Combs Road is an unmaintained county road. Gates at both ends of the road prevent vehicular traffic.
Dec 18, 2024. Commissioner Meeting – Agenda – Discussion – Re-Opening Combs Road
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AUDIO of the Meeting. 00:14:35 — Discussion on Combs Road.
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Dec 18. 2024. Commissioners leave Combs Road closed after residents object by Dave Stafford.This Post at Brown Couty Matters (1.3K+) views
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- Dec 17, 2024. Forest group: ‘Crisis’ brewing if Combs Road is reopened, by Dave Stafford
- “This disastrous, wrong-headed idea is being railroaded through by lame-duck Commissioners who lost reelection this year and will no longer serve on the Board in just a matter of weeks,” the Indiana Forest Alliance said on its website.
- Dec 17, 2024. Forest group: ‘Crisis’ brewing if Combs Road is reopened, by Dave Stafford
Oct 18, “2004.” Ordinance for temporary closure of unmaintained parts of Combs Road
Dec 17, 2024. IndyStar. Brown County plan to reopen road threatens wilderness, advocates say
by Karl Schneider
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- Protecting the forest:Proposal would double size of Charles C. Deam Wilderness area in Hoosier National Forest
Dec 16, 2024. Email – Mike Chaveas, US Forest Service
EMAIL: From: Chaveas, Michael – FS, IN
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2024 3:57 PM
To: pittmanj@browncounty-in.us; wolpertb@browncounty-in.us; SandersR@browncounty-in.us
Subject: Combs Road and Hoosier National Forest
Commissioners Pittman, Wolpert and Sanders;
I am writing regarding your consideration of reopening the Brown County section of Combs Road to allow OHV (off-highway vehicle) use. I briefly spoke with Commissioner Wolpert on the phone two weeks ago, which was when I initially was made aware that this action was being considered, and we have received numerous calls from members of the public to our offices on this topic recently. I have since had the opportunity to look into the history of this road and its surroundings. I understand that Combs road is a county road and it is therefore within the authority of the Brown County government to make any decisions about reopening it to motorized traffic. In order to assist you in making an informed decision, I wanted to provide some history of damage done in this area and share concerns we would have with any change in status.
According to our files, Brown County Board of Commissioners passed an Ordinance for temporary closure of unmaintained parts of Combs Road (10-18-04-01) on October 18, 2004, which implemented a closure to vehicular traffic (see attached). The ordinance states that the Forest Service favored closing the road “to prevent misuse, damage to and pollution of forest property, and injury and property damage to those who might otherwise use the roads, and the Board of Commissioners finds that closing the above-stated roads is in the public interest and economic interest of the county”.
This section of Combs Road and its surroundings had a long history of OHV use leading to a “braided trail” with many off-shoots, mud pits, etc. As a result, the adjacent Hoosier National Forest property was severely damaged, and the water quality of local streams, and likely Monroe Lake, were negatively affected. I am attaching some photos here that were taken in that era to give you a sense of the damage that had been done.
Our records also indicate that in 2005 the Forest Service conducted major rehabilitation of Combs Road including reshaping and installing culverts and ditches to reduce erosion and improve water quality. These measures, along with the concurrent closure to vehicles, has allowed the area to reestablish protective vegetation, thus reducing its negative impacts to water quality and wildlife habitat. We have concerns that reversing the road closure would lead to new damage, as was experienced previously.
Current policy and the Hoosier National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan does not allow for OHV use on the national forest. Due to the extensive past use and damage to the road, and the illegal crossings onto adjacent national forest property, we cannot be certain of where the land ownership boundaries currently lie, and therefore where the legal route of this road is in all parts. A professional survey would be necessary prior to motorized vehicle use, and any associated road maintenance, if it were to be once again allowed and authorized by the county to ensure the avoidance of any damage to the national forest lands.
I appreciate your attention to these details as you make your decisions regarding this county road.
Mike Chaveas
Forest Supervisor
Forest Service
Hoosier National Forest
facebook.com/HoosierNF
Caring for the land and serving people
Photos
Independent Voters of Brown County IN 