Date: 03/10/2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION LANDUSE UPDATE!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Uncompahgre Field Office, has released a proposed Decision Record to change Off-Highway Vehicle designations on public lands in the Uncompahgre Field Office. The BLM proposes to amend the Uncompahgre Basin Resource Management Plan and San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan (RMPs). The new plan will limit motorized and mechanized use to existing roads and trails.

This is the final step in the decision-making process for revising travel management designations and the public has until March 26, 2010, to protest the changes.

Starting in the spring of 2007, BLM worked with the public and interested user groups to develop updated travel designations. Comments were gathered and considered as the proposed changes were developed. In addition, another public comment period was held in 2008 to ensure public input. More comments were gathered during that period that helped shape the final plan.

The Uncompahgre Field Office Travel Management Plan Amendment is available for review at the Montrose Public Lands Center, 2465 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO, as well as online at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/trave...wide0.html.

For complete protest procedures, please contact the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office, 2465 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO: phone (970)240-5300, email at cotmpufo@blm.gov, or go online at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo.html.

For further information or to request a copy of the plan, contact the Montrose Public Lands Center front desk or Julie Jackson, Outdoor Recreation Planner at (970) 240-5300; or send an email to cotmpufo@blm.gov.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact BRC.

Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!

Date: 03/09/2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION PARTNER ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC members, supporters and action alert subscribers,

Our partners over at the Northwest Motorcycle Association (NMA) sent us word that the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has released its Draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan.

You can read NMA's alert here: http://www.nmaoffroad.org/news.shtml#346

BRC is asking our members and supporters in Washington to contact Washington DNR Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark, telling him the DNR should prioritize motorized recreation at Reiter.

We've put together another one of our INSANELY EASY 3-Step action items below.

Please take action today, and please forward this to friends and family who could help.

Thanks in advance,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

BRC WASHINGTON ACTION ALERT
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED

SITUATION:
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has released its Draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan, and there are serious concerns about the current plan. The new DNR plan proposes limiting ORV use to only 1,100 acres. That is 72.5% less land for ORV use than what has historically been available.

The DNR admits that 1,100 acres is inadequate to accommodate existing ORV use, and their own research has identified additional area suitable for ORV use. Still they refuse to increase the area available to ORVs.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Please write to Washington DNR Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark, telling him what you think of this plan, and asking him for a detailed reply on how he plans to solve the problem.

BRC'S THREE-STEP ACTION ITEM
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS:

NOTE: Please Remember - be polite. If possible, make your comments as personal as you can.

STEP 1:  Open your email program and start a draft email. Address the email to
                CPL@wadnr.gov.  Put "Draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan"
                in the Subject Line.

STEP 2:  Use the comments below as a guideline for comments in your email.
                Cut and paste is okay, but try to make your comment letter as personal as possible.

STEP 3: Take just a minute to add a bit about where you live, where you like to ride
               and how much trail-based recreation means to you. Be certain to include your
               name and address. A return email address is NOT sufficient! ("anonymous" emails
               are often discarded).

EXTRA CREDIT: If you can add any personal testimony about your experiences enjoying this spectacular area, please take a minute to add that to your email.

Then click "Send" and you're done!

SAMPLE COMMENTS:

The area the proposed Reiter Foothill plan allocates for motorized recreation is significantly inadequate to facilitate the current recreational usage. This shortcoming is addressable as noted below.
In addition to the proposed ORV area, additional suitable area should be allocated for lightweight, single-track motorized recreation.

It is important that the DNR recognize that different types of ORV use have different impacts on the landscape. Just because the largest ORV may be inappropriate in a specific area, that should not preclude allowing lightweight two wheeled ORV access.

Prioritizing motorized recreation at Reiter is consistent with the DNR's Statewide Recreation Program Vision and Management Goals. "DNR envisions a future in which the lands it manages offer distinct and diverse outdoor recreation opportunities within the overall fabric of recreation in Washington."

The overall fabric of recreation in Washington includes prohibitions on motorized trail recreation in all National Parks, all Wilderness Areas, all Natural Resource Conservation Areas, all State Parks (except the 600 acre Riverside facility near Spokane), the Mt Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest, and the vast majority of county and city parks. At a statewide level, motorized trail use is prohibited on over 80 percent of the trail mileage. In the areas adjacent to the Reiter Foothills, that prohibition is 100 percent.

