete with a Forest-wide summary of proposed modifications can be found in the Lincoln National Forest website at: : http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln or at any Lincoln National Forest office.