Don Amador Near Bass Lake on the Sierra NF
The Recreation HQ wants to alert motorized recreationists
who value OHV recreation on the Inyo, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests
about the Forest Service extending the public comment period
For the Wilderness Evaluation until 12:00 pm (noon) on
Wednesday, September 24, 2014.
Here is text from the FS update:
Due to agency
internal technical errors, our database for accepting wilderness evaluation
comments (Talking Points) shut down prematurely on Monday, September 22 at
midnight (12:00am instead of 8:00am).
The Forest Service
is re-activating the Talking Points website to extend the wilderness evaluation
comment period until 12:00pm (noon) on Wednesday, September 24, 2014.
Link to FS update:
Link to Wilderness Evaluation Webpage
BRC Comments on Wilderness Evaluation
HQ reminds riders that there are many high quality OHV
opportunities in all three of these National Forests. It is vital that you send in comments and
attend public meetings. The public comments
for the Forest Plan Revision process are due on Sept. 29.
OHV Bridge Installed to Protect Water Quality
Sierra NF
BRC Alert on Forest Plan Revision Process
Update on those meetings
I/BRC attended the Early Adopter Forest’s public meeting
last week in Fresno, CA, regarding the Forest Plan Revision process for the
Sierra, Inyo, and Sequoia National Forests (early adopter forests) might impact
fire related vegetative treatments, provide sustainable wood products for local
timber or biomass businesses, and enhance recreational opportunity.
However, the lack of detail on the maps at the various
stations made it hard for stakeholders to identify historic motorized and
non-motorized areas and routes. It was
also confusing since the agency appeared to have a two tiered route/area
analysis where they tried to clearly identify destination/developed OHV
recreation areas but did not seem to focus as much detail on, or inclusion of,
several important high elevation backcountry and alpine-type routes and areas.
Although the
agency has improved the “recreation” narrative, it appears that more attention
should be given to development of a more substantive “recreation strategy” in
the planning process.
We talked with agency staff at the “Fire” station about
how the Forest Service should protect and mitigate engineered system trail
infrastructure during any pre or post-fire treatments or in forest health
vegetative projects. Those projects
should be reviewed as to how they might potentially impact motorized use on
designated roads, trails, and areas.
I remains concerned that the Early Adopter Forest’s
proposed action’s plan will apparently create “quiet recreation” expectations
on all landscapes including both motorized (non-quiet) and non-motorized land
classifications could be problematic on a number of fronts. Those impacts
include obliteration of the trail or removal of water control structures such
as rolling dips and catch basins. Those
soil erosion measures can often cost $15,000 to $20,000/mile to install (or
replace). Other sections such as at-risk
species, water quality, and ecosystems have the same recreation mitigation
deficiencies.
What may be of equal importance to the information
gleaned at the public meeting is the visible presence of OHV leadership at the
event. That commitment was noted and
appreciated by agency staff. At the
Fresno meeting, BRC was joined by representatives from AMA, AMA District 36,
and CAL4WD.
If you value access to public lands, please take some
time and review these plans and show that you have a vested interest in
recreation by attending a meeting and sending in a comment letter.
Thanks!
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