GREEN RIVER -- Campers and anglers will have a lot more access to their favorite camping and fishing spots on the Flaming Gorge Reservoir under a new travel plan released for the popular recreation area.

The plan designates 94 additional routes around the lake in southwest Wyoming, and better clarifies for users those roads that are open for public motorized travel, officials said.

The Ashley National Forest released the final environmental impact statement and decision record for the motorized travel plan last week, according to Ashley Forest Supervisor Kevin Elliott.

The new plan goes into effect Jan. 1, 2010. The document updates the existing motorized travel plan last revised in 1995.

The Ashley National Forest includes the Vernal and Roosevelt/Duchesne ranger districts located in northeast Utah, and the Flaming Gorge ranger district that lies largely in southwest Wyoming.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area includes the scenic, 91-mile-long Flaming Gorge Reservoir located mostly in Sweetwater County south of the city of Green River. A portion of the lake spills into neighboring Utah.

Elliott said the plan seeks to improve the management of the current road system within the Flaming Gorge ranger district.

He said the new designated system of roads, trails and areas will address current and anticipated recreation needs, and should provide a variety of recreation access opportunities.

The plan also aims to reduce impacts to forest resources, recognize reserved rights and reduce conflicts between recreational uses on the forest.

"My intention throughout this process has been to find the appropriate mix of motorized and non-motorized use, and to identify routes and areas where motorized use can be sustained without damaging other resources," Elliott said in the record of decision.

The release of a draft forest plan in April drew a huge amount of concern from area residents, including a six-county coalition of local government entities.

Several hundred residents packed the Green River High School cafeteria on May 14 to express their displeasure with the draft motorized travel plan.

Many residents worried the plan would restrict access to the lake, would close roads to their favorite fishing and camping spots, and would lead to crowding at Ashley Forest campgrounds. They questioned the need for any changes in management of the lake.

"I knew the preparation of this plan would be contentious due to strong and differing public opinions," Elliot said. "In making my decision, I considered the purpose and need, environmental and social issues, consistency with the forest plan and the requirements of other laws, regulations and policies.

"I carefully evaluated the environmental impacts ... focusing on the issues to help balance trade-offs between beneficial and adverse effects and the preferences of diverse publics."

Skyrocketing use

The plan aims to address unanticipated and skyrocketing growth in off-road vehicle use at the Gorge, where the use of ORVs and ATVs has risen by more than 500 percent since the mid-1980s.

The new travel plan designates 1,458 miles of open roads and 185 miles of open motorized trails, for a total of 1,643 miles of designated routes across the forest.

It includes 255 new routes in the two Utah ranger districts and 94 new routes in Wyoming.

The plan calls for motorized dispersed camping to remain at 300 feet from designated roads and trails in Wyoming.

It also calls for the creation of a 78-acre open dispersed camping area south of Buckboard Crossing. Cross country travel to access dispersed camping along the reservoir will be allowed in the new area.

Contact southwest Wyoming bureau reporter Jeff Gearino at 307-875-5359 or gearino@tribcsp.com