42 EDNF Routes, in SERIOUS TROUBLE!

[NorcalPR]

Ladies and Gentlemen, take a step back and reflect on the reality of this situation.

The Center for Sierra Nevada Conservancy filed lawsuit against the Forest Service requesting closure of virtually everything in the Eldoredo based on adverse impacts to frogs, water, meadows, and wetlands.

BRC and Cal4 filed as intervenors. This is well known to all that bother to keep up with information put out by BRC and Cal4Wheel. Sorry, those organizations do not make house calls to ensure everyone receives the information. (Yes, I am being condescending and sarcastic.)

After a court hearing, Judge Karlton denied the basic claims and ordered boths side to enter into settlement discussions to resolve the remaining issues.

At this point, Dept of Justice and BRC went behind closed doors to negotiate with Center for Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

I provided sufficient GIS data which dropped the frog issue from further discussion.

Don Amador, Jim and I provided enough data to remove a large number of routs from further discussion.

At the end, it came down to about 40 routes that were at issue. Thanks to Bebe, Rick and a f others, sufficient data was provided to bring it down to the 40 number and have a good rational why those 40 routes should remain open.

That is where settlement talks broke down with the enviro's wanting a full and immediate closure of those and many more rites.

The DOJ lawyers balked and everything went back to Judge Karlton's court.

To his credit, the judge threw out all but the 40 routes and ordered the FS to come ack with a plan dealing with the identified routes that crossed meadows or impacted water.

So, that is where we are at this point. The FS has to return to court with a plan.

As I stated early in this thread, WORST case means 40 routes may be subject to closure by judicial order.

Yes, I hear you abut the length of time the rutes have existed. And, about the other stated reasons why you don't believe the routes should e subject to any type of closure.

You don't like the law? Work to change he law by supporting trail friendly politicians.

The trails included in this suit may be some that you recognize. Take a look at the list.

8N23B Prothro Headwater
8N35 Upper West Panther
9N01 blue lake to meadow lake
9N04 Mud Lake 4WD
9N08 Stockton Camp
9N15 Leek Spring Valley
9N54 Leoni
9N82 Pardoes 4WD
9N83 Dear Valley 4WD
9N95 Cosumnes Head
10N01 woods lake area?
10N03 Devils Gate Summer Home
10N06 Pebble Ridge
10N13 Schneider Camp 4WD (know as Strawberry 4WD)
10N14 Mule Canyon
10N21 Long Canyon 4WD
10N26 Scoits Creek
10N32 South Beanville Creek
10N98 Jim Quin Spring
10NY04 Middle Long Canyon
10NY05 Rocky Road
10NY06 Upper Long Canyon
11N09A Bryan Creek
11N22 Strawberry Creek
11N23F North Shanty Spur
11N26F Barrett Lake Jeep Trail
11N70 Mcmanus
11NY32 47 milestone
12NY06 Crystal Shortcut
12NY15 West Robbs Peak
13N24 Dry Lakes
14N05 Mckinstry Lake
14N27 Bunker Meadow
14N39 Richardson Lake 4WD
14N58 Jerre
17E12 motorcycle trail strawberry to Lovers leap
17E16 motorcycle trail behind little round top
17E17 Buck meadows motorcycle trail
17E19 motorcycle trail out of Allen camp
17E21 motorcycle trail north of Silver Lake
17E24 Mud lake trail
17E28 motorcycle trail south of mud lake



First, we lose a huge percentage of the forest's roads, then we lose access during the winter, even though there's so much snow above the dirt it doesn't do any damage, and now this, we lose practically every trail in the EDNF.

Keep posted. Here's the ongoing thread on Pirate. Please check back often! I will inform you guys on any updates

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1055643

[JOEPRUNC]

I was looking up to see when the dirt bike trails would open from the winter closure and saw this also. Its going to be an interesting summer.

Here's the official statement.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldora...TELPRDB5362068

[NorcalPR]

Tactic 1 for fighting this:

E-mail your Rep, and Senators. You can find out who that is by going through this link:

http://whoismyrepresentative.com

By entering your zip, you should get your 2 senators, and your congressional rep. If you have a split zip code district like me, you will need the last 4 digits of your 9 digit zip code, this can be found here:

https://www.usps.com/ and click on the zip code tab on the left side.

Here are some ideas you can use to build your letter.

We have recently become aware that there will be a massive closure of OHV trails in the Eldorado National forest this summer.

Closing these trails for a solid year or more is absolutely the wrong approach. Off-roading is a major hobby enjoyed by people from across the country and is a major contributor to our state and region’s economy.

I don’t see why these trails, which have been in regular use for decades, can’t remain open until the environmental study is complete.

I understand that the ElDorado National Forest, or its surrounding communities may not be an area that you frequent, but it is where I spend many weekends a year recreating with my family. I am asking for your help to rectify this situation. There is no grounds for this closure, aside from some peoples hatred for wheeled recreation.

I consider myself an enviormentalist, as I spend many weekends a year in the forest, as a member of Friends of the Rubicon, and Friends of Eldorado National Forest, maintaining its trails, so that they can be enjoyed for years to come. Some of my favorite places to camp with my family are miles away from pavement, and with these road closures, my kids could never make the hike to these areas (honestly, I probably couldn't either).

Please take the time to look into this issue, and let me know how you can help.

navy-jeepster
Granite Guru

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Join Date: Oct 2005
Member # 55622
Location: Hanford, Ca
Posts: 926

Also, here are some financial numbers that I put together a few years ago from user data, and amound spent on each forest.
Eldo
From Local users - $8.5 million (within 30 miles driven to the forest)
From Non-Local users - $45 million (Over 30 miles driven to the forest)

California has 4.9 million ohv users on forest service land across the state.
California also has the highest number for forest service OHV users.
The recreation user data came from this report.
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/prog...risRec1rpt.pdf

We have recently become aware that there will be a massive closure of OHV trails in the Eldorado National forest this summer.

Closing these trails for a solid year or more is absolutely the wrong approach. Off-roading is a major hobby enjoyed by people from across the country and is a major contributor to our state and region’s economy.

I don’t see why these trails, which have been in regular use for decades, can’t remain open until the environmental study is complete.

I understand that the ElDorado National Forest, or its surrounding communities is not located in your district, but it is where I spend many weekends a year recreating with my family. I am asking for your help to rectify this situation. There is no grounds for this closure, aside from some peoples hatred for wheeled recreation.

I consider myself an enviormentalist, as I spend many weekends a year in the forest, maintaining its trails, so that they can be enjoyed for years to come. Some of my favorite places to camp with my family are miles away from pavement, and with these road closures, my kids could never make the hike to these areas (honestly, I probably couldn't either).

Please take the time to look into this issue, and let me know how you can help.

If you are in the 3rd district, please see to it that you write to Lundgren, he sits on the judiciary comitee!

[kylej]

Have they completed their frog study yet?

[NorcalPR]

Yes, the DEIS has been released.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/land-...-meetings.html

18 of the 42 routes will not be opened until the issues are mitigated. Strawberry, Deer Valley and Barret are 3 of the 18...