By Mary Alice Murphy

On Wednesday evening, Nov. 2, 2016, members of the Gila National Forest staff were on hand to answer questions and to seek input from the public at the Western New Mexico University Besse-Forward Global Resource Center.

This open house is one of seven in the areas around the forest and includes one in Las Cruces.

Posters and summary pages about each aspect of the plan had some people standing reading the posters and others gathering the summaries to peruse at their leisure.

The draft preliminary plan has been completed. The process is still in the assessment stage, with public input required for needs for change.

The deadline to provide input for assessment comments is Nov. 15. The deadline for need-for-change comments is Nov. 30.

Input is welcome online at http://go.usa.gov/h88k. You can also download a copy of the draft assessment plan and the draft need-for-change document at that URL.

The GNF had cards for comments at each poster station, with a forest service representative at each station to enter into discussion on the issues with anyone wanting one-on-one interaction.

The posters included summaries and images of social, cultural and economic conditions; recreation; designated areas; infrastructure; cultural and historic resources; areas of tribal importance; water; riparian ecosystems; soil; watershed; fire; climate, climate change and vulnerability; grassland vegetation types found on the Gila National Forest; woodland vegetation types found on the GNF; forested vegetation types on the GNF; Gila National Forest's "Niche" in the context area landscape; ecological response units of the GNF; hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing; at-risk species; rangelands; and timber and special forest products.

Matt Schultz, forest planner, was on hand at the entrance. "We are completing the assessment. We received a lot of input. This draft is the starting point. It helps create the needs for change. The public can also propose brand new statements."