Group wins suit over trail closures

A state district court found in favor of the Idaho Conservation League last week in its suit against the U.S. Forest Service to close certain trails pending a revision to the Salmon-Challis National Forest travel plan. The Boise-based organization requested that U.S. Magistrate Ronald E. Bush issue an injunction to close 29 trails to motorized use on the Salmon-Challis National Forest pending a decision from the court that could overturn the 2009 Travel Management Plan. Bush granted an injunction on Nov. 1 to close six trails, totaling almost 15 miles instead of the more than 94 miles requested by the organization. The closures were based on a conclusion that the trails could undergo “irreparable harm” if they remained open to motorized use before the travel plan could be revised...more