ELKO, Nevada…The Mountain City, Ruby Mountains, and Jarbidge Ranger Districts in northeast Nevada have published the Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) for their respective roads, trails, and areas that are open for motor vehicle use. Publication of the maps implements the April 13, 2012, Forest Service Travel Management decision for these three Ranger Districts.
Hard copies of the maps are available for free at the Forest Service offices in Elko, Wells, and Sparks, Nevada. Additional copies have been distributed for viewing at:
- Elko County offices in Elko, Nevada;
- Jarbidge Community Hall;
- Public libraries in Elko and Wells, Nevada;
- Tribal Offices for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley in Owhyhee, Nevada; and,
- Tribal Offices for the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone in Elko, Nevada.
The selected alternative designated approximately 906 miles of unauthorized roads and trails as National Forest System (NFS) roads and NFS trails. As a result of this decision, the Forest Transportation System on the three Districts includes approximately 1,991 miles of roads and motorized trails for public use.
“These maps include over 90 percent of all the miles of roads and trails on the Districts,” Wendy Fuell, Jarbidge/Ruby Mountains, and Mountain City District Ranger said. “Forest visitors will be able to access most of the places they could before these maps were published,” explained Fuell.
Along with the designation, the decision also allows for some use of motorized vehicles to retrieve legally taken elk for up to half a mile from a designated road or trail. Hunters would be allowed one trip on an ATV or UTV to retrieve their elk between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“The Forest will be focusing on helping our visitors understand how to read and use the maps throughout the summer months,” said Matt Boisseau, Deputy District Ranger for Jarbidge and Ruby Mountains Ranger Districts. Forest Service travel management regulations provide for periodic updates to these maps as needed changes are identified. Boisseau stated that, “We are actively seeking feedback from the public, local governments, tribal governments, and others throughout the year to identify changes and corrections that may be needed to update the maps.”
The MVUMS can be viewed or downloaded off the internet at the following website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/
Two open houses, one in Jarbidge and one in Elko, have been scheduled by the Forest Service to distribute the Motor Vehicle Use Maps and to answer questions about travel management.
Elko Open House – Friday, August 9, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mountain City Ranger District Office
Jarbidge Open House – Saturday, August 10, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Mountain time)
Jarbidge Community Hall
Jarbidge, NV 89826
(to be held during Jarbidge Days)
Learn more about this release by contacting Wendy Fuell, Jarbidge/Ruby Mountains, and Mountain City District Ranger, at 775-738-5171, or Matt Boisseau, Jarbidge/Ruby Mountains Deputy District Ranger, at 775-752-3357.
