The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest are once again engaging
in the process of applying for grants from the California Department of Parks
and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division.We would like hear from you and get your
input as to what type of projects you would like to be involved with this
coming year, and what type of projects you would like to see the Stewards apply
for.If you have some projects in mind or
have some ideas for improvements to the Sierra National Forest we would love to
hear from you.
There are several ways to do this:
Come out to our regular monthly meeting this Wednesday 2/8/2012 from
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m or you can also send us an e-mail to info@sotsnf.org and share your ideas and
thoughts with us on the types of projects you would like to be involved with
and see the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest apply for.
We really need to hear from you so that your ideas can be
considered and be included in the preliminary grant application which is due by
March 5, 2012.Remember if you don’t
participate in the process you have no right to complain if you do not get what
you want.
We will also have hands outs from the Sierra National Forest
detailing the items that they will be pursuing for their grant application from
the state.
The Stewards are looking forward to hearing from as many of you as
possible to help make this grant year our best so far.
The OHV and Public Access Community Needs Your Help
The
Stewards of the Sierra National Forest, The Friends of Clear Creek Management
Area and a VERY LARGE COALITION of
well organized OHV GROUPS and PRO PUBLIC ACCESS GROUPS here in the
State of California and NATIONALLY are
in the process of putting together a Picture Video to send to your elected
officials in Sacramento.This video is
to let them know just how fed up you are with the representation they are
providing you and your family and how they constantly misuse your OHV dollars
and the OHV Trust Fund.
As
most of you know Governor Brown and your elected officials in Sacramento seem
to believe that the OHV Trust Fund is nothing more than a great big slush fund
that they can continue to steal from year after year.They also believe they can spend your
dedicated OHV dollars as they please and not return them to the OHV Trust
Fund.Remember your OHV Trust Fund is
completely SELF FUNDED and receives no monies from the general budget.
THIS IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP
We
need everyone who values your Public Access and would like to keep it intact to
send us some of your favorite Public Access and OHV pictures showing any kind
of Public Access and OHV use.This would
include any and all of the following.
We
are especially interested in the ones with your kids and your family enjoying
your favorite outdoor sport and also pictures that may show how you have been
denied Public Access to your favorite area.
Then
sit back and let us put them together over the next week or so and see which
one of your pictures makes it into the video and the hands of your elected
officials in Sacramento.Remember these
are your public lands which were set aside for you and your family’s
enjoyment.We will be releasing a new
site for you to view the video on and get you more information on you can help
take back your public lands.
Recently Governor Brown's office notified the Deputy Director of the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) of State Parks, Daphne Greene, that her appointed term would end as of January 1, 2012. Director Greene, a democrat who has served under both the Davis and Schwarzenegger administrations, has been a strong ally for the OHV community. Nonetheless she has also brought a much needed balance to and long term vision for the OHV program. To remove her now from this important position would be a mistake.
Perhaps most significantly, in 2009, after intensive interaction and involvement from all communities of interest, under her guidance and leadership, the OHV Division submitted their Strategic Plan to the Governor and the Legislature. This plan, which outlined a clear direction for the future, is based on the principles of sustainability, transparent decision-making, a commitment to working with volunteers and consideration of the needs and concerns of all affected stakeholders. All eight State Vehicle Recreation Areas (SVRA's) have seen notable improvements in facilities, maintenance, resource management, as well as increased environmental protections under Director Greene's watch.
Riders, law enforcement and agency personnel statewide have been contacting the Governor's office requesting he reconsider this decision. Removing Director Greene simply because she was appointed by the previous administration is a mistake.
The Governor's office needs to hear from all of us!!
Recently Governor Brown's office notified the Deputy Director of the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) of State Parks, Daphne Greene, that her appointed term would end as of January 1, 2012. Director Greene, a democrat who has served under both the Davis and Schwarzenegger administrations, has been a strong ally for the OHV community. Nonetheless she has also brought a much needed balance to and long term vision for the OHV program. To remove her now from this important position would be a mistake.
Perhaps most significantly, in 2009, after intensive interaction and involvement from all communities of interest, under her guidance and leadership, the OHV Division submitted their Strategic Plan to the Governor and the Legislature. This plan, which outlined a clear direction for the future, is based on the principles of sustainability, transparent decision-making, a commitment to working with volunteers and consideration of the needs and concerns of all affected stakeholders. All eight State Vehicle Recreation Areas (SVRA's) have seen notable improvements in facilities, maintenance, resource management, as well as increased environmental protections under Director Greene's watch.
Riders, law enforcement and agency personnel statewide have been contacting the Governor's office requesting he reconsider this decision. Removing Director Greene simply because she was appointed by the previous administration is a mistake.
The Governor's office needs to hear from all of us!!
Daphne Green to lose appointment as OHMVR Deputy Director
We are sad to report that Governor Brown has decided to replace Daphne Greene, Deputy Director of the California OHMVR Division.
Daphne has done a great job as Deputy Director and the Governor will be hard pressed to find anyone with the experience, knowledge, and work ethic to fill the position.
Time and time again Daphne has stood up for responsible motorized recreation, now it is time for us to stand up for Daphne.
Sierra NF 2013 Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) Grants Program - Public Meeting
Sierra NF 2013 Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) Grants Program - Public Meeting
Good day to you
Each year the State of California makes funding available through the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) Grants Program. The grants program provides financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations (federal, city, county, nonprofit, etc.) that develop, maintain, operate, expand, support, or contribute to well managed, high-quality, OHV recreation areas, roads, and trails. This year the State has available funds for education, operation and maintenance, law enforcement and restoration projects.
The Sierra National Forest will be submitting a grant application to the State for OHV funding. As a part of the grant application, the Forest would like to know what you would like to see included in the 2012 submittal for the 2013 operating season.
The Sierra National Forest will also host an open house on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at the Sierra National Forest Headquarters at 1600 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to get ideas from our visitors what needs to be included in our application.
You may also submit written comments to Sierra National Forest, Attn. Susan Burkindine, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 93611.
Clovis, CA – The Sierra National Forest is seeking public comment for the 007 Motorized Trail Project Proposal by conducting a public field trip on October 22nd 10am to 3pm and will meet at the junctions of County Road 274 and Forest Road 6S42 (Central Camp Road).
The purpose of the field trip is seeking comments for the "007 Motorized Trail Project Proposal" for alignment and trail designation."The project location is in the Central Camp area, near North Fork, California.
Submit comments to the Responsible Official:David Martin, District Ranger, Bass Lake Ranger District, 57003 Road 225, North Fork, CA 93646; 559-877-2218; or email to comments-pacificsouthwest-sierra-minarets-mariposa@fs.fed.us (subject line "007 Motorized Trail Comment");FAX 559-877-3108.For those who which to hand-deliver comments, office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.
For individuals or representatives from each organization, submitted substantive comments must be signed or verify identity upon request.Acceptable formats for electronic comments are email message, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Word (.doc), or HTML (.pdf). Copies of the Proposed Action and additional information may be obtained from Linda McPhail at the address listed above or phone 559-877-2218 ext. 3200.
Your public access to the Sierra National Forest needs your help.The Sierra National Forest is currently
proposing to bring the famous and historic 007 OHV Trail into the National
Forest Transportation System (NFTS) and hopefully add it to the upcoming Motor
Vehicle Use Map.They are proposing a
realignment of the trail to protect cultural and historic sites along the
trail.See the map here.
This is a task that the Sierra National Forest promised the public would
be their number one priority right after they finished the Travel Management
Rule.The 007 trail is one of the most
popular and heavily used trails in the SNF.For all of you that are concerned
about your public access to the forest and this very famous trail we have very
little time and need your help to submit comments to help get this trail opened
back up and on the NFTS as soon as possible. Please take a few moments to sit down and
write your comments and send them into the SNF.
San Benito County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to send a letter to Congress requesting that Clear Creek Management Area be designated as a “National Recreation Area” and that the area be re-opened to the public immediately.
Many thanks to San Benito County for standing up for “public access” and, standing against “biased and agenda driven rhetoric” from EPA.
Thank you to all who have been involved in this fight to preserve the public’s right to access public lands.
Here comes the new head of Fish and Game - this is a disaster of epic proportions!!!!!
Meet the new director of DFG just appointed by Jerry Brown ... Chuck Bonham. He is not confirmed yet so we need to launch a major protest with our representatives. We are outnumbered in the Assembly and Senate so we need everyone in California to help us. Please send this urgent call for help to all you know in California. Ask them to call, email and fax to deny the confirmation. Please contact any group who might be open to helping us.
Trout Unlimited (Non Governmental Group) in one of the major signers of the KBRA (Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement) whose intent is to remove FOUR hydro-electric dams in Siskiyou County. This environmental group along with 8 others stand to receive millions of our taxpayers dollars for the "restoration" of these rivers to their "natural" state. Just follow the money!!!
It is interesting to note that 150 years ago they wouldn't allow horses to drink out of the river - they called it "putrid". It is naturally very warm and carries an extremely high level of natural "pollution". The hydro-electric dams have served to provide power, create deep reservoirs behind the dams which cool the river, and retain the heavy metals and sediment thereby filtering the river. Farmers and ranchers irrigating along this river utilize the incredibly high phosphorous content as a natural fertilizer so the water returns to the river in much better condition than it arrived. The environmentalists who do not live or work in this area seek to destroy the hydro-electric dams in the name of fish habitat. Their focus is the "endangered" coho salmon despite the fact that this fish is NOT indigenous to the area. I could go on but you can probably see the end game - forfeit your land so it can become wilderness again.
This appointment is a death blow to a dying county and they need your help. Their largest town, Yreka (population 7,500) just closed the only movie theater, only bowling alley and one of two laundromats they had. Logging has been crushed, mining has been stopped and now this. We can see the end of ranching and farming in the very near future under his leadership. THEY NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!
A series of radio interviews on this area have been done on www.WeThePeopleRadio.us(sound files below) We will be doing a program specifically on the dams on 9/11 and one specifically on the fraud of the Coho Salmon that is being used to destroy their area on 9/18.
Remember folks, these guys are coming for you next. Please do everything you can to get the word out on this crushing appointment that Jerry Brown has planned.
Proposed head of CA Dept of Fish and Game:
Chuck Bonham, Director
2239 5th Street Berkeley, CA 94710 (510) 528-4164 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (510) 528-4164end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Charlton ("Chuck") H. Bonham is Trout Unlimited's California Director responsible for developing, managing, and implementing TU's programs in the state. He is also a senior attorney for the organization. Chuck received his J.D. and Environmental and Natural Resources Law Certificate from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, in Portland, Oregon. Before TU, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa, and an instructor and guide at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, in Bryson City, N.C.
We are in even deeper trouble that I previously thought. We need EVERYONE To contact our DEMOCRAT Californian Legislators unless your Republican representative is an environmental sympathizer. This is most certainly a partisan issue since they totally control the assembly, senate and governor's mansion. This is a really really bad thing for all of us who think we have rights in this country.
CORVA needs your help to combat the State Water Resources Control Board. The California State Water Resources Control Board has released a draft waiver and new draft Best Management Practices handbook to force the Forest Service to adhere to a myriad of rules and regulations to have motorized events occur on Forest Service land - all 17 forests in California. CORVA thinks these rules are biased and unfair and targets all who travel on forested roads and trails. CORVA has hired an attorney that specializes in water board policies to go through this document and submit comments on the draft procedures representing CORVA and all the other partners joining us in these efforts.
Secondly, we need affidavits from all those that would be affected should these new regulations become public. If you ride or drive an OHV in California and want to keep enjoying your forests, please fill out the affidavit below, and pass it on to your friends and neighbors that want to support your right to access. Either fax it back to: 509-275-4744 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 509-275-4744end_of_the_skype_highlighting, scan it and then send it to: amy.granat@corva.org or mail a hard copy to Amy Granat, PO BOX 298, Clarksburg, CA 95612. And we always need your help and monetary support - nothing happens without money in California.
This takes a little more than the normal effort, but here are the directions:
3. Send it to Amy Granat who will deliver all of them for us to the water board.
You can do that one of three ways:
1. Mail it to PO BOX 298, Clarksburg CA 95612 2. Scan it after you sign it and e-mail it to: amy.granat@corva.org 3. Fax it to: 509-275-4744 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 509-275-4744end_of_the_skype_highlighting
I just
wanted to take a quick moment and say Thank You to everyone who got their
entries filled out and sent away to us for our 3rd Annual BBQ,
Fundraiser, and Dual Sport Adventure.For those of you who would still like to come up and have a good
time.
All is not lost!
We still have
some room left for our Annual Dual Sport Adventure and will be taking registrations
on Friday night from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and again on Saturday morning from
6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
If the Dual Sport Adventure is not what you are
seeking and just want to come out and have a good time!
Do
not give up hope!
Grab
your wife and kids our just your best friend and come on out for a great dinner
on Saturday night August 20, 2011 and help support the ongoing work the Stewards
of the Sierra National Forest are doing to keep your public lands open for you
and your families enjoyment.The
Oakhurst Elks will be serving a delicious Tri Tip dinner at 6:30 p.m. on
Saturday night August 20, 2011.The
admission is free and the dinner is just $17.00 per person.The Oakhurst
Elks Lodge is located at:
Oakhurst Elks Lodge #2724
42484 Hiway 41
Oakhurst, California 93644
559-683-2717
Just remember do not delay as time is running out
for you and your friends to come out and have a great time and help support all
of the hard work that the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest do to keep
your favorite trails and roads open here in the Sierra National Forest for you
and your families enjoyment.Without
your support for your public lands we would not be able to keep as many trails
and roads open as we have.If you have
any questions please give us a call and we will do everything we can to help
you out.
Mike 831-801-1111 or Larry 559-877-4514
We are very much looking forward to meeting each and
every one of you at this years event and thanking you for doing your part to
help keep your PUBLIC LANDS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC NOT FROM THE PUBLIC.
Also remember to keep it RUBBER SIDE DOWN, THREAD
LIGHTLY, and practice TEAM STEALTH.
I just
wanted to take a quick moment and say Thank You to everyone who got their
entries away in the snail mail for our Annual BBQ, Fundraiser, and Dual Sport
Adventure.For those of you who still
have to get your entry forms sent away there is no longer time left to do so by
snail mail and ensure your entry makes it to us in time.
But wait do not give up hope yet!
You can
still download your entry form, fill it out, scan it and send it to info@sotsnf.org or fax it to 559-645-4417 and
we will hold a spot for you and your friends to have the time of your life at
our event.We will also be accepting
registrations on Friday night August 19, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and
again on Saturday morning August 20, 2011 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. at the
Oakhurst Elks Lodge located at:
Oakhurst Elks Lodge #2724
42484 Hiway 41
Oakhurst, California 93644
559-683-2717
Just remember don’t delay as time is running out for
you and your friends to come out and have a great time and help support all of
the hard work that the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest do to keep your
favorite trails and roads open here in the Sierra National Forest for you and
your families enjoyment.Without your
support for your public lands we would not be able to keep as many trails and
roads open as we have.If you have any
questions please give us a call and we will do everything we can to help you
out.
