Time to get informed (please chime in)!!

[*FFC*]

Forest Service Website Is Currently UnavailableThe Forest Service Web server is currently undergoing routine maintenance or has encountered an unexpected problem. We are working to bring the Web server back online as swiftly as possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this downtime may have caused..

[BigMike]

OK, Forget about that.

I uploaded it to our server, try this link:

http://www.marlincrawler.com/route_deis_ch3.pdf

[*FFC*]

OK, Forget about that.

I uploaded it to our server, try this link:

http://www.marlincrawler.com/route_deis_ch3.pdf

You RAWK!

[Duffil]

well...I made it.  BD, FFC, Blingn XJ, BigMike and Misato, Cruzila as well as myself and Mini were in attendance.  Probably about 220 or so total?

I kinda feel it wasn't worth the time I spent there.  I do feel a little better informed, but the only thing I really took from it is that the only way to save a trail (or perhaps a section thereof... ie; old sluice) is to write or email the FS about how YOU use a certain trail (or section).  They want you to be VERY specific as to what trails you use, and I assume this is to help them get the greenies off their back by closing trails down, but also keep us happy if we will just tell them SPECIFICALLY what needs to be kept open.  Not the greatest system, but far from the worst, and if we all send in a little note or two, it might actually save some trails.

[cougarfreak]

The meeting wasn't as bad as I figured it'd be, but it still wasn't Woo Hoo. I heard between 420-470 people in attendance, and a pair of Anti-Access-I-like-my-quiet types voiced their opinion. On the positive side there were many questions/comments mentioned that help our attempt to put routes on the map.

1 in particular dealt with writing in to the FS and tell them to strongly consider Alternate "A" instead of their proposed "D" then close on an as needed shown by scientific proof basis.

If it's resources they want/are lacking, offer assistance. Give the forest service your name and address and let them know you'll volunteer your time to help keep the trails open.

Tell them you want the proposed seasonal closures to be based on an "as needed" basis instead of a hard Nov-April

Their Stand (FS) is "It's a dynamic system and trails will be considered for adding or subtraction to or from the map on an annual basis". So, According to them, "Closed" isn't necessarily forever (remember, positive thinking).

Be specific about where your route is that you want added (FS site has route numbers for most of the trails. Those that don't have route numbers, use GPS coordinates and/or include a hilited spot on a map to indicate SPECIFICALLY which routes you want put back on the map). The better your "Why" is the more power it can punch, but a simple "favorite wheeling spot" is apparently an acceptable reason.

Send your comments before September 4th to:
A) Ramiro Villalvazo, Forest Supervisor
Attn: ENF Travel Management DEIS
Eldorado National Forest
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667

B) via e-mail in plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), or Word (.doc) To:
[email protected]

In your mail subject line include:
ENF Travel Management DEIS

Eldorado Travel Management Hotline is 530-295-5666

[speedemon]

I know it's not all about money.  But I think it's a valid point...

What about (and I know this was addressed last night as well) wheeling permits?  Americans pay $30-$65 for a fishing permit for a year, why can't we just pay $50-$75 a year for a wheeling permit? The money can go towards maintaining the trails and at least that way the people who really want to wheel, can do it right...

We have something like that in Texas, where you pay $8 for a window sticker for off-highway vehicles, and the money goes to the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition, and funds the two OHV parks we got.  Unfortunately we dont have a trail system like ya'll do as most of Texas is privately owned land.  Sucks.

[*FFC*]

We have something like that in Texas, where you pay $8 for a window sticker for off-highway vehicles, and the money goes to the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition, and funds the two OHV parks we got.  Unfortunately we dont have a trail system like ya'll do as most of Texas is privately owned land.  Sucks.

We do have those here too, but the proceeds don't go to maintaining our trails.  It's called a 'Green Sticker'.  I am talking about an Off Roading License where ALLLL the proceeds go to maintaining the trails.  It wouldn't be issued through DMV, it would have to be through something else...  There has to be some way of making it a state wide permit (as a Fishing license is) without having to go through DMV and splitting the fees all over the place cept where they're SUPPOSED TO GO!

[cougarfreak]

Did anyone pick up a copy of the comment form they had at the Pleasant Hill meeting? I didn't see any on the tables as I walked out (I wasn't looking for it at the time, but would have liked them to be everywhere so we could all pick some up). I wanna copy of it to print out, please.

[*FFC*]

Did anyone pick up a copy of the comment form they had at the Pleasant Hill meeting? I didn't see any on the tables as I walked out (I wasn't looking for it at the time, but would have liked them to be everywhere so we could all pick some up). I wanna copy of it to print out, please.

I have several... I will see if I can get BLINGN to scan them into a PDF and I'll post it on here for whoever to print out

[Blingn]

I have several... I will see if I can get BLINGN to scan them into a PDF and I'll post it on here for whoever to print out

Done and it is on its way Thank you FFC

[*FFC*]

Done and it is on its way Thank you FFC

I haven't brought it over yet

[Blingn]

ha ha I meant we are on it and it is going to be on its way ha ha thanks FFC !!

