Redington Pass off-road-vehicle trail following stream. Photo by Mike Tuell.

On March 11, 2009, the Coronado National Forest released a plan to decide which routes, trails, and areas in the Santa Catalina Mountains will be open to motorized use and off-road vehicles. The Forest Service will also use this plan, known as the Travel Management Plan, to determine which areas of the forest will be protected for quiet recreation and preserved as habitat for threatened and endangered species.

The Catalina Mountains, located near Tucson, need your help. The Coronado National Forest, home to more than 3,000 species of plants and animals -- including jaguar, mountain lion, and black bear -- is one of the most-visited sky islands in southern Arizona. The Forest's Travel Management Plan should prioritize protection of species, habitat, watersheds, and the peace and quiet sought by the growing Tucson community. Unfortunately, the Forest Service has done very little in this plan to protect habitat for the endangered Gila chub, the threatened Mexican spotted owl, or the desert tortoise, and has instead opted to sacrifice the Santa Catalina Mountains to motorized recreation.

In Redington Pass, the forest is overrun with off-roaders. Illegal activity, including speeding and driving off designated trails, has increased over the years, and the Forest Service has done little to prevent it. As one of the last wild places near Tucson, the area needs to be protected, not opened up to vehicles even further.

Now is the time for you to contact the Coronado National Forest and voice your concerns about off-road vehicle use in the forest. You can view the proposal and maps of the plan here. Take a few minutes today to send a letter to the Forest Service asking for a better plan that protects wildlife, watersheds, and places you enjoy hiking. 

You can also help by attending the Forest Service's open house on March 26 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Udall Regional Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd., in Tucson. Please arrive early to support habitat protection and quiet, sustainable uses of the Coronado.