Hearing Today on Land Exchange Bill at Stonyford OHV Area

The Recreation HQ wanted to alert those of you following the ongoing saga of the potential transfer of the Fouts Springs Youth Correctional Facility from federal ownership to the county about a hearing today. The Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests is holding this hearing on S. 1571 and other proposals at 2:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m our time). It will be broadcast on the web and if you want to watch the hearing…click on the “live webcast” icon at the bottom left of the page.

Info on Senate Hearing Today
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=fdbe9a8b-e507-89b4-df51-d4fdb171f96e


BRC Comment Letter on S. 1571 Hearing Today
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Deafy_Glade_Oppose_2010_Wyden_Barrasso.0001.pdf


The General’s Archived Blog (with click on photo of area) on this issue
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/10/s-1571-oppose-correctional-facility-at.html


On Monday, The General spoke with Scott Miller (majority staff) regarding our concerns and also shared our photo of the facility and campgrounds so the committee could better visualize the area. If S. 1571 does get voted out of committee today, be assured the Recreation HQ will work hard to make sure that strong reversion language is inserted into the bill.

The Recreation HQ wants to thank all of you who have sent letters to Congress on this issue.
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Stonyford Mixed Use Issue Cleared Up

Over the last couple of weeks, The Recreation HQ has been bombarded with a number of calls from riders who have been getting tickets by riding on the main forest road at the Stonyford OHV Area. As many of you know, this paved road has been and continues to be the main transportation corridor for families who camp at Fouts Springs and Davis Flat to access the trail system in this area.

I remember taking my two sons on their Honda 50s and 80s down this road as it provides the only safe access route for getting youngsters and beginners to the OHV roads and trails.

In his role as the Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, The General contacted the Forest Service to see if there has been some miscommunication between recreation staff and law enforcement. As some of you know, this paved level 2 road is identified on the Motor Vehicle Use Map as open to all vehicle types.

What seems to be the problem is that some local agency staff had misinterpreted Region 5’s mixed use policy as requiring a level 2 road be reclassified as a level 3 road which would require a mixed use analysis and approval by the CHP for use by green sticker vehicles.

I must commend the Forest for taking responsibility for this mix-up by pulling the tickets that were issued, removing the “open for street legal vehicle only” signs, and withholding publication of the new MVUM until this “mixed use” issue is corrected. I believe the Forest now understands what a critical role that 18N03 plays in the safe transport of non-street legal OHVs (dirt bikes, dune-buggies, jeeps, ATVs, and side-by-sides) from the developed campsites to the main trail system.

The Recreation HQ believes that good communication between the users and the Forest is important and is optimistic that this sort of miscommunication won’t happen in the future.

Thanks in advance for your support and understanding.

Writing an Appeal on Earth Day - Right or Wrong

To celebrate Earth Day this year, The General is drafting an appeal of the Shasta Trinity National Forest’s Motorized Travel Management Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision. Some riders may find it strange that the Recreation HQ is working on an administrative appeal on Earth Day regarding what is clearly the most restrictive travel plan to date in Region 5.

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PHOTO: One of the historic OHV/ATV Trails that is closed in the ROD/FEIS (click for expanded view)

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The ROD arbitrarily obliterates almost 100 percent of the 800 miles of quality single-track motorcycle and ATV trails less than 50 inches in width. The plan also uses a bizarre and illegal decision matrix that gives the California Wilderness Coalition’s Citizens Inventoried Roadless Areas the force and effect of federal law and then combines those proposals with an illegal interpretation of the Clinton Roadless Rule to exclude over 200 miles of trails in both federal and faux inventoried roadless areas from consideration for motorized use.

The General’s Aug 2009 Missive and Video Regarding the Shasta Trinity DEIS and Holding the FS Accountable
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html

The Recreation HQ believes that humans give value to the earth and our natural surroundings. Nature by itself in the absence of humans cannot give itself value. In fact, nature is not capable of appreciating itself. Volcanic eruptions have destroyed thousands of square miles of spotted owl habitat and polluted hundreds of miles of salmon and steelhead habitat. There are many other examples of where nature does not care.

Does that mean that off-roaders don’t care about the environment? On the contrary, we love the outdoors and that is why we love trail-based motorized recreation. Closing thousands of miles of OHV roads and trails in California and reducing access will decrease the natural value of those areas. In many cases, closing legitimate OHV routes hurts the environment because is displaces that use into more concentrated areas. Closing OHV routes denies the user the chance to enjoy the single track experience.

