Straight from the Department of Forestry

[dargo]

Here is a response I got from the DOF regarding Picayune after I filed a complaint:

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

Thank you for your email regarding off-highway vehicle use of the
Picayune Strand.  This property is a state forest managed by the Florida
Division of Forestry (DOF) that is also established as a wildlife
management area.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) adopts rules for this area as requested by the managing agency.
Current rules for the area do not allow ATV use.  Law enforcement
officers will be taking an educational approach to enforcing this rule
by first issuing warnings to individuals who violate the rule.  The DOF
is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider proposing
a rule change that may allow ATV use of the area (2005-06).  For more
information on the current status of these efforts you may contact DOF's
District Forester, Hank Graham.

The DOF is diligently working with FWC, other agencies and OHV user
groups on the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Council to locate properties
for OHV riding in your region and throughout the state.  The council
also is providing funding and technical assistance to acquire lands and
develop well-designed off-highway vehicle trail systems.

Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.


Jerrie Lindsey
Recreation Services Director
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission




MessageType: Complaint
Subject: (Other)
SubjectOther: Off highway vehicles in Picayune Strand
url:
http://www.atvflorida.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=wheretoride;action=
display;num=1099023402
Comments: As a taxpayer  I would like to express my concern about the
prohibition of off highway vehicle usage in the Picayune Strand.  This
area has been heavily used by ATVer's in the past and only recently has
the FWC been issuing warnings about riding in the area.  I believe if
you
post an informal survey on your site  you would find a majority of
people
would support ATV usage within the area.  Please consider a change of
policy reagarding the usage of ATV's within this area.
Username: xxxxxxxxxxxx
UserEmail: xxxxxxxxxxxx
UserEmail2: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Address1: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Address2:
Address3:
City:
State:
Zip:
county:
UserTel:
UserFAX:

[BIGWORM3699 ( ECP RACING)]

LOOKS LIKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

[dreth]

sounds like double talk and a blow off to me, they say any thing to get you to leave them alone

[SkyHighT100]

I also recieved an email today from the fish and wildlife commition. Granted as always, I didnt get my questions answered. But they did give me a link to Florida's main ATV site (Government anyway). I havent had a chance to investigate the site totally, but I am sure there's a place there to voice concerns/suggestions. I just made a Post in the "Open Discussion" forum, but here's the link anyway

http://www.fl-dof.com/Recreation/OHV/index.html

[Thrumud]

Still, we shouldn't sit on our a$$es and wait for these guys to decide.   We should keep sending the letters, & e-mails.  I think we need the media involved.  The more exposure the faster the results.  

[Redgrizzly660]

I also recieved an E-mail

Thank you for your email about the need for an ATV park near Davie.  The Florida Off-highway Vehicle Advisory Council administered by the Florida Division of Forestry is currently accepting grants for acquisition and development of off-highway areas.  You may wish to urge your county to apply for a grant through this program.  The council is also working with counties and other agencies to locate and develop ATV riding areas and trail systems.  A link to their website is listed below:

Division of Forestry OHV site
http://www.fl-dof.com/Recreation/OHV/index.html

Grant Guidelines
http://www.fl-dof.com/Recreation/OHV/Grant0405.html


Jerrie Lindsey
Recreation Services Director

[Gamer]

Does anyone on here know Brian McMahon who is on the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Advisory Committee?  He is the individual that was in charge of the protest in front of DOF when they were trying to kick everyone out 2 or 3 years ago in Bad Luck Prairie.  We need to get in touch with him and let him know whats going on.  He might be able to help and maybe even start another protest but this time in front of FWC's office in Naples.  Someone please get in touch with him.

[Toomey]

Hey guys, you wanna see something funny?
Seems that I e'mailed the same place a few days ago, and here is the response I get.  Word for word the same as the previous one.  It seems that they have an email that they just copy&paste whenever they get an ATV email.    

Hello Mr. 2001Toomey:

Thank you for your email regarding off-highway vehicle use of the
Picayune Strand.  This property is a state forest managed by the
Florida
Division of Forestry (DOF) that is also established as a wildlife
management area.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) adopts rules for this area as requested by the managing agency.
Current rules for the area do not allow ATV use.  Law enforcement
officers will be taking an educational approach to enforcing this rule
by first issuing warnings to individuals who violate the rule.  The DOF
is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider
proposing
a rule change that may allow ATV use of the area (2005-06).  For more
information on the current status of these efforts you may contact
DOF's
District Forester, Hank Graham.

The DOF is diligently working with FWC, other agencies and OHV user
groups on the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Council to locate properties
for OHV riding in your region and throughout the state.  The council
also is providing funding and technical assistance to acquire lands and
develop well-designed off-highway vehicle trail systems.  For
information
about the program, please see the following link:
http://www.fl-dof.com/Recreation/OHV/index.html

Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.


Jerrie Lindsey
Recreation Services Director


-----Original Message-----
From: toomeyb12001@yahoo.com [mailto:toomeyb12001@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 5:04 PM
To: email.fwc
Subject: E-Mail From FWC Web Site


MessageType: Complaint
Subject: (Other)
SubjectOther: ATV
url:
http://www.atvflorida.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=wheretoride;action=display;num=1098670021;start=
Comments: I live here in South Florida and the best/closest place to
ride
is in Naples  called the Squares  Southern Golden Gate Estates  etc.  
More
and more people are buying ATV's  and if you keep closing down areas  
what
do you think we are supposed to do?  Ride on the streets is what's
gonna
happen!
Please fight to open new areas and to preserve the ones we have already
riding is a passion for some of us.

Thanks

Mario
Username: 2001Toomey
UserEmail: toomeyb12001@yahoo.com
UserEmail2: toomeyb12001@yahoo.com
Address1: 1234 Wonderland St.
Address2:
Address3:
City: Cooper City
State: FL.
Zip: 33328
county: Broward
UserTel: 555-555-5555
UserFAX:

[zilla954]

I got the same thing.

[sk8r_dude]

I got the same canned response. I think they just developed a form letter and use it each time they get this type of inquiry. Typical government, lots of BS with no action.

[500runner]

i bet the TREE HUGGER GROUPS  are looking to derail any ATV parks. there might be a YELLOW BELLY SAP SUCKER that might get scared!!!

[kryppy]

I guess they want to drill out these now.

[GregsRancher]

Does anyone on here know Brian McMahon who is on the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Advisory Committee?  He is the individual that was in charge of the protest in front of DOF when they were trying to kick everyone out 2 or 3 years ago in Bad Luck Prairie.  We need to get in touch with him and let him know whats going on.  He might be able to help and maybe even start another protest but this time in front of FWC's office in Naples.  Someone please get in touch with him.

wasnt that 1-2 yrs ago? I know I went to the last protest about that there. it's good to see a lot of local boys on this forum. I just was referred to this place from Evan Haglund of ARRA. i want to do more to help but dont know what to do. it almost seems impossible now.

[silveradols]

do we really want the media involved?  They have a tendency to only report the "bad apples" of atving.  They don't like to report all the good things about the sport.  They only want to report the people who were acting like idiots and got themselves hurt or killed.