Stonyford/Mill Fire Salvage Project Comments Due March 24

The Recreation HQ wants to alert OHV users who ride at Stonyford to the recent release of the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Mill Fire Salvage and Hazard Tree Removal Project.  The 30-day public comment period appears to have started on Feb. 22, 2013 which means that our comments should be delivered to the agency by March 24, 2013.

Link to Mill Fire Salvage EA and supporting documents (we used a tiny URL)

http://brc1.us/mill-fire-salvage


HQ first wants to thank all of you who submitted initial scoping comments on the Project.  Many of you attended a meeting in December on the proposal and got actively involved in the process.  You made a huge difference!

Dec. 18 Blog on Mill Fire Salvage Project

http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-update-on-mill-fire-salvage.html

 

HQ believes the agency has incorporated our collective concerns in the Draft EA including the additions of OHV recreation staff into the project design and implementation.  This benefits both casual OHV use and the permitted OHV events this year.  HQ will be recommending to BRC that it supports the project provided the agency sticks to its commitment to protect and restore the OHV recreational opportunity that we all enjoy there.

 

HQ encourages all of you to read the Draft EA, Appendix A, and the Recreation Report.  There are many key pro-OHV tenets that we should be supporting.  HQ also encourages you to submit your own personal letter with your own specific comments and concerns.  However, for those of you who are short on time, we have created a short letter that you can use as a template.

 

SAMPLE LETTER******************************************

 

Eduardo Olmedo

Responsible Official

Mendocino National Forest

825 N. Humboldt Ave.

Willows, CA 95988

Attn: Jeanette Williams

Email: jeanettewilliams@fs.fed.us

FAX: 530.934.7384

Re: Draft Environmental Assessment Mill Fire Salvage and Hazard Tree Removal Project

 

Dear Mr. Olmedo:

 

As an OHV recreationist, I am writing this letter in support for the Draft Environmental Assessment Mill Fire Salvage and Hazard Removal Project (Project).  The Forest, Project Team, and Recreation Staff should be commended for working in a collaborative manner to address concerns articulated by the OHV community during the initial scoping period.

 

I support this project as a method to restore a safe environment for public use by motorized vehicles on designated roads, trails, and areas impacted by the Mill Fire.

 

I have reviewed the Draft EA and supporting documents.  Here are my key comments and suggestions.

 

1 - As practical, please retain merchantable sized dead trees and all green trees likely to survive along OHV trails to be used as barriers, trail delineators, and route anchors.

 

2 - Keep OHV routes open for weekends, holidays, and permitted events. Temporary closures correctly should be limited to the weekdays and only on the segment of routes where active logging operations are underway.

 

3 - OHV trails that will be used as temporary haul roads or skid routes must be returned to their current trail state after use.

 

4 - Avoid trails where possible during tree felling, skidding, and hauling operations,

 

5 - OHV Manager(s) and Timber Sale Administrators should coordinate and identify any areas where trails need to be crossed or used. These areas must be returned to pre-harvest trail conditions. OHV trails and roads should remain open except when active logging operations are occurring. Alternate routes should  be made available and clearly signed/identified.

 

6 - There are 4 special use permitted events that take place within the Stonyford OHV area each year; one in late May, one in late October and two in November. These events use the majority of the OHV trail system. Please ensure that designated OHV trails and Level II roads within the project area are open for these events, and that equipment is not left along or near trails and/or roads that could pose a danger to the public.

 

7 - Since the unit’s OHV staff have other duties and ongoing trail projects not related to the salvage sale, I urges the agency to consider alternate resources (i.e. trail crews from other units such as Chappie-Shasta OHV Area, OHMVR/SVRAs, and other Forests) to expedite post-project restoration of affected haul and skid routes back to their pre-project condition/classification including the installation of new or reconstructed rolling dips, sediment catch basins, trail delineators, or construction to restore sinuosity of the route.

 

8 - I also urge the Forest to secure non-OHMVR grant funds to aid in the reconstruction of OHV routes directly impacted by hauling or skidding operations. The use of OHMVR grant funds to restore haul/skid routes would be an unauthorized use of said funds.

