Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use 

Designation

USDA Forest Service

Tahoe National Forest

February 20, 2015

Introduction

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture will prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) on a proposal to designate over-snow vehicle (OSV) use on National Forest 

System (NFS) roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS lands within the Tahoe National Forest in 

accordance with Subpart C of the Travel Management Rule; and to identify snow trails available 

for grooming within the Tahoe National Forest. This proposal would be implemented on all of the 

Tahoe National Forest. Maps of this proposal are on pages 10 and 11 of this document.

Background

Snow Trail Grooming Program

For over 30 years, the Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, in cooperation with the 

California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation 

(OHMVR) Division has enhanced winter recreation, and more specifically, snowmobiling 

recreation by maintaining NFS trails (snow trails) by grooming snow for OSV use. Most groomed 

snow trails are co-located on underlying NFS roads. Some grooming occurs on county roads and 

closed snow-covered highways. Grooming activities on the Tahoe National Forest are 

predominately funded by the State off-highway vehicle trust fund (OHMVR Division), either by 

directly funding the Forest Service to conduct grooming, or through funding Sierra County to 

conduct the grooming on the Forest under an agreement. The Bowman and Rattlesnake groomed 

OSV trail systems are currently not funded by the OHMVR Division.

The following summarizes the Tahoe National Forest’s snow trail grooming program:

• The Tahoe National Forest has approximately 236 miles of designated NFS OSV trails.

• Of the approximately 236 miles of designated NFS OSV trails, approximately 188 miles are 

OSV trails available for grooming.

In 2013, the Forest Service entered into a Settlement Agreement with Snowlands Network et al., 

to “complete appropriate NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act] analysis(es) to identify 

snow trails for grooming” on the Tahoe National Forest and four other national forests in 

California. The Forest Service will comply with the terms of the Settlement Agreement for the 

Tahoe National Forest by completing this analysis.

Tahoe National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan

The Tahoe National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) provides 

management direction for OSV use across the approximately 829,510 acres of Tahoe National 

Forest lands as follows:

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Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation

• Approximately 669,537 acres of NFS land are open to off-trail cross-country OSV use;

• Approximately 109,808 acres of NFS land are closed to OSV use; 

• Approximately 105 miles of NFS trails (Pacific Crest Trail) are closed to OSV use (other 

designated winter non-motorized trails within existing OSV prohibited areas are not 

identified);

• Approximately 48,756 acres of NFS lands have OSV use restricted to designated routes only; 

and

• Approximately 1,408 acres of NFS lands are closed to OSV use from September 15 through 

December 31.

Travel Management Rule Subpart C

The Forest Service’s 2005 Travel Management Rule established new procedures (see 36 CFR part 

212 Subpart C), for implementing the requirements of Executive Order (E.O.) 11644, as amended 

by E.O. 11989 on the National Forest System. On March 29, 2013, the U.S. District Court of 

Idaho, in the case of Winter Wildlands Alliance v. U.S. Forest Service (2013 WL 1319598, No. 

1:11–CV–586–REB (D. Idaho Mar. 29, 2013)), ruled that Subpart C of the 2005 Travel 

Management Rule was invalid because the rule made designation of OSV use of roads, trails, and 

areas optional. The court ordered the Forest Service to produce a new rule that treats OSVs 

similar to other motor vehicles by requiring the designation of OSV use on roads, trails, and 

areas, consistent with E.O. 11644, as amended by E.O. 11989.

The Forest Service’s final Travel Management Rule, with an amended Subpart C, was issued on 

January 28, 2015 (80 FR 4500, Jan. 28, 2015), and becomes effective on February 27, 2015. The 

final rule states: “Over-snow vehicle use on National Forest System roads, on National Forest 

System trails, and in areas on National Forest System lands shall be designated by the 

Responsible Official on administrative units or Ranger Districts, or parts of administrative units 

or Ranger Districts, of the National Forest System where snowfall is adequate for that use to 

occur, and, if appropriate, shall be designated by class of vehicle and time of year...” (36 CFR 

212.81 (a)). Further, under 36 CFR 261.14, it is prohibited to possess or operate an over-snow 

vehicle on National Forest System lands in that administrative unit or Ranger District other than 

in accordance with those designations. OSV designations made as a result of the analysis in this 

Environmental Impact Statement would conform to the final Subpart C of the Travel 

Management Rule.

