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Comments Sought on Motorized Restrictions

By Beacon Staff

A twenty-mile conglomerate of trails may shut to motorized use. The Swan Lake and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts are asking for public comment on the potential limited access to the Bruce Creek to Alpine 7 to Napa Point area.

The area is in the Southern Swan Crest area, about 9 miles southeast of Bigfork, and about 2 miles west of the Spotted Bear Ranger Station.

Spotted Bear District Ranger Debbie Mucklow notes the area already sees a limited amount of motorcycle use, and some of the trails are on steep terrain; difficult to maintain for motorcycle use. “In addition, this proposal improves security for grizzly bears,” Mucklow says.

The Bruce Creek to Alpine 7 to Napa Point Motorized Trails Project Environmental Assessment is available online at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead/nepa/travel_management/sb/bruce_ea_final.pdf or through the Swan Lake Ranger District office in Bigfork or the Spotted Bear Ranger District office in Hungry Horse.

The project is part of the overall Motorized Travel Management Policy; each National Forest identifies and designates roads, trails and areas that will remain open or closed to motorized use.

Comments must be postmarked by May 8th to Spotted Bear District Ranger Mucklow PO Bruce Creek to Alpine 7 to Napa Point Motorized Trails Project Box 190340, Hungry Horse, MT 59919