When considering the overall recreation fabric, it is reasonable for all areas within the Reiter study area that are found to be suitable for motorized recreation to be incorporated in the plan as areas where some form of motorized trail recreation is allowed.

The Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan shows that the offroad motorcyclists are the largest user group, their recreational needs should be a priority.

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!

Date: 03/08/2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

FS PLANS TO CLOSE OVER 80% OF THE ROUTES AND ELIMINATE 90% OF DISPERSED CAMPING IN MOUNTAINAIR RANGER DISTRICT
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Mark Werkmeister, President of the New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA), just sent us a their latest Access Alert on the Cibola National Forest's Mountainair Ranger District.

It's bad. Mark reports that the FS wants to close 80% of the existing roads and trails, which will eliminate about 90% of the dispersed camping.

The situation is so crappy; we decided to send this alert to all surrounding states.

 Please send a message to the Forest Service - even if you don't visit this area

Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

PS. Forgot to mention, NMOHVA's website is an excellent source for anything recreation related in New Mexico. BOOKMARK THIS SITE!! http://www.nmohva.org/

The Mountainair Ranger District revealed its Travel Management proposal today, which would ban the use of all motor vehicles on over 80% of the roads in the Manzano and Gallinas Mountains. This will affect all vehicles includes motorcycles, ATVs, and 4WDs. It also affects all members of the public, including hunters.  According to the proposal, there are currently 471 miles of unpaved roads legally open to vehicles, 411 miles of which are 'Jeep' roads.  The proposal would ban motor vehicles from all but 179 miles.

The proposal also virtually eliminates using a motor vehicle for camping alongside roads.  Known as 'dispersed camping', motor vehicle camping would be allowed on less than 15 miles of road. This is a reduction of 97% of the currently allowed vehicle camping.

The public has 30 days to comment on these issues by submitting letters or emails. These proposals are in the Draft Environmental Assessment for Travel Management on the Mountainair Ranger District.  The 30 day comment period will end on April 3, 2010.  Those who provide comments during this comment period will be eligible to appeal the final decision.

The purpose of this proposal is to designate a motorized road and trail system on the Mountainair District.  Designation will include class of vehicle and time of year for motor vehicle use.  The decision will result in the publication of a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). After the MVUM has been released, ALL other motorized travel off the designated system will be prohibited.  The full text of the document is on the Mountainair Ranger District Travel Management website.

Three Open House public meetings will be held on March 9th, 10th, and 11th. This will be an opportunity to meet with the Forest Service and ask questions about the project and the proposed closures.  The meeting will begin with a short presentation on the alternatives at 5:00pm, followed by the open house.

Tuesday, March 9th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm Mountainair Senior Center, 107 N. Summit Avenue, Mountainair.

Wednesday, March 10th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm Corona Senior Center, 451 Main Street, Corona.

Thursday, March 11th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm Torreon Community Center, 18 E Torreon Heights Road, Torreon.

Comments can be submitted by postal mail, email, and fax.  Specific instructions and contact information are available here.

Additional information regarding this proposal can be obtained from:

Erin Hudson, Travel Management Project Leader, at 505-346-3900

 
Mark
President

Read the Forest Service Documents Here

Environmental Assessment and Maps
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/projects/...orts.shtml

New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance | 13170-B Central Ave. SE | PMB #322 | Albuquerque | NM | 87123

 The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!

Date: 03/08/2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION LAND USE UPDATE!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscribers in Colorado,

This Thursday, March 11, 2010, H.R. 4289, known as The Colorado Wilderness Act of 2009, will be heard in the House National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee.

Rep. Diana DeGette has been pushing this bill for over a decade, but this is the first time it has been heard in a House Committee. Conceivably, the hearing on Thursday could pave the way for the bill's ultimate passage.

Thanks to the gang at Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO), BRC got an early review of the bill's impacts to recreation. The impacts of DeGette's bill to snowmobiling, OHV and mountain bike recreation would be HUGE.

COHVCO and other state and national OHV and snowmobile advocacy groups are finishing up their official testimony for submission to the Subcommittee. We'll pass along as much info as we can to our Colorado membership.

In the meantime, we are asking our members to contact their U.S. Congressional representatives and let them know that you are opposed to DeGette's bill. You can easily find the contact info by clicking on BRC's Rapid Response Center and entering your zip code: http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

Please keep an eye on your inbox for a BRC Action Alert later this week. Also, please forward this email to any friends or family who are concerned about recreational access in Colorado.

