YellowSub1962
08-04-2002, 07:42 AM
Pasadena Meeting -- Talking Points
Here are some talking points I put together to help you guys out. I plagerized a couple from Ed's other posts, both here and on the LUN. Hope you don't mind ED ;) . I will be trying to put them in some sort of order to cover all of them. I might need some more time to speak, I don't know yet. Find me at the meeting and we'll go from there....
If you have any others or would like to add more, please let me know....
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The people who use the canyon are environmentalists. We care for the environment more so than many Anti-Recreationists who just sit at home and practice “Arm-chair-activism”. While their concerns seem genuine on the outside, they are nothing more than part of an agenda to lock the majority of the general public out of OUR land. The elderly, the young, and the disabled will NEVER get to experience all the history, or the beauty, or scenery that the journey up Surprise Canyon and into Panamint City has to offer, a Journey which for these groups of people reqires the use of a motorized vehicle.
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The BLM needs to focus on Sound Science to determine its policies, not bend to the pressure of Anti-Recreation, so called “environmentalist groups” and Lawsuits – the reason we are all here today.
--------------------------------------------
Water Quality - I have heard numerous reports that vehicles “must spill gas and oil” into the stream as they travel. These are not only unsubstantiated, but in fact have been disproven by the BLMs own biologist during the Panamint Valley Days Four Wheel Drive Run. There were approximately 30-35 vehicles that traveled up the canyon in a single day, then back down the next. The BLM tested water samples before, during, and after the event – NO CHANGES WERE FOUND – 70 vehiclular passes through the canyon in a 24 hour period and NOTHING.
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Fringe Toed Lizard is not endangered –
The Panamint Alligator lizard is found in 27 canyon areas, and is not specific to Surprise Canyon (a report lists one of the species observed in the canyon. Surprise Canyon should not be qualified as critical habitat until adequate study can determine the range and distribution of the species. Consideration must be given to the success of finding the species with the minimal effort and funding (completed to date) for observation and classification of this species. 26 other canyons, including those without functional riparian systems, have been documented as harboring this species.
--------------------------------------
Surprise Canyon should not be considered a unique ecosystem in the Panamints, or environs of California High Desert. It one of, at least, seven known wet (riparian) canyons with a year round presence of surface water in the Panamint Range. The majority of year round surface water in the canyon (riparian area) harboring wildlife is upstream of the bedrock road where established vehicle use crosses and enters the stream course. Continued vehicle access will not have any impact on the majority of the potential riparian habitat (if it even qualifies as functional riparian habitat).
------------------------------------------
Wheeled travel has been present in Surprise Canyon since 1873 (established by a butcher's cart). This wheeled presence existed as recently as the closure date. Wheeled use in the canyon has never been abandoned.
---------------------------------------------
I have heard concerns of Motorcycles damaging the trail if it is opened to the public. This will not happen do to the type of terrain that naturally occurs in the canyon. Waterfalls, slippery rocks, large drops/climbs
------------------------------
Financial Impact – Tell them how much you spend on the local economy – gas, food, camping supplies, Automotive parts, tow vehicles, trailers, your wheeler.. everything you spend helps someone make a living
--------------------------------
Assemblyman Charles Brown (later State Senator Brown) of
Shoshone succeeded in having Surprise Canyon Road recorded as a legal road by
Inyo County prior to 1932, preceding the reservation of Death Valley as a
National Monument in 1933. A number of roads in and around Death Valley were
first recorded as legal County roads, to allow the Assemblyman to receive
road maintenance funds from the County (in the late 1920's). In 1932 many of
these roads were accepted by the State as highways. Does anyone know if
Surprise Canyon Road was accepted by the State? The consistent fact is
Surprise Canyon Road preceded the state and federal reservation of adjacent
lands, passing all RS2477 requirements for a legal recorded right of way.
In the early 30's many primitive Death Valley travel routes were upgraded to
roads as the Monument became popular. When the current issue is resolved we
may be wise to request the NPS and Congress review other roads and trails
that have been closed, but should have been grandfathered under RS2477 (one
fight at a time).
The scoping issues which need to be addressed are as follows: 1) The Congress designated, after years of consideration, this road as open access and an EIS may not close it. 2) The road is an RS2477 right belonging to the County of Inyo. It is on the County's book of maps to be maintained and BLM has no jurisdiction.
