- Location
- Desert Beach So Cal
Stewards of the Sequoia
HELP NEEDED TO KEEP TRAILS OPEN
The situation in the Sequoia is worrisome. The scuttlebutt is they plan
to close 60% of the trails, including some designated trails. Next year
they will receive no money from the OHMVR grants (Green Sticker Fund)
because they didn't follow the rules for the grant application. Every
other year they have received about $250,000. This pays the entire trail
crew, OHV staff & law enforcement. It appears they will soon propose
closing trails because they have no money. Someone needs to be
accountable for this & we are setting up a meeting with staff to find a
solution to provide the trail funding.
A trail plan will be out in the next couple of weeks starting the 30 day
NEPA comment period. Watch for this, we need help.
For those who know the trails PLEASE send in you comment forms NOW.
They keep a tally of how many they get as an indication of interest. No
interest, they close the trail. We need everyone to list send in a list
of all the trails they want open. You need to list each one for it to be
counted
Link to the form:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/projects/ohv_route_designation_strategy
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/projects/ohv_route_designation_strategy/comment_form.pdf
Many riders seem to feel they can ignore this whole process & ride where
ever they like even if trails are closed. This is totally unrealistic.
There has been little law enforcement presence in the past because the
trail system was not designated, however once the trails system is
designated in 2008, they will step up law enforcement. It is likely they
will be using existing helicopters "equipped with heat sensing & GPS,
who will call in ground troops". This is the wording used when it has
been discussed at meetings in other areas.
After 2008 tickets can be up to $5000 & 6 months in jail. Can you afford
that? Now is your once in a lifetime chance to help keep your trails
open.
If possible please copy your trail comments & send one set to Forest
Service & another to Stewards PO Box 267, Lake Isabella, CA 93240
VOLUNTEERS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Thanks to the eight volunteers who volunteered on the Trails this
weekend. We got a lot of great work done & I think everyone learned a
lot & enjoyed puting back into their trails.
I would like to thank every volunteer who has helped on the trails over
the past years. The trails you worked on are really in much better
condition & this will be a factor in helping to keep them open. You
should be very proud of what you have accomplished on the trail, as well
as the very favorable recognition we are getting from the Forest
Service. They have already offered to keep some trails open they had
been thinking about closing because of your dedicated efforts.
You guys & gals deserve a big thank you from everyone who uses the
trails
Stewards next Trail Appreciation weekend is 11/11-12 please check the
web site for details
http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/events-schedule.html
Stewards of the Sequoia (Events / Schedule)
MISSING TRAILS ADDED TO INVENTORY
At the most recent Forest Service Trail Inventory Workshop a number of
trails had not been included on the new Forest Order map showing what
trails are legal. Stewards volunteers had spent considerable time in
documenting seven trails, which were missed & we were being told they
would not be added until perhaps next year. This would have meant the
seven trails would have been closed for one year & anyone riding them
could have been ticketed.
After speaking with them I think the Forest Service realized it was not
the intent of the Trail Inventory process to make the public outlaws on
existing trails. We find it very encouraging that they have decided to
include the trails which we documented.
If you are not a member of Stewards of the Sequoia please join now so we
can keep you informed of action items to keep your trails open
http://www.stewardsofthesequoia.org/membership.html
Stewards of the Sequoia (Membership)
If you have not renewed your annual donation this year please do. We
need to build up our legal defense fund.
http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/donations.html
Stewards of the Sequoia (Donations)
Chris Horgan
Stewards of the Sequoia
Division of CTUC 501c3
HELP NEEDED TO KEEP TRAILS OPEN
The situation in the Sequoia is worrisome. The scuttlebutt is they plan
to close 60% of the trails, including some designated trails. Next year
they will receive no money from the OHMVR grants (Green Sticker Fund)
because they didn't follow the rules for the grant application. Every
other year they have received about $250,000. This pays the entire trail
crew, OHV staff & law enforcement. It appears they will soon propose
closing trails because they have no money. Someone needs to be
accountable for this & we are setting up a meeting with staff to find a
solution to provide the trail funding.
A trail plan will be out in the next couple of weeks starting the 30 day
NEPA comment period. Watch for this, we need help.
For those who know the trails PLEASE send in you comment forms NOW.
They keep a tally of how many they get as an indication of interest. No
interest, they close the trail. We need everyone to list send in a list
of all the trails they want open. You need to list each one for it to be
counted
Link to the form:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/projects/ohv_route_designation_strategy
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/projects/ohv_route_designation_strategy/comment_form.pdf
Many riders seem to feel they can ignore this whole process & ride where
ever they like even if trails are closed. This is totally unrealistic.
There has been little law enforcement presence in the past because the
trail system was not designated, however once the trails system is
designated in 2008, they will step up law enforcement. It is likely they
will be using existing helicopters "equipped with heat sensing & GPS,
who will call in ground troops". This is the wording used when it has
been discussed at meetings in other areas.
After 2008 tickets can be up to $5000 & 6 months in jail. Can you afford
that? Now is your once in a lifetime chance to help keep your trails
open.
If possible please copy your trail comments & send one set to Forest
Service & another to Stewards PO Box 267, Lake Isabella, CA 93240
VOLUNTEERS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Thanks to the eight volunteers who volunteered on the Trails this
weekend. We got a lot of great work done & I think everyone learned a
lot & enjoyed puting back into their trails.
I would like to thank every volunteer who has helped on the trails over
the past years. The trails you worked on are really in much better
condition & this will be a factor in helping to keep them open. You
should be very proud of what you have accomplished on the trail, as well
as the very favorable recognition we are getting from the Forest
Service. They have already offered to keep some trails open they had
been thinking about closing because of your dedicated efforts.
You guys & gals deserve a big thank you from everyone who uses the
trails
Stewards next Trail Appreciation weekend is 11/11-12 please check the
web site for details
http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/events-schedule.html
Stewards of the Sequoia (Events / Schedule)
MISSING TRAILS ADDED TO INVENTORY
At the most recent Forest Service Trail Inventory Workshop a number of
trails had not been included on the new Forest Order map showing what
trails are legal. Stewards volunteers had spent considerable time in
documenting seven trails, which were missed & we were being told they
would not be added until perhaps next year. This would have meant the
seven trails would have been closed for one year & anyone riding them
could have been ticketed.
After speaking with them I think the Forest Service realized it was not
the intent of the Trail Inventory process to make the public outlaws on
existing trails. We find it very encouraging that they have decided to
include the trails which we documented.
If you are not a member of Stewards of the Sequoia please join now so we
can keep you informed of action items to keep your trails open
http://www.stewardsofthesequoia.org/membership.html
Stewards of the Sequoia (Membership)
If you have not renewed your annual donation this year please do. We
need to build up our legal defense fund.
http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/donations.html
Stewards of the Sequoia (Donations)
Chris Horgan
Stewards of the Sequoia
Division of CTUC 501c3
