CDNST

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Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
April 4, 2007
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Introduction to the CDNST

• Location
• National Trails System Act
• Comprehensive Plan
• CDT Leadership Council

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The CDT

• Study Report - 3,100 miles
• BLM 380 miles
• FS 1,900 miles
• NPS 190 miles
• State/Private 570 miles

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The CDT

• 5 States
• 25 National Forests
• 3 National Parks
• 1 National Monument
• 8 BLM Resource Areas

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National Trails System Act
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NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT

• National scenic trailswhich will be extended
  trails so located as to provide for maximum
  outdoor recreation potential and for the
  conservation and enjoyment of the nationally
  significant scenic, historic, natural, or
  cultural qualities of the areas through which
  such trails may pass.

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(No Transcript)
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1976
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The primary purpose of this trail would be to
provide a continuous, appealing trail route,
designed for the hiker and horseman, but
compatible with other land uses.
1976
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The basic goal of the trail is to provide the
hiker and rider an entree to the diverse country
along the Continental Divide in a manner which
will assure a high quality recreation experience
while maintaining a constant respect for the
natural environment.
1976
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"...A simple facility for foot and horseback use
in keeping with the national scenic trail as seen
in the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails."
Clearing is held to a minimum necessary to
permit the intended use (i.e., less clearing for
foot travel than for horse travel) and at the
same time protect wilderness values.
1976
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Roads have been included in the alignment of the
proposed Continental Divide Trail. Most are of a
primitive nature and would offer recreation
experiences not materially different in quality
than that extended by bona fide hiking and riding
trails. CDT Study Report
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(No Transcript)
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CDT Study Report FES Potential Additions
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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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Continental Divide National Scenic Trail PUBLIC
LAW 95-625 November 10, 1978
SEC. 5. (a) National scenic and national historic
trails shall be authorized and designated only by
Act of Congress. There are hereby established the
following National Scenic and National Historic
Trails
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(No Transcript)
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Study Report FES Adopted by the Forest Service
in 1981
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The environmental analysis or information
contained in the FEISwill be used in development
of the comprehensive plan. The CMP will
provide standards and guidelines for the
location, development, and management of the
CDNST in the respective agencies land management
plans.
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National Trails System Act 1983 - Section 7(j)

• Potential trail uses allowed on designated
  components of the national trails system may
  include, bicycling, cross-country skiing, day
  hiking, equestrian activities,trail
  biking,long-distance backpacking, snowmobiling,
  and surface water and underwater activities.
  Vehicles which may be permitted on certain trails
  may include,...motorcycles, bicycles, four-wheel
  drive or all-terrain off-road vehicles. The
  provisions of this subsection shall not supersede
  any other provisions of this Act.

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H.R. Report 98-281983 - Section 7(j)

• It is intendedthat motorized vehicles will not
  normally be allowed on national scenic or
  historical trails and will be allowed on
  recreational trails only at times and places
  where such use will not create significant
  on-trail or off-trail environmental damage and
  will not jeopardize the safety of hikers,
  equestrians, or other uses or conflict with the
  primary purposes for which the trail, or the
  portion of the trail, were created.

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Comprehensive Plan
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(No Transcript)
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Not Approved
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NTSA CPConsistency Issues
The Comprehensive Plan erroneously assumed that
section 7(j) modified the primary purposes for
which the CDNST was created by Congress, and was
drafted to allow any and all uses as prescribed
by Management Area decisions in land management
planning e.g.,

• ... Each agency will manage the CDNST in
  accordance with the recreation management
  objectives and prescriptions set forth in their
  respective land and resource management plans for
  the specific management area through which the
  trail passes." CMP pages 51-52

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Clarifying the CMP
The Act is very specific regarding the
conditions that must be met before motorized use
may be allowed on the CDNST. First, an
affirmative determination must be made that the
use will not substantially interfere with the
nature and purpose of the trail. Specific
findings should be made as to how the allowed use
will meet this criteria. Second, the use must
have been allowed by administrative regulations
or management direction at the time of
designation of the trail.
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United States Forest Washington 14th
Independence SW Department of Service
Office P.0. BOX 96090Agriculture Wash
ington, DC 2OO90-6O9O File Code 2350 Date
July 3, 1997 Subject Continental Divide
National Scenic Trail - Motorized
Use To Regional Foresters When designated
by Congress, the route of the CDNST followed some
segments of primitive roads on which motorized
vehicle use was allowed. However, as the CDNST
is further developed, it is expected that the
trail will eventually be relocated off roads for
its entire length. It is the intent of the
Forest Service that the CDNST will be for
non-motorized recreation.
Supplementing the CMP
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Leadership
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CDT Leadership Council

• The Leadership Council is comprised of the
• Regional Foresters for Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 R2
  is the designated lead.
• State Directors for Montana, Idaho, Wyoming,
  Colorado and New Mexico of the Bureau of Land
  Management.
• Director of the Intermountain Region of the
  National Park Service.
• The Council works to ensure consistent,
  coordinated, and effective programs for all
  elements of the CDNST program.

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Along the Trail New Mexico
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Along the Trail Colorado
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Along the Trail Wyoming
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Along the Trail Idaho
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Along the Trail Montana
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Continental Divide National Scenic
TrailComplete the Trail to connect people and
communities to the Continental Divide by
providing scenic, high-quality, primitive hiking
and horseback riding experiences, while
preserving the significant natural, historic, and
cultural resources along the Trail.
Prepared by Greg Warren