The long awaited Shoshone Forest Plan will be signed into law soon. The Shoshone Forest is the nation’s first national forest. The plan for the forest has been more than ten years in the making.
After forest managers presented a plan last year, that would allow off road vehicles and bicycles to expand in areas that had previously been off limits, several parties objected.
Forest Supervisor Joe Alexander said, “We had 72 objections to our plan.”
The area where expansion of off road vehicle use was considered, is near Franc’s Peak near Meeteetse. Since Wyoming’s Game and Fish often spots grizzlies harvesting moths there, the suggestion was to keep ORV's out of the area.
And, in the Dunoir area of the forest near Dubois, some suggested keeping bikes away. Federal officials adopted those changes angering Fremont County officials. Park County’s commissioners were not happy when Alexander talked to them about the changes in January.
But, Jenny DeSarro of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition is pleased.
She said, “We’re really excited about the Franc’s Peak and Wood River area just based on the fact that it’s a really strong habitat for grizzly bears and Franc’s Peak is a known moth site.
The Record of Decision will be signed by Alexander and the regional forester in Denver.
