CARSON CITY -- A new U.S. Forest Service plan, described by some as a model for compromise when it comes to conflicting winter sports in the Sierra just south of Lake Tahoe, could end 15 years of rancorous debate and courtroom battles.

The proposal, which provides segregated areas for motorized and nonmotorized sports across a rugged swath of forested terrain in Alpine County, Calif., is the result of two years of discussions between backcountry skiers and snowmobilers.

One-time opponents express satisfaction with the plan.

"We healed some old wounds, and everyone came away with a good feeling,'' says Rob Levy, who represented snowmobile riders during lengthy negotiations.

"I believe this is the best balance we'll ever get,'' says Marcus Libkind of the Snowlands Network, a muscle-powered winter sports advocacy group. "It's what I would call a balance in opportunities.''

If the proposed Alpine Winter Recreation Project is approved this summer, aspects of the plan could be implemented as soon as next winter, according to Gary Schiff, Forest Service district ranger in Carson City.

The issue dates to 1992, when the Forest Service started to update management strategies for the Forestdale area of Hope Valley, including a road used to reach terrain popular with both skiers and snowmobilers. Critics, citing mounting conflicts between the two sports, insisted the area be closed to snowmobiles.

When the Forest Service declined, environmentalists sued, first in 1997 and again in 2000. Attempts over the years to settle the battle over Forestdale through compromise failed, with the federal government often at odds with Alpine County officials.

A key ruling in the legal dispute came in 2004, when U.S. District Judge David Levi said the Forest Service had not assessed adequately the environmental impacts of snowmobiles and failed to prove they were causing problems. The judge sent the issue back to the agency for "further proceedings.''

Those proceedings took the form of new discussions among the battling user groups in a new attempt at compromise, aided by a professional mediator paid for by the Forest Service. Talks focused on the future of winter recreation across the entire 726-square-mile county.

``One of the key factors of this was to look over a broad landscape,'' said Ed Monnig, supervisor of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. ``When you look at a broad landscape, solutions are available.''

Skiers and snowmobilers have essentially agreed on a strategy that offers something for everyone, participants in the negotiations agreed.

Under the plan, snowmobiling would be allowed along Forestdale Creek Road in early and late winter but would be prohibited during midwinter. Snowmobiles would then be diverted to the nearby Blue Lakes area.