Purpose and Need

One purpose of this project is to effectively manage OSV use on the Tahoe National Forest to 

provide access, ensure that OSV use occurs when there is adequate snow, promote the safety of 

all users, enhance public enjoyment, minimize impacts to natural and cultural resources, and 

minimize conflicts among the various uses.

There is a need to provide a manageable, designated OSV system of trails and areas within the 

Tahoe National Forest that is consistent with and achieves the purposes of the Forest Service 

Travel Management Rule at 36 CFR Part 212. This action responds to direction provided by the 

Forest Service’s Travel Management Rule at 36 CFR Part 212 and Subpart C of the Travel 

Management Rule.

The existing system of OSV trails and areas open for OSV use on the Tahoe National Forest 

results from implementation of Forest Plan management direction for OSV use. Public OSV use 

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Proposed Action

of the majority of this existing system continues to be manageable and consistent with current 

travel management regulations. Exceptions have been identified, based on internal and public 

input and the criteria for designating roads, trails, and areas listed at 36 CFR 212.55. These 

include needs to protect natural resources, provide improved access for OSV users, provide 

improved quiet winter recreation opportunities, and ensure consistency with overall management 

area direction contained in the Forest Plan. These exceptions represent additional needs for 

change, and in these cases, changes are proposed to meet the overall objectives.

A second purpose of this project is to identify those designated NFS OSV trails where grooming 

for OSV use could occur as required by the Settlement Agreement between the Forest Service and 

Snowlands Network et al. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Forest Service is 

required to complete the appropriate NEPA analysis to identify snow trails available for grooming 

on the Tahoe National Forest. 

This action identifies snow trails available for grooming and addresses the need to provide a high 

quality OSV trail system on the Tahoe National Forest that is smooth and stable for the rider and 

designed so the novice rider can use these trails without difficulty.

Proposed Action

The Forest Service proposes several actions on the Tahoe National Forest to be analyzed as 

required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The actions proposed are as follows:

1. To designate OSV use on NFS roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS lands within the Tahoe

National Forest where snowfall depth is adequate for that use to occur. The responsible 

official would designate NFS roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS lands for OSV use on 

administrative units or Ranger Districts, or parts of administrative units or Ranger Districts of 

the Tahoe National Forest.

2. To identify approximately 188 miles of designated OSV trails that would be available for 

grooming on the Tahoe National Forest. The network of groomed OSV trails on the Tahoe 

National Forest is connected to a network of approximately 52 miles of groomed OSV trails 

located on county roads (Nevada, Placer, and Sierra Counties) within the Tahoe National 

Forest and approximately 19 miles of groomed OSV trails located off the Tahoe National 

Forest on the Plumas National Forest and Sierra County roads to the north and the Lake 

Tahoe Basin Management Unit to the south. The Tahoe National Forest does not have 

jurisdiction over county roads nor the Plumas National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin 

Management Unit, and is not making decisions related to OSV use or grooming for those 

entities.

3. To implement a standard of 12 inches or more of snow depth for snow trail grooming when 

funds and equipment are used from sources other than the OHMVR Division. To follow 

OHMVR Division snow depth standards when OHMVR Division funds or equipment are 

used.

4. To implement a Forest-wide snow depth requirement for OSV use that would provide for 

public safety and natural and cultural resource protection by (1) allowing OSV use in 

designated areas when there is a minimum of 12 inches of snow covering the landscape and 

(2) allowing OSV use on designated snow trails atop underlying NFS roads and designated 

NFS trails when there is a minimum of 6 inches of snow covering the road or trail. When the 

snow depth requirement is not met, OSV use would be prohibited. Most snow trails would be 

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Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation

located on existing dirt, gravel, or paved trails or roads. These trails and roads are used in the 

summer for highway vehicle and off-highway vehicle use.

5. To designate OSV crossings for the Pacific Crest Trail. There would be two designated 

crossings, as well as two sections in which an OSV trail and the Pacific Crest Trail share the 

same route where the Pacific Crest Trail is located on roads.

