Passing this e-mail along. If you can't make a meeting )or are out of state) go here. (http://azwww.az.blm.gov/lup/aguafria/Planning_Worksheets.pdf) Fill out the form and mail it in. If you ever want to wheel in Az, these are the areas you want to wheel in.

RED SHIRTS; URGENT; IMPORTANT; NOTICE; IMPORTANT; RED SHIRT
(PLEASE NOTE THE ATTACHMENT SHOWS THE COLOR CODE FOR THE PRIORITY IMPORTANCE
OF MEETINGS)
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.............. I'll
give you whatever information I have but the end result is going to be "HOW
MANY" Red Shirts are seen or participate.

Send on your mail lists please................ If we lose this round.......
we'll lose all to come!!!!! PFO are truly trying to work with us but we
MUST show our interest.............
Thanks, Sandee

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!


OHV Recreationists………
Red shirt time again fellow recreationists. BLM, Phoenix Field Office are
hosting scoping meetings to work through issues for final planning for the
north section of Phoenix jurisdiction.

Please check out the ten meetings listed and review the issues for each.
All have OHV issues that are important to all of us. I have "color coded"
the important ones we need the numbers at but they all need to show RED
SHIRTS to show our interest and unity. If they close these meetings with no
show of our interest they will simply "bend to the wishes of the
greenies"…………….. There are thousands of OHV recreationists in this state…………
PLEASE forward this information to all your individual lists and set aside a
few hours to attend, at the least,…… a couple of those most important to
you.




TUESDAY, October 1, 7-9 p.m.
Dewey-Humboldt-Spring Valley, AZ
(sorry, they didn't post an address…… I'll find one and post later)

Issues:
Stopping proposed Aranda Exchange & redesignating the 17,000 acres of BLM
land as "Lands Designated For Retention" in the planning effort. (Note:
This is foremost on minds of many people right now)

Retaining open space and rural character/controlled development.

Having adequate wataer supply for current residents and future growth.

Illegal trash dumping.

WEDNESDAY, October 2, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. ** IMPORTANT **
Black Canyon City
BCC Community Center/Albins Civic Center
19055 South K-Mine Road
Black Canyon City, AZ

Issues:
Access preserved to public lands and to their activities - one specific
access issue/opportunity is location, designation, construction, maintenance
of Black Canyon Trail sections.

Land tenure decisions for BLM lands in Black Canyon City vicinity, including
wanting R&PP leases for some lands, some lands designated for exchange, and
some lands designated for retention.

Designation of routes and access to Agua Fria National Monument is a less
intense, but lingering issue with some citizens.

Illegal trash dumping.


THURSDAY, October 3, 1:30 - 5 p.m.
Yarnell Senior Citizens Center
22302 South Highway 89
Yarnell, AZ

Issues:
Some residents are wary of future attempts to open the gold mine, which they
successfully blocked in recent years.

Recently expressed issue - concern about possible forest/range fire
spreading through community - "can we get help from BLM or others to protect
our homes".

Some Chamber of Commerce members want to explore possibility of R&PP lease
for hiking trailhead, recreation area.






SATURDAY, October 5, 10:00 a.m. ** IMPORTANT **
Champie Schoolhouse
Castle Hot Springs, AZ

Issues:
Road access, law enforcement - ranchers and other local residents are
concerned that as Phoenix metro area grows there will be more ATV and
off-road use, speeding, property damage, trash dumping, target shooting.

Ranchers are concerned about losing way of life, interested in continuing
grazing and other traditional uses of public land.

Possible wilderness (or similar) designation of existing public lands - some
see it as a way of preserving landscape; others see it as restricting some
current uses.


MONDAY, October 7, 7 - 9:00 p.m. *** URGENT; URGENT ***
Buckeye Community Center
201 Centre Avenue
Buckeye, AZ

Issues:
Open space - Buckeye City is very interested in using BLM lands as open
space, regional parks by R&PP lease or other methods - especially with
recent announcements of large annexations and developments (e.g. Verado)
being approved by the City of Buckeye.

Open space and corridors - White Tanks area citizens want open space areas
and linking corridors.

Land tenure and open space - Tonopah area residents want to identify and
designate some BLM lands for open space and/or regional parks (possibly by
R&PP leases) in advance of urban sprawl.

Tonopah/Harquahala/White Tanks residents concerned about urban/suburban
development spreading westward from Phoenix, with increasing illegal trash
dumping, resource and property damage from ATV's. Interested in route
designation decisions.