Mike 831-801-1111 or Larry 559-877-4514
We are very much looking forward to meeting each and
every one of you at this years event and thanking you for doing your part to
help keep your PUBLIC LANDS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC NOT FROM THE PUBLIC.
Also remember to keep it RUBBER SIDE DOWN, THREAD
LIGHTLY, and practice TEAM STEALTH.
National Legislation Impacting California Recreationist
Travel Management Alert for OHVers in the West
As Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, I am deeply concerned that anti-access groups and their supporters in Congress will try and have Section 446 stripped when the House considers H.R. 2584, the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
Section 446 is Congressman Wally Herger's pro-access language that attempts to fix some anti-access tenets from Region 5's version of the Travel Management Rule. Section 446 is almost identical to bill language in Herger's H.R. 242 that was introduced in February 2011.
The main issue is the Forest Service has proposed to close hundreds if not thousands of miles of old logging roads to non-street legal OHV use. This access is important for continued recreational access, connectivity between existing OHV trail systems, and the rural economy.
BRC is asking you to contact your local House member and ask them to oppose any effort to strip Section 446 from H.R. 2584. If you need help identifying your U.S. Representative, the BlueRibbon Coalition has a handy tool in our Rapid Response Center at www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/. All you need to do is type your zip code in the "Contact Lawmakers" box and click GO. Click on your representative's name and then click on the "Contact" tab to locate their phone number.
BLM to Engage State, Local, and Tribal Governments in
Bipartisan Wilderness Agenda
WASHINGTON – As part of Secretary of the Interior Ken
Salazar’s push to build a bipartisan wilderness agenda that can be enacted in
the 112th Congress, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) state offices will solicit
suggestions and recommendations from state and local elected officials, Tribes,
and other federal land managers on areas that deserve wilderness protection and
that have broad support for congressional designation.
“The focus of this effort is to identify lands that have
strong backing for protection as wilderness and that might be appropriate for
congressional action,” BLM Director Bob Abbey said. “The best ideas for
conservation come from the ground up, and we hope this effort will help lay a
foundation for a bipartisan wilderness agenda in this Congress. We’ve heard
from the public and many people have expressed how much they value wilderness
areas.”
This effort is an extension of Secretary Salazar’s June
10, 2011, letter to Members of Congress requesting their ideas on “crown jewel”
areas of public lands that have strong local support for permanent protection
as Wilderness under the Wilderness Act. This fall, the Department of the
Interior will submit to Congress a list of “crown jewels” that it believes are
ready for Wilderness designation by Congress based on the combined input from
Congressional, state, local and tribal partners.
In addition, the BLM will issue updated guidance to its
offices affirming – as directed by a June 1, 2011 Secretarial memo – that
pursuant to the 2011 Continuing Resolution, the BLM will not designate any
lands as “Wild Lands.” As required by the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA), the BLM will continue to maintain inventories of public lands and
their resource and other values, including lands with wilderness
characteristics. Also, consistent with FLPMA and other applicable authorities,
the BLM will consider the wilderness characteristics of public lands, in
accordance with its multiple-use mandate, when undertaking land use planning
and when making project-level decisions.
Secretary Salazar has directed Deputy Secretary David J.
Hayes to work with the BLM and interested parties to develop recommendations
regarding the management of BLM lands with wilderness characteristics.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than
any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public
Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau,
with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of
sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use
mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the
use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this
by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral
development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical,
cultural, and other resources on public lands.
The Stewards
of the Sierra National Forest will be having a special monthly meeting on
Wednesday July 27, 2011 at the Pizza Factory located in the Madera
Ranchos.Please bring your wife and kids
or your best friend out to eat some pizza and stay informed as to what is
happening in the forest.The meeting
will start at 7:00 and run till 9:00.
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
Our main topic of
discussion will be the Stewards upcoming BBQ, Fundraiser, and Optional Dual Sport
Adventure scheduled for August 20,21, 2011.We are in need of people to volunteer to help put this event on and the
Stewards are counting on your help.
We will also be setting
the dates for the next couple of Trail Appreciation Days coming up in July and
September of 2011.
We will also be seeking
out volunteers to help out with the implementation of the mitigation work that
needs to be done to help open more trails and roads in the Sierra National
Forest for your enjoyment.
These are your Public
Lands Please help to keep them Open and in shape.If you don’t, the next time you go to the
forest it might just be closed and you will be standing there wondering what
happened.
California OHMVR Commission Sends Letter to Congress!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
CA OHV Commission Sends Letter to Congress on Clear CreekAs many of you know, the OHV commission held a hearing on April 5, 2011 in Hollister to discuss many issues - but the focus of the meeting was to daylight the new OHMVR Asbestos Study that was released on March 22, 2011.
HQ agrees with the tone and direction of this OHV Commission letter where in its summary it states the continued and proposed permanent closure of CCMA does not appear to be supportable nor in the best interest of the public.
HQ believes this OHV commission letter only strengthens the points made during Amador's testimony/exhibits about the HFO/EPA's flawed decision-making process and how that process - based on junk science and personal agendas – was designed to create a defacto-Wilderness area at Clear Creek.
Amador will request this OHV commission letter be added to Exhibit C in his written testimony.
Don Amador to Testify at House Subcommittee Hearing!
Monday, June 20, 2011
QWR President to Testify at House Subcommittee Hearing on June 22, 2011
Don Amador, president of QWR, just received his confirmation from the House that he will testify before the House Subcommittee on Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m.The focus of the hearing is in regards to Recreational Opportunities (or lack thereof) on Public lands.This will be Don's first trip as QWR owner to Washington DC to testify at a Congressional Hearing.Don will also be representing BRC at the hearing.
Amador will question the BLM’s decision-making process associated with the ongoing landscape level functional closure of the 75,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) to all user groups on May 1, 2008.This unit is managed by the Hollister Field Office (HFO) and is located in Fresno and San Benito Counties in the Central Coast Mountain Range of California.
Amador expects to include in his testimony information from the new OHMVR Health Study, comments from previous public input, San Benito County, motorcycle riders, and other stakeholders.
Amador will also be ready to field questions from House Members regarding travel management.
QWR believes that land management decisions should be made on good science and not based on the personal or political agendas of unelected government officials.
Stop Locking Up Millions of Acres of Public Lands with Presidential Proclamations
Dear Friends,
As you may recall documents were exposed last year regarding the Obama administration's apparent intention to misuse the Monument Proclamation to designate millions of acres. With the stroke of his pen Obama could lock up millions of acres of your publc lands, orYOU CAN TAKE TWO MINUTES TO STOP HIM
You may recall President Clinton misused the Monument Proclamation to designate numerous large Monument areas against the wishes of local residents and even Governors. DO YOU WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN?
Congressman Nunes (CA) has reintroducing his National Monument Transparency and Accountability Act (HR758). This much needed reform legislation will address a number of abuses possible in the current legislation, so President's will no longer be able to use the stroke of their pen to lock up millions of acres of your public lands. BUT WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO URGE CONGRESS TO PASS HR758.
This legislation would PREVENT THESE ABUSES FOREVER by reducing the amount of land that the President can designate as a National Monument, and require Congressional approval within 2 years of any Executive Order pursuant to the Antiquities Act.
Please Take TWO MINUTES To Send a Letter Supporting HR758
It has been pretty rare of late that Congress has produced reasonable bills-and this is one of those rare times. Chris do not miss your opportunity to SUPPORT Legislation to STOP the ABUSE of this Presidential Proclamation loophole.
Thanks for your help to keep the Proclamation of Monuments to what the law intended and not a loophole to allow public lands to be locked up without public support.
Many thanks to Congressman Devin Nunes for drafting and introducing this legislation.
I hope you will take TWO MINUTES to send a letter opposing the transfer of our Giant Sequoia Monument Lands from the Sequoia Forest Service to the Park Service.
You may recall past efforts by the closure folks to transfer the Giant Sequoia National Monument to the Park Service. Now they are urging the President to make a Proclamation. Stewards members were able to stop them before and with your help we will stop them now and forever.
If the Park Service takes over these 327,769 acres of your public lands, they will soon want to take over other areas of the Sequoia National Forest and restrict your access even further, making this issue important to everyone who enjoys trails anywhere in the Sequoia Forest, even outside the Monument.
The Sequoia Forest Service has been doing a great job managing these lands for over 100 years promoting forest health and providing recreation. As a matter of fact a scientific report found the Giant Sequoia Groves under Forest Service management were healthier than those on Park Service lands. So why transfer? Apparently it is not about forest health, so it must be about locking you out.
Currently the National Forest Service manages the Monument under their Land of Many Uses Mandate. The Forest Service allows many uses which the Park Service is unlikely to such as licensed OHV's on dirt roads and mountain bikes on trails.
The Park Service would restrict many of the uses the public currently enjoys such as :
Dispersed camping (outside of a developed campground) is not allowed in national parks.
Horseback riding is severely restricted in national parks (and not allowed in many areas).
Mountain Biking is rarely allowed on trails in national parks.
Entrance fees are required into national parks.
Hunting is not allowed in national parks.
Snowmobiles are not allowed in national parks.
Recreation residences (summer cabins) are not allowed in national parks.
Firewood cutting is not allowed in national parks.
Livestock grazing is not allowed in national parks.
Please ACT NOW and send your TWO MINUTE letter to help keep the Monument under Forest Service Multiple Use Management
Salazar Takes Next Steps in Push for Bipartisan Wilderness Agenda
WASHINGTON – As a follow-up to the memo issued last week and as part of his push to build a bipartisan wilderness agenda that can be enacted in the 112th Congress, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today asked Members of Congress for their ideas of “crown jewel” areas of public lands that have strong local support for permanent protection as Wilderness under the Wilderness Act. The Obama Administration’s 21st century conservation agenda marked the historic enactment of the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009 and implementation of the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative includes designating wilderness as a key component in preserving our natural heritage for future generations.
Noting the bipartisan success of Congress and the Obama Administration to designate approximately 2 million acres of Wilderness in 2009, Secretary Salazar said that he will deliver to Congress, by October 15, 2011, a list of areas overseen by the Bureau of Land Management that he believes are ready for immediate Wilderness designation by Congress.
In the memo last week, Secretary Salazar announced plans to work with Members of Congress, states, tribes, and local communities to identify public lands that may be appropriate candidates for congressional protection under the Wilderness Act.
Secretary Salazar’s letter today also asks Members for input to inform Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes’s efforts to develop recommendations for how the Bureau of Land Management should manage the millions of acres of public land that are not protected under the Wilderness Act, but that have wilderness characteristics.
Secretary Salazar will be discussing this letter today at 2:00pm during a live web chat at: doi.gov/live.
The text of Secretary Salazar’s letter is below.
Dear Member of Congress:
As an integral part of our effort to conserve America’s lands and wildlife for future generations, I will work with Members of Congress to identify public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management for permanent Wilderness protection under the Wilderness Act. I want to continue these efforts.
Both Democratic and Republican Members of Congress support providing permanent protection for some BLM lands under the Wilderness Act. In this current session of Congress, several Members have already introduced legislation to create new areas of Wilderness. For example: H.R. 41, the Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act from Representative Darrell Issa; H.R. 113, the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act from Representative Michael Simpson; S. 667/H.R. 1241, the Rio Grande del Norte Conservation Establishment Act by Senator Jeff Bingaman and Representative Ben Ray Luján;and S. 766/H.R.1413, the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Act by Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Peter DeFazio.
I believe these bills – and others that have been introduced with strong local support – provide a foundation from which we can build a strong, bipartisan wilderness agenda in this Congress. To help advance this effort, the Department of the Interior will, by October 15, 2011, submit to Congress a list of “crown jewel” areas that we believe are ready for immediate Wilderness designation by Congress. This list will include some areas that would be protected by bills that are currently pending before Congress and that have strong local, state, tribal, and congressional support. It may also include some areas that are not currently being considered for protection, but that the Department of the Interior believes have widespread support and are worthy of Wilderness designation.
To help inform this conservation effort, I respectfully ask that you identify BLM-managed public lands where there is strong support in the local community and among elected officials for permanent protection, and that you believe are ready for designation as Wilderness by this Congress.
Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes will also be working with the BLM and interested parties on recommendations for how the Agency should manage the millions of acres of public land that are not protected under the Wilderness Act, but that have wilderness characteristics. Because public lands with wilderness characteristics can offer unique hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities – along with potential energy, mineral, and other resource values – it is important that the BLM have clear guidance when undertaking its multiple-use land management planning and when making project-level decisions that could impair wilderness characteristics. I welcome your input on this important policy matter as well.
Thank you in advance for your efforts to develop and advance a strong, bipartisan wilderness agenda for our children and our grandchildren.
Sincerely,
Ken Salazar
.
--BLM--
Office of the Secretary of the Interior 1849 C Street N.W. Washington, DC 20240
Just a quick Thank You for those who have already signed up for the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest BBQ, Fundraiser, Membership Drive, and Optional Dual Sport Adventure that was scheduled for July 9/10, 2011 at the Oakhurst Elks Lodge.
Just one small problem, the Record Setting HUGE SNOWPACK from this winter has caused us and everyone else a lot of problems, the biggest is that it will not melt in time to host the fundraiser in July. In addition the snow has caused hundreds of trees to fall which have to be cleared. We were limited in alternate dates due to scheduling at the host Oakhurst Elks Lodge but they were very gracious and worked with us and we have come up with a new date of August 20/21, 2011.This will allow us time for the snow to melt and to get the Stewards Volunteers out in the forest with chainsaws to clear the roads and trails for you the public to enjoy with your families.
We apologize for any inconvenience this date change may cause. For those of you who have sent in your registration forms we have not deposited any of your donations yet.If you cannot make it to the new date please notify me and we will send your donation back. We do ask you to consider leaving the donation in place to help the Stewards keep your favorite roads and trails open to you the public to enjoy.
The Stewards of the Sierra are hard at work not only clearing all of your favorite roads and trails but also working hard with the Forest Service on mitigation factors which will open more trails that are slated to be closed by the Travel Management Rule.By committing in advance to complete theses mitigation issues the USFS has committed to placing roads and trails back on the Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) that would have been closed for public use.
The new Sierra National Forest Travel Management Plan has closed many of our traditional roads and trails and we are determined to get them back and reopened but it takes a lot of hard work and money to fund the tools and equipment needed to accomplish this.
