help re open coyote canyon outside of moab!!

[jmaxj]

after this trail was "illegally" closed in '08 the moab friends for wheelin has been fighting to re open it. well the chance for it has finally came.

i know most of you have not driven this trail and most probably won't be able too, it is one of the most challenging 3/4 miles in the moab area. an extremely fun trail. if you would like to run it well here's your chance to help it get re opened.

here's the info how
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/info/newsroom/2011/august/coyote_canyon_ea_available.html

if you want info on this trail, (i e pics or videos. there are plenty on google and youtube)

help us not let another trail disappear forever!

thanks

 

[XJEEPER]

Coyote Canyon in located near Area BFE, near Moab. This is a killer trail, let's help out on getting it reopened! BLM comment period deadline-Sept 9, 2011

Copied and pasted from Rocky Mountain Extreme forum thread:

I never have been able to open the link to the actual Environmental Assessment (EA), but I finally got my hands on a copy. It is 27 pages long, and is actually rather interesting reading. The BLM presents two options: open it, or leave it closed. In my opinion, the EA is quite favorable to re-opening the route, but that doesn’t mean we can stop working now!
I have attempted to summarize the EA below, but I do recommend downloading and reading it for yourself. If you can’t download it, PM me and I will email you the PDF. (Disclaimer – The summary below is my interpretation only, yours may vary.)
As the EA states, there were 389 letters “in favor” and 9 “against” during the scoping period. There will undoubtedly be many more “against” now that the official comment period has begun, and we need to make sure we match and exceed those letters! PLEASE take a moment to send an email of support, and note any of your specific concerns.. Comments on the EA may be emailed to [email protected].
Per the BLM: “Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.”
Thank you -

Coyote Canyon E.A. Summary, August 2011
Comments during scoping period:
· 389 in favor
· 9 against
Comments “For”:
· 11 common issues were raised, 6 of which BLM responded to positively and were “added to need for proposed action”.
· On 4 of the issues, BLM’s response was “issue to be analyzed”. In all cases except one, these issues were found to be favorable in the analysis portion of the EA. The exception was a request to open the route to motorcycles, which was denied in the EA on the basis of excess noise. (In my opinion, Coyote Canyon would be a good “challenge route” for trials motorcycles, which usually are quieter than other off-road motorcycles. While not necessarily impossible for normal dirt bikes (non-trials type), the route would be extremely difficult, and would likely see near zero use by that type of motorcycle.) ATV’s and UTV’s were not discussed in the EA, and the route would presumably be closed to those vehicles.
· One issue (“designation of Coyote would correct omission in 2008 RMP Travel Plan”) was discussed in the EA, and explained that the route was inadvertently omitted from consideration during Travel Plan deliberations.
Comments “Against”:
· 16 common issues were raised in the nine letters received that were “against” Coyote.
· 8 of those issues were debunked and eliminated from further analysis by BLM.
· 5 of the issues were discussed and explained in the EA, and should have no bearing on the ultimate decision.
· BLM’s response on 3 of the issues was “issue to be analyzed”. The first of these issues is increased noise pollution, to which BLM responds “the cumulative effects of adding visual impacts and/or noise by designating Coyote Canyon are so small as to be unnoticeable, given the mitigating measures provided in this EA”. The second issue is “negative impacts on wildlife”, and BLM’s response is “negligible”. The third issue is “negative impact to adjoining homeowners and their property values”. To me, this issue is obviously the trickiest, as it is very subjective and difficult to quantify. Everything that happens in the adjoining area will affect the property owners in some way, but in my opinion the biggest impact by far would be general traffic along Black Ridge Road, be it from general recreation, visitors to Area BFE, hunters, other property owners, etc. I believe that the impact directly related to the designation of Coyote Canyon would be very small in comparison to existing impacts.
Mitigation:
The following stipulations are included in the EA designation of the route:
· Moab Friends-For-Wheelin’ (MFFW) would purchase and install fencing or other barriers to limit travel to the designated route. The route would have one entrance/exit point accessible only from Black Ridge Road, and travel in the lower wash beyond the entrance/exit would be blocked. MFFW would also repair an erosion gully as identified by BLM.
· MFFW would also provide and install trailhead and on-trail signage, including vehicle requirements, rules, and safety information.
· MFFW would perform clean-ups (including human waste) monthly or as required.
· Trailer parking would not be permitted at the trailhead, but rather at the designated OHV parking lot adjacent to Highway 191.
· Travel would be permitted in a clockwise direction only. (Not sure I like this one.)
· Spill kits would be required for all vehicles.
· No motorcycles. (As I said above, I don’t really like this either.)
· Operation would be from dawn to dusk only (no night runs).
· No permitted organized events allowed. (Keep your group informal and small!)
· No winching to trees.
· No designated campsites will be allowed between Highway 191 and the private property just beyond Coyote Canyon.
Comment Period: Ends September 9th, 2011

