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New Hoover Wilderness additions |
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Saturday, 04 July 2009 |
With the signing of the Omnibus Land Management Act of 2009, the Bridgeport Ranger District on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has additional responsibilities. The act designated most, but not all, of the land that was recommended as additions to the Hoover Wilderness.
The largest portions of these new additions include the headwaters of the West Walker River – a beautiful area with many high mountain lakes between Yosemite National Park, the Emigrant Wilderness and the original Hoover Wilderness. This new designation includes large portions of both the west and east additions; the wilderness has more than doubled in size, from 39,094 acres to 99,744 acres.
In addition to the wilderness designations, this new law created the “Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area.” This area has been established for winter motorized recreation, and includes most of the area around Leavitt Lake that was addressed by the 2005 decision to open that area to winter motorized recreation.
This fall, the district will begin work on the management plan for the “Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area” with public input. The law directs the Forest Service to write a management plan within one year of the law’s enactment.
“We are looking forward to working with all members of the public with an interest in this area,” said Cheryl Probert, Bridgeport District Ranger. “Your input will help to make a better plan.”
While the district is preparing this new management plan, the management guidelines established in the 2005 planning decision will continue to provide direction for this winter.
The district has begun the work of implementing these new designations. Its focus this spring and summer has included signing the new wilderness boundaries, informing the public about the new wilderness, and incorporating the new portions of the wilderness within our existing management framework.
If you have any questions about the Hoover Wilderness, the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area, or the Omnibus Land Management Act of 2009, contact Jeffrey Weise, Wilderness Manager, or Cheryl Probert, District Ranger, at the Bridgeport Ranger District at (760) 932-7070. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 13 July 2009 )
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