The proposed actions are summarized in table 1 and table 2, and shown on the maps on pages 10

and 11 of this document.

Table 1. Summary comparing existing OSV management with the proposed action for the 

management of OSV use on the Tahoe National Forest

OSV Management Existing OSV 

Management

Proposed Action

NFS Lands within the Tahoe National Forest where 

OSV Use Designations would Apply

829,510 acres 829,510 acres

OSV Use Allowed: 

• Designated Areas 669,537 acres 665,717 acres

• Designated Trails Groomed 188 miles 188 miles

• Designated Trails Marked (not groomed) 48 miles 48 miles

OSV Use Prohibited: 

• Designated Areas 109,808 acres 113,629 acres

• Designated Trails

(Pacific Crest Trail–excluding shared route 

sections at Packer Saddle and near 

Jackson Meadow Reservoir)

105 miles 105 miles

OSV Use Restricted: 

48,756 acres 48,756 acres • Designated Areas - Designated Routes 

Only

• Designated Areas - Specified Dates 

(prohibited from 9/15 to 12/31)

1,408 acres 1,408 acres

Minimum Snow Depth for OSV Use on Designated 

Trails

n/a 6 inches

Minimum Snow Depth for Off-trail, Cross-country 

OSV Use

n/a 12 inches

All area size and trail distance estimates are approximate and are rounded to the nearest acre or nearest mile.

Table 2. Summary comparing current groomed OSV trails with proposed action for the grooming of 

OSV trails on the Tahoe National Forest

OSV Management Existing OSV 

Management

Proposed Action

Total Groomed Trail System* 188 miles 188 miles

Minimum Snow Depth for Snow Trail 

Grooming to Occur Using OHMVR Division

Funds/Equipment

Follow OHMVR snow 

depth standards

Follow OHMVR snow depth 

standards

Minimum Snow Depth for Snow Trail 

Grooming to Occur Using Other 

Funds/Equipment

n/a 12 inches

*Included in the miles of trail over which OSV use is allowed in table 1.

Distance estimates are approximate and are rounded to the nearest mile.

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Proposed Action

The designations resulting from this analysis would only apply to the use of OSVs. An OSV is 

defined in the Forest Service’s Travel Management Rule as “a motor vehicle that is designed for 

use over snow and that runs on a track or tracks and/or a ski or skis, while in use over snow” 

(36 CFR 212.1).

Other types of motor vehicles that may operate over snow, but do not meet the definition of an 

OSV, are regulated under Subpart B of the Travel Management Rule. Routes and areas on the 

Tahoe National Forest for these types of vehicles have been previously designated and published 

on a motor vehicle use map (MVUM) as the result of a separate environmental analysis and 

decision (Tahoe National Forest Motorized Travel Management Project Record of Decision and 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 2010).

Limited administrative use by the Forest Service; use of any fire, military, emergency, or law 

enforcement vehicle for emergency purposes; authorized use of any combat or combat support 

vehicle for national defense purposes; law enforcement response to violations of law, including 

pursuit; and OSV use that is specifically authorized under a written authorization issued under 

Federal law or regulations would be exempt from these designations (36 CFR 212.81(a)).

These designations would not affect valid existing rights held by federally recognized tribes, 

counties, or private individuals, including treaty rights, other statutory rights, or private rights-ofway.

NFS roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS lands where OSV use is designated would be shown on 

an OSV use map, in accordance with 36 CFR 212.81(c). This map would show the roads, trails

and areas where OSV use is allowed. It also would show trailheads and other ancillary 

recreational facilities.

Allowed OSV Use

OSV use would be designated as currently allowed on 236 miles of trails on the Tahoe National 

Forest. Cross-country OSV use would also be designated as allowed on 665,717 acres. All 

designated OSV use would be subject to snow depth restrictions. All OSV use would be 

prohibited on the Tahoe National Forest unless there is adequate snow depth that meets the 

following conditions:

Allowed OSV Use Minimum Snow Depth

OSV use on designated routes 6 inches

Cross-country OSV use 12 inches

This change is to provide improved trail access for OSV users from trailheads to deeper snow 

areas and to protect natural resources.

OSV Use on Groomed Trails

The proposed action would identify 188 miles of NFS trails that would be available for grooming

for OSV use on the Tahoe National Forest (map, page 11). This would represent no change from 

existing management.

