Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact South Fowl ...

I am also approving the closure of Wooly’s Bluff Road to OHV and snowmobile
use.
Figure 5. Photo of a typical snowmobile in use today, generally a single rear track
for propulsion and two front skis for steering. Machines with two or four tracks
that are used for both propulsion and steering are not approved for use on this
trail.
As mentioned above, there will be only one route in use, either alternative 2 or 4. I am
placing caveats with this decision that will allow flexibility to adapt to changing
conditions. If there is cause to do so, the north route will be closed and obliterated and
then Alternative 4 will be constructed and used. To ensure successful implementation of
this decision, the Forest Service will continue to collaborate with Cook County
Commissioners and Minnesota State DNR. Conditions indicating a need for change are:
If at some point in the future, the State, County and Forest Service wish to put in a
connecting system of snowmobile trails from the State grant in aid trails to the
McFarland or South Fowl Lakes area, then Alternative 2 would be closed and
Alterative 4 be constructed.
If the Forest Service has determined that reasonable attempts to close the north
route to OHVs are not effective, the trail will be closed and Alternative 4
constructed (i.e. riders are cutting paths around closure devises or monitoring
determines that OHV incursions are being made on the trail).
If the BWCAW is physically breached by snowmobiles from Alternative 2 or OHV
cannot be controlled on Alternative 2, this route will be closed and Alternative 4
constructed.
If analysis by the Forest Service and the State shows that use by snowmobiles of
the northern route exceeds its capability, it will be closed and rerouted to
Alternative 4. The measure to determine this will be excessive resource damage or
excessive interaction between snowmobiles.
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