The Shannon Ridge Trail (Baker Lake, west side) will have reconstruction and improvement activities beginning this spring (2007). Road to trail conversion and trail relocation to protect a wetland will be the first action. Other improvments will continue during the next few years. Extremely limited use of helicopters and explosives (rock areas) will occur during a few weekdays over the life of the project.
The Mt Baker Club was one of the few to provide review comments when this project was first proposed. The club supported the recreational access improvements and the protection of a wet land but asked for consideration of
increased detrimental impacts to plants and wildlife in this relatively remote and isolated area.
The US Forest Service addressed these concerns and determined that plants and wildlife would not be significantly impacted by either the reconstruction process or the expected increased use of the trail by people following completion of the project. They further supported this finding as a result of their policy of emphasizing maintenace of existing trails over the construction of new trails into previously remote areas.
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