Public feedback sought on Shawnee Forest draft recreation facility strategy

A draft recreation facility strategy has been released for public review and feedback, the U.S. Forest Service/Shawnee National Forest reports.

The strategy analyzes current conditions and budgets and suggests management changes for some of the forest’s recreation sites and services, such as campgrounds, trailheads, picnic areas and interpretive sites. 

The strategy specifically focuses on actions in the next five years with the goal of ensuring the Shawnee National Forest recreation facilities program is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable into the future, the U.S. Forest Service reported in a news release.

Recreation is a primary public use of the Shawnee National Forest, and public lands are a key component of the tourism economies of Southern Illinois. 

The Forest Service reported that the long-term goal for the forest’s recreation facilities program is to manage a reasonable array of recreation sites to national quality standards within projected budgets without compromising the potential for partnerships, quality of services, public safety, or creating undue impacts to natural resources. 

The draft recreation facility strategy recommends site management changes to meet that goal.

The Forest Service is looking for information, comments and suggestions from federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, landowners and other individuals or organizations that have an interest in, or could be affected by, the recommended management actions in the draft recreation facility strategy.

The draft document is available online at www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee. 

The document can also be viewed at the Forest Service offices in Harrisburg, Vienna and Jonesboro during regular business hours. 

Public feedback will be accepted until March 31, 2020, after which time the draft strategy may be adjusted, as needed, and finalized. 

Comments are to be mailed to Marc Pons, Recreation Program Manager, Shawnee National Forest, PO Box 505, 50 Highway 145 South, Harrisburg, Ill.  62946. 

Comments can be submitted by email to SM.FS.ShawneeRec@usda.gov; and add “Recreation Strategy” in the subject line. 

Comments can also be dropped off in person at the Forest Service offices in Harrisburg, Vienna and Jonesboro. 

The Forest Service reported that when the Shawnee National Forest begins implementation of the final recreation facility strategy, some management actions may require a level of environmental analysis through the National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA. 

There will be an opportunity for continued public engagement on such projects through the NEPA process.