The Recreation HQ hopes that riders will support its efforts to keep trail-based recreation alive and well on the Shasta Trinity National Forest. Maybe drafting an appeal to protect access to forest lands and holding the Forest Service accountable is the most appropriate way to spend Earth Day!

Comments welcome.

ACTION ORDER - Send Letter Today on National Monument Issue

The Recreation HQ knows that a lot of you have been following the Obama “National Monuments” issue and that The General filed a FOIA appeal on March 17 because the Department of Interior basically denied BRC’s February 19 FOIA request.

History of BRC’s FOIA on Obamuments
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/04/obamuments-saga-continues-congress.html

As some of you know, a number of western legislators have been trying to obtain those secret documents since February but are getting stonewalled as well. Recently, House Resolution 1254 was drafted to force the Obama Administration to comply with their own promise of transparency.

H.R. 1254
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/UploadedFiles/HastingsMonumentResolution.pdf

The Recreation HQ has already sent a letter today and the General wants you to do the same and take a minute and use the letter generator that has been provided by our good friends at ARRA. This letter will be sent to key Members of Congress asking them to support H.R. 1254. There will be an important vote regarding this issue on April 28.

ARRA Action Alert and Letter Generator
https://secure3.convio.net/arra/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=223&autologin=true

Feel free to insert a personal message in the above letter about how this might impact Stonyford or some other riding areas in the West.

Thanks for doing this today!

Clear Creek Update - OHV 24 - BLM 21

The General is glad to be back at the Recreation HQ after spending the last 6 days in the field attending meetings and doing some recon.

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PHOTO: This is the warning sign for swimmers at Orick Beach in the Redwood National Park. Note that the Park is keeping count of the people who have died swimming since 2004 (click on photo to enlarge). This is what the BLM should do at CCMA - simply post signs and publish concerns on the visitor maps

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April 19 marked the end of the 45 day extension of the public comment period for the Clear Creek DEIS. The Recreation HQ believes we may have turned the corner in the battle to reopen CCMA to historic OHV use when the San Benito County BOS voted to reopen 25 miles of county roads in the unit and send letters to the BLM in support of Alt. A.

Background info on BOS vote and WND Article
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/04/off-roaders-blamed-for-county-vote-to.html

The Recreation HQ wants riders to have copies of the BRC Legal and BRC Western Rep. comment letters that were submitted on March 4,5 and April 19. Note that BRC brings up the faux liability issue (among other issues) and demands the DEIS be withdrawn and/or a supplemental DEIS be issued.

Faux Liability Issue
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/03/faux-liability-issue-at-ccma.html

March 4, 2010 BRC Western Rep. Comments
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/CCMA_DEIS_BRC_revised_comments_3.4.100001.pdf

March 5, 2010 BRC Legal Dept. Comments
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/CCMA_DEIS_Turcke_comments_3-5-10.pdf

April 19, 2010 BRC Legal Dept. Supplemental Comments
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/CCMA_DEIS_Turcke_Comments_Supplementa_4-19-10.pdf

If the CCMA battle was a football game, the Recreation HQ believes that we are in the 3rd quarter and the score is now OHV 24 HFO 21. Just what the score will be at the end of the game has yet to be determined. That score will depend on your continued efforts to reopen the area.

The General looks forward to riding on the reopened roads once the signs are installed by the county works department.and riding on the OHV trails once CCMA is reopened.

Recreation HQ Closed April 14-19

The General will be a various meetings in N. California from April 14 through April 19. The Recreation HQ will reopen at O-Dark Thirty on April 20.

The Obamuments Saga Continues - Congress Takes Action

The Recreation HQ continues to object to the Department of Interior’s continued stonewalling of The General’s March 17 FOIA Appeal to obtain documents about the 3rd party dealings the DOI had with pro-Wilderness groups regarding the designation of Obamuments throughout the country including the Stonyford OHV Area in Northern California. This stonewalling is in conflict with DOI’s “Promise of Transparency” on April 7.

April 7 DOI Promise of Transparency
http://www.doi.gov/news/doinews/2010_04_07_news.cfm

BRC March 17, 2010 FOIA Appeal
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=689&filter=media

Based on the following action by Congress today, it appears that Western Legislators are also frustrated with DOI’s refusal to be forthcoming with requested information related to Obamuments.

April 13 Western GOP Resolution and Info on Obamument Issue
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=180575

The General asks you to remain vigilant on this and other land use issues and thanks you in advance for your support.