Thank You in advance for your understanding in the date change and all of your public support in helping to keep Public Lands Open To The Public Not From the Public.
Thanks for your support. Mike Mike Wubbels
831.801.1111-cell
Executive Director Stewards of the Sierra National Forest www.sotsnf.org
Public Comment on San Joaquin River Gorge Recreation Fees
BLM Seeks Public Comment on San Joaquin River Gorge Recreation Fees
In order to accommodate growing public interest in the San Joaquin River Gorge Special Recreation Management Area, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing fees for certain uses of the area and is requesting public comments.
“We are considering fees at the San Joaquin River Gorge consistent with Congressional direction to ‘provide fair value and fair return’ for recreation through amenity fees and commercial services,” said Tracy Rowland, San Joaquin River Gorge park manager.
The BLM held meetings on the fee proposal in May 2010 in Prather and Clovis. The Pacific Southwest Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee recommended approval of the fee proposal at its June 24, 2010, meeting in Mammoth Lakes.
Members of the public have until July 9 to submit comments on the proposed fees. BLM is requesting that comments be as specific as possible. Comments are most helpful when they are substantive, site specific, or include suggested changes or proposed resolutions to your concerns. Please send comments to: Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, Calif. 93308, fax (661) 391-6041. Before including an address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in a comment, the public needs to be aware that the entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask BLM to withhold personal information from public review, the agency cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
The BLM’s Bakersfield Field Office will consider all public comments made in making a decision whether to alter, set aside, or implement the fee proposal. If the fee proposal is implemented, it will be effective January 9, 2012, unless a Federal Register notice to the contrary is published.
Fees are proposed for the use of specific facilities such as the campgrounds and equestrian facilities, as well as for any activity that requires the special attention of BLM staff. The proposal would also charge a nominal special area standard amenity fee for day use to support the maintenance and operation of facilities provided throughout the area, including access to the area and its trail system, restrooms, water, visitor center and interpretive exhibits.
Proposed fees for use of a single walk-in campsite at the campground are $10; $15 would be charged for double and triple sites. Fees for the use of the group campground would be $175 and $25 for non-exclusive use of the horse camp. Interpretive and educational programs would cost $15 per person for up to a half day (4 hours) and $20 per person for a full day (6+ hours). The proposed day-use fee is $5. For ease of collection and enforcement, this fee would be assessed per vehicle rather than per person. An annual day-use pass may be purchased for $40. The annual pass would not include camping or guided interpretive program fees.
“The fees would generate an estimated $50,000 to $80,000 annually, depending upon visitation”, Rowland said. An estimated 60,000 people visit the gorge annually.
Fees provide a means of ensuring that services meet the public’s expectations. As use has increased, the cost of providing an appropriate level of services has also gone up. “The money generated from fees would be reinvested in the facilities and services within the San Joaquin Gorge to provide a wider variety of educational and interpretive programs and consistently better service to the public” said Rowland. Fee revenues would be used for operations and maintenance, and to help expand the level of visitor services. Expanded services could include additional guided walks, talks and interpretive programs, new self-guided interpretive displays and experiences, and wayside exhibits that highlight natural features and the cultural history of the area.
Proposed improvements to facilities and trails include adding a shade structure for the group picnic area at the group camp, adding permanent restrooms in the horse camp and fishing access areas, creating new interpretive exhibits and adding a self-guided interpretive trail.
For more information, contact BLM San Joaquin River Gorge Park Manager, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, Calif. 93308, call (559) 855-3492 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (559) 855-3492end_of_the_skype_highlighting
David Christy BLM Central California Public Affairs Phone (916) 941-3146 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (916) 941-3146end_of_the_skype_highlighting FAX (916) 941-3199 Cell (916) 206-1520 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (916) 206-1520end_of_the_skype_highlighting
We Need Your Help to Enlist Cosponsors for S. 1087!
As you will recall, U.S. Representative and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) introduced H.R. 1581, the “Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011,” in April. Now Senator Barrasso (R-WY) has introduced identical companion legislation (S. 1087) in the Senate. These important draft bills would release all Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) that have been recommended or evaluated as not suitable for wilderness by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the U.S. Forest Service from restrictive management practices and direct that they be managed for multiple use, including recreation.
As it stands, the BLM currently manages nearly 7 million acres of WSAs as de facto wilderness despite the fact the BLM itself has already determined these areas are not suitable for wilderness designation by Congress. The situation with the Forest Service is even worse, as access is restricted to over 36 million acres of IRAs that have been deemed unsuitable for ultimate designation as wilderness. Current law and regulation dictate that these lands must be managed to protect wilderness characteristics. S. 1087 would release these areas from restrictive management and require the agencies to ensure increased access.
Please click the Take Action link below to send an email encouraging your Senators to sign on as cosponsors of S. 1087.
Well the Snow is all but gone at Miami Trails Riding Area
but there are still trees down that need to be cleared from the roads and
trails.We had a great turn out on April
30, 2011 for our first Trail Appreciation Day of the year with 33 people
showing up to help clear the roads and trails.
The Forest Service has had the Sweco Trail Cat working in
the Miami Area and did a great job of repairing the erosion and ruts on the
trail system.They installed new water
bars and rolling dips in the trail system to help keep the trails in good
shape.
This is where you can help.Most of the trails at Miami need some Mitigation work done on them so
they can be put on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) which the Sierra Forest
will be releasing soon.If we do not get
this work done your favorite trail might not make it on the map and could be
closed.Our mission for the day is to
have some fun riding around the area and to help to install energy dissipaters
at the leading edges of the water bars and rolling dips.The Stewards have developed some equipment to
do this task but need your help in completing it.
We will meet at the Kamook Staging Area at 9:00 on Saturday
morning June 11, 2011.From there we
will split into groups to get this much needed repair work done.So bring a couple of your friends, your lunch
and your favorite OHV, Quad, Jeep, Motorcycle, or UTV and come out and have
some fun and make a difference in our forest.Lets show the Forest Service just how much we care about our Sierra
National Forest and how working together we can keep it open for everybody to
enjoy.
The Stewards
of the Sierra National Forest will be having their regularly scheduled monthly
meeting on Wednesday June 8, 2011 at the Pizza Factory located in the Madera
Ranchos.Please bring your wife and kids
out to eat some pizza and stay informed as to what is happening in the forest.The meeting will start at 7:00 and run till
9:00.
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
Our main topic of
discussion will be the Stewards Membership Drive and Dual Sport Adventure scheduled
for July 9,10,2011.We will also be setting the dates for the next
couple of Trail Appreciation Days coming up in June, and July of 2011.
We will also be talking
about our latest 2010-2011 grants submission to the California State OHV
Commission and our grant from Yamaha to put up signage on the combined use
level road areas of the forest.We will
also be seeking out volunteers to help out with the implementation of the
mitigation work that needs to be done to help open more trails and roads in the
Sierra National Forest for your enjoyment.
These are your Public
Lands Please help to keep them Open and in shape
The Sierra National Forest Travel Management Record of Decision has been
out for some time now and we are just waiting for the Motor Vehicle Use Maps
(MVUM) to come out.Once it is released
all cross country travel on the forest will be closed which will eliminate many
of the traditional trails we have used for many years. Many of the trails we
use and ride also need mitigation issues addressed to bring them up to USFS
standards.Once the mitigation issues have
been completed the trails will be added to the MVUM and once again will be open
for the public to enjoy.This is where
we need your help.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest have been working closely with
the USFS to get as many of these mitigation issue resolved as quickly as
possible.All of this takes time,
energy, manpower, and capital. The Stewards of the Sierra will be working hard
for as long as it takes to keep your favorite trails maintained and open.This will be an ongoing process over the next
couple of years and into the foreseeable future working hard with your Help and
Support to keep our trails maintained and open in the Sierra National Forest.
This is where you and everyone you know can help.Grab a friend and have them grab a friend and
come out for a good time, some great food, and friendship.We will also be having a raffle table full of
great stuff.
July 9/10, 2011
Suggested Donation: $85.00
Includes Saturday night BBQ, SOTSNF Tee Shirt, Goodies
Also includes membership in Stewards of the Sierra
National Forest
(If
you are not already a member)
(A Division of California Trail Users Coalition (CTUC) a
registered (501c3) Not for Profit Corporation)
(No Refunds after June 15, 2011)
Camping at Elks Lodge Campground $15.00 a
night (discounted rate)
Optional Friday night dinner at Elks Lodge
(Fish & Chips) $12.00 per
person
Optional Sunday Morning Buffet Style Breakfast at Elks Lodge
$9.00 per
person
*Optional Dual Sport Adventure*
No charge (Free!) Saturday July 9/Sunday July 10
Roll Chart and GPS Tracks include many of the Bass Lake 250 Trails
Optional Hard ways for the more experienced riders
Each day starts/finishes at Elks Lodge (Hwy 41/Rd 222 North of
Oakhurst)
Great back roads and trails, extremely scenic (bring a camera!)
120+ miles Saturday (with
gas/lunch stop) 100+ Miles Sunday (with gas/lunch stop)
If you choose to participate, bikes must be street legal and meet
USFS 96db sound level and spark arrestor requirements.Please share the road/trail responsibly
GPS Seminar Friday night. Chris Crawford from C.O.R.E. and Dan
Yuknavage from D-37 will host
Well the Snow is all but gone at Miami Trails Riding Area
but there are still trees down that need to be cleared from the roads and
trails.We had a great turn out on April
30, 2011 for our first Trail Appreciation Day of the year with 33 people
showing up to help clear the roads and trails.
The Forest Service currently has the Sweco Trail Cat working
in the Miami Area for just a short time longer and there are still some trails
and roads that need to be cleaned before we can get the trail cat down them.The Stewards had 6 people working on dragging
the newly repaired trails on Wednesday May 11, 2011 and they are looking to be
in great shape now.With rain in the
forecast for Sunday it is extremely important to try to get the rest of these
trails finished before the RAIN and
probably SNOW come again.
This is where you can help.Most of the trails at Miami need some Mitigation work done on them so
they can be put on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) which the Sierra Forest
will be releasing soon.If we do not get
this work done your favorite trail might not make it on the map and could be
closed.Our mission for the day is to
have some fun riding around the area and to help remove some of the many downed
trees still left.
We will meet at the McDonalds in Oakhurst at 9:00 on
Saturday morning May 14, 2011 and then head up to the Kamook Staging Area.From there we will split into groups to fan
out and try to finish cleaning up the area.So bring a couple of your friends, your lunch and your favorite OHV,
Quad, Jeep, Motorcycle, or UTV and come out and have some fun and make a
difference in our forest.Lets show the
Forest Service just how much we care about our Sierra National Forest and how
working together we can keep it open for everybody to enjoy.
Well the Snow was definitely gone at most of Miami but
Mother Nature sure left a lot of trees blocking the trails and making it just
about impossible to get around the Miami Trails riding area.The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest
held their first Trail Appreciation Day of 2011 and it was a huge success.
We all met at the Kamook Staging area at 9:00 a.m. on
Saturday morning to get ready for a day of giving back to the forest and the
places we like to recreate at.We had 33
people show up for the event, including wife’s and kids all of whom came out to
help make the forest a better place for all.We split into three groups and set about the task of heading out into
the forest and starting to get the road and trail system open so all who enjoy
the forest can get around the area.
With the very wet winter we had the majestic oak trees have
been sucking up and storing a lot of water in their branch system.The last big storm we had about 4 weeks ago
dumped a load of very wet and heavy snow on the forest and it was just too much
for the oaks to handle and a record number of them simply exploded and split
into pieces or just toppled to the ground blocking most of the road and trail
system.
With the Stewards providing 5 certified Sawyers with
chainsaws in hand and all of the equipment and supplies needed we made a huge
dent in the road and trail system getting a lot of it open again for all of you
to use.At about 1:00 we all met back at
the Kamook Staging area for lunch where the Stewards provided all of the sodas
and bottled water you could drink.After
lunch the group went back out again and cleared trees till about 3:00 when we finally
called it quits to a very productive day.
The Stewards of the Sierra would like to say THANK YOU to all who showed up for this
first installment of our Monthly Trail
Appreciation Days to be held for the 2011 season of giving back to the
forest.
I would also like to give a special thanks to Adam and his
group of dedicated riders who took on the nasty job of collecting all of the
garbage in and around the Kamook area.It was a job that nobody really wanted to do but was sorely needed.Also a special Thank You to the Gals who
manned the Base Camp and provided Radio Communications to make sure we all were
in touch with each other and safe.
I will be looking forward to seeing all of you again in May and
hopefully some new faces for the next Trail Appreciation Day.Keep a lookout for the posting of the next
event at www.sotsnf.org and once again
Thank You to all who showed up to show the Forest Service that we really do
care about our Sierra National Forest.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be having their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday May 11, 2011 at the Pizza Factory located in the Madera Ranchos.Please bring your wife and kids out to eat some pizza and stay informed as to what is happening in the forest.The meeting will start at 7:00 and run till 9:00.
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
Our main topic of discussion will be the Stewards 09-10 OHV Grant and the projects and trails that we still need to work on.We will also be setting the dates for the next couple of Trail Appreciation Days coming up in May, June, and July of 2011.We will also be discussing the upcoming Membership Drive and optional Dual Sport Adventure Scheduled for July 9-10, 2011 at the Oakhurst Elks Lodge located in Oakhurst California.
We will also be talking about our latest grants submission to the California State OHV Commission and our grant from Yamaha to put up signage on the combined use level road areas of the forest.We will also be seeking out volunteers to help out with the implementation of the mitigation work that needs to be done to help open more trails and roads in the Sierra National Forest for your enjoyment.
We are also looking for a volunteer to help out on Wednesdays in the forest installing route markers. This is a great way to see a lot of the forest and get to drive around in it.We will also be taking ideas from the public as to projects that you would like to see accomplished in the forest.We are also looking for someone interested in getting involved in doing a newsletter and helping to maintain the website.
These are your Public Lands Please help to keep them Open and in shape
If you have already registered, you can help be a stronger voice by sending e-postcards to others. Our grassroots movement needs more voices! Use our Tell-A-Friend page to help someone else stay informed by registering to receive ARRA's legislative alerts and newsletters.
Education Opportunity
ATV Ridercourse
ARRA encourages all ATV riders to take an approved ATV training course. Registration is now available online! Visit the ATV Safety Institute Homepage for more information.
Well the Snow is finally starting to melt and I am sure that everybody has a bad case of cabin fever and would just love to get out and spend time in the forest.Please come join the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest and the Bass Lake Ranger District for a fun day of riding and trail appreciation support at the Miami Trails Riding Area located off of Hiway 41 just above Oakhurst Ca.We will meet at the Kamook Staging area at 9:00 a.m. and will split into groups from there.
