In the spring of 2008, the Daniel Boone National Forest initiated a Cave Run Trails Initiative, designed to re-evaluate the use of trails in the Cave Run area using a group approach. At a public meeting held in Morehead, four individuals from the hiker, biker and horse riders user groups were chosen by their peers to participate in the group meetings.
Over the next six months, the combined group met with the assistance of a facilitator, with the objective of developing a concensus recommendation for trails that each of the user groups would support. Unfortunately, concensus was never reached. The mountain bikers in the group insisted that they did not want horses on the trails that they rode, and any proposal for sharing or developing new trails was rejected by them. As a consequence, each user group submitted its own proposal to the Forest Service.
The Forest Service took the user input, and with the help of a team of specialists pulled from other states and forests, developed a proposed trail plan. This process, called NEPA, includes two public input periods and is defined in detail in the documents linked below.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES (HIGHLIGHTS)
Note that these recommendations are open to change if we provide public input on them and also provide alternative solutions to the issues at hand.
1. Horses no long allowed on Caney Loop (lakeside trail near the Stony Cove trailhead)
2. Potential trail closures during winter months (5.5 mos) depending on weather conditions.
3. Total decrease in horse trail mileage of 36%
4. Total separation of mountain bike trails from horse trails.
5. No new trails in proposal although future new trails are referenced as a possibility.
This plan has nine distinct steps, and as of November 24th we are in Step #3: Scoping. This step is described as follows:
The Forest Service solicits public input on the site specific proposal to define the scope of the environmental analysis and range of alternatives to be considered. YOU (the public) provide site specific input on the proposal including recommendations to protect the environment and improve the activities proposed.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED PLAN IS DECEMBER 18TH.
TRAIL RIDER ACTIVITIES
November 22 Open meeting for trail riders to explain the process, the proposal and recommend public input actions. Meeting led by Greg Jones, member of the original CRTI group. APPROXIMATELY 60 TRAIL RIDERS ATTENDED THIS MEETING.
November 23 Forest Service Open House in Morehead to provide the public an opportunity to ask questions not only about the proposal but also about the process, the timing and what alternatives may be considered. THE OPEN HOUSE WAS WELL ATTENDED BY TRAIL RIDERS AND THERE WAS AMPLE TIME TO TALK WITH FOREST SERVICE STAFF AS WELL AS OTHER USER GROUPS.
November 24 Edith Conyers, Cathy Caudill and Ginny Grulke (representing the KY Horse Council and the KY Back Country Horsemen) met with Forest Supervisor Frank Beum to discuss the proposal, concerns and options.
WHAT TO DO
Write a letter to the Forest Service by December 18th expressing your concerns about any part of this proposal, why they are concerns and what alternatives you might propose.
Send one copy of each letter to:
Patty Beyer Kentucky Horse Council
USDA Forest Service 1500 Bull Lea Road
115 South Lakeshore Drive, Suite E Suite 214C
Marquette, MI 49855 Lexington, KY 40511
This work to save our trails is being coordinated and driven by the Kentucky Horse Council, KY Back Country Horsemen and the dedicated trail riders who served on the CRTI task force.
You may also want to sign up for the statewide trails list on the home page at
www.kentuckyhorse.org (Where it says "sign up for KY Horse News")
For more information about the process or to ask questions, please contact either of the following trail riders who were part of the CRTI taskforce:
