The Kisatchie National Forest is operating under new off-road vehicle policies for the Calcasieu Ranger District in Rapides and Vernon parishes, and the Red Dirt National Wildlife Management Preserve in Natchitoches parish, the agency said in a statement from the office of Forest Supervisor Margrett L. Boley.

The primary change on both areas is that cross-country travel will no longer be allowed. That is, riders of off-road vehicles (ORVs) must stay on designated trails.

Game retrieval by ORV will not be allowed. The purpose of the new policy is to follow national direction , bringing Kisatchie in line with other public land areas, prevent disturbance to sensitive areas, reduce soil erosion, reduce user conflicts, and to keep creeks clear and undisturbed, the agency said.

Both Ranger District produced environmental comments and went through a public comment period. There were no substantial comments on the Red Dirt analysis. There were over 500 comments on the Calcasieu Ranger District analysis. Designated trails that exist on both districts are the Sandstone Trail on the Kisatchie District, and the Enduro and Claiborne trails in the Calcasieu District.

"I appreciate all the folks who sent in comments," said Rick Lint, Calcasieu District Ranger. "We still have plenty of district access because there are over 800 miles of roads that passenger vehicles can travel in the 183,000-acre Calcasieu Ranger District."

In the Red Dirt National Wildlife Management Preserve, the Sandstone Trail will remain open, and some woods roads will be designated as ORV trails. This change in the new policy will not take place before January 5, 2005.

"I believe the new policies will allow for riding opportunities and at the same time protect vegetation, soil and water resources," said Gretta Boley, Forest Supervisor. Riding opportunities in the remainder of the 600,000-acre Kisatchie National Forest remain unchanged.

For more information about the Kisatchie Ranger District, contact Ranger Rick Lint at 318-793-9427. For information about the Kisatchie Ranger District, contact Ranger Tim Bond at 318-352-2568.

For information about all riding opportunities in the Kisatchie National Forest, call 318-473-7160 during normal work hours, or 1-8660830-6467 after norma work hours or visit the website at www.fs.fed.us/r8/kisatchie

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