Our mission for the day is to have some fun riding around the area and remove some of the many downed trees and unsightly waste left lying around.The Stewards of the Sierra will provide sodas, bottled water and the tools and supplies necessary to accomplish this great day of giving back to the forest and helping to improve and keep your riding areas open.
So bring a couple of your friends, your lunch and your favorite OHV, Quad, Jeep, Motorcycle, or UTV and come out and have some fun and make a difference in our forest.Lets show the Forest Service just how much we care about our Sierra National Forest and how working together we can keep it open for everybody to enjoy.
Please take a moment to RSVP and let us know how many of you will be attending to info@sotsnf.org so we can figure out how much supplies to bring up to Kamook.Let’s make this first Trail Appreciation Day of 2011 a great one and kick off a great spring snow melt.For more information or any questions you might need answered just give me a call. 831-801-1111-cell
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be having their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday April 13, 2011 at the Pizza Factory located in the Madera Ranchos.Please bring your wife and kids out to eat some pizza and stay informed as to what is happening in the forest.The meeting will start at 7:00 and run till 9:00.
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
Our main topic of discussion will be the Stewards OHV Grant which was submitted on March 6, 2011 to the OHV Division for projects to be completed in 2011/2012.We invite any and all who may have questions and input to please attend and share your thoughts and ideas.We will also be talking about our latest grants from both the California State OHV Commission and our grant from Yamaha to put up signage on the combined use level road areas of the forest.We will also be looking for volunteers to help out with the implementation of the mitigation work that needs to be done to help open more trails and roads in the Sierra National Forest.
We are also looking for a volunteer to help out on Wednesdays in the forest installing route markers. This is a great way to see a lot of the forest and get to drive around in it.We will also be taking ideas from the public as to projects that you would like to see accomplished in the forest.We are also looking for someone interested in getting involved in doing a newsletter and helping to maintain the website.
These are your Public Lands Please help to keep them Open and in shape
Access Issues, Public Meetings, Contact Information... all this and details about the National Forests in your state on ARRA's comprehensive state pages.
If you have already registered as an ARRA member, you can help be a stronger voice by sending e-postcards to others. Our grassroots movement needs more voices! Use our Tell-A-Friend page to help someone else stay informed by registering to receive ARRA's legislative alerts and newsletters.
Help ARRA!
To better help ARRA advocate for responsible access, please forward any messages you receive from Members of Congress in response to this or any ARRA alert to webmaster@arra-access.com. Also, if you receive a message encouraging you to use a webform to send a message to a Member of Congress, please copy and paste the letter from the ARRA alert into the webform and send. Thank you.
Send an Email Urging Your Representative to Cosponsor the “Wilderness & Roadless Area Release Act”
U.S. Representative and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has joined with National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee ChairmanRob Bishop (R-UT) and Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce (R-NM) to create legislation to ensure greater access to public lands for all Americans. The very important draft bill would release all Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) that have been recommended or evaluated as not suitable for wilderness by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the U.S. Forest Service from restrictive management practices and directs that they be managed for multiple use, including recreation.
As is stands, the BLM currently manages nearly 7 million acres of WSAs as de facto wilderness despite the fact the BLM itself has already determined these areas as not suitable for wilderness designation by Congress. The situation with the Forest Service is even worse, as access is restricted to over 36 million acres of IRAs that have been deemed unsuitable for ultimate designation as wilderness. Current law and regulation dictates that these lands must be managed to protect wilderness characteristics. The draft legislation sponsored by McCarthy, Bishop and Pearce would release these areas from restrictive management and require the agencies to ensure increased access.
The Members’ “Dear Colleague” letter with a list of bill supporters can be viewed here.
A summary of the bill provided by Rep. McCarthy’s office can be viewed here.
Please click the Take Action link below to send an email encouraging your Representative to become an original cosponsor of this important legislation.
For Immediate Release: March 22, 2011 Contact: Phil Jenkins (916) 324-5801(OHMVR Division) and Dave Christy (916) 206-1520 (BLM)
New Report Examines Asbestos Exposure at Clear Creek Management Area near Hollister, California
The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division of California State Parks today released a new independent report analyzing naturally occurring asbestos exposures associated with motorcycle riding and hiking in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA).
The report was completed by scientists from the International Environmental Research Foundation (IERF), the Department of Physics at Harvard University, and the Center for Applied Studies of the Environment at the City University of New York. The OHMVR Division commissioned the IERF report to gather more data to determine if management and operational strategies could be employed at the CCMA to mitigate risk while still allowing access to this premier off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation destination.
Daphne Greene, Deputy Director for the OHMVR Division commented, “This report provides additional data which needs to be considered, along with the data from the EPA report, before any final decisions are made concerning long term recreation opportunities at the CCMA. We look forward to continuing discussions with the BLM.”
Jim Abbott, Acting BLM State Director, said BLM's number one priority has always been protecting the public health and safety. The 2008 closure of CCMA was based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) conclusions that "the asbestos exposures for recreational users at CCMA were above the acceptable level of risk for public health.”
Abbott says he "welcomes the dialog" with the OHMVR Division, noting that BLM is in the final stages of completing a long-term plan for managing the CCMA. “We have requested that EPA review the new study, and we will wait until the scientists have had time to consider the new information in the report before any final land use decisions are made," he said.
The new report is available online at: www.ohv.parks.ca.gov The original EPA study is online at http://www.epa.gov/region9/toxic/noa/clearcreek/index.html . Information about BLM's CCMA Resource Management Plan is available at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area.html .
David Christy BLM Central California Public Affairs Phone (916) 941-3146 FAX (916) 941-3199 Cell (916) 206-1520
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be having their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday March 9, 2011 at the Pizza Factory located in the Madera Ranchos.Please bring your wife and kids out to eat some pizza and stay informed as to what is happening in the forest.The meeting will start at 7:00 and run till 9:00.
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
Our main topic of discussion will be the Stewards OHV Grant which was submitted on March 6, 2011 to the OHV Division for projects to be completed in 2011/2012.We invite any and all who may have questions and input to please attend and share your thoughts and ideas.We will also be talking about our latest grants from both the California State OHV Commission and our grant from Yamaha put up signage on the combined use level road areas of the forest.We will also be looking for volunteers to help out with the implementation of the mitigation work that needs to be done to help open more trails and roads in the Sierra National Forest.
We are also looking for a volunteer to help out on Wednesdays in the forest installing route markers. This is a great way to see a lot of the forest and get to drive around in it.We will also be taking ideas from the public as to projects that you would like to see accomplished in the forest.We are also looking for someone interested in getting involved in doing a newsletter and helping to maintain the website.
These are your Public Lands Please help to keep them Open and in shape
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest (SOTSNF) a Division of The California Trail User Coalition (CTUC) in partnership with the Sierra National Forest (SNF) plan to complete the following maintenance activities on National Forest system roads and trails (approximately 22 miles).
This work includes; removing roadside brushing, cleaning drainage structures such as culverts, dips, leadoff ditches, repair of drainage structures and travelways, removing downed trees and boulders from roadways, repair and installation of road and directional signs, performing condition surveys, reporting unsafe road conditions or heavy maintenance needs, and removal of trash.
This work is focused on National Forest System roads and trails that provide popular OHV riding opportunities and are critical to connecting OHV riding areas.These roads also provide access to dispersed camping and recreational destination points.This project will improve water quality, access, signage, and enhance the OHV riding experience on the Sierra National Forest.
The Stewards of the Sierra National a Division of the California Trail Users Coalition, a 501c3 not for profit organization, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Sierra National Forest has undertaken steps to improve upon lands in Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa Counties, by submitting grants for these enhancements.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest, The California Trail Users Coalition, and the Sierra National Forest would like to invite you to review and comment on the 2011 applications submitted to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR). The public review and comment period will be open from Tuesday, March 8 through Monday, April 4.
You can view and comment on the applications online at the OHMVR's website at:http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/click the GRANTS TAB.Then click on OLGA when the screen appearsThen click on the Public Review Instructions.Follow instructions at Step 2 and proceed to the applications.
If you have questions on any of the projects, please feel free to contact:
State of California Department of Parks and RecreationOHV 2011 Grants Program
Each year the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation OHV Division makes funding available through the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Grants Program. The grants program provides financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations (federal, city, county, nonprofit, etc.) that develop, maintain, operate, expand, support, or contribute to well managed, high-quality, OHV recreation areas, roads and trails. This year the State has $27 million available for these projects.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be submitting their annual application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division.This application requests funding to provide trail maintenance and repair for your local off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails and areas in the Sierra National Forest.
These grants will be available for public review and comment from March 8 to April 4, 2011 on the California State parks website: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/ . Written comments can be submitted to the OHV Division's Website or mailed to:
Stewards of the Sierra National Forest
P.O. Box 601
North Fork Ca. 93643
All comments that are submitted to this site will go to both the California State Parks OHV Division and to the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest.These annual grants have provided important funds for the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest to help maintain your trails and roads and to repair winter storm damage and restore trailside environments as well as providing better connectivity throughout the Sierra National Forest which adds to visitor enjoyment.
As part of the grant process, the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be enlisting the help of many different clubs and volunteers to help complete this work in the spring on the roads and trails in the Sierra National Forest.If you or your club are interested in volunteering to help with these very important public projects please contact Mike Wubbels at: info@sotsnf.orgto make arraignments for you or your club to get involved in helping to make your public lands a better place for all.
If yes, please join us in celebrating our volunteers' accomplishments and hard work. Even if you did not work with a volunteer, here is your chance to learn about Sierra NF's volunteer program and its volunteers.
SAVE THE DATE: March 16, 2011 TIME: 7PM-8PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) LOCATION: Sierra National Forest, Supervisor's Office 1600 Tollhouse Rd. Clovis, CA 93611
To RSVP contact: Chor Yang at (559) 297-0706 ext. 4859 or email at: SNFVolunteers@fs.fed.us Thank you,
Chor Yang Partnerships-Intern USDA, Forest Service Sierra National Forest 559-297-0706 Ext. 4859
We are putting together a PICTURE VIDEO to send to our elected officials in Sacramento to let them know just how fed up we are with these repeated assaults on our OHV Funds.We need everyone to send us a few of your favorite OHV pictures showing any kind of OHV (Dune Buggy, Motorcycle, Sand Rails, Quads, UTVs, Jet Skis, Trucks, Snow Mobiles, Jeeps, ETC).Especially the ones with your kids and your family enjoying your sport.Please send them to one of the following:
info@foccma.orgor info@sotsnf.organd see which one of your pictures makes it into the video and the hands of our elected officials.
As you have probably heard by now the State of California Assembly Budget Committee on 2/18/2011 voted to steal $27,000,000.00 ($27 MILLION) of your money from the State OHV Program.This is not a loan and would continue year after year.Also, Governor Jerry Brown is proposing to steal another $21,000,000.00 ($21 MILLION) from the OHV fund in a separate move which would devastate the California OHV Program which is a role model for most of the rest of the states.Over the last 3 years the State has already taken $112,000,000.00 ($112 MILLION) from the OHV fund with a promise to pay it back.They have not.
These actions would result in the closures and cut-backs to California’s OHV Parks – Carnegie, Clay Pit, Heber Dunes, Hollister Hills, Hungry Valley, Mammoth Bar, Oceano Dunes, Ocotillo Wells and Prairie City. The Snow Grooming program and State Sno-Parks will also be greatly affected or closed.This could be the end of the OHV program as we have enjoyed it for the last 40 years. This represents over a 40% reduction to the operating budget of the OHV parks. The OHV Division is a user funded program, taking NO money from the General Fund.
This year’s budget proposes only an $11 million cut for 270 State Parks, yet a cut of $27 million is proposed from the OHV division which has only 8 State OHV Parks. Our State OHV Parks are all about children, and offering them opportunities to recreate outdoors. The OHV parks encourage families to go camping, and offer urban residents the chance to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment. Our OHV parks have enjoyed a 150% increase in attendance over the last 10 years, which State Parks cannot equal.
The Law says the OHV division of State Parks should have equal priority among the other State Parks. Budget impacts should be equally shared....yet the State OHV Parks have had $112,000,000.00 taken over the last 3 years. Now the Assembly and the Governor proposes to gut the program, favoring less popular State Parks. This is certainly discriminatory, and counter to the law. The OHV community has given more than its fair share of the OHV Trust Fund. These are dedicated user fees.
The OHV community has taken legal action for two other attempts of this kind...and the State has lost! We sued the State and won $21.5 million. We are willing and able to do this again, and the State will lose even more money before all this is over. We will pursue all legal remedies to stop this action, and stop the discrimination against the State OHV Program and affiliated activities.
Latest proposal would "borrow" millions and cut the OHV Division's operations budget!
As many of you already know, the ongoing state budget crisis has resulted in yet another proposed "loan" from the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) fund. Recent budget committee meetings have outlined a plan to take $22 million of the reserve funds, as well as to cut an additional $27 million from the OHV division's yearly operating budget. This despite that the program uses no general tax revenues and is in fact paid for exclusively through OHV registration and related fuel tax revenues.
These funds are specifically designated to be used for OHV program related expenses and to administer and expand the State Vehicle Recreation Areas (SVRA's) system, not to be "borrowed" from during times of fiscal crisis.
Before another dollar is “borrowed” from this model state program, it first needs to be repaid the $112 million (total) that was "borrowed" in 2008 and 2009. In fact, now is the time to identify those State Park facilities that would be better run by the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division.
Click on the "Take Action" button at the top of this alert to make your voice heard!
The Issue: On Friday, February 18th, the Assembly Budget Committee voted to take $27 million out of the OHV operating budget. This would NOT be a loan, and would continue unstopped year after year. It would result in closures and cut-backs to the California OHV Parks – Carnegie, Clay Pit, Heber Dunes, Hollister Hills, Hungry Valley, Mammoth Bar, Oceano Dunes, Ocotillo Wells and Prairie City. The Snow Grooming program and State Sno-Parks will also be greatly affected or closed. In addition, the Governor is proposing to take $21 million more from the OHV program. This could be the end of the OHV program as we have enjoyed it for the last 40 years.
This Wednesday, February 23rd, the Conference Committee will meet in the State Capitol to iron out difference between the State Assembly and Senate Budget Committees. We have to influence the following Conference Committee members through our elected legislative representatives: Senator Leno, Vice Chair; Senator Lowenthal, Senator Negrete McLeod , Senator Huff, and Senator Emmerson, and Assemblyman Blumenfield.
The budget proposes only an $11 million cut for 270 State Parks, yet a cut of $27 million is proposed from the OHV division which has only 8 State OHV Parks. This represents less than a 10% cut to State Park operations, but over a 40% reduction to the operating budget of the OHV parks. The OHV Division is a user funded program, taking NO money from the General Fund.
