Coconino Forest Blue Ribbon Alert!

[jraya]

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC Arizona Action Alert Subscriber,

Yesterday we received an urgent action alert from the Coconino Trail Riders, a club out of Flagstaff, Arizon. When I first read the Alert (see below) I could hardly believe it. Then I downloaded the information from the Forest Service website. And then I got mad.

Frankly, everyone OHV enthusiast should be outraged at this proposal. The Coconino stretches over 1.8 million acres of forested lands. Currently, there are thousands of miles of road and hundreds of miles of trail that are being used by folks from all over Arizona. To close all trails but a paltry 25.5 miles is an outrage.

The good news, and yes, there is good news, is this; the Coconino Trail Riders are motivated and knowledgeable. They are organizing, developing partnerships with non-motorize trial users and working the process in a professional manner.

They can succeed, but they will need our help. Even if you never plan to visit the Coconino NF, I urge you to send a quick email comment letter. Your letter will help the Coconino Trail Riders defend the existing trail system.

They've made it really easy. Just give their Action Alert a quick read and follow the instructions.

Thank you in advance for taking action!

Brian Hawthorne
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102



Coconino Trail Riders ACTION ALERT!!

The Coconino Trail Riders (CTR) need your help!

Recently, the Coconino National Forest released their proposed Travel Management Plan for public comment. Despite strong public support for more dirt bike, ATV and 4x4 trails, the Forest Service is proposing to close over a thousand miles of roads and trails!

The proposal, officially called a "Proposed Action," (PA) calls for a drastic closure of existing roads and trails to motorized vehicles. Specifically regarding trails, the PA leaves us with less than 24.5 miles of motorized trail.

Yes, you read that right. Of the hundreds of miles of existing, legal motorized trails currently being enjoyed by many thousands of American citizens, the Coconino is proposing all but 24 miles be closed. Some of these trails have been enjoyed by families for over 30 years. This in a forest of over 1.8 million acres!

CTR NEEDS YOUR HELP! The comment period for the Proposed Action ends on September 10. We need to have your letter in Forest Service hands before then! Please e-mail your comment today!

We've made it super-easy for you to write a comment letter. Just follow the instructions below and email your comment today.

Jim Hall
President,
Coconino Trail Riders

PS: CTR is working with other local, state and national OHV groups on this. In addition, we have a great alliance of non-motorized trail users supporting more motorized trails. With your letter, we can show the CNF how much these trails are loved. Please forward this email to friends, family and other trail users.


COCONINO TRAIL RIDERS ACTION ALERT:
COMMENTS NEEDED ON BAD TRAVEL PLAN ON THE COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST

SITUATION:
The Coconino National Forest is formulating a Travel Management Plan pursuant to the agency's new travel management regulations. The agency's regulations clearly state that user created trails should be considered when formulating a travel plan. Indeed, little of the agency's travel routes were "planned." Many popular recreational routes are old mining roads, logging roads, stock trails and some were created by forest visitors.

Sadly, the Coconino flatly refused to incorporate any of these trails into their initial proposal. According to the cover letter dated July 16, 2007, the Forest Supervisor stated the agency does not have sufficient staffing or time to analyze these routes.

The Coconino Trail Riders believe this approach is unfair and reflects a clear bias against motorized users. We also note that this flawed approach is also inconsistent with the spirit, if not the letter of the Travel Management Rule.

For more information and to look at the maps please visit the CNF's website at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/tmr.shtml

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Using the information below, please send a letter to the Coconino National Forest. In addition to what we suggest, please include any specific information and concerns which you may have in your letter. Please be polite and don't forget to include your name and address. "Anonymous" emails often are discarded.

Send e-mails to : comments-southwestern-coconino@fs.fed.us
Mail letters to: Nora Rasure, Forest Supervisor
1824 South Thompson
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Fax comments to: (928) 527-3620

CTR MEGA ACTION TIP:
It's always good to start your comment letter with just a bit about your background and how much you and your family enjoy motorized recreation on the Coconino National Forest.

Issue: The CNF is proposing only 24.5 miles of motorized trails. This represents a closure of hundreds of miles of currently legal trails that are enjoyed by OHV users.
Comment Suggestion:

Comment Suggestion: Tell the CNF that you believe 24.5 miles of trail will not meet the current demand for trail use. Tell the CNF that the Proposed Action fails to meet the purpose and need of the travel management plan.

