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Resistance Over Park Closures Sparks Need for Environmental Review

The U.S. Forest Service is changing its proposal to restrict access to some popular hiking areas in the Cleveland National Forest. Forest officials want to close three areas during the nesting season

The U.S. Forest Service is changing its proposal to restrict access to some popular hiking areas in the Cleveland National Forest. Forest officials want to close three areas during the nesting season for golden eagles. The raptors nest from December through May in San Diego County's backcountry. Cleveland National Forest spokeswoman Joan Wynn says there was more resistance to the plan than officials expected.

Wynn: Well the comments were that there are some rock climbing areas and a lot of the people would like to continue to use those.

Wynn says other comments were in favor of the closure to limit disturbances to the birds during nesting season. But some climbers and hikers complained the closure would limit access to prime areas. Wynn says because of the opposition, forest service officials will now start an environmental review of the plan. The Forest Service originally thought a formal review was unnecessary.