The Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest is seeking public input regarding a proposal for new trail construction within the Boggy Draw Trail system, located about 3.5 miles north of the town of Dolores. The proposed trail expansion would add 25 miles of nonmotorized trails within or immediately adjacent to the current trail system.

Boggy Draw has seen heavy recreational use for two decades and continues to grow in popularity.

Local partner groups, as well as unaffiliated riders, have requested additional mountain-bicycle riding opportunities in the area. Boggy Draw is one of only a few places on the Dolores Ranger District offering a looped trail system that concentrates recreational use within a heavily managed area, while allowing other areas in the forest to remain less developed. The proposed action is designed to expand on an already established, high-quality trail system close to Cortez and Dolores that minimizes the environmental effects of unmanaged recreation through effective design, signage, and maintenance. It also seeks to provide economic benefit to Montezuma County and its municipalities through increased recreational opportunities.

A project scoping document, map, and electronic comment form will be available online at http://bit.ly/BoggyProject. The 30-day scoping comment period will begin on July 21 and end on August 21. Written comments may be mailed or hand-delivered to Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323 or faxed to 970-882-6841.

For questions, or to provide oral comments via telephone or in person, contact Tom Rice, Recreation Staff Officer, at 970-882-7296 or Debbie Kill, NEPA Coordinator, 970-882-6822.

Comments received will be part of the public record and available for inspection.