The State OHV Parks are all about children, offering them opportunities to recreate outdoors. The OHV parks encourage families to go camping, and offer urban residents the chance to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment. The OHV parks enjoyed a 150% increase in attendance over the last 10 years, which State Parks cannot equal.
The Law says the OHV division of State Parks should have equal priority among the other State Parks. Budget impacts should be equally shared....yet the State OHV Parks have had $112 million dollars taken over the last 3 years. Now the Assembly proposes to gut the program, favoring less popular State Parks. This is certainly discriminatory, and counter to the law. The OHV community has given more than it's fair share of the OHV Trust Fund. These are dedicated user fees.
The OHV community has taken legal action for two other attempts of this kind...and the State has lost! We sued you and won $21.5 million. We are willing and able to do this again, and the State will lose even more money before all this is over. We will pursue all legal remedies to stop this action, and stop the discrimination against the State OHV Program and affiliated activities.
Please send this to all your friends, networks, clubs and forums. This is a serious issue, and only we can make a difference.
Congress Votes for 7 month Time-Out on Road Closures
WEEKEND UPDATE - Congress Votes to Give TMR a 7 Month "Time Out"
Congress Votes for 7 Month Time-Out on Road Closures
Trail Party Voters have a lot to be proud of on this President’s Day Weekend.On Friday night while many of you were heading out with your families to various OHV and other multiple-use recreation sites, Congress was working hard on a couple of items that are of great concern to the Off-Road Voter.
As you watch the video below, you will hear Congressman Herger (R-CA) articulate why he (Amendment #177) asked Congress to push a national “7 month pause button” on the 2005 Travel Management Rule. ORVers know that on many Forests, TMR was used to effect landscape level closures.
The Trail Party believes that access issues should be non-partisan and we commend both the GOP and DEM members of Congress who voted for the people’s right to be heard by federal land agencies.
Video of Congressman Herger Asking for 7 Month “Time-Out” on TMR
I am sure that enviro groups will try and spin this vote as an effort to allow OHVers and other access interests to roam free and destroy the land in some lawless state.But I don’t think that will work.Reasonable people will see this as an effort to reintroduce the public into the decision-making process.The Trail Party believes this 7-month time-out does not suspend the thousands of existing federal statues, laws, and regulations that govern public use of Forest Service lands that were and are in place before TMR was created.
What you will not see in any news articles is the fact that many Forest Service staffers (I have talked with some off-the-record) believe the recreation public got hosed by TMR in several states and that TMR had more to do with implementing the political agenda of far-left anti-access groups then it did with protecting the environment.
Also, the fact that the Plumas County Sheriff said he was not going enforce FS trail closures may have helped push #177 (see article below)
Congressman Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) had her EAJA reform amendment placed into H.R 1, the Continuing Resolution.It also pushed the “pause” button on the green lawsuit scam where they shotgun a number of lawsuits to stop OHV or other projects and then demand that taxpayers pay their attorney fees.
The Trail Party wants to commend all of you who voted and sent donations to access candidates.You can see by these proposals that YOUR vote does matter.
CODE RED ALERT - OHV Trust Fund Under Attack in Sac - Letters Needed by 9:30am Today
HQ is sending out a “broken arrow” alert, which means “all hands on deck” -- our OHV program is under attack. Your help with a letter or by attending the Assembly Budget Committee #3 Hearing today at 9:30 a.m. in Room 437 at the State Capitol is urgently requested.
Thanks to a heads-up by my good friend, Nick Haris (AMA), late yesterday, HQ found out that the Assembly Budget Committee #3 Hearing on Monday February 7 had said they would not look at OHV budget issues until sometime in May. Suddenly on Wednesday, Nick finds out that the committee plans to review OHV budget issues TODAY!
One of the most outrageous proposals by the committee is to consider most if not all of the OHV Trust Fund to be “fungible.” In simple terms… that means that the legislature or bureaucrats can use that money for almost anything they want including non-OHV issues. Yes folks, that means we would not have an OHV program.
Secondly, they want to take $5 million dollars to hire state park rangers to patrol a yet to be determined list of “closed parks” to protect them from an assumption that there will be illegal OHV activity there. If there is trespass, that is a local crime issue that should be handled by the sheriff. If they are going to hire park rangers to patrol closed parks, why not have the park rangers patrol an open park?
I am asking you to FAX or email the Assembly Budget Committee # 3 today by 9:30 am. TODAY. I will be there in person to testify. If you cannot attend, I believe they will be broadcasting it on video feed (check assembly website for link)
For reference, I will cut and paste my BRC letter to the committee on the concerns I have. Remember to be respectful when you send in letters. However, passion about your sport is encouraged at the HQ.
Dear Interested Party: The Sierra National Forest is applying for grants from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division for operations, maintenance and improvements to roads, trails and areas. The Forest is expected to apply for Ground Operations (operation, maintenance and improvements to roads, trails, areas, trailhead facilities, and management of the program), Law Enforcement, and Restoration. You are invited to share your potential grant projects with the Sierra NF for inclusion into the preliminary grants. We have scheduled a public meeting / workshop; please come and visit with us Tuesday, February 8 Sierra National Forest Supervisor's Office 1600 Tollhouse Road Clovis, CA 93611 Located on Tollhouse between Sunnyside and Fowler. OHV Managers and coordinators will be on hand to hear your recommendations from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Look forward to seeing you then.
Susan Burkindine Assistant Recreation Officer Sierra National Forest 1600 Tollhouse Road Clovis, CA 93611 559 297 0706 x4921 - voice 559 294 4809 Fax sburkindine@fs.fed.us
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest a Division of The California Trail Users Coalition a 501c3 not for profit are once again engaging in the process of applying for grants from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division.We would like your input as to what type of projects you would like to be involved with this coming year, and what type of projects you would like to see the Stewards apply for.If you have some projects in mind for the Sierra National Forest we would love to hear from you.
There are several ways to do this:
We hold our regular monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m located at:
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
Send us an e-mail to info@sotsnf.org and share your ideas and thoughts with us on the types of projects you would like to be involved with and see the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest apply for.
We really need to hear from you so that your ideas can be considered and be included in the preliminary grant application which is due by March 7, 2011.Remember if you don't participate in the process you have no right to complain if you do not get what you want.
The Stewards are looking forward to hearing from as many of you as possible to help make this grant year our best so far.
We would like to offer the opportunity to review draft MVUM maps in January.
At this point I don't know if all maps will be printed by the 15th but we'll do our best. This will give the 4X4 clubs and OHV enthusiasts a chance to review the maps and give feedback to the F.S. to make corrections before publishing.
All club members are welcome and invite anyone you know that is an OHV enthusiast.
I still plan on having our Adopt-A-Trail/Campground meeting.
My #1 goal is to get the agreement signed that day!
I will keep you posted as we get closer to the meeting date,
Anthony Benedetti
P.S.
Meeting is on January 15, 2011 at the Clovis office from 8:00am - 12:00pm
We have just finished tying up all of the loose ends from our Membership Drive, BBQ and Dual Sport Adventure on October 23,24, 2010 held at the Oakhurst Elks Lodge in Oakhurst California and wish to report it was a huge success.
Everyone we talked to had a great time and said they had a blast.The Oakhurst Elks put on a great Friday night feed that consisted of a really good Fish and Chips dinner and had their famous mountain bar open for our pleasure.Everyone spent a lot of time mingling and sharing stories of previous adventures.
Saturday we woke up to the sound of a light rain and the skies were overcast but that did not stop all those who wished to participate in the Optional Dual Sport Adventure.Most were gone by 9:00 a.m. and those who stayed behind huddled in the Elks Famous Mountain Lounge and watched as the heroes of Nascar put on another great show.Some of us went out to the Triangle Market and Café to meet up with the people who were out on the Optional Dual Sport Adventure where we were treated to a fantastic lunch and great service.
After a long day in overcast skies and some light rain and drizzle that fell on and off during the day we all met back at the Elks Lodge for dinner and a great raffle.Everyone we talked to who had been out on the local roads and in the forest for the Optional Dual Sport Adventure were not disappointed in the events for the day.Saturday night the Oakhurst Elks treated us to a fully catered and served sit down BBQ dinner where we all feasted on very tender Tri Tip and all of the fixings.After dinner we all gathered for what promised to be a lot of storytelling, probably some bragging and a few lies I'm sure, and one of the best tables full of raffle stuff and swag I have seen in years.
During Saturday night's raffle the Steward of the Sierra National Forest were pleased to give out some very special awards for those who took part in the Optional Dual Sport Adventure.We would like to thank Gregg Turk who received the APF Motorcycle Salvage Hard Luck Trophy for leaving a blue paper shop towel in the air intake of his motorcycles carburetor.He just could not figure out why his bike would not run after he made it a whopping 100 feet from the Elks Lodge and had to stay back at the lounge to watch Nascar and tell stories with a lot of great people.
We would also like to thank Dave Ellis who received the Wilson's Motorcycles Longest Distanced Traveled Trophy.Dave and his wife are full time RVer's and live in South Dakota.They were just out traveling around our great country when one of his friends sent him the flyer for our event.They had just recently gotten into Colorado to do some riding and decided what the heck, why not go west to California. In two days time they traveled 960 miles to attend our event and support the work that the Stewards do to help keep your roads and trails open for the public.
Sunday morning the Oakhurst Elks put on a buffet style breakfast with just about every breakfast food you could think of.I think everyone who attended had to be rolled out of the building as there was so much food to feast on.Saturday night and Sunday all through the day brought some rain to the Area Mountains and promised to make conditions a little more challenging.We still had quite a few very brave souls who suited up to set out on the adventure of a lifetime.
At this time I would like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you who came out from all parts of our great country to help the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest make this event and raffle possible.Without your generous donations of time and effort this event would not have been as successful as it was.Once again thank you, for all of your help and kind donations to make this event as successful as it was.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest continue to fight for the Public's right to access Public Lands for all types of recreation.We firmly believe that your Public Lands belong to the Public, and not the government, and that each and every person in this great country of ours has the right to use your public lands in a sensible and responsible manner and to promote good stewardship of the land.We must stand united to ensure that our generation, and future generations have the same access to your public lands as we now enjoy today, for there are those who wish to see that access completely shut off.
Once again Thank You to all of the people, organizations and volunteers who made this event possible and the huge success it turned out to be.I would also like to take a moment to Thank Leah Doherty Lodge Manager for the Oakhurst Elks and all of their volunteers for doing such a great job in hosting our event and making sure everything went smoothly.Thanks Leah.
The Sierra National Forest Travel Management Record of Decision is out and many of our traditional routes are on the chopping block and will be eliminated from the maps.We need your support.
We sent in an appeal package to Region 5 and ALL of the appeals sent to the Region for the Sierra National Forest were TURNED DOWN BY THE REGIONAL FORESTER.
The Stewards of the Sierra will be working hard for as long as it takes to keep your favorite trails maintained and open.This will be an ongoing process over the next couple of years and into the foreseeable future working hard with your Help and Support to keep our trails maintained and open in the Sierra National Forest.
This is where you and everyone you know can help.Grab a friend and have them grab a friend and come out for a good time, some great food, and friendship.We will also be having a raffle table full of great stuff.Our last raffle table had over $5000.00 of swag that we gave away.
October 23/24, 2010
Suggested Donation: $75.00
Includes Saturday night BBQ, SOTSNF Tee Shirt, Goodies
Also includes membership in Stewards of the Sierra National Forest
(If you are not already a member)
(A Division of California Trail Users Coalition (CTUC) a registered (501c3) Not for Profit Corporation)
(No Refunds after October 1 2010)
Camping at Elks Lodge Campground $15.00 a night (discounted rate)
Optional Friday night dinner at Elks Lodge
(Fish & Chips) $8.00 per person
Optional Sunday Morning Buffet Style Breakfast at Elks Lodge
$8.00 per person
*Optional Dual Sport Ride*
No charge (Free!) Saturday Oct 23/Sunday Oct 24
Roll Chart and GPS Tracks include many of the Bass Lake 250 Trails
Optional Hard ways for the more experienced riders
Each day starts/finishes at Elks Lodge (Hwy 41/Rd 222 No. of Oakhurst)
Great back roads and trails, extremely scenic (bring a camera!)
120 miles Saturday, 80 Miles Sunday
If you choose to ride, bikes must be street legal and meet USFS 96db sound level and spark arrestor requirements.Please share the road/ trail responsibly
For More Info and Registration Forms click on Fundraiser, BBQ, Dual Sport link at the top of the page
Bring out your wife, kids and your favorite Jeep, Side by Side, Quad, Motorcycle, or any other OHV you may have and help us to improve the condition of some of the roads and trails in the Sierra National Forest.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be holding a Trail Appreciation Day on September 11, 2010 in the Bass Lake Ranger District.We will be focusing our efforts on some badly needed road improvements, and clean up of the Moon Rock in the Bass Lake Lookout area off of Sky Ranch Road to help improve the public’s enjoyment and access to the forest.
We will be meeting on the morning of September 11, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. at the Sierra National Forest, Batterson Work Center located off of Highway 41 north of Oakhurst across from the Sky Ranch Road turn off. From there we will go up Sky Ranch Road as a group to the staging area and prepare to have a lot of fun, good times and friendship.Recommended attire for the day should consist of, long pants, long sleeve shirt, and work boots.Please no shorts or flip flops.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will provide water and sodas for the day and will also be providing a BBQ lunch at the end of the Trail Day for all of those who attended and took part.We will also be providing all tools and safety gear.Please bring some snacks to get you through the day to the BBQ.We will also be handing out some goodies and swag during the day.
Please R.S.V.P. to info@sotsnf.orgas soon as possible so we know how much food and swag to get together for all of you who will enjoy a day in the forest.If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 831.801.1111-cell and we can talk.If you are a member of a group, club, or youth group and would like your group to be involved please get a hold of me right away so we can make arraignments for your group to be part of this ongoing effort to preserve what we have left of the forest.
Thank you all in advance for making this a very successful Trail Day and showing the Forest Service the true power of volunteers and what they can accomplish.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be having their regularly scheduled monthly meeting this Wednesday August 11, 2010 at the Pizza Factory located in the Madera Ranchos.Please bring your wife and kids out to eat some pizza and stay informed as to what is happening in the forest.The meeting will start at 7:00 and run till 9:00.
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
Our main topic of discussion will be to start pre planning the areas we would like to have a volunteer Trail Appreciation day in.The appreciation days are tentatively scheduled for a Saturday in August and one in September.We would like your input from all user groups of the forest to let us know the areas that need help in the forest.Bring your better half and some ideas that we can present to the forest and have some pizza and a soda.These are your Public Lands Please help to keep them Open and in shape
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest in conjunction with the USFS have been invited to participate in a First Aid CPR Training and Certification class on June 8, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.We only have room for a limited amount of people to attend this certification class.This class and certification is a required prerequisite to getting a chainsaw certification.