:usa:
Here are some talking points I put together to help you guys out. I plagerized a couple from Ed's other posts, both here and on the LUN. Hope you don't mind ED ;) . I will be trying to put them in some sort of order to cover all of them. I might need some more time to speak, I don't know yet. Find me at the meeting and we'll go from there....
If you have any others or would like to add more, please let me know....
---------------------------
The people who use the canyon are environmentalists. We care for the environment more so than many Anti-Recreationists who just sit at home and practice “Arm-chair-activism”. While their concerns seem genuine on the outside, they are nothing more than part of an agenda to lock the majority of the general public out of OUR land. The elderly, the young, and the disabled will NEVER get to experience all the history, or the beauty, or scenery that the journey up Surprise Canyon and into Panamint City has to offer, a Journey which for these groups of people reqires the use of a motorized vehicle.
-----------------------------------------
The BLM needs to focus on Sound Science to determine its policies, not bend to the pressure of Anti-Recreation, so called “environmentalist groups” and Lawsuits – the reason we are all here today.
--------------------------------------------
Water Quality - I have heard numerous reports that vehicles “must spill gas and oil” into the stream as they travel. These are not only unsubstantiated, but in fact have been disproven by the BLMs own biologist during the Panamint Valley Days Four Wheel Drive Run. There were approximately 30-35 vehicles that traveled up the canyon in a single day, then back down the next. The BLM tested water samples before, during, and after the event – NO CHANGES WERE FOUND – 70 vehiclular passes through the canyon in a 24 hour period and NOTHING.
----------------------------------------------
Fringe Toed Lizard is not endangered –
The Panamint Alligator lizard is found in 27 canyon areas, and is not specific to Surprise Canyon (a report lists one of the species observed in the canyon. Surprise Canyon should not be qualified as critical habitat until adequate study can determine the range and distribution of the species. Consideration must be given to the success of finding the species with the minimal effort and funding (completed to date) for observation and classification of this species. 26 other canyons, including those without functional riparian systems, have been documented as harboring this species.
--------------------------------------
Surprise Canyon should not be considered a unique ecosystem in the Panamints, or environs of California High Desert. It one of, at least, seven known wet (riparian) canyons with a year round presence of surface water in the Panamint Range. The majority of year round surface water in the canyon (riparian area) harboring wildlife is upstream of the bedrock road where established vehicle use crosses and enters the stream course. Continued vehicle access will not have any impact on the majority of the potential riparian habitat (if it even qualifies as functional riparian habitat).
------------------------------------------
Wheeled travel has been present in Surprise Canyon since 1873 (established by a butcher's cart). This wheeled presence existed as recently as the closure date. Wheeled use in the canyon has never been abandoned.
---------------------------------------------
I have heard concerns of Motorcycles damaging the trail if it is opened to the public. This will not happen do to the type of terrain that naturally occurs in the canyon. Waterfalls, slippery rocks, large drops/climbs
------------------------------
Financial Impact – Tell them how much you spend on the local economy – gas, food, camping supplies, Automotive parts, tow vehicles, trailers, your wheeler.. everything you spend helps someone make a living
--------------------------------
Assemblyman Charles Brown (later State Senator Brown) of
Shoshone succeeded in having Surprise Canyon Road recorded as a legal road by
Inyo County prior to 1932, preceding the reservation of Death Valley as a
National Monument in 1933. A number of roads in and around Death Valley were
first recorded as legal County roads, to allow the Assemblyman to receive
road maintenance funds from the County (in the late 1920's). In 1932 many of
these roads were accepted by the State as highways. Does anyone know if
Surprise Canyon Road was accepted by the State? The consistent fact is
Surprise Canyon Road preceded the state and federal reservation of adjacent
lands, passing all RS2477 requirements for a legal recorded right of way.
In the early 30's many primitive Death Valley travel routes were upgraded to
roads as the Monument became popular. When the current issue is resolved we
may be wise to request the NPS and Congress review other roads and trails
that have been closed, but should have been grandfathered under RS2477 (one
fight at a time).
The scoping issues which need to be addressed are as follows: 1) The Congress designated, after years of consideration, this road as open access and an EIS may not close it. 2) The road is an RS2477 right belonging to the County of Inyo. It is on the County's book of maps to be maintained and BLM has no jurisdiction.
:usa: