The Santa Fe National Forest has just released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Travel Management that offers several alternatives for a travel system, all of which reduce the places where people can drive motorized vehicles on the forest.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the process thus far, for their involvement and patience as we considered the thousands of comments and other input we received. We listened, and we heard the issues, concerns and opportunities and are assured that people care about how their national forest is managed.

Many citizens requested that we produce an Environmental Impact Statement, and we agreed. The stringent level of analysis required adequate time to prepare, and to do anything less would have been a disservice to the public and the resources. We believe that this thorough analysis will lead to a more informed decision when that time comes later this year.

The Forest Service, based on our concern over unmanaged motorized recreation, prompted the nationwide travel-management effort currently under way on all national forests. The national rule requires all national forests to designate a system of roads, trails and areas where motorized vehicles will be allowed. It reverses policy in effect for decades allowing motorized use everywhere unless specifically prohibited.

The Forest Service is also concerned about water quality. Providing clean and abundant water to New Mexico communities is a primary consideration in everything we do — from forest health treatments to restoration treatments to recovery efforts after recent fires. Our national forests are the single largest source of fresh water in the United States. Protecting watersheds and forests was the original purpose for national forests.

The New Mexico Environment Department and the Santa Fe National Forest are partners in our Respect the Río program to implement projects that improve water quality and quantity on a number of streams in the Jemez Mountains. Due to its success, Respect the Río has expanded to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east side of the forest.

The Forest Service is concerned about enforcing laws to protect the environment. Currently, people are allowed to drive cross-country on more than half of the Santa Fe National Forest. This use is legal. Completion of travel management will result in a system of roads, trails and areas open for motorized use. Driving elsewhere will be illegal.

We actively enforce laws and policy. Examples include joint patrols with officers from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and enforcing updated road and area closures. Most off-highway-vehicle users are conscientious. On many national forests, they are key partners in maintaining trails and educating other off-roaders on responsible use. I hope, and expect, that all who enjoy their national forest will do so respectfully, whether using a motorized vehicle, horse, bike or feet.

This release of our Travel Management Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be followed by a public comment period and public meetings. Based on the analysis and public comments, the forest supervisor will decide this year what roads, trails and areas should be open for motorized use. The Motor Vehicle Use Map, which will be based on this decision, will show what designated roads, trails and areas are legal to drive on, in what vehicle, at what time of year. I look forward to working with members of the community, organizations and our state partners as we move from the planning phase into implementation.

Erin Connelly is the deputy forest supervisor for the Santa Fe National Forest. She lives in Santa Fe.