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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A decision over land use in Logan Canyon has been issued, but it remains to be seen if snowmobilers and cross country skiers will be happy with the compromise.
The decision reworks the 2003 Wasatch-Cache National Forest plan to balance motorized and non-motorized recreation use in the Franklin Base and Tony Grove areas.
Snowmobilers will get access to some lower terrain previously off-limits. What they won't get, however, is a connector road between the basin and grove parking lots.
"It came down to safety," forest supervisor Faye Krueger said Friday. "We also needed to look at access from the parking areas, the quality of experience for both groups and to ensure that different levels of terrain were available."
Cross-country skiers give the ruling a thumbs-down and said it reduces by more than half nearly 9,500 acres that had been set aside for non-motorized recreation.
"I have a hard time imagining skiers saying that this won't impact their experience," said Nick Bouwes, a member of the Logan-based Nordic United skiers organization. "We've lost a big chunk of area that was recognized in the 2003 Forest Plan. It doesn't seem like they've paid much attention to our concerns."
The tug-of-war between the competing recreation groups grew contentious over the last few years because both value Franklin Basin and Tony Grove so much.
The dispute appeared to be resolved by the 2003 Forest Plan, but last year motorized users clamored for more terrain. Forest Service officials relented and released 4,000 acres for additional snowmobile use, prompting a lawsuit from recreation and environmental groups.
The lawsuit was later dropped as groups agreed to negotiate and the government said it would conduct an environmental analysis and solicit public comment.
"This was a challenge because there were many social issues. But it's a special place to a lot of people," Krueger said. "We've tried to strike a balance. I do think that people will accept this. But I could be wrong."
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
