Well I went out to my local ohv area. I hadn't been there for quite awhile. Trying to find some mud to try out my new tires and lift. Got going down through the area called Winchester Creek OHV, near Coos Bay OR. I got about a mile from my favorite spot when I saw 3 big tank traps over the gravel road. I turned around and tried another spot. Same thing new larger tank traps but this time they had a ditch dug right on the back side of them. They left one area where quads and dirt bikes could go through.

So today I called the county forestry department and asked them why everything was closed down. The guy told me the main route had changed because they were installing fish friendly culverts and they were making all new roads that followed the ridge tops to keep them away from streams. I asked how come the quads and bikes are allowed passage and 4x4's aren't. He said basically the envirmentalists cause to many problems for them and that the 4x4's cause erosion into the streams.

I asked about another OHV area called Blue ridge OHV. He told me the same thing. I aske dhim if their was any where I could drive my jeep that wasnt paved or graveled that was legal. He said nope, most of the timber companies dont want 4x4's on their dirt roads as well because of the same reasons.

Oh well to keep it semi on topic my suspension Tera flex and my new tires flexed and did pretty good on a couple of the areas I could still get to..................

So? Are you a member of BlueRibbon or United Four Wheel Drive? Do you stay on top of the efforts to close off-road areas and write your legislators and other government officials? 'Cause if you don't, you got no room to complain.

I completly agree with "withamc" if you didn't fight and try to keep the lands open to ride then you have no room to complain about them closing. Do you think they just went out there and closed the lands without any disscusion? Several groups have tried to close Tellico recently and the SFWDA stood up to them and kept everything open. Also many other OHV areas have been threated to be closed lately, one of which a local club adopted and its now back open and better than ever.

If we do not try to do everything we can to stop closures it will just make it easier for the next time some anti-access group decides they don't like what were doing.

Shawn I agree with the above buys...get involved locally.

My unlce is a farmer a little ways south of you along the coast.

He does everything by the book as far as erosion control, and environmental impact balh blah blah...and the regulators around there are STILL a nightmare.

Building something as simple as a retention pond for irrigation takes an act of congress...and years of BS. Million dollar fish ladders in streams that don't get fish really...:rolleyes:

Just be thankfull you dont make your living fighting with the eco-nazi's.

MJ

Sometimes a route needs to be closed for work to make the trail/road less potentially damaging to the habitat (mitigation work that will keep the trail open over the long term). Sometimes the closure is temporary to allow time for the work, and sometimes the work involves a reroute to a better trail surface to provide cooperative trail and habitat protection. Do not immediately take the defensive or potentially abusive position.

A few things to do ...

Call the local 4x4 clubs to see what they know about the closures and route changes? Are they involved, do they have a history of the Forest issues that relate to the changes? Have they been aware of any public notice regarding the changes? Is the Forest known to work to preserve motorized trail access?

If you want to play detective, call the local Sierra Club Chapter and ask what they know about the changes? Be ignorant and ask open-ended questions. Make yourself a fan of conservation and find out what they are planning. Be polite, and do not let them know who you are, or your motives.

Make a call to the Forest Supervisors Office and ask to talk to the Supervisor or Public Relations Officer. Do not let them simply forward your request and tell you that they will get back to you: either talk to the Officer or get their name and direct phone and fax number (so you can call them if they do not respond).

Ask them for the reason for the changes, and if they have a written report detailing the issues and changes?

Ask if the closures are permanent or temporary?

Ask if the closed routes will be replaced with new routes (one mile of new route for each mile of closed route)?

Ask for a timetable of the work schedule?

Ask if any local 4x4 clubs are involved with the work (and ask if volunteer clubs can help if none are invloved)?

Politely ask (and/or write) to request all information regarding the closure and redesignation regarding the route changes?

Request copies of the reroute study, conclusions, and recommendations ... basically ask for the Environmental Impact Statement and Report regarding the decision, including the reason for the reroute.

If they get defensive or evasive (as a 4x4 recreation enthusiast representative be discreet and polite) let them know that you simply want to help them make the 4x4 trails better and are willing to cooperate to keep the areas open to 4x4 recreation.

If they further stall, it's probably best to give them a week to respond to your requests.

If you get zero responce call back and tell them you do not want to fill out a formal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Forest Supervisor regarding all information on the changes, but you will if necessary to get a responce (and do it anyway, because at this point they have lost your trust).

If you need help with the FOIA request make a call to UFWDA or Blue Ribbon and ask for help (they have outline guides to help).

Happy Trails!