Forest
Service
File Code:
Route To:
Subject:
To:
Rocky
Mountain
Regional Office
740 Simms Street
Golden, CO 80401-4702
Voice: 303-275-5350
TDD: 303-275-5367
Date:
2320
February 11, 2011
Group Size Limits in Wilderness
Forest Supervisors
The authority to approve exceptions to established group size limits in wilderness is at the
discretion of the Forest Supervisor (FSM 2326.04(d)) and is not delegated to District Rangers
unless a specific delegation of authority has been granted by the Forest Supervisor. In 2005, the
Regional Office developed a Minimum Requirement Decision Guide (MRDG) to provide line
officers with a systematic process to evaluate whether or not to approve requests to exceed
established group size limits.
Enclosed is a revised and updated version of the MRDG. This new version gives additional
consideration to requests from large groups that have historically used national forest land prior
to its designation as wilderness. In the past, some exceptions to wilderness group size have been
granted on a case-by-case basis, including groups that have a track record of prior use before
designation. I encourage to you to continue to view these exceptions as rare, something that is
not done lightly or without a careful screening of the request through the enclosed MRDG.
I hope the revised edition will bring additional consistency and clarity to the Forest Supervisor’s
decision-making process. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Sherwood, Director,
Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness Resources at 303-275-5135 or email ssherwood@fs.fed.us.
/s/ Maribeth Gustafson
MARIBETH GUSTAFSON
Deputy Regional Forester, Operations
cc: Stephen Sherwood
Ralph Swain
It’s Cool to Be Safe
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