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Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation

Table 3 compares the number of miles of groomed snow trails that have historically been 

groomed and are currently managed with the miles of snow trails under the proposed action that 

are identified to be available for grooming. Groomed trail systems would be located in the 

following areas:

Table 3. Comparison of miles of trail available for grooming within the Tahoe National Forest under 

existing management and proposed action (miles)

Existing OSV Management Proposed Action

OSV Area Forest Service County* Forest Service County**

Bassetts 32 6 32 6

Little Truckee Summit 97 25 97 25

China Wall 34 21 34 21

Rattlesnake*** 12 12

Bowman*** 13 13

Totals 188 52 188 52

* Historic groomed county road mileage is presented for information only. Forest Service has no jurisdiction on County 

Roads

** Future groomed county road mileage is assumed to remain constant. Forest Service has no jurisdiction on County 

Roads

***Areas groomed without OHMVR Division funding

The grooming season generally begins in mid-December and continues through March. Start and 

stop times vary by trail location and are dependent upon the presence and depth of snow. Snow 

trails are prioritized for grooming based on visitor use. Grooming has historically occurred 

several times per week.

Trails would be groomed to a minimum width of 10 feet and typically up to 14 feet wide. Trails 

would be groomed up to 30 feet wide in the more heavily used areas such as near trailheads. 

Groomed trail width is determined by a variety of factors such as width of the underlying road 

bed, width of grooming tractor, heavy two-way traffic on the trail, and trail corners. Trail width 

would not be groomed beyond width of underlying roadbed.

Trail grooming would be conducted in accordance with the 1997 Snowmobile Trail Grooming 

Standards set by the OHMVR Division when OHMVR Division funds or equipment are used, as 

follows:

• Operators shall be trained and directed by a grooming coordinator.

• Identify hazards in advance of grooming, preferably in autumn before snow falls.

• Typical grooming season is from December to March. Operate the snow tractor on approved 

designated trails only. Maintain a 10-foot vertical clearance from potential obstructions.

• Limit grooming speeds to between 3 to 7 miles per hour.

• Groom trails to a minimum of 10 feet wide with a typical width of 10 to 14 feet.

The OHMVR Division’s snowcat fleet is subject to emission regulation by the California Air 

Resources Board (CARB) as off-road equipment. The CARB sets an emission limit for the 

vehicle fleet as a whole rather than for individual pieces of equipment. Based on the total 

horsepower of the vehicle fleet, and the model and year of the individual equipment within the 

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Proposed Action

fleet, CARB determines how much horsepower per year must be repowered, retrofitted, or 

retired. The OHMVR Division then determines what modifications to make to its fleet in order to 

satisfy CARB requirements.

Designation of Areas

The Subpart C regulations (36 CFR 212.1) define an area as, “a discrete, specifically delineated 

space that is smaller, and, except for OSV use, in most cases much smaller, than a Ranger 

District.” The proposed action would designate areas on the Tahoe National Forest where crosscountry OSV uses would be allowed when there are 12 or more inches of snow on the ground. 

These areas total approximately 665,717 acres. These areas are located in any part of the Tahoe

National Forest where OSVs are not otherwise prohibited.

Prohibited OSV Use

The proposed action would continue existing Forest Plan prohibitions on OSV use on 

approximately 109,808 acres of NFS lands in Wilderness areas, Semi-primitive Non-motorized, 

and Research Natural Areas.

In addition, the Forest Service has identified three areas in which OSV use would be prohibited

on approximately 3,821 acres (displayed in table 4). Management direction in the existing Forest 

Plan does not prohibit OSV use in these areas. Adopting these prohibitions would require an 

amendment to the Forest Plan.

1. High Loch Leven (approximately 3,117 acres) – To provide increased non-motorized 

winter recreation opportunities in the Loch Leven Management Area.

2. Robinson Flat Cultural (approximately 1 acre) – To protect fragile historic building 

structures from damage by snowmobile use. Snowmobile riders are known to use the 

snow covered roofs of the historic structures as ramps at Robinson Flat.

