Public Notice - North Yuba Restricted Use Area Project
The USDA Forest Service is proposing a project that would provide overnight camping and reduce the impact on the scenic views and resources (while staying consistent with management direction) in the Tahoe National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1990) as amended by the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amenment (2004). The name of the project is the "North Yuba Restricted Use Area." This project would occur on pubic lands within the Yuba River Ranger District, mainly along California State Highway 49 and Gold Lake Highway in Sierra County.
To accomplish these goals, this project proposes to prohibit dispersed camping and campfires outside of developed campgrounds in the North Yuba Restricted Use Area and to provide specific campsites with associated roads and camping criteria for authorized uses within this area. Camping for mining, rafting, and other recreation events would be authorized outside of the Caltrans right-of-way if reasonable alternatives are not available and the use confroms to the established criteria.
Under this proposal, camping sites within the North Yuba Restricted Use Area would be identified in specific areas outside of the Caltrans right-of-way and out of view of drivers of Highway 49 in Sierra County. The proposed action also includes camping areas where parking of one vehicle per campsite would be allowed outside of the Caltrans right-of-way and in view of drivers of Highway 49. Existing roads associated with the campsites would be used for access. To provide access to day use activities, short spurs of existing roads are proposed for addition to the National Forest Transportation System. Camping sites are being proposed on approximatey 30 acres of public land.
If you would like to comment, please submit a written response to: District Ranger, Yuba River Ranger Station, 15924 Highway 49, Camptonville, CA 95922. For more information you can call Karen Walden, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, at (503) 478-6261.
Submit your comments, in writing, within 30 calendar days of this notice's appearance in Grass Valley's Union newspaper. Your comments will be addressed in the environmental document that the Interdisciplinary Team will be developing over the next few months.
If you do not wish to comment but would like to follow the development of this project proposal, please let us know in writing, within 30 calendar days of this notice's appearance in Grass Valley's The Union newspaper. Submitted comments and/or addresses will be used to develop a list of interested persons for future mailings.
If we do not hear from you, we will not be able to include you on the mailing list to be subsequently developed for this specific project.