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DEL NORTE — Local residents will have an opportunity to shape the future of winter recreation and wildlife conservation in the Rio Grande National Forest during an upcoming community workshop.  

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at Wildwood Sounds, 850 Grand Ave. in Del Norte, with parking available in the back.  

Organized by the San Juan Citizens Alliance, Winter Wildlands Alliance and the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, the workshop is part of a series of events aimed at helping the public navigate and participate in the U.S. Forest Service’s winter travel planning process.  

The federal agency is seeking public input on a draft winter travel plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The plan will establish a designated system of routes and areas for motorized over-snow vehicles, such as snowmobiles, across the 1.8 million-acre forest. The final decision will determine where motorized and non-motorized recreation, including backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, can occur for years to come.  

The framework will transition the forest to a "closed unless designated open" system to comply with the 2015 Travel Management Rule. Beyond recreation, the plan addresses critical environmental protections, including the management of vital winter habitats for wildlife such as the threatened Canada lynx, elk and mule deer.  

Public comments on the draft winter travel plan are being accepted through July 29.  

For community members unable to attend the Del Norte event, another meeting will be held Tuesday, July 14, at the Cactus Hill Farm Market, 611 Main St. in Antonito.  

All in-person community workshops run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees will learn how to draft effective, personalized public comments before the upcoming deadline.