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The Gila National Forest has been under assault from off-road vehicles for decades, but the Forest Service is
taking steps to protect this national treasure. Congressman Steve Pearce is attempting to sabotage the Travel
Management process. We need your help to counteract these efforts.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON TRAVEL MANAGEMENT ENDS MARCH 7.

Submit your comments today to prevent the serious negative impacts of far too many roads. Hikers,
campers, birders, plant lovers, hunters, and ranchers must all show their support for road management, and
for protection of the Gila’s natural resources for future generations.

HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS:

Go online to http://action.nmwild.org/ to submit your comments online.

Or mail, fax, or email comments to:
Gila National Forest
Attn: Travel Management
3005 E. Camino del Bosque
Silver City, NM 88061
Fax: 575-388-8222
Email: r3_gila_travel@fs.fed.us

Summary Information on the DEIS:

The Forest Service developed 5 alternatives: B thru G.
Alternative G, the Forest Service’s preferred alternative, reduces the current road miles by 24%. Motorized big
game retrieval and dispersed camping would be designated in 600′ corridors along 1327 miles of roads (96,492
acres).

Alternative E is the best environmental alternative, with the most road closures. Alternative E reduces the
current road miles by 50%. There are no provisions in this alternative for motorized big game retrieval or
dispersed camping. Alternative E does the best job of protecting the forest.

Alternative E does the best job of protecting the San Francisco River, and the Lower San Francisco Wilderness
Study Area (WSA) by closing most of the area to motorized travel. However, a crucial section of the WSA
would remain open to vehicles, in violation of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the New Mexico Wilderness Act
of 1980.

Alternative D reduces the current road miles by 33% and has 1183 miles of road with 600′ corridors for
motorized big game retrieval and dispersed camping (86,023 acres).

Talking points:

Provide encouragement for the Forest Service’s plan to protect the forest from cross-country driving by
voicing support for alternatives that limit motorized use.

Ask the Forest Service to eliminate all new roads and trails in Inventoried Roadless Areas, and to remove
unneeded existing roads in these areas.

THE SAN FRANCISCO RIVER MUST BE FULLY PROTECTED. Urge the Forest Service to close the San Francisco
River from all motorized uses. Remind them that they are legally obligated under the Wilderness Act of 1964
and the New Mexico Wilderness Act of 1980 to prohibit motorized travel throughout the Lower San Francisco
WSA. Urge them to protect the river from erosion and destruction caused by motor vehicles in the river
channel. The San Francisco River is critical for several endangered species, plants, wildlife, and us. It is one of
only two perennial rivers in the Wild Gila.

Encourage the Forest Service to identify roads that are causing the most harm to threatened and endangered
species, and prioritize those roads for closure. Species at risk include New Mexico’s native fish, including the
loach minnow, spikedace, Chihuahua chub and Gila trout.

Ask the Forest Service to prioritize closing unneeded roads in Mexican gray wolf habitat to protect this wideranging
species hanging on the brink of extinction.

Only Alternative E significantly reduces the number of roads in Chiricahua leopard frog habitat, another
species on the brink of extinction whose numbers are declining in the Gila National Forest with just 15 known
occupied sites. The Chiricahua leopard frog is threatened with disease, drought and grazing and the Forest
Service should do more to help this frog survive by keeping as many roads closed as possible and eliminating
dispersed camping corridors in frog habitat.