In a final ruling late January 3, District Court Judge Marco A. Hernandez confirmed Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan’s September 2018 rejection of a U.S. Forest Service plan to add 137 miles of off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails in central Oregon’s Ochoco National Forest.

The 137 miles of new trails would have slashed through old-growth ponderosa pine forests, important wetlands, and wildflower meadows, and would have posed significant harm to wildlife ranging from Rocky Mountain elk to mule deer, redband trout, and gray wolves. But thanks to Guardians and allies, these places and creatures are safe: if the Forest Service wants to pursue expanding motorized use in these habitats, it will need to start from scratch.

“It’s refreshing and hopeful to see our court system upholding bedrock environmental laws, especially at a time when the Trump administration is making every effort to knock them down,” said Guardians’ Judi Brawer.