3. Independence Lake Donated Parcels (approximately 703 acres) – To protect watershed 

values on steep terrain within the Independence Lake watershed, which provides habitat 

for the Lahontan cutthroat trout, a species listed as Threatened under the Endangered 

Species Act.

Table 4. Additional prohibitions on OSV use under the proposed action (acres)

OSV-Prohibited Area Proposed Action

High Loch Leven - Non-motorized Recreation 3,117

Independence Parcels - Watershed 703

Robinson Flat - Cultural 1

Total OSV-Prohibited Area 3,821

All estimates are approximate and are rounded to the nearest acre.

The proposed action would continue existing Forest Plan prohibitions on OSV use on the 105 

miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, which traverses the Tahoe National Forest, excluding shared route 

sections where the trail is located on roads at Packer Saddle and near Jackson Meadow Reservoir.

The shared routes include a 2,000-foot section at Packer Saddle where the Pacific Crest Trail 

shares a marked but not groomed OSV trail and 700-foot section near Jackson Meadow Reservoir 

where the Pacific Crest Trail shares a groomed OSV trail.

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Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation

In addition, there would be two designated crossings, where OSVs could cross the Pacific Crest 

Trail. One is located on NFS Road 007, near the intersection with NFS Road 0070. The second is 

located on NFS Road 0086, just north of Nevada County Road 0843 (Meadow Road).

All other non-motorized winter trails (Nordic trails) on the Tahoe National Forest are located 

within OSV prohibited areas and are not identified here. The Tahoe National Forest also 

maintains other Nordic emphasis trails in areas open to OSVs. However, since OSVs are not 

currently prohibited from using these trails, nor are they being proposed for OSV exclusion, they

too are not identified here.

Restricted OSV Use

The proposed action would continue existing Forest Plan restrictions on OSV use on 

approximately 50,165 acres of NFS lands. Forest Plan management direction for most of this 

acreage (approximately 48,756 acres) restricts OSV use to designated routes only. Approximately 

1,408 acres are seasonally closed to OSV use from September 15 through December 31. No new 

OSV use restrictions are being proposed. Existing OSV restrictions that currently have the force 

of law, regulation, or policy would continue to exist.

Design Features

The proposed action includes the following design features:

• Trails may be temporarily closed by the Forest for other types of management activities such 

as contracted timber or vegetation management or other resource concerns.

• Groomed trails are closed to wheeled vehicle use seasonally as described in the MVUM.

• The Forest Service has an obligation to monitor the effects of OSV use as required by Subpart 

C of the Travel Management Rule. Furthermore, as an ongoing part of the Forest’s Statefunded OSV program, the OHMVR Division provides funding to the Forest Service to 

monitor Forest trail systems for evidence of OSV trespass into closed areas, OSV use near or 

damage of sensitive plant and wildlife sites, and low snow areas subject to erosion concerns.

Other design features and monitoring measures would be added to this list throughout the scoping 

and analysis processes.

Management Sideboards

The Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation is not intended to be a 

comprehensive, holistic winter recreation planning effort. This decision would apply only to the 

use of OSVs on the Tahoe National Forest. No designation of non-motorized trails or areas would 

result. Non-motorized winter recreational opportunities and uses will be considered in the 

analysis in terms of the effects designating OSV trails and areas may have on non-motorized 

recreational opportunities.

Further, with respect to the grooming action, there are financial limitations on the miles and 

frequency of snow trail grooming within the Forest snow trail grooming program. This is because 

the current Forest snow trail grooming program is funded by the OHMVR Division. These funds 

are not likely to substantially increase in future years.

The Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation is an activity implementing a 

land management plan. It is not an activity authorized under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act 

of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-148). Therefore, this activity is subject to pre-decisional administrative 

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Proposed Action

review consistent with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-74) as 

implemented by subparts A and B of 36 CFR part 218. Certain portions of the proposed action 

would amend the Forest Plan. These actions are subject to pre-decisional administrative review, 

pursuant to Subpart B of the Planning Rule (36 CFR part 219).

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Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation

Map of Proposed Action – 36 CFR 212 Subpart C Designations

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Proposed Action

Map of Proposed Action – Groomed OSV Trails

We are currently reviewing groomed trails where there is uncertainty regarding Forest Service 

jurisdiction.

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