TUESDAY, October 8, 7- 9:00 p.m. *** URGENT, URGENT, URGENT ***
Paradise Valley Community Center
17402 North 40th (40th St. and Bell)
Phoenix, AZ

Issues:
ATV and OHV users (also OHV clubs) are concerned about losing future use of
southern Bradshaws for their activities. Historic patterns show that
advancing urban residential development forces ATV/OHV use out because of
objections to noise, dust and other conflicts. (THIS IS TABLE MESA ROAD
TRAILS)

Open space - As metro area expands, individuals, groups, and local
government are concerned about retaining open space and regional parks
within the urban setting, and increasingly look to BLM lands for that
purpose.

Horseback riders, hikers, off-road enthusiasts are concerned about safety
related to target shooting in some of the arroyos and the trash associated
with the shooting galleries.

Recreational prospectors (individuals, clubs) are interested in having
access to their claims.

Illegal trash dumping.


WEDNESDAY, October 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. **URGENT**
Wickenburg Community Center
120 North Valentine Street
Wickenburg, AZ

Issues:
Land tenure/open space - specific examples are Vulture Peak Vista and
retaining BLM lands southeast of Wickenburg a buffer against Phoenix metro
growth.

Trails - long traditional use; issue is whether to locate, designate, map
trails on BLM and other jurisdictions.

Hassayampa Box Canyon - protecting resource values and most uses in the
Canyon.

Highway 93 Bypass - where to locate permanent route (also issue in
Morristown) (recent development is designation of Vulture Mine Road as a
CanaMex route, which may affect bypass location).

Illegal trash dumping.


MONDAY, October 14, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Yavapai College, Performing Arts Center
Prescott, AZ 86301

Issues:
Individuals and organized groups are concerned that unique values of Agua
Fria National Monument be well protected. Includes issues about route
designations, area closures, public access to sites, facility development.

Water issues - having adequate water supply for rapid population growth in
region and relationships of Verde and Aqua Fria watersheds.

Trails - route designations, hiking/equestrian trails, user conflicts
between motorized and non-motorized.


WEDNESDAY, October 16, 7 - 9:00 p.m. ** IMPORTANT **
Peoria Community Center
8335 West Jefferson
Peoria, AZ

Issues:
Land tenure/open space - specific examples are Vulture Peak Vista and
retaining BLM lands southeast of Wickenburg a buffer against Phoenix metro
growth.

Trails - long traditional use; issue is whether to locate, designate, map
trails on BLM and other jurisdictions.

Highway 93 Bypass - where to locate permanent route (also issue in
Morristown) (recent development is disignation of Vulture Mine Road as
CanaMex route, which may affect bypass location)

Comments can also be sent to: az_afnm_bradshaw@blm.gov.

They are looking for answers to these questions, although other comments are appreciated:

What do you value about these public lands and why?

What Activities or uses on these public lands are important to you and why?

How would you like to see scientific, traditional, recreational, cultural and natural resources of this area managed?

Is there anything else you want to tell us?

Include your name, address and e-mail address. Thanks.

Here's the comments I sent:

I have been using Arizona's public lands for the last ten years. My wife and I enjoy hiking, boating, mountain biking and OHV usage. below are my comments on how I think the lands should be managed.

What do you value about these public lands and why?

I value our unique ability in Phoenix to drive for a half hour and be out of the city. Visiting friends and relatives always comment on how you can't get away from the urban sprawl in their home states. I enjoy the scenery, and the fun of exploring the myriad of old ghost towns and mines that litter the Bradshaw mountains. It is history that you can actually see and experience what it was like to be in such a remote location.

What activities or uses on these public lands are important to you and why?

OHV use is the most important use for me on these public lands due to their remote location and Arizona's warm climate. Most of the trails and scenery are unreachable unless you can cover a lot of ground (especially during the heat of the summer). I also like the amount of trails that exist in the backcountry, most of which seem to be old mining roads which offer beautiful scenerey and variety.

How would you like to see the scientific, traditional, recreational, cultural and natural resources of this area managed?

I believe that public access must be maintained. It's of no use to have historical sites, or places with incredible scenic views without being able to actually reach them and enjoy them. I would also like to see urban sprawl stopped. Phoenix doesn't need another subdivision cutting into the dessert or any more golf courses. This land should be kept public with full access for the people to enjoy it's attributes.

Is there anything else you want to tell us?

I am aware of a lot of the problems that come with full public access. The most notcieable one I see is dumping of trash and littering. I would like to see the BLM work with the local OHV clubs to help take care of the land. Most clubs are more than willing to help organize cleanups and do trail maintenance, but from my experience we have to initiate those projects. It would be nice if the BLM would approach us with their needs as well. I believe this type of arrangement would build a better relationship between the two groups and may even help educate some of those people who would abuse the land by providing a positive example of how public land should be used.


Thanks for reading my comments.

Chris Villarreal