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Author Topic: ONF, ONFA Land Use Issues  (Read 2514 times)
viper
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« on: January 12, 2007, 06:59:27 AM »

Where does the ONFA really stand. It looks like the ONFA is on the green side, and not the side of the trails. If they were protecting our trails why has the USFS closed the trails on US 19 side? What has the ONFA really done, everyone says they have done alot, but I see nothing. Stacktester you say the ONFA has done a lot, tell us, what has it done.

I see Lisa fighting for a cause, maybe not in the way everyone would like, but she is on the front lines, I heard she connected with several coalitions to help fight for the trails on the ONF, so they don't get closed.

There is a saying the hand writing is on the wall, that saying was started with the Book of Daniel. Well folks the handwriting is on the wall.

Where do you stand on the green side or fighting for your trails.. Think about that..

Below are two articles out of Blue Ribbion Coalition Mag: The ONFA took a stand to be on the green side, no more trails.. Look at the articles. These are only a couple of articles, it is wide spread. BLue Ribbion coalition was called in not to be the nice guy but to work for the cause.

MISSISSIPPI: Our Land Use Weathermen are tracking the route designation process on the Holly Springs NF because the agency appears to be following the "close everything first" strategy. We have met with the FS route planners to discuss our concerns as well as offer assistance in protecting resources. The Memphis Motorcycle Club is extremely disappointed with the situation because they had worked to secure funding for fences, bridges and other management in order to address the problems. Sadly, the agency refused the help saying such management requires environmental analysis before it can begin. Unbelievable. More info on the web: www.memphismotorcycleclub.com/
 
ARKANSAS: In some districts of the Ozark NF, the amount of routes the agency wants to close is truly astonishing. BRC is tracking the progress of the route designation process and assessing its impacts on dispersed camping, hunting and game retrieval as well as affects to motorized users.

 MIICHIGAN: Last month we told you about recreational interests challenging new National Forest plans in Michigan. BRC's land use weathermen are also tracking the Michigan Department of Natural Resources comprehensive off-road vehicle management plan. Michigan's DNR has been working on the new plan since May of 2004. It is expected to be final soon. Complicating the process is a "forest certification audit and ifs finding that an unacceptable level of environmental damage is resulting from illegal use on state owned lands. This is a serious matter that must be addressed by the Department and the OHV community.

HELENA, MT (December 4) -- Millions of acres of prime recreational opportunities in Montana are threatened with closure. Your action could mean the difference between a "closed" sign and a "trail open" sign. Please take a moment to read the information below and act on the action items.

Situation:
BRC, with help from Craig Osterman, Executive Director of the Treasure State Alliance (a new OHV umbrella group in Montana) has been tracking Forest Plan revisions for many months. Despite our efforts working within the planning process, the U.S. Forest Service is planning a de-facto Wilderness management regime on all "Recommended Wilderness Areas" (RWA).

Under normal circumstances, the "Recommended" Wilderness classification is just that: a recommendation. The decision of "whether Wilderness" is supposed to be left to Congress and the American People.

Sadly, the Northern Region of the U.S. Forest Service seems to think they, not Congress, have the authority to manage these lands -- as Wilderness! New Forest Plans state that RWAs will now become closed to all motorized use, including winter snowmobile use.

Why you should care:
The US Forest Service Region 1 (Northern Region) manages 25 million acres of public national forest and grasslands in Montana, North Dakota, northeast Washington, northern Idaho, and northwest South Dakota.

New Forest Plans, under the guidance of the Northern Region Forester, dictate that large areas will be classified as RWAs. Thousands of acres of prime recreational lands will be included as RWAs in these new Plans. The new plans direct that RWAs will now become closed to winter snowmobile use and all other forms of motorized recreation.

No law or Forest Service policy requires the Forest Service to take such a drastic action. These closures would apparently be immediately imposed upon the completion of the new Forest Plan. No attempt will be made to postpone these closures until Congress passes legislation to legally designate these forest lands as Wilderness!

Only Congress has the authority to create designated Wilderness, but these RWAs are being treated as de-facto wilderness under the Region 1 Forester's direction as soon as they are created. This unlawful policy must be stopped immediately.

Pro-access groups such as the BlueRibbon Coalition, the Snowmobile Alliance of Western States and the Treasure State Alliance are committed to end to this abuse of power.

But we can't do it without your help. These Forest Plan Revision projects are nearing completion, so please respond today.

« Last Edit: January 12, 2007, 07:05:53 AM by viper » Logged
lswjth2
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« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2007, 07:11:36 AM »

Viper, Thank you for the post. That is very good reading and we should all be more involved. I think the real issue with ONFA is that they really dont know what it is their supporting(lets hope that the case). This 'GREENIES' are extremely good at being deceiptul and manipulative.
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« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2007, 02:48:17 PM »

   This is exactly where ONF is going! Mr. Lint has been talking about ONF being a "Recommended Wilderness Area". I have the documentation about that somewhere. I also know that Fl4WDA is aware that ONF is being looked at as a "Recommeded Wilderness Area."

   Thanks viper, that is great information! This is what networking is all about!

   
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« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2007, 02:57:13 PM »

Is the ONFA fighting to keep all of the ONF open to ride ATV's?  The answer to that is a definate NO.  WHY?  Because it in unstainable.  It will never happen.  What we are fighting to do is to get 240 plus miles of trails that we can ride on.  We are partnering with the USFS(yes Lisa we are a partner) in providing them with both volunteers and access to money from the State of Florida and anywhere else we can get grant money to make this happen.  We are providing the Trail Rangers to patrol the trails, help with the trailheads when they are built, provide safety training to all under 16 who will be required to have it, and anyone else who wants it.  We also hope to get equipment and training to act as first responders in the case of a medical emergency.

But, do we believe it is possible to keep every trail and pit and mudhole open in the forest?  NO, This has already been determined by Washington.  That fight is for people like Lisa, Viper and anyone else who has the time and gumption to do it.  We don't.  Will we watch the Black Bear Byway and make sure that they do not get any of the trails, you bet we will.  We are fighting to get the trails approved in phase II quickly just for that reason.  We want to be there first, not last.

Do I agree with Lisa that we should take a stand, no, do I disagree with her taking a stand NO.  She can fight the fight I don't believe ONFA should fight.  But we are both trying to save the forest differently.  Don't fault what we are doing.  If you don't agree with our approach, go with Lisa's approach.  We will have 240 miles of trails, we can use your help with keeping these trails open, and not by everyone abusing the Forest by riding in areas that are not trails.  
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viper
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« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2007, 03:41:54 PM »

You missed the point, there is no way your are going to stop them. Blue Ribbon coalition can't stop the USFS how is the ONFA going to stop them from closing the trails. You have no where near the power.

You already have the 240 miles of plus trails, there is no fighting for that, that is a done deal. All that is a done deal, there is nothing to fight for. All the planning was done before the ONFA was established or even thought of, the 240 miles of trails was a done deal before you even existed. So what are you fighting for??

How will you stop the black bear corridor when 3 USFS people are sitting on the board?

So the black bear corridor comes along, I have put a lot of time into volunteering and they close our trails anyway. That makes sense.

If was managed properly you could have the whole forest open..
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lisa
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« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2007, 08:44:04 PM »

  Thank you Grizz.  With some of the support I have been getting here, I probably will start something now. I think 240-miles of trails out of 300,000 acres is pitiful!!!

   Let's hear some names for a statewide org!
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In His Hands,
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In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.
Mark Twain - Notebook, 1904
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