Testimony can be viewed on line by accessing the Subcommittee's webpage: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/inde...&Itemid=58

Thanks!

Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
____________________________________________________

More info on the web:
H.R. 4289: Colorado Wilderness Act of 2009
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4289

Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO)
http://www.cohvco.org/

Rep. Diana DeGette
http://degette.house.gov/

Central Colorado Wilderness Coalition
http://www.ccwcwilderness.org/

Wild Connections
http://www.wildconnections.org/

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!

Date: 03/05/2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION PARTNER ACTION ALERT!

Prescott National Forest to Hold Recreation Strategy Community Workshops

Dear BRC members, supporters and action alert subscribers,

Sanford Cohen, from the Prescott Open Trails Association (POTA), just sent us a heads up about some "Recreation Strategy Community Workshops" Co-Sponsored by the Prescott National Forest and the Community Forest Stewardship Forum in partnership with: City of Prescott, Town of Prescott Valley, Town of Chino Valley and Yavapai County.

Recreational users are invited to share interests, concerns and ideas for recreational projects and "help create a Sustainable Recreation future" for the region.

Sanford suspects the "Sustainable Recreation" initiative will result in closing the remaining roads and trails on the Prescott National Forest. (Many hundreds of miles of roads and trails have been closed over the decades and few motorized trails remain.)

If you live in or near Prescott, please read Sanford's info below and take action. Also, please pass this information on to your friends and family, and please ask them take action as well.

Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

From Sanford Cohen, Prescott Open Trails Association

Read this attachment and if YOU DON'T SHOW UP to at least one of these meetings, you will have only yourself to blame for the loss of our trails.  The anti-motorized group is trying to get empowered and a small turnout from us will insure our defeat.
 
This comes from the "save the Verde" people.  They are launching an all out assault on motorized trails.  Our Forest Supervisor is out of town on assignment and the local head of the Wilderness Coalition is in charge of OUR trails program.
 
We MUST ALL SHOW UP and we MUST BE PREPARED with the following talking points:
 
1)  The Prescott is managed as a multiple use forest.  Motorized Trails and Roads are also open to hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.  The miles of roads and trails are being mis-represented as for MOTORIZED ONLY.
 
2)  The average Motorized Hiker covers much longer distances on average, so in terms of time spent on the trail, they need to have longer distances to keep even with the non-motorized trail user.
 
3)  With food, fuel and lodging and connections between communities, motorized hikers contribute more to the financial picture of Cities and Towns and provide more monetary help to Prescott National Forest for all types of trail construction and maintenance than any other activity.
 
4)  Wilderness areas containing trails where motorized vehicles are off-limits number in the millions of acres.  The areas where hikers on foot are not allowed on the trail forest-wide is ZERO.  We do not need to add more wilderness.
 
5)  Off highway vehicle use has grown 357% since 1996.  You do not respond to a greater demand for an activity by providing less of it.
 
When you do go to one of the sessions, make sure you identify yourself as a member of Prescott Open Trails Association.  There is strength in numbers, but only if you show up and be heard.
 
Thanks!
 
Sanford Cohen
POTA

Attachment (http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Trailspolicy-2.pdf)

You're invited!!!
To share your interests, concerns and ideas for recreational projects
And to help create a Sustainable Recreation future for our region

Western/Northern Prescott National Forest and surrounding communities, including Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Paulden and Drake (see attached map) http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/PNF_R...es_Map.pdf

Chino Valley
March 10th  6:00-8:30 PM
Activity Center (1527 N. Road 1 East)
 
Prescott
March 11th  12:00-2:30 PM
Yavapai Community College  (Bldg 19, Rm 147)
 
Prescott Valley
March 10th   10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Prescott Valley Library Chrystal Room
March 11th  6:00-8:30 PM
Stone Ridge Golf Course (1601 N. Bluff Top Drive)
 
We want to hear from everyone!
-  Refreshments will be provided -
 
Co-Sponsored by:
Prescott National Forest and the
Community Forest Stewardship Forum
In Partnership With: City of Prescott
Town of Prescott Valley
Town of Chino Valley
Yavapai County
 
For more information, please contact:
Linda Jackson, Prescott National Forest
(928) 777-2230 or lljackson@fs.fed.us
 
Kelly Schwartz, Backcountry Horsemen
(928) 533-2213 or kelly@jksfinancial.biz
 
Melissa Jackson, City of Prescott
(928) 777-1588 or melissa.jackson@prescott-az.gov

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!