This class will be held at the:
Bass Lake Ranger District Office
57003 Road 225
North Fork, Ca. 93643
At the North Fork Conference Room
If you are interested in volunteering in the Sierra National Forest to help keep our trails and roads open for all of the public to enjoy and would like to fill one of these valuable spots please RSVP to info@sotsnf.org as soon as possible as these spots will fill fast.By working together as volunteers and in conjunction with the USFS we can keep our forests open and provide a great place for our families to enjoy.
Now that the Record of Decision (ROD) has been released by the Forest Service it is more important than ever to stay engaged with the process to help keep our PUBLIC LANDS OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC NOT FROM THE PUBLIC.
The Forest Service will be holding a series of open houses and public workshops for the Sierra National Forest Travel Management Decision. If you cannot make it to one of the workshops, they will be holding a webinar on-line to hear an overview of the decision and opportunity to ask questions.
Below please find the dates and locations for the open houses and a brief overview of the massive amounts of closure of Public Access to both roads and trails and also the loss of access to seasons of use for the Forest.
Public Workshops and Webinar
May 17, 2010Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Road 425B, Oakhurst, 6:30-9pm (Optional open houses begins at 5pm for those who would like to stop in and talk with Forest Service Staff).
May 18, 2010 Clovis Veterans Memorial Building, Liberty Rm, 808 4th Street, Clovis, 6:30-9pm (Optional open houses begins at 5pm for those who would like to stop in and talk with Forest Service Staff).
May 20, 2010Foothill Middle School, Multi-Purpose Rm, 291147 Auberry Rd, Prather, 6:30-9pm (Optional open houses begins at 5pm for those who would like to stop in and talk with Forest Service Staff).
May 26, 2010Virtual Webinar-Join us on-line for an overview of the Decision, 7-8:30pm. To sign-up for the webinar please visit the following website: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/539264808
May 27, 2010 Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 5100 Chambers Street, Mariposa 6:30-9pm(Optional open houses begins at 5pm for those who would like to stop in and talk with Forest Service Staff).
Highlights of the Decision:
1. The decision provides 2,189 miles of roads and 127 miles of trails for motorized travel on the Sierra National Forest.
Trails added to the System:
67 Totalmiles of Trails in the Motorized System.
88 miles open to All Vehicles.
33 miles open to vehicles less than 50” .
6 miles open to motorcycles only.
Roads added to the System:
15 miles (logging roads and spurs to dispersed campsites) Total miles of roads in the System:
1,665 miles open to all vehicles.
524 miles open to highway vehicles
Areas added:
20 areas added for 105 acres (7 acres-parking/staging and 98 acres of areas) Total number/acres of parking/staging facilities open to all vehicles = 64 (49 acres) Total number/acres of motorized areas open to all vehicles = 15 (173 acres)
Definitions of an Area and Parking/Staging areas: Area: An area is open to all vehicles for motorized recreation Parking/Staging Areas: Parking for Highway Legal Vehicles
2. The decision prohibits cross country travel by motor vehicles on the Sierra National Forest.
Parking is allowed within one vehicle length (includes a towed vehicle) of a road, trail or area, unless otherwise prohibited.
3. The decision protects the Natural and Cultural Resources.
Protects watersheds, cultural resources, endangered, threatened and sensitive species (including plants, animals and their habitat) and adds no new roads or trails in inventoried roadless areas.
4. The decision provides a Season of Use for roads, trails and areas for the Sierra National Forest. Changes to the Season of Use were made to 1,688 miles of roads and 43 miles of trails. 460 miles of roads have no restrictions. The decision establishes 20 Seasons of Use to allow access to the greatest extent possible. Over Fifty percent of the roads and trails are (1,317 miles) open for motorized travel from May 20th to December 1st. Nearly twenty percent (464 miles) is open year around for motor vehicle travel.
5. The decision maximizes recreation opportunity by changing 178 miles of roads which were open to highway legal vehicles only to a new designation allowing mixed use. Also converts 12 miles of roads to trails allowing for additional motor vehicle opportunities.
Changing the vehicle class to mixed (green/red sticker) use allows for both highway legal and non-highway legal vehicles (as defined by the California Vehicle code) to use NFTS roads. Results in uninterrupted connectivity between key roads, trails and areas, enhancing motorized recreational opportunities
6. The decision changes the Maintenance Levels and Use on some Forest Roads. In order to be in compliance with Forest Service policy, 181 miles of Maintenance Level (ML) 1 roads will be opened as ML 2 roads, which will allow public use by green/red sticker vehicles. 65 miles of ML 2 roads, previously closed, will also be open for public use.
Appealing the Decision
This decision is subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215. In accordance with the April 24, 2006 order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Missoula Division of the District Court of Montana in Case No. CV 03-119-M-DWM, for those individuals and organizations who provided comments during the comment period are eligible to appeal [36 CFR 215.11(a), 1993 version]. Appeals must be filed within 45 days from the publication date of the legal notice in the Fresno Bee (Monday, May 10, 2010). The appeal period ends June 23, 2010. Detailed procedures for appealing the decision are located in the ROD.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be having their regularly scheduled monthly meeting this Wednesday May 12, 2010 at the Pizza Factory located in the Madera Ranchos.Please bring your wife and kids out to eat some pizza and stay informed as to what is happening in the forest.The meeting will start at 7:00 sharp and run till 9:00.
Our main topic of discussion will be the release of the Sierra National Forest Record of Decision (ROD) and what it means to public access for the Sierra National Forest.We need as many people to show UP as possible to help look at the maps and find out what you can do to help gain back more of YOUR PUBLIC LAND.Please take a night and come out to see what you can do to help.
This morning May 10, 2010 the Sierra National Forest released the long awaited Record of Decision (ROD) for the Sierra National Forest. The public has been waiting months for the release of this document and to see how it will affect public access to the forest. If you did not recieve a copy you can find it at the web site for the Sierra National Forest and can also go to the Forest Supervisors office and request a copy if there are any left.
Please get involved with the issues facing all of us and access to our public lands.
In reponse to questions that have recently been raised about the timeframe of the CCMA temporary closure, we would like to offer the following comments:
The Instruction Memorandum that has been circulated may not be a regulation, but it is a policy statement from the Washington DC BLM staff sent to the BLM State and Hollister Field Office. The IM was issued in response to their request for clarification of this issue. Although we might disagree with the closure, BLM is the agency charged with making this decision, and it has been affirmed by the Washington Office.
The Clear Creek DEIS is the planning process that deals with the supposed health concerns that led to the temporary closure. Although a temporary closure cannot last indefinitely, it remains in effect for the duration of the planning process (DEIS process) which ends only when the record of decision has been issued and all administrative options and or legal actions have been exhausted.
The public has been advised by the BLM that the closure remains in effect. We could challenge his decision with a lawsuit, but we believe this would be unlikely to succeed. We therefore ask everyone to work within the planning process toward resolving the issues related to Clear Creek in the most favorable way that we can.
To violate the closure order shows that we are unable to work with the agency and is likely to result in a citation that will do little to further our cause.So let's focus on preparing for the agency decision and if necessary an appeal of that decision.
The promoter of the Clear Creek Protest day scheduled for Sunday May 2, 2010 at the entrance to Clear Creek has moved it to the BLM’s Hollister Field Office.The protest will start at 10:00 a.m. and last till?Come out and voice your concerns over the closure of your PUBLIC LANDS by our government.
The office is located at:
BLM Hollister Field Office
20 Hamilton Ct.
Hollister Ca. 95023
Please come out and show your support and help provide a united front in the quest to reopen Clear Creek.For more information go to the South Bay Riders forum and look for more info on the subject.
Ever wondered how so called environmental groups can afford to keep filing more and more lawsuits each year? You think it is because they win huge awards, well think again. Most people are unaware that these groups legal fees are reimbursed by our government under the Equal Justice Act. That is correct we the taxpayers are paying them to sue us. This means each lawsuit they file is a money maker for them. That is why most of the suits filed today actually harm the environment instead of helping. It's about the money not the environment.
For example:
There are much needed Forest fuel reduction projects which would reduce dangerously high fuels loads in our unnaturally overgrown National Forests. Enviro Groups file lawsuits blocking these projects, a death sentence for the Forest which ends up incinerated along with all the wildlife and destruction of the watershed.
Or lawsuits forcing trail closures which concentrate use and increase impacts on the land.
Or lawsuits to ban fish stocking which cause native trout population to become over fished and also severely reduced the food supply to native wildlife like eagles
Reports show Enviro Groups like the Wilderness Society, Forest Guardians and Center for Biological Diversity have been paid over $4 BILLION of your tax dollars to file lawsuits from 2003-2007.
Lawsuits filed under the guise of preservation which harm the environment in order to make money, show the true colors of such groups as Litigation Machines using pseudo Environmental Fronts. Read more here http://www.SaveTheTrails.us/EnviroLitigationGravy.html
Could you?Would you?Like to help out in the Sierra National Forest and have some fun at the same time?
We would like to invite all users of the forest to our regularly scheduled meeting this Tuesday night.If you are interested in being a volunteer we encourage you to attend this meeting and find out how you can have a little fun riding and volunteering at the same time.We will also be discussing some ideas for future OHV events we are planning for the forest and the progress of the Record of Decision (ROD).
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest will be meeting this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at the:
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
All user groups and individuals of the public who use and recreate in the Sierras are encouraged to come out and attend these meetings and give us your input as to what you would like to see happen in the forest.Bring your better half and have a little pizza dinner and stay up to date on what is happening with the forest and the California State OHV Grants programs.Please pass this message on to all of your friends and we hope to see you there.
Today April 6, 2010 the San Benito County Board of Supervisor made history by voting unanimously to reopen all of the closed roads in the Clear Creek Management Area.This does not mean that you can go out and ride in Clear Creek, but you can once again travel any of the county roads without the fear of being ticketed or thrown in jail.This was done over the requests of the BLM’s Hollister Field Office Manager Rick Copper who asked that the board keep the roads closed till the Record of Decision comes out.Mr. Copper was asked by the board when that was and he replied maybe as early as January 2011?
We ask that all Americans who will be visiting and driving thru the Clear Creek Management Area in the near and foreseeable future to observe the rules by staying on the county roads and not go off of them.We must learn to police ourselves thru these trying times knowing that the ultimate outcome will be a full return to the type of riding we used to know at the creek.If just a few abuse this sweet victory it will be short lived and give cause for the BLM to find ways to revoke what we have fought so hard to achieve.
If you see someone breaking the rules, please take a moment and educate them to what is at stake for all of the OHV community and the public if we lose this victory.I believe full heartedly that if we stand united together, that in the foreseeable future we will once again ride and enjoy all that the Creek has to offer every one of us and the family experiences it has provide for many of us throughout the years.
This day will forever live in the history books as a pivotal point for the OHV community and the American Public.The impacts of today’s decisions are being watched all across this great country of ours, and the impacts of these decisions will shape the future of OHV and the way our Public Lands are managed.After all Public Lands belong to the Public and not the government agencies managing them.Remember the CONSTITUTION says that the federal government CAN NOT OWN OUR PUBLIC LANDS but can only manage them.
Please pass this information on to as many people as you can, and remember that UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.Please remember that there is still a great amount of hard work ahead for all.Enjoy this hard fought victory, but do not let up the pressure to accept anything short of full unrestricted access to the Clear Creek Management Area.
A very important day has finally come.The San Benito County Board of Supervisors will be meeting this Tuesday April 6, 2010 to vote on reopening all 25 miles of county roads in the Clear Creek Management Area.We are requesting that as many people as possible show up and support the reopening of these PUBLIC ROADS, and the County Supervisors and County Council in their quest to better serve the citizens of San Benito County and the surrounding areas.
This would be the first giant step in having one of the top ten riding areas in the nation reopened for public use since it was closed two years ago by the BLM's Rick Copper of the Hollister Field Office.Please make the time show up to this meeting to show our local government that as Americans we are willing to stand up and fight for what we believe is right.
SAN BENITO COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
County Administration Building – Board of Supervisors Chambers, 481 Fourth Street, Hollister, California
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
APRIL 6, 2010
Mission Statement
The County Board of Supervisors will recognize the public trust it holds, will on all occasions conduct business with honesty, integrity, and respect for the individual, and will hold the organization of County government to that same standard.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors welcomes you to this meeting and encourages your participation.
• If you wish to speak on a matter which does notappear on the agenda, you may do so during the Public Comment period at the beginning of the meeting. Please complete a Speaker Card and provide it to the Clerk of the Board prior to the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, no action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda. When addressing the Board, please state your name for the record. Please address the Board as a whole through the Chair.
• If you wish to speak on an item contained in the agenda please complete a Speaker Card identifying the item(s) and provide it to the Clerk of the Board prior to consideration of the item.
Each individual speaker will be limited to a presentation total of three (3) minutes.
AFTERNOON SESSION 1:30 P.M.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT – A. Henriques:
24) Review staff report, and draft comment letter to the Bureau of Land Management Clear Creek Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and provide comments and direction to staff.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – S. Wittry:
25) Adopt a Resolution to re-open unmaintained County roads upon the installation of appropriate information signage referencing a potential for human health risks within surrounding terrain in the BLM Clear Creek Management Area; and direct staff to maintain quarterly inspections of signs in the area. 26) Receive the County Service Area quarterly report encompassing
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest in conjunction with the USFS has been invited to participate in a Chainsaw Certification class on April 23, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.We only have room for two people to attend this certification class.This will be an advanced training class and not for the beginning chainsaw user.
The attendees MUST have prior chainsaw experience and be familiar with chainsaw use and safety.Please wear leather boots with vibram soles and a long sleeve shirt.Also bring a pair of leather gloves, safety glasses, and a hard hat if you have one.
This class will be held at the:
Bass Lake Ranger District Office
57003 Road 225
North Fork, Ca. 93643
At the Engineering Division Office in back
If you are interested in volunteering in the Sierra National Forest to help keep our trails and roads open for all of the public to enjoy and would like to fill one of these valuable spots please RSVP to info@sotsnf.org as soon as possible as these spots will fill fast.By working together as volunteers and in conjunction with the USFS we can keep our forests open and provide a great place for our families to enjoy.
The Stewards of the SierraNational Forest in conjunction with the Forest Service will be working in the Miami Trails area on 3-24-2010 which is this coming Wednesday.We will meet at the McDonalds in Oakhurst at 9:00 A.M.From there we will head up to the Kamoke Staging area and begin our day from there.We will be focusing our efforts on clearing downed trees from the trial system so everyone can start riding.Come out on a ATV, UTV, or Bike and help us start of the new year.Bring gloves and a lunch and be ready to have some fun out on the trails.If you have any questions please feel free to give me a call at 831-801-1111-cell and we can talk.
