December 17, 2025
PSICC Supervisor’s Office 2840 Kachina Drive
Pueblo CO 81008
719.553.1400
Attn: Amber Wyndham and interdisciplinary NEPA Team
Dear PSICC NEPA team,
The Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Pikes Peak Vegetation Management and Restoration Project and respectfully requests your consideration of the following input.
The TPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving off-highway motorcycle (OHM) recreation. We work with land managers—including the USFS, BLM, and CPW—to ensure balanced and sustainable access for OHM users. We also support local clubs, lead outreach and education efforts, and promote responsible recreation through initiatives like our Trail Crew, which builds and maintains trails and provides on-the-ground stewardship.
We recognize the need for fuels treatment on the PPRD and support your proactive approach to strategically increase public safety through fuels mitigation work. Before performing fuels treatment work it is critical to consider the effects on OHV recreation and plan ahead to mitigate these physical and economic impacts. To insure the OHV trail system resource is protected and even enhanced by fuels mitigation work, we recommend the following:
● Plan to dedicate extra time, resources and funding for clean up and restoration when fuels treatment work is happening within the OHV trail system. There is often a disconnect between equipment operators and land managers, so extra supervision and field checks are warranted to prevent unintended impacts to NSF trails post fuels treatment.
● Use equipment to enhance project areas adjacent to OHV trails before pulling out of the project area. Equipment can improve existing drainage, protecting adjacent trails while strategically opening needed trail reroute corridors. PPRD rec trail staff have identified these reroute opportunities 2025 with TPA and RRMMC input.
● Utilize the PPRD OHV Trails Leader’s expertise by having staff on site before, during and before logging equipment demobilization, impacts to trails can then be mitigated before issues arise.
● Plan flexibility as a design feature. Consider adding a Rec 12 design feature that leaves room for adaptive management to reduce adverse effects to trails. It is possible to leave your trail system in better shape post fuels project but preplanning is essential.
● The EA should detail how impacts to OHV trails will be minimized and mitigated.
● Avoid closing the entire trail system at once. Strategically work- open and close areas so that there are always trails available to recreate on.
● Improve your OHV trail system by rerouting existing severely cupped out (damaged) trail sections. Equipment could open up corridors for reroutes identified in 2025 and erase (fill in, restore, rip) existing unsustainable trail sections. PPRD trail staff know where these existing unsustainable trail sections exist and have mapped trail reroutes in the Rampart section.
Thank you for pursuing this proactive Wildfire Crisis Strategy (WFCS) project. These efforts offer opportunities not only to improve forest health and public safety but also to enhance recreational access and opportunities.
The TPA strongly supports the multiple-use mandate of our public lands, including responsible motorized access and recreation to roads and trails. Our team includes several former USFS staff members to help facilitate collaboration and communication with agency planners.
Sincerely,
Chad Hixon
Executive Director
Trails Preservation Alliance