I am on my knees begging for help. Because we had snow, long power outages and a very short turn out for rallying the troops to get letters written I come here to beg.

Because of the weather here in the Ridge Communities, the quantity of
comments on the draft plan for The High Lakes was considerably smaller
than we ( FOTHL and USFS ) had anticipated.

Because of this we have been granted a short extension of time to rally
and get comments into the Planners.

We did attempt to arrange a large meeting place to repeat the snowed out
event of January 4, but have failed to gain use of a facility large
enough at an affordable price, so we're using this one last effort to
ask that you re-read the draft documents, and write a letter with your
feelings and comments.

Draft Plan for The High Lakes

http://www.friendsofthehighlakes.com/draftplan/HIGH_LAKES_RECREATION_STRATEGY.doc

and

Time-line chart

http://www.friendsofthehighlakes.com/draftplan/Draft_High_Lakes_Task_List.xls


The top 7 priorities by the Steering Committee for needed changes were:

1. Reopen 616 to 614 to 611 routes ( from Grassy Lake to Plumas N.F. )

2. Reopen 519 ( North Valley Trail / Bear Lake Route ) from Spring Valley
to Campbell Cow Camp as two track

3. Re work and make possible increased number of campsites at Spring
Valley, Long Lake and Campbell Lakes

4. Reposition or reroute, repair what is necessary to keep west
shore of Long Lake open as part of the loop

5. Increase the limit of 12 heartbeats / 4 vehicles at some / most
camp sites.

6. Ensure all of the routes in the Soda Ridge area are kept in the
inventory for two track.

7. Work to eliminate seasonal closures, eliminate gates

Don't forget to review the draft further and point out any other
concerns you have and send them BEFORE February 22.

Get your comments, questions and changes pertaining to the draft and
"their" plan POSTMARKED BEFORE February 22 to:

David C. Erwin
District Recreation Officer
P.O. Box 767
Chester, CA 96020-0767

Attached here is a copy of my own personal "Dear Dave" letter, to give
you an idea of MY concerns, and to be sure NOT necessarily your
concerns. I've attached it, for information only. DO NOT copy it, or try
to use it, but write your OWN letter, with YOUR concerns with the draft
linked above.

http://www.friendsofthehighlakes.com/draft_comment.doc

As we emphasized at the meeting we cannot send form letters, petitions,
or letters that all sound the same, or they will not count individually,
but as all one letter even if sharing similar ideas.

If we don't tell them what needs changing and consideration, we'll be forced to accept their plan.

So PLEASE re-read the draft plan (link above) and write your own letter
with your own concerns. And get them POSTMARKED BEFORE FEBRUARY 22, only
12 days from now. If you have new concerns, that you didn't mention in
your first letter, write again. Questions ask here or write info@friendsofthehighlakes.com


Thanks,
Ken

Got mine done and put them in the mail today.
Don Amador, BlueRibbon Coalition has already commented on behalf of BRC so mine are personal.

Great job Ken, and the whole FOTHL group.
On the team, Del

Thanks for all the info, Ken.

I just wrote my letter. Who's next? :D

I already sent mine a while back... So they extended the date due to lack of comments?

Here's the letter I wrote. Use any of it for your own inspiration, but don't copy it because they need UNIQUE letters. Form letters and petitions aren't counted!


Recreation Officer
David C. Erwin
Lassen National Forest
P.O. Box 767
Chester, CA 96020-0767


RE: High Lakes OHV Area Recreation Study


Dear Mr. Erwin,

I am writing to you as a multi-use recreationist within the Lassen National Forest who is deeply concerned about the implications of the land use restrictions presented within the Route Designation Project. I want to work with you to ensure that the tax dollars that fund the Forest Service to manage this as a “Land of Many Uses” are not used to lock the Forest away to every form of recreation besides hiking.

I have been visiting Lassen National Forest for approximately 20 years since my first trip as a Boy Scout in 1987. To this day, I continue to visit the High Lakes area to canoe, bicycle, hike, and camp. All of these activities rely upon my ability to access the deeper areas of the forest in my 4x4. I care enough for Lassen National Forest that I have become a member of Friends of the High Lakes.