State of California Grant Application and Meeting to Discuss Proposal
Each year the State of California makes funding available through the Off-Highway Vehicle Grants Program. The grants program provides financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations (federal, city, county, nonprofit, etc.) that develop, maintain, operate, expand, support, or contribute to well managed, high-quality, OHV recreation areas, roads, and trails. This year the State has available $27 million for education, operation and maintenance, law enforcement and restoration projects.
The Sierra National Forest is submitting a grant application to the State for OHV funding. As a part of the grant application, the State requires that the grant be available for public review and input for 30 days. Starting Tuesday, March 2, 2010, you may review the Sierra National Forest's application as well as all grant applications on the State's internet website: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/
The Sierra National Forest will also host a open house on Tuesday, March 16, to discuss the OHV Grant application and the funds being requested. The meeting will be at the Sierra National Forest Headquarters at 1600 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, starting at 6:30 pm.
You may also submit written comments to the OHV Division’s website or you send your comments to Sierra National Forest, Attn. Mose Jones-Yellin, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 93611.
Stewards of the Sierra NF would like to invite you to review and comment on our 2010 preliminary Ground Operations grant application that we have submitted to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR). The public review and comment period this year runs from March 2nd 2010, and ends April 5th 2010.
By participating in the process and developing this grant, we are making an effort to return our Green Sticker funds back to there rightful place: our trails!We have developed a grant to address basic route brushing, water diversion, minor maintenance, and signage issues in the SierraNational Forest.Check out the grant to learn details!
The OHV grant applications are an annual process that is a key part of the management of Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) managed lands in California.
Public comments are a valuable tool to improving the grants for submission.It also demonstrates to the OHMVR that we as the public care about our Green Sticker fees being used to sustain our public OHV opportunities. Your input is greatly appreciated!
Stewards of the SierraNational Forest ‘Ground Operations’ grant can directly be found here:
Stewards of the Sierra National Forest is proud to announce that we will now be meeting on the second Tuesday of each month to help keep the public informed on the status of the Sierra National Forest and the volunteer work being done in the forest.We will meet at 7:00 p.m. at:
The Pizza Factory
37184 Ave. 12
Madera Ranchos Ca. 93636
559.645.7011
All user groups and individuals of the public who use and recreate in the Sierras are encouraged to come out and attend these meetings and give us your input as to what you would like to see happen in the mountains.Bring your better half and have a little dinner and stay up to date on what is happening with the forest and the California State OHV Grants programs.Please pass this message on to all of your friends and we hope to see you there.
BLM Extends Comment Period on Clear Creek Draft Plan
The public comment period for the Clear Creek Management Area draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement has been extended by 45 days by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
“Because the plan addresses potential long term restrictions on public lands,” said BLM Acting California State Director Jim Abbott, “we are extending the comment period to allow further public input”
The Clear Creek Management Area in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties has a long history of public recreational use. But because of increased awareness of potential health risks caused by asbestos, the area has been temporarily closed since May 2008. The closure was in response to results of an Environmental Protection Agency’s human health risk assessment. The temporary closure remains in effect until the new management plan is approved.
The draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement was released in December 2009 with a 90 day comment period. Three public meetings were also held in Coalinga, Hollister and Santa Clara in January 2010 to gather comments. The initial 90-day comment period ends today.
Comments must be postmarked or received by April 19, 2010. Written public comments may be submitted by mail to BLM, Attn. CCMA RMP/EIS, 20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, CA95023. Comment may also be provided via email: cahormp@ca.blm.gov, or fax: 831-630-5055.
For more information contact the Hollister Field Office at 831-630-5000.
At this very critical time we need to ask everyone to take less than two minutes to send in a comment to the BLM so we can SAVE CLEAR CREEK AND THE FUTURE OF OHV IN CALIFORNIA AND NATION WIDE.The comment period ends March 5, 2010.Please go to the link listed below and follow the instructions to fill out a comment and send it to the BLM it’s the American thing to do.
Thanks in Advance for every ones help to save the sport we love.
The Stewards of the SierraNational Forest, a Division of California Trails User Coalition a 501 c 3 nonprofit, in partnership with the SierraNational Forest, plan to complete the following maintenance activities on fourteen National Forest system roads (approximately 24 miles).
This work includes; removing roadside brushing, cleaning drainage structures such as culverts, dips, leadoff ditches, removing downed trees and boulders from roadways, repair and installation of road and directional signs, performing condition surveys, reporting unsafe road conditions or heavy maintenance needs, and removal of trash.
This work is focused on National Forest System roads that provide popular OHV riding opportunities and are critical to connecting OHV riding areas.These roads also provide access to dispersed camping and recreational destination points.This project will improve water quality, access, signage, and enhance the OHV riding experience on the SierraNational Forest.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest and California Trails Users Coalition, a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sierra National Forest has undertaken steps to improve upon lands in Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa Counties, by submitting grants for these enhancements.
The Stewards of the Sierra National Forest, California Trails Users Coalition, and Sierra National Forest would like to invite you to review and comment on the 2010 applications submitted to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR). The public review and comment period will be open from Tuesday, March 2, 2010 through Monday, April 5, 2010.
You can view and comment on the applications online at OHMVR's website at http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/. , click the “GRANTS Tab” then click on “OLGA” when the screen appears, then click on the “Public Review Instructions”follow instructions at Step 2 and proceed to the applications.
If you have questions on any of the projects, please feel free to contact:
The following letter was sent in good faith to Mr. Rick Cooper, head of the BLM Hollister Field Office for the Clear Creek Management Area requesting a 90 day extension to the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement comment period, which is slated to end March 5, 2010.
OUR REQUEST WAS DENIED
This will be the most critical land use battle in California History
The Clear Creek Management Area has been closed since May of 2008, and the BLM has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on December 4, 2009 that plans to virtually close that area permanently to ALL use. The 700+ page document was released right before Christmas, and the BLM employees in the Hollister Field Office went on vacation shortly afterward, and were unavailable for questions and comments. Furthermore, the BLM didn't hold any Public meetings for over 30 days, and still hasn't held a meeting addressing concerns of local businesses, counties and local governments affected by the closure.
For the reasons above, and because of the shear complexity of the document, we now we need your help to flood the BLM computers and fax machines with e-mails and faxes till they melt down requesting a 90 day extension to the comment period.
This is one of the LARGEST, ERRONEOUS, PUBLIC LAND CLOSURES ever attempted by a government agency.Please, if you value your freedom, take a moment to send a quick e-mail and fax to the following demanding the BLM grant this extension.
The following organizations, each representing and advocating on behalf of thousands of members throughout California and the United States, are requesting a 90-day extension to the comments period for the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
uAmerican Motorcyclist Association
uCalifornia Off-Road Vehicle Association,
uCA4WDC,
uBlueRibbon Coalition,
uDistrict 36 AMA,
uAMA District 37 AMA
uFriends ofClear Creek Management Area,
uOff-Road Business Organization
uSalinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club
uTimekeepers Motorcycle Club
There are numerous reasons for this request for this extension including, but not limited to, the following:
The BLM took 18 months to produce a 735-page document dealing with very technical, complex issues and 90 days is not a sufficient time frame for the public to research the issues and provide substantial comments.
The BLM released this document just prior to the Christmas/New Year holiday season when the public was distracted and members of the BLM staff were on vacation.
The printed copies of the document were not immediately available to members of the public who do not have access to the internet.
The first public meeting was not held until 40 days into the public comment period, denying the public the opportunity to receive presentations and additional information about the document.
A meeting to discuss the financial/economic impacts of the actions suggested in the plan will not be held until February 22, 2010 leaving less than two weeks for comments based upon discussions and questions raised in this meeting.
The OHV community desires to provide the BLM with comprehensive and constructive comments and in order to do so will require a greater length of time than the 90-day period currently afforded us.
We trust the BLM will understand the need for the public to review, understand, and comment on this document and will affirm our request for this extension.Please inform us as regarding the new due date as soon as possible.
OHV Groups Request Time Extension for CCMA DEIS Comment Period
February 12, 2010
Rick Cooper
Field Manager
Hollister Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister, CA 95023
Dear Rick,
The following organizations, each representing and advocating on behalf of thousands of members throughout California and nationwide, are requesting a 90-day extension to the comments period for the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
uAmerican Motorcyclist Association (AMA)
uDistrict 36 AMA
uDistrict 37 AMA
uBlueRibbon Coalition
uCalifornia Off-Road Vehicle Association
uCalifornia Association of Four Wheel Drives
uFriends of the Clear Creek Management Area
uOff-Road Business Organization
uSalinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club
uTimekeepers Motorcycle Club
There are numerous reasons for this request for this extension including, but not limited to, the following:
The BLM took 18 months to produce a 735-page document dealing with very technical, complex issues and 90 days is not a sufficient time frame for the public to research the issues and provide substantial comments.
The BLM released this document just prior to the Christmas/New Year holiday season when the public was distracted and members of the BLM staff were on vacation.
The printed copies of the document were not immediately available to members of the public who do not have access to the internet.
The first public meeting was not held until 40 days into the public comment period, denying the public the opportunity to receive presentations and additional information about the document.
A meeting to discuss the financial/economic impacts of the actions suggested in the plan will not be held until February 22, leaving less than two weeks for comments based upon discussions and questions raised in this meeting.
Rick Cooper
Comment Extension Request
February 12, 2010
Page 2
The OHV community desires to provide the BLM with comprehensive and constructive comments and in order to do so will require a greater length of time than the 90-day period currently afforded us.
We trust the BLM will understand the need for the public to review, understand, and comment on this document and will affirm our request for this extension.Please inform us as regarding the new due date as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Nick HarisBruce WhitcherAmy GranatDon AmadorDave Pickett
AMACORVACA4WDBRCDistrict 36
Jerry GrabowMike WubbelsMatt BeckTerry PedersonFred Wiley
On February 1, President Obama submitted his proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2011 to Congress. One proposed cut could be disastrous for motorized trail users.
Buried in the nearly 200-page document is one paragraph dealing with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CIM) program. The CIM program funds improvements, maintenance and the operation of U.S. Forest Service roads, trails and recreation infrastructure.
Under the budget proposal, the CIM program would be cut by $100 million -- from a $538 million appropriation in FY 2010 to a proposed $438 million in FY 2011. In justification for the proposed cut the Administration says that it wants to focus the Forest Service on "road decommissioning, erosion control, watershed health and forest restoration."
The proposed cut is particularly disturbing in light of the Forest Service's recent work on off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel management. Many National Forest's have only recently completed their travel management plans and will need funding for implementation. As these plans were developed local Forest Service staff repeatedly told OHV enthusiasts that they lacked sufficient funding to maintain existing trails, provide trailhead facilities or to adequately inventory existing trails.
Furthermore, funding for good trail design, construction and maintenance is essential to meeting the Administration's stated goals of erosion control, watershed health and forest restoration.
The OHV enthusiast community has done all it can to assist the Forest Service in funding trails. In partnership with the Forest Service, OHV enthusiasts provide thousands of hours of volunteer hours each year to maintain trail systems. In addition to consistently asking Congress to provide adequate appropriations, enthusiasts also fostered the federal Recreational Trails Program and state level motorized trail programs that provide non-Forest Service funding for trails. The OHV community even supported the Forest Service's controversial Recreation Fee program to get badly needed funds on the ground. But it is incumbent on the agency to seek and provide a reasonable level of funding for trails in its own budget.
Congress will be considering the President's budget proposal over the next few months. The American Motorcyclist Association urges its members to contact their federal elected officials and request that they oppose any cut in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's CIM budget.
You can find contact information for your elected officials at AmericanMotorcyclist.com, click on "Rights," then "Issues & Legislation," and enter your zip code in the "Find your Officials" box. Additionally, a prewritten e-mail is available for you to send to your federal elected official immediately by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.
Please write or call your Senators and Representative today and ask them to oppose any cut in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's CIM budget.
US Forest Service Launches Effort to Rewrite Forest Planning Rule -- Shifts Focus to 'Restoration'
US Forest Service Launches Effort to Rewrite Forest Planning Rule -- Shifts Focus to 'Restoration'
Thursday, January 21, 2010 1:19 PM
From:
"Royce Wood, AMA Government Affairs Manager"
Opportunity for Public Comment Through February 16, 2010
In December, the USDA Forest Service announced that it would rewrite the national forest system land management-planning rule. The planning rule sets priorities and defines the process for the development and revision of site-specific management plans for every national forest or grassland.
The Forest Service has issued three planning rules since 2000 but two of them have been struck down by legal challenges and the 2000 rule has never been utilized because of its "complexity". In effect most current forest plans have been written under the planning rule of 1982.
The Forest Service raises a number of noteworthy concepts in the scoping document (Federal Register - December 18, 2009). Foremost being the concept of "restoration" which is heavily stressed but never defined. Nor does the document examine how making "restoration" a priority would affect recreation or other land uses. Rather the agency asks the public to provide comment on what "restoration" ought to mean. However, last August, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stated publicly, "Restoration means managing forest lands first and foremost to protect our water resources, while making our forests more resilient to climate change."
Adaption to climate change and resiliency are frequently referenced in the document but it is left to the public to comment on how those concepts should be applied. Similarly the document suggests that local forest planners should not limit themselves to planning for National Forest Service land but should expand their efforts to include "all-lands" or whole watersheds.
Wrongly applied to local planning processes, many of the concepts raised in the scoping document could be very problematic for maintaining recreational access to public lands for a number of activities - including motorized recreation. The AMA strongly encourages off-highway vehicle enthusiasts to review the proposal and to provide written comment to the agency on the importance of recognizing recreational access in the forest planning process.
The Forest Service's Notice of Intent, background materials and information on how to comment are available at www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule. Comments will be accepted until February 13th.
The Forest Service expects to develop a proposed rule and a draft environmental impact statement by late fall 2010. The public will have additional comment opportunities at that time.
Two Minutes to Stop Closure of 780 miles of Trails in Sierra Forest
In just Two Minutes you can help stop the proposed closure of 780 miles of roads and trails which are vital for recreation as well as access for management to promote forest health in the Sierra National Forest.
Please ACT NOW there only a few days left to get your comments in by the 6/30/09 deadline
These trails lead to vistas, scenic byways, secluded lakes, creeks and primitive camping. None of these trails have been proven to affect water quality, habitats, or plants. However unless more people speak up in favor of preserving these great trails it is likely they will be lost forever.