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medial...teCanyonEA.pdf

 

[Jump This]

Lets keep this one alive!!

 

[jmaxj]

a little update, feel free to post comments

http://moabtimes.com/view/full_story...e_news_bullets


http://moabtimes.com/view/full_story...tion…?

 

[Jump This]

Thanks for the update.

 

[jmaxj]

don't forget comment period ends this friday sept 9th.

so get the comments in.

 

[jmaxj]

the comment period has been extended to the 30th. more time for more comments :clap:

here's the info.
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/info/newsroom/2011/september/coyote_canyon_ea_comment.html

 

[IXNAYXJ]

A great trail that needs our support. Glad to see this is being addressed!

-M

 

[jmaxj]

a positive update :thumbup:

http://moabdave.com/2011/10/03/reopening-coyote-canyon/

 

[jmaxj]

UPDATE, WE WON!! (sort of)

copied from another forum

I just got the word from BLM that Coyote Canyon will be re-opened, although there are some conditions and restrictions. I haven't seen the full documentation yet, so everything I am listing is unofficial as of right now, but the basics are as follows:

The trail must be reserved with the BLM in order to run it. You will need to get a permit (free) at the BLM office, and they will give you the combination to a locked gate at the trail.
Only seven rigs per day allowed.
It will be open on Friday and Saturday only, and will be closed for a couple of months during the winter.
We will need to install all of the signs, fences, gates and whatever as stipulated before the trail can be opened.
There will be a 30 day comment period before everything becomes official.

The full EA should be up on their website soon. Once we get it, and have time to figure everything out, I'll post more information.

Yes, I know this isn't everything we had hoped for, but at least we will have the opportunity to use the trail again even with the restrictions. I'm pretty sure we won't be able to get it open before EJS, but by this summer it should be good to go!


may not be a cool 100% win but it's a win.

 

[jmaxj]

here's some more informative reading from the BLM

https://www.blm.gov/ut/enbb/files/11-0149.pdf

you just gotta read the issues raised part most of it is just off the wall stupid

 

[GSequoia]

Any time we can get back in is a win

 

[jmaxj]

True a win is a win even if its only by an inch.

 

[GSequoia]

Places are closed and things are banned all at once. Places become open or things become unbanned incrementally, usually after lawsuits and such

 

[DrMoab]

For some reason that BLM link isn't working for me. Can someone elaborate as far as the stipulations and restrictions and why they are in place?

 

[jmaxj]

For some reason that BLM link isn't working for me. Can someone elaborate as far as the stipulations and restrictions and why they are in place?

It's a .pdf file but basically it can only be ran on Friday and Saturday with only 7 rigs per day. A permit is required to run it and only can be used during daylight hours. There are others but can't remember them.


For some reason I can't copy and paste text from the pdf on my phone. The old adobe on here used to let me do it. :dunno:

 

[DrMoab]

Yeah I caught what the restrictions were from our side. I guess what I'm asking is why? Or what is their reasoning behind it? An endangered snail that only comes out on week days? A bird that will die if it sees more than 7 rigs at a time? It seems on the very far side of extreme to me and I don't understand the point.

Then again....it is the BLM in the center of a major suwa stronghold.

 

[GSequoia]

BLM cited noise complaints from nearby residents.

 

[DrMoab]

So in other words. The crazy bitch who bought lower heldorado clear across the canyon is bitching even though she probably can't hear anything.

 

[jmaxj]

Yes, plus the people that bought homes across from it up the hill. All but a few were worried about it. The crazy hippie that bought LH was mostly complaining that its to close to her property.