Issue: The U.S. Forest Service's own Travel Management Rule clearly allows so-called "user created" routes to be included into the travel plans. Yet, the CNF flatly refuses to even consider any of these popular trails.

Comment Suggestion: Tell the Coconino that the existing user-created trail system is highly valued by OHV users. Tell them that you object to the way they have refused to consider their designation. Ask the CNF to consider the trails the Coconino Trail Riders have proposed.

Issue: According to the agency's own data, OHV use has grown in popularity among National Forest visitors. In fact, according to a Forest Service study, over 25% of Arizona's population enjoys OHV recreation. Yet the PA proposes drastic closures. Regulations require the CNF look at a wide range of alternatives. We need to make sure the CNF formulates a true "pro-recreation" alternative.

Comment Suggestion: As an OHV user I am directly affected by your decision. I formally request that you formulate a "pro-recreation" or "maximum recreation" alternative. At least one of your alternatives should attempt to accommodate the documented popularity of motorized trail recreation.

Issue: Early on in this process members of CTR made several, specific route proposals to the CNF. Sadly, they seem to be refusing to even consider our input.

Comment Suggestion: I strongly support the recommendations of the Coconino Trail Riders. Please consider the trail system proposal submitted by the CTR.

Issue: In order to estimate the impact of their actions on YOU, you'll need to know what trails are proposed for closure. Incredibly, the Coconino doesn't plan to tell you. The Proposed Action failed to appropriately inventory and include any user-created trails as is allowed by the National Travel Management Rule.

Comment Suggestion: In order to comment on how this decision will impact my use and enjoyment of the Coconino National Forest, I need to be able to compare and contrast your proposal with the existing condition. Yet trails I know to exist do not appear on your maps. Please include a complete and accurate estimate of the current trails.

Issue: Road or trail specific info is needed. If you recreate on the Coconino, simply tell them where you go and why. Include photos if you can. Be as specific as you can. If you can't think of any specific comment, just use the comment suggestion below.

Comment Suggestion: -Ask that the Coconino National Forest designate the "Around the Peaks Loop", the "Wing Mountain Loop" and the "Airport Loops" open for motorized use.

Include your name and address. Also any other contact information (e-mail or phone number) you want to provide.


THANK YOU!!


------ End of Forwarded Message




To be removed from further mailings from our list please click the unsubscribe link

[RokNRich]

Letters need to be sent by Sep 10th.

They are going to close all but 24 miles of trails in the Coconino NF !!!

Send email to:

comments-southwestern-coconino@fs.fed.us

Mail letters to:
Nora Rasure, Forest Supervisor
1824 South Thompson
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Fax comments to: (928) 527-3620


More info here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/tmr.shtml

Let them know that 24 miles of roads isn't enough, read the above post for more info.

Send in an email, or those hippies in Flagstaff will be spitting on our trails !

[zman]

There is going to be more than 24 miles. I believe the 24 miles is all that is available to single track only trails near Flagstaff. The single track guys want more.

Here is the link showing the current proposed CNF roads. Roads in green open, roads in brown (alot of them) closed. Look at the bottom of the page. Maps 1 and 4 show the only single track and ATV trails.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/projects/tmr/proposed-action.shtml

Meeting with the district ranger tomorrow to open up several other roads including two hard core trails (Smasher) near Clarkdale. Wish me luck.

zman

[RokNRich]

YEah, I saw that once I read more here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/projects/tmr/proposed-action.shtml

While the Proposed Action will significantly reduce miles of National Forest System roads, we intend to maintain adequate motorized access to the forest. In conjunction with existing motorized trails and the Cinder Hills OHV area, the Proposed Action would result in approximately 3,950 miles of designated roads and trails and one 13,711-acre area open to motor vehicles on the forest.



Just repeating what the CTR put out as they are closer to the issue than me. Still worthy of submitting an email on this one.

Good luck tomorrow !

[SEDONA RICK]

E-mails & Letters Have Been Sent From Family, Friends And Co-workers.
Good Luck Tommrow.
And Thanks For All Your Time & Work On This.
Rick

[GRUNT]

Good luck ZMAN, may the force be with you! After you talk to the Ranger can you fill us in on what will be open vs. closed?

[Lumpster]

I am not for this proposal but understand where it is coming from. We have a cabin in Parks and every weekend, there are a**holes riding quads all over the forest. No spark arrestor, not staying on any path or trail and just tearing things up. In the last 20 years, I have seen a huge decline in the quality of forest in the area and 10x the amount of trash. With the increase in quads and laziness of many hunters who dont want to hike to a nice hunting area, they create paths and trails everywhere. It is frusterating that no matter where you are at in the woods you are likely within 1/2 mile of a road/trail.