Please ACT NOW comments are due before 6/30/2009. Click below and create your letter to Sierra National Forest to help keep trails open by using predrafted or your comments in just Two Minutes.
Please share this email with your lists and post it on blogs
~Thanks your friends at Stewards of the Sierra National Forest
This campaign is supported by Save The Trails, Stewards of the Sierra National Forest, Recreation Outdoors Coalition, Sierra Access Coalition, CORVA, National Off Road Association and others
Located off of Highway 99 and the Avenue 12 Exit in MaderaCalifornia.
Time: 2:00 till 6:00
The Stewards of the SierraNational Forest in conjunction with Ca 4 WDC and CORVA will be holding an OHV 4x4 DRIVE IN and BIKE RIDE IN on June 20, 2009.This will be a chance for you bring out all of your toys and show them off to all of the people in the OHV community who use the SierraNational Forest.
This will also be an informational meeting and fundraiser and will allow all users of the SierraNational Forest to come together to talk strategies and become involved in keeping as much of the forest open as possible.We will be serving hot dogs, chips and soda.
As you know the Stewards have retained one of the nations top comment writers to make substantive comments on your behalf to keep as much of the forest open as we can.As you can imagine all of this does not come without a cost.But than again:
FREEDOM HAS NEVER BEEN FREE
It’s of the utmost importance that all users of the forest attend this event and become a part of the response being drafted by the Stewards and CORVA Comments Project to the DEIS that the Sierra has released.We will have our signer’s letter on hand for you to become a part of this massive document that is being drafted to be submitted to the Forest Service.This is our best hope for retaining as much open area in the forest as we can.
By becoming a signer on the Stewards Comments document it will give you standing in the appeals phase of the NEPA process.If you are not a signer or do not submit a comment to the DEIS during the public comment period you will have no rights in the appeals process and must be willing to settle for what ever they give you.
This Comment Document is being sponsored by the Stewards and CORVA Comments Project and is endorsed by the Ca 4 WDC Central District.The Comments Project is producing a professionally written response and draws on a huge experience base from a number of other forests to focus on the inconsistencies of the Travel Management Plan.
In speaking to CORVA activists and Stewards it is apparent that there is an agenda that underlies the imposition of these plans to isolate various user groups from each other (divide and conquer) and pick us off one by one. The approach that seems best suited to address the hidden agenda is a professionally written response prepared by a knowledgeable writer. The Stewards of the Sierra have engaged such assistance and need the support of everyone to help move the Sierra National Forest DEIS Comment Project forward.
Four types of help are needed:
1) Come to our informational and fund raising event at Jim Riley's Yamaha 99 Saturday from 2:00 to 6:00 pm to sign the DEIS comment support form on your own, or as a club representative.
2) A JERRYCAN of gas (or two) or a TANKFUL (or two) of gas in the bike ($20-$40) worth of financial support from everyone that cares about keeping your trails and access to the Sierra National Forest open. Donations can be made at www.sotsnf.org if you cannot come to the fund raising event.
3) Make your own comments and ask the Forest Service for more time to organize our response. Time is short and all comments must be in by June 30, 2009.
4) Tell your friends, family, neighbors, fellow OHV enthusiasts, and club members about our event and about the need to support the Comments Project. Please contact us or go to the www.sotsnf.org site for more information. Please act now!
MarkCave, President of Californians for Public Access, Vice President Central District California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs mdcave@calaccess.net
BRC Supports Stewards of the Sierra National Forest
Thank you to Don Amador of BRC for sending a letter of support to our local officials urging them to support the efforts of the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest to preserve public access in the National Forest.
Here is some interesting information that the Stewards of the SierraNational Forest has found in the DEIS Document that the Forest Service has not been sharing in the public meetings.Out of the 558 miles of GPS inventoried public requested routes only 72 miles of these roads and trails were proposed to be brought forward in Alternative 5 the most OHV friendly alternative.61.51 miles of these public requested routes need mitigation.If you do the math that leaves only 10.49 miles that will be open for the publics use.
According to all of the information that the Forest Service has been giving the public during their meetings, all of the routes that need mitigation will be closed till that mitigation is corrected.If we did the math right that means only 10.49 miles will be on the first Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) slated to be released 1/1/2010 this should be a very easy map to produce and read as it should be no bigger than 1 page.
When we compared all of the Alternatives put together the picture looked even worse.When comparing Alternatives 2 thru 5 the total mileage that needed mitigation was 69.02 out of a total of 72 miles of routes proposed to be brought forward. That would leave only 2.98 miles of routes that would be open and on the MVUM as of 1/1/2010.
Now here is where the situation gets even worse.The Forest service by their own omission has told the public at the DEIS meetings that they have NO MONEY to do work in the forest and will be relying heavily on user groups and public support to get the job done.The best case scenario is the agency will put in for grant money in the 2010 grant cycle, if there is even a grant cycle available in 2010.
If they receive funding it would be very late in 2010 and would not be able to get much work done in the forest if any and would plan to do most of it in 2011. The routes in question would be closed till the mitigation is complete and then they must first be put on the MVUM before the public is allowed to use them which at best would be printed 1/1/2012.
As you can see the picture of the Route Designation Process (RDP) being painted by the Forest Service is not as nice as they appear to make it.How would you like to have to tell your kids or grand kids that they could not go to the forest for up to the next two years and do what they have been doing all of their life.Please get involved in the process and tell everyone that you know what is happening and encourage them become a member of Stewards of the Sierra National Forest www.sotsnf.org and help make a difference.
I am planning on getting as many people together as possible at my shop to review the maps in the Shuteye and WhiskeyFalls area and also the Miami Trails Area.I would like as much help as we can get to review all of the trails and roads in these areas and how they are listed on the alternatives.We will also be looking at season of use so we can start to comment on these to the Forest Service.
If you have knowledge of these areas or would just like to help out, we could really use your help to determine how best to lay out the most amounts of trails and roads for the best possible trail system with the most amount of connectivity.I have access to several of the large maps that were at the Forest Service meetings, if we could get as many people to bring computers to help speed up the process that would be great.
Please R.S.V.P. to my contact info listed above so I have an idea of how many people will be able to make it.I am looking forward to seeing you there on Friday night.
The following letter was drafted in response to the way the Forest Service has been implementing the Travel Management Rule here in California Region 5. There is some hope that our elected officials will do the right thing and stand up for what the public has deemed a fleecing of our National Public Lands and that the Forest Service will do the right thing and keep our PUBLIC LANDS OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC, NOT FROM THE PUBLIC.
Congress of the United States
WashingtonDC20515
May 1, 2009
Gail Kimbell
Chief, USDAForest Service
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC20250
Dear Chief Kimbell:
We are writing today to request your review and response to concerns that have been communicated to us by our constituents regarding travel management planning on national forests throughout California.As you are aware, the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is currently conducting this process in response to the agency's 2005 Travel Management Rule regarding motor vehicle use on the National Forest System (NFS). We all share a mutual goal to provide an appropriate balance of public access with environmental stewardship of our national forests. As such, we believe that the final travel management plans should not greatly restrict reasonable and prudent vehicle access on existing NFS roads and trails.
During the travel management planning, the Forest Service has maintained that the California Vehicle Code (CVC) prohibits the use of off-highway legal vehicles (OHVs) on NFS passenger car roads with a maintenance level (ML) of 3, 4, or 5, despite the California Highway Patrol's clarification that motorized mixed-use is acceptable on unpaved NFS roads. While the Forest Service has indicated that OHV use will still be allowed on ML 2 roads, these are generally short, dead-end spurs that will fail to provide contiguous travel loops desired for quality OHV use. We ask that the Forest Service preserve its national direction for analyzing mixed motor vehicle-use on NFS unpaved passenger car roads. Also, local counties maintain many miles of unpaved roads throughout the NFS that even link with Forest Service maintained roads. Several of these counties already allow or will be designating their roads for mixed motorized vehicle-use at the same time the Forest Service is prohibiting such. It is our understanding that many of these county boards have reached out to the agencyregarding this issue but have failed to receive a response from the Regional Office.
In addition, there has been great concern that public collaboration has been lacking in the course of the planning process. During the unauthorized route inventory - which found over 10,000 miles of such routes - members of the OHV community submitted many miles to be proposed for designation. To date, several national forests in northeastern California are proposing to close 75-97% of them without sufficient rationale as to why they are being removed from consideration. It does not appear as if closing the large majority of these routes reflects a Proper balance between public access and resource protection.
Finally, in spite of national Forest Service policy that allows vehicles to park within 30 feet of a designated road, national forests within Region 5 are proposing to limit this distance to one vehicle length as well as restrict vehicle use for dispersed camping or big game retrieval which national agency policy also allows for. Such a policy would present considerable inconvenience to the many taxpayers that recreate in and enjoy their national forests, particularly when such policy is contrary to national directive.
We would appreciate your timely consideration and response to these concerns as well as any initiative that the agency has or will be implementing to address them. Thank you in advance for your attention and assistance on this issue.
DEIS to be released for the Sierra National Forest
Stewards of the SierraNational Forest
Well it’s finally spring, the snow is melting fast and everyone is ramping up to get out and enjoy the great weather and all of their favorite past times in the SierraNational Forest.The streams and lakes are cold and running fast, the fish are hungry; the hunters are ready to start looking for this years hunting camps and the best spots to bag a deer or bear.The bicycle guys and OHV people have been getting their bikes and rigs ready all winter to come out and have some spring time fun. The rock climbers and trail hikers have been itching to get back on some of the most awesome granites faces and trails in the world. The wood cutters are ready to go out and find those choice snags that were brought down by Mother Nature this past winter.The horse people have their trailers and trucks ready, and the horses are itching to go out and explore the back country after Mother Nature painted her winter picture on the Forest.
BUT WAIT, suppose you drive out to the Forest to your favorite spot only to find a newly erected fence and a gate with a sign posted on it that says you can no longer recreate on your PUBLICLAND here.DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A BAD DREAM OR WHAT? Well you had better wake up and take notice as this is about to happen to you and the future of access to your PUBLIC LANDS.
The long awaited and way over due release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is slated for May 1, 2009 and you can bet that everyone who use’s the Sierra National Forest will be affected by its release.This will be the most important, and the last chance you will have to help shape the future of your PUBLICLANDS and the SierraNational Forest as we now enjoy it.If you would like your kids and their kids to be able to enjoy what you have had in your lifetime, the time to speak up is now, for if you don’t then you must be content to settle for what they give you.
Please take this time to stand up for what you believe in.Please go to the events section and get all of the information and meeting dates and times so you can help save our PUBLIC LANDS from those who wish to keep us out.
DEIS Press Release
Dear Interested Parties:
On May 1, 2009, the Sierra National Forest will release for public review and comment the Motorized Travel Management Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The Motorized Travel Management Project is part of a national effort to designate transportation systems on each national forest in the country. The goal is to develop a sustainable network of roads and trails that provide opportunities for access and recreation while protecting natural and cultural resources.
Beginning the week of April 27, the SierraNational Forest will begin mailing out copies of the document to those who requested them back in December. If you did not notify us of your interest, we will have copies available at the public workshops, on the Forest Service website and at SierraNational Forest offices beginning May 1st, 2009.
We will also be glad to send you a copy, please contact us at: sierra.route@fs.fed.us and specifyin the Subject Line: Document Request. The document can be requested on a CD or Printed Copy (limited amounts available). Please make sure to include a mailing address where you want the document sent.
Below is the schedule of public workshops the SierraNational Forest will be hosting. We will also be glad to meet with your club, group or organization to provide an overview of the document. Please send request to: sierra.route@fs.fed.us and specify in the Subject Line: Meeting Request
We look forward to meeting with you and your continued interest in Motorized Travel Management on the SierraNational Forest.
Stewards of the Sierra National Forest - Public Comment On Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Applications
Stewards of the SierraNational Forest, as a division of the
non-profit California Trail Users Coalition, are soliciting public input specific
to the 2009 grant application proposal for Cooperative Agreements with the
State of California Off-Highway Motor
Vehicle Division. In 2009, $27.1 million of
your green sticker fees will be available state-wide for distribution among
four funding categories:
Education and Safety: $1,300,000
Law Enforcement: $5,200,000
Operations and Maintenance: $13,000,000
Restoration: $7,600,000
CurrentState regulations require annual public
participation in this fund allocation process. The agreements support OHV
management activities on public lands such as the SierraNational Forest,
including operations and maintenance, restoration, law enforcement, education
and safety. The "operations and maintenance" category is
divided into four project types; acquisition, development, ground operations,
and planning, with the emphasis on projects that sustain existing OHV recreation
on national forests lands.
Stewards of the SierraNational Forest will be submitting two
grants to support sustainable OHV recreation and provide OHV education &
awareness specific to the SierraNational Forest:
·Operations & Maintenance – Ground Operations
·Education & Safety
This year the State will be using an "On-Line Grant Application” process.
A two step application process is being used to allow public comment and
feedback before the final submittal. To review the CTUC/SotSNF
applications, please visit the California State OHV Grants and Cooperative
Agreements website at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov.
Applications will be posted March 3rd which begins the 30-day public
review and comment period. Public comments on the proposals will be
posted to the website and forwarded to the SotSNF.Final applications will be submitted on May
4th.
Howdy folks!As we
all know & expected, the Sierra National Forest has been working on the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or ‘DEIS’, for OHV Travel Management in
our local public national forest.This
document will continue the route designation process by present a list of ‘alternatives’
to the Proposed Action that was communicated during the public meetings in 07’.
Make no mistake: our OHV opportunities will be
affected!It is important that we all
come out of hibernation and get involved once this document is released.Current estimate is that the DEIS will be
released for public comment late March.We
will keep all our members updated on changes & happenings related to this
very important document.
Other news: Stewards
of the SierraNational
Forest attended the CA OHV grants meeting in Sacramento last month.We hope to work closely with the Sierra NF to
help identify routes & areas that need attention and qualify for OHV
grants.These grants will provide green
sticker OHV money to help maintain our trails and national forest.
Come and be a part of history in the making as Hummer releases the newest member to its line, the new H3 Truck.Hummer and its new “Hummer Recreation Rescue Program” have chosen a heavily eroded section of the Bald Mountain Trail as their premier restoration project in the Sierra National Forest.There will be plenty of press on hand and the opportunity to show the public how the OHV community gives back to the Public Lands we use for our recreation.
The Bald Mountain project entails the improvement and stabilization of an existing four-wheel drive trail. A half-mile section of this trail receives very heavy run-off during storm events, leading to trail erosion. This section is located where some stream bank restoration is also necessary. Several “cheater routes” that have been created will also be restored, and a new bypass around this section installed.Finally a brochure and map of the trail will be created to guide the public along this restored and designated route to the top of Bald Mountain and the old fire lookout.