[Blingn]

ha ha I meant we are on it and it is going to be on its way ha ha thanks FFC !!

alright she finally got over her and i pdf it for her now it is on its way

[*FFC*]

I got it


I had to save it into paint because I don't have an Adobe subscription.  This is what I have... if you want me to email you the .pdf please shoot me your email address, anyone who needs it and if this doesn't work for yah

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/Ford4x4Chik27/?action=view&current=DEISCOMMENTSHEET.jpg

[cougarfreak]

GOTIT!!!!  thanks a bunch!!!

[cougarfreak]

WITH THE FS UNDER COURT ORDER, WE HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 4TH TO GET IN OUR COMMENTS ON ALL CALIFORNIA FOREST ROUTES WE WANT TO KEEP ON THE MAPS, NOT JUST ELDO!!!!! We need to get ahold of all Forest maps and look at routes in other forests as well.

You can find the route numbers for Eldorado NF under app.F Alt.D routes and cross reference them to map 12 here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/projects/...eis/index.shtml

A similar form to the one below can be sent to any of the National Forests whose addresses can be found on their respective web sites.  All of California's National forests are listed here: 
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/forests.html

for Eldorado Forest: PRINT THIS OUT, FILL IT OUT, AND SEND IT IN!!!!

[cougarfreak]

I was misinformed abot the entire state being under the Sept 4th court order.  This is not true.  Eldo NF is the only one under said court order.  the other NF's are in various stages of the DEIS process and most are due to have their plans completed by '08.  I appologize for this misinformation and have adjusted the above post accordingly. 

on another note, A motorcycle friend of mine says the program is flawed for us (4x4 folk) in Eldo because the time to have spoke up for desired trails was last year when they were drafting up the maps, not now that the maps are already made. He (Motorcycle friend) says he and several from his trail riding group attended several meetings last year to help create the maps and talk about their favorite riding spots and are only loosing 1 trail on this new map "Alt. D  . I'd like to think we're organized enough to make a big impact, but this is a big ball to have been dropped  . The fire we went to last month's meetings with SHOULD HAVE BEEN harnessed last year when our requests would have counted and they were designing the maps. Am I missing something here? It seems to me that we (Cal 4Wheel members, Blue Ribbon Coalition members, at least) should have received a heads up to this trail planning a year ago when we could have made a difference (not that we didn't in last few weeks). I caught wind of these meetings from the Pirate4x4 board. Kudos to all who attended the meetings over the last few months, but I think we as wheelers need to be able to rely on those who have their fingers in the political arena to keep us apprised of the goings on in our backyards... and get more involved in the political arenas ourselves. I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong, and I'd love to prove my motorcyclist friend wrong, but I get the feeling he's right. THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE SHOULD GIVE UP!!!!!   Can somebody clarify for me, please?

[*FFC*]

cougarfreak.... you've seen this right?

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Don Amador
Phone: 925.625.6287
Email: [email protected]
Date: August 6, 2007

RECORD CROWD IN SF BAY AREA SAYS NATIONAL FOREST TRAIL PLAN IS FLAWED

PLEASANT HILL, CA (Aug. 2) - A record crowd of off-road recreationists and public land users objected to a federal trail plan that threatens to close 75% of off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes on forest lands in the Sierra Nevada. On August 2, over 350 concerned citizens attended a public meeting in Pleasant Hill, California, to review the newly released Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for motorized travel management on the Eldorado National Forest.

Members of the OHV community spoke up in strong protest to the Forest Service's proposed plan to close over 1,000 miles of popular jeep roads and dirt-bike trails.
Trail enthusiasts stated that many of their favorite routes in the remote backcountry would be closed if the Forest Service follows through with this draft plan.

Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, a national trail recreation advocacy group, stated, "This is certainly the largest OHV access-related meeting in California that I have attended since starting with the Coalition in the early 1990s. The record crowd was informed and highly motivated. It is clear they care deeply about their continued access to and active management of federal forest lands. They also understand that the Eldorado National Forest is just the tip of the route planning iceberg."

"For the last few years, the OHV community has shared concerns about the route inventory and designation process in California. We are particularly concerned, after seeing the Eldorado draft plan, with the value the public has received from more than 8 million dollars of state 'green-sticker' OHV trust funds supposedly applied to this effort," Amador concluded.

At present, public comments on the Eldorado DEIS are due on September 4, 2007. The BlueRibbon Coalition has submitted a formal request for the agency to issue a supplemental EIS to address certain errors in the plan. View a copy of this document at http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/P...L_08.02.07.pdf.

# # #

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org

[cougarfreak]

Yes, but I'd have liked to have seen it last year when the maps were first being drafted.  Thanks tho.  Linky no werkey in the BRC post BTW.

[*FFC*]

Yes, but I'd have liked to have seen it last year when the maps were first being drafted.  Thanks tho.  Linky no werkey in the BRC post BTW.

Ctrl*C + Ctrl*V are my best friends

[cougarfreak]

mine too!!!  Ironically I received this from another concerned enthusiast... here's the full link to the BRC letter:
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/PL/FS/SEIS_request_FINAL_08.02.07.pdf