Offroaders need to police each other. We are shooting ourselves in the foot. I know most in this group agree with me (having talked to several) and most here stay on trails and pick up after themselves (and others for that matter).

Sorry just venting. I see both sides of this one and am probably in the minority.

[GRUNT]

All I see anymore are the single track guys and the quaders destroying everything!!!! Mostly the teens and the drunk adults.... They don't seem to police thier own, from what I have seen. I know there are responsible ones ou tthere but I think the increasing availibility and the cheap cost just causes thier numbers to be forever increasing.

[zman]

Meeting with FS was very good this morning, this was the Red Rock Ranger District (Verde Valley Area). Our club proposed 30+ trails in the CNF. All but three trails are current FS roads, or were current # roads in the past 5 years. Many of the proposed roads were not included in the last map revision, and we were not given reasons why. The CNF is going to go over our list again, and tell us why they were not included on the map. They do agree that they may have overlooked things on the first go about. I also wrote up a nice proposal for Smasher and included many pictures and details about the trail and area. Seemed like it went over well and they have a better understanding. Sometime in November I will be taking some of the FS personal out to the site so they can do a preliminary look at what we are proposing. If Smasher is to become a trail it will need to go thru the NEPA process. Nothing in this meeting was a yes or no, but the feeling from the few that attended was positive.

CNF is the first NF to go thru the TMR process in the states of AZ and NM. Other forests will soon follow their lead. Being that Smasher is a special use trail (and the gunie pig in the TMR process), they are concerned about "too many users" among other unforseen issues this type of trail may bring. Allowing Smasher to become a legitimate trail may also cause problems for other National Forests. Depending on how this goes, I would expect trails such as Pyett Draw, Scull Crusher, Desoto Mine and other trails in the NF could be positivly or negatively affected depending on the outcome of Smasher. I really donot expect to hear much from the FS until November when they get out there and have a look. I have my fingers crossed.

As far as Coconino Trail Riders proposed trails. The trails they are proposing are located around the San Francisco Peeks. This area is highly debated. As you all know they are having a hard time putting artificial snow on the peaks for skiing. They are going to have a tough battle to get their trails. Had it been in a different area I don't think they would have as many hurdles. I wish them the best of luck.

The next round of maps should be coming out in the spring of 2008.

I also asked about remote camping. It looks like the CNF is also going to identify popular remote camping sites off of spur roads and add them to the final TMR proposal. This looks like a positive step for those who want private camp sites.

zman

[Hivemind]

Excellent work ZMan, thanks for the update

[SEDONA RICK]

Zman,
Very Informative Report.
Thanks Again.

[GRUNT]

Awesome Zman! You are definitely a good example of taking the ball and running. Being optimistic is probably very receiving to them than showing up angry and defensive...

[Number 7]

Better late than never, I just sent off an email and forwarded the OP to friends asking that they do the same.

Di

[Allen]

Sounds good! Keep up the good work!

[Sandee McCullen]

THANKS zman........... your report is right now. I see Jim Beard now and then and your report pretty much follows his although I think you have already figured out we MUST keep with the questions and asking for REASONS AND DATA. Forest Service are not as strict about requiring REASONS FOR CLOSURE as BLM is but they do need to give substantive reasons.............. not "just because" or "personal opinion".
1) No ability to mitigate erosion or damage
2) Riparian that OHV is actually causing Function at Risk!!!
3) Trespass into Wilderness or NCA areas that ban motorized
4) etc etc.........
New Mexico (also Region 3 with AZ) just wrote to me saying one of their forests were banning all routes in washes because: "the Travel management Rule says trails in washes must have identified boundries. WRONG. A proposed designated AREA must have identified bountries. NM WON the deal for their trails because WE held their feet to the fire. Hopefully you are not doing this alone..... it can be overwhelming sometimes.

If I can help regarding Smasher ........... let me know.

[zman]

Thanks all,

Sandy, funny you should mention bounderies. One of the FS personal commented about people going off the trail. We told them it would be unlikely, the obsticles are in the wash. I believe when we get the FS personal out on the trail they will get a better understanding. The District Ranger also mentioned that her brother likes "rock crawling", maybe a plus for our side. At this point everything is positive and I can't wait to see the outcome after our November meeting. If there are issues I will definately post them up on this board.

zman