 

Thanks in advance for considering my comments and for your efforts to protect OHV recreational opportunity during the project.

 

Best regards,

 

Joe Rider

 

 

*************************************************************

 

The Recreation HQ wants to thank all of you who have volunteered up at the Stonyford work projects and looks forward to working and riding with you once again at one of the best riding areas in the state.

 

 

 

 

Valentine Day Present to OHV - CA State Auditor Releases Park Scandal Report

The state auditor released its report today on the infamous state park scandal regarding the 54M dollar slush fund.   After doing an initial quick review of the 60 page report, HQ believes it shows that agenda-driven “sloppy accounting” had become institutionalized at State Parks and has existed for several decades and through many administrations.

Link to State Auditor Report

http://www.auditor.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2012-121.1.pdf

 

HQ believes that an ‘accounting subculture’ comprised of non-appointed 2^nd and 3^rd tier bureaucrats

had devised this scheme to create an internal slush fund for reasons not clearly identified in the 60-page report.
 

OHV recreationists owe a great deal of thanks for the work that OHV lobbyist Terry McHale did last year along with a number of OHV representatives.  The OHV program in 2013 is in much better shape because of those efforts.

 

Link to video and other info in last year’s scandal fight in Sac.

http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2012/08/ca-ohv-trust-fund-battle-remains-hot.html
 

The only good news in this story is that Governor Brown has appointed General Anthony Jackson to bring accountability and transparency to Parks. 

 

QWR/Amador blog on the appointment of General Jackson

http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-new-ca-state-park-director-service.html
 

HQ believes that the final chapter on this issue has yet to be written.  Also, we want to thank all of you who sent in letters and made phone calls last year to the Governor’s Office – it did make a difference!

 

See you on the trail.

 

Don

 

RAC Members Needed for OR Dunes/Siuslaw NF

The Siuslaw National Forest which oversees the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area recently announced they are reconvening (absent for many years) their Resource Advisory Committee (RAC).   Applications are due Feb. 28, 2013.

RAC Announcement including Application Form

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/siuslaw/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5408349

 

According to a Forest News Release on Jan. 31, 2013, The Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee consists of 15 members and three non-voting alternates representing a wide array of interest. Committee duties include reviewing proposed land management projects on, or adjacent to, the Siuslaw National Forest. The committee recommends funding up to $1 million of forest management projects and coordinates with land management agency and county officials.

 

Committee members serve upon appointment by the Secretary of Agriculture without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. Members must be Oregon residents, preferably, but not necessarily, living in Yamhill, Tillamook, Lincoln, Benton, Lane, Douglas or Coos counties.

 Interim Forest Supervisor George Buckingham emphasized, “I am very interested and committed to ensuring members of the Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee represent the diversity of our communities.”

The geographic boundary of the Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee covers the entire Siuslaw National Forest.

 

The Recreation HQ believes the agency is being motivated to restart the RAC based on a large number of comment letters from various stakeholders (e.g. OHV groups, county govt., civic orgs, businesses, etc.) which cited the lack of outreach (and no RAC) by the Forest at the Oregon Dunes and elsewhere.

 

HQ  encourages civic minded leaders and advocates in the following categories to send in an application to serve on the RAC.

 

Category A: (five regular members and one replacement) who represent one or more of the following interests:

 Organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups

 Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle, commercial recreation
 Energy and mineral development
 Commercial or recreational fishing
 Commercial timber industry
 Federal grazing permit holders or land use permit holders with the Resource Advisory Committee area.
 

Category B: (five regular members and one replacement) who represent on or more of the following interests):

 Nationally recognized environmental organizations

 Regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations
 Dispersed recreation
 Archaeological and historical interest
 National or regionally recognized wild horse or burro groups, wildlife or hunting organizations or watershed associations

Category C: (five regular members and one replacement) who represent one or more of the following interests):

 State-elected office holders

 County or local elected officials
 American Indian tribal representatives from tribes within or adjacent to Resource Advisory Committee areas
 School officials or teachers
 Citizens representing the affected public at large

 

We get the government we deserve and right now it is important for those of you in the affected area to get involved with good government.   Be part of the solution!