While I am appreciative of the great job your team has done with managing the High Lakes area (in stark contrast to the mismanagement of Eldorado National Forest) I find a few significant flaws in the draft plan that I would like to see addressed.

Friends of the High Lakes have come up with the following top-seven priorities that need to be addressed by the draft plan:

1) Reopen 616 to 614 to 611 routes (from Grassy Lake to Plumas N.F.)

2) Reopen 519 (North Valley Trail / Bear Lake Route) from Spring Valley to Campbell Cow Camp as two track

3) Rework and make possible increased number of campsites at Spring Valley, Long Lake and Campbell Lakes

4) Reposition or reroute and repair what is necessary to keep the west shore of Long Lake open as part of the loop

5) Increase the limit of 12 heartbeats / 4 vehicles at some / most camp sites.

6) Ensure that all of the routes in the Soda Ridge area are kept in the inventory for two-track.

7) Work to eliminate seasonal closures and eliminate gates

After years of enjoyment as a motorized conservationist and consultation with numerous other visitors to the High Lakes area, my own personal recommendations are as follows:

• Reopen 6E16 to 6E14 to 6E11 routes (from Plumas N.F. into Grassy Lake) as a highest priority #1.

• Reopen 5E19 from Spring Valley to Campbell Cow Camp for two tracks as a highest priority #2.

• Reinstate all loop routes, taking pressure off the single north entrance.

• Repair the west shore of Long Lake. Reposition or reroute the trail on the west side of Long Lake to protect the grassy area and lake shore while maintaining the loop route.

• Improve and further develop the 40+ known dispersed camping sites available for use to take enormous pressure off the current high use areas. Clean up and further develop a new large group camp area near the south end entrance on Pine Creek, taking pressure off the historically used area by large group(s).

• Increase the number of campsites proposed at Spring Valley, Long Lake and Campbell Lake to closer to current capacity.

• Develop dry campsites at appropriate locations along other main routes. There are several camp areas that already exist that could be made into nice camping areas with little effort. They would cause little to no impact on the environment but would increase the carrying capacity of the area.

• Pit toilets at some key locations near the lakes would be acceptable if they can be installed without fees, nor creating an appearance of being a “State Park Campground”.

• Raise the proposed limit of 12 heartbeats at campsites to 25 heartbeats. Allowing even larger groups would be necessary for work parties and or volunteer projects and patrol, which minimize the burden on your team and resources.

• Create a new play / open area for challenging trails, taking pressure off the existing routes.

• Create a new loop near and around Morris Lake to take advantage of the now closed route and camps at the east side of Morris Lake up to 6E11.

• Reopen the spur from 6E11 to the camps at Mud Lake, which was erroneously closed by the 1976 plan, when the intent then was to merely close the Saddle Lake route to Mud Lake, not the 6E11 route to Mud Lake.

• Avoid seasonal closures and gates. Allow all over-the-snow OHV use when snow depth reaches 2 feet. This does not mean to include groomed snow trails.

• Create a legal entrance route from 5E05 / County Road / T-Line around the private property at the current north entrance near Lotts Lake.

• Fast track the acquisition of Spring Valley Lake area from SPI to assure legal access from the north end. Help acquisition of right-of-way through section 3 private property on historic route 5E19.

• Avoid usage fees and day use only permits.

• Maintain and improve service relationship with volunteers, especially Friends of the High Lakes. Increase their ability to participate in trail maintenance, repair, education and patrol.

• Improve law enforcement officer presence with appropriate enforcement including higher fines for serious infractions and improve educational opportunities.

• Allow Friends of the High Lakes to have input on a partnership basis on how budget dollars are spent for maintenance, repairs and new facilities.

I would like to reiterate that your team has at its disposal an enormous volunteer base that is able and willing to work with you at any opportunity we are given. Friends of the High Lakes are true environmentalists who have a passion for this area. We owe it to you, to ourselves, and to all of America to preserve the health and public access to this land. For your agency to work with the public rather than against the public will be the most productive course of action.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my own thoughts towards a sustainable plan. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance to your team!


Sincerely,

Geoff Beasley