San Juan National Forest officials are seeking public input on recreational facilities and programs in the forest. A workshop to begin the evaluation and prioritization process will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 at the Durango Public Library.

Public input will be used to supplement and inform a forest-wide Recreation Site Analysis (RSA) of all facilities, such as campgrounds and trailheads. Detailed information will also be available on related programs, such as trails and special-use permits.

As part of a national and regional effort to trim federal budgets, the San Juan's recreation budget is expected to decrease over the next three years by up to 30 percent as the agency realigns funding to balance workforce capability with public needs. To fit within this new budget reality, recreation staff and workloads must be streamlined to sustain the recreation program over the long-term.

Over the past year, the San Juan has downsized its permanent recreation staff from 17 to 11 permanent employees to free up funding to continue to hire and equip an adequate summer workforce. Seasonal crews conduct essential work, such as spring site cleanup, hazard-tree evaluations, trail clearing, and routine operations and maintenance functions. The Forest Service has long recognized that these functions are of high value to the visiting public.

The RSA process will be used to prioritize existing recreation facilities and help to balance visitor needs and use patterns with management costs and declining budgets. The overall goal is to continue to offer safe, high-quality recreation in a manner that protects natural resources and heritage values.

This initial workshop will be followed by other opportunities to explore recreation issues and opportunities important to local communities. Although the overall RSA inventory and evaluation of recreational facilities will not require formal environmental analysis, any resulting significant site alterations or closures will include a National Environmental Policy Act analysis and further public comment.

For more information, contact Brian White, San Juan National Forest Recreation Program Manager, at 385-1246.