FOREST MAY EXPAND ROUTES MORE VEHICLE TRAILS PLANNED IN ANGELES.

Byline: Judy O'Rourke Special to the Daily News

SANTA CLARITA - More of the Angeles National Forest will be designated as backcountry and more areas will be opened to mountain bicyclists, under a newly released plan for the sprawling forest.

Also, more trails are planned for all-terrain vehicles to ensure off-road riders stay in appropriate areas, under the draft plan compiled for the U.S. Forest Service.

``We need to develop a system that is workable, we don't want to send people on a designated route that begins on the forest boundary and goes into private land,'' said Tom Kaucher, the off-highway vehicle program coordinator for the local forest area. ``If you don't provide the opportunity, they're going to take the opportunity.''

Public comments will be accepted on the plan for 90 days, after which further revisions could be made or the plan would be accepted as is, said Cid Morgan, district ranger for the areas of the Angeles that surround the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

Environmental groups have questioned whether the U.S. Forest Service has made the most wise or visionary use of its power to regulate forest uses. ``The national forest will be the last remaining open space natural areas left,'' said Bill Corcoran, a regional representative for the Sierra Club.

``To best protect recreational opportunities for local residents the forest service could have recommended more wilderness, and could have used other designations to make sure the land stays healthy and a great place to visit.''

On the horizon is a local forest plan that will consider increasing routes for motorized off-road vehicles. Kaucher said off-highway riders pay about 37,000 visits a year, mostly in the winter. Off-roaders use about 150 miles of roads and about 55 miles of dirt trails, Kaucher said.

A nonprofit group that represents the interests of equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers and off-road vehicle riders embraces the prospect of a longer ride. ``We are very enthusiastic about any kind of trails that can be opened or just repaired to enhance the experience of any trail user,'' said Jerry Kaiser, president of the California Trail Users coalition, whose members include equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers and off-highway vehicle users. The group submitted comments to the forest service during the revision process and expects to comment on the new plan.

The federal government is required to update its plans for managing forest lands every 10 to 15 years.

Kaucher said environmental studies will be done to determine whether it is feasible to lengthen existing quarter- and half-mile routes into longer loops. In addition to longer distances, the routes could offer greater variations in terrain and scenery and difficulties.

A gap between popular trails leading to Lake Hughes and 37 miles of routes in the high country could be filled. Some of the proposed route changes could be open to public comment by March, Kaucher said.

Riders of all-terrain vehicles have increased their patronage of forest routes by about 25 percent in the past five years and Kaucher expects the trend to continue.

Money to build the new routes would come from the U.S. government, state grants, off-highway vehicle registration fees and the forest service, Kaucher said. Corcoran said before the forest service expands off-highway use it needs to demonstrate and manage the current activity. He said the agency has inadequate staff to manage and police the numerous routes in the Angeles forest.

Unmanaged use can result in noise that drives away animals and hikers, and promotes soil erosion and pollution of streams.

About four officers patrol the local forest area. Penalties for veering from designated areas can cost from $15 to $100, but riders who destroy threatened or environmentally sensitive areas can be fined up to $5,000.

The greatest proportion of forest visitors do not ride recreational vehicles and the forest service is paying undue attention to the less than 10 percent of visitors who do, Corcoran said. ``They think (building new routes) will result in people not trespassing,'' he said. ``There is no proof. They're putting at risk more parts of the forest as an experiment to reduce off-highway abuse. Once you have expanded the system you can't take it back.''

Judy O'Rourke, [phone]

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com