Foresthill winter closure???

[HardCoreZJ]

I know it's kinda late, but I just received this today from a friend. Every little bit helps...



>Dear Valued Roseville Yamaha Customer,
>
>If you are an off-roader and value your right to ride, now is the time
>to get involved!
>
>Not long ago, the U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station in Forest Hill, CA
>(just East of Auburn) held a meeting to discuss the possible closure of
>all Forest Hill trails and riding areas surrounding Forest Hill and the
>Sugar Pine area during the winter months. Present at this meeting were
>numerous environmentalists who hope to unfairly close your riding areas.
>These individuals are banking on you NOT making your voice heard NOR
>your presence known.
>
>Tomorrow night (1/11/07) from 6-8pm (see USFS Bulletin below), there
>will be a follow-up public meeting to discuss this issue and an
>opportunity for you to make your opinions and feelings known. At the
>last meeting, their were a reported 55 (approx.) environmentalists who
>wish to close Forest Hill vs. just 3 off-road dirt bike riders present
>who obviously strongly oppose the closures. Even though there are more
>than 1 million registered off-road enthusiasts in CA who value their
>American right to ride on public land, many of us do not stick up for
>our own riding rights! We can't afford for the USFS to think we don't care about our riding areas!
>
>Roseville Yamaha would like to encourage your participation in this
>meeting in Forest Hill tomorrow night, and for those who cannot
>physically make the trip to the Forest Hill Ranger Station, we'd
>encourage you to at least send a letter or e-mail to the contacts
>listed in the announcement below to voice your concern over the proposed closures.
>
>Remember, the GREEN STICKER fees that you pay with every dirt bike and
>ATV purchase are supposed to go toward maintaining areas for you to ride!
>Unfortunately, these funds have been mismanaged by the many
>environmentalists who claim there is not enough money for trail
>maintenance. Additionally, they are making unsubstantiated claims that
>the Sugar Pine water supply might be at risk for contamination from our
>riding--again, these statements are not true! What the USFS really
>needs is good off-road citizens like us to volunteer our time and
>energy to help maintain the trail system as a supplement to the work
>already being performed by the Forest Service. If you are committed to
>riding, there is no better way to help protect our riding areas (and
>keep them open) than for us to pitch in and help out ourselves!
>
>Don't let poor government decisions keep you from riding your favorite,
>beautiful trails in our Northern California foothills! Make an
>appearance at tomorrow night's meeting, or voice your concerns to the
>USFS in Forest Hill now!
>
>Happy Riding!
>
>Your Staff and Friends at Roseville Yamaha
>
>
>----------------------------------
>FROM THE USFS FOREST SERVICE WEB SITE:
>http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/news/0...c_27_arrd_ohv_
>mtg.shtml
>
>December 21 , 2006 Contact:
>Jan Cutts
>District Ranger,
>530-906-2095
>
>
>Public Meeting Regarding Proposed Closure of Forest Service OHV Trails
>and Roads near Foresthill Scheduled for January 11, 2007
>FORESTHILL…..The Forest Service is considering options for managing OHV
>trails and roads in the Sugar Pine area of Foresthill during the wet
>weather season, including a winter closure. According to District
>Ranger Jan Cutts, “Every year there has been increased use of trail and
>road systems during wet weather when the trails and roads are most
>susceptible to damage. The resources are not able to sustain this level
>of use year round. If the trails or roads were designed for wet weather
>use we might be better able to control the damage, but neither was
>designed for wet weather use. During winter freeze/thaw time frames we
>also find increased illegal OHV riding; riders get off the trails and
>either cross country ride or use roads that are not designed for OHV
>use. Cross country riding, or off-route riding, is not legal here, and
>it causes additional resource impacts and maintenance needs. Among
>other important resources, water quality is at risk.”
>
>Ranger Cutts continued, “Additionally, public safety is an issue.
>During cold spells, the trail and road surfaces freeze. When the frozen
>surface starts to thaw, the trails get slimy, traction is easily lost,
>and the accident potential increases. As most people know, our area
>supports a wide variety of riders, from experts to new riders,
>including families with small children. Rider safety is of great
>concern and importance to us, and another important factor to balance
>in making decisions about resource management strategies.”
>
>The Forest Service wants to hear from the public. “Perhaps there are
>strategies and ideas we have not thought of to balance resource
>management and public safety when it comes to motorized use during wet
>weather conditions,” Ranger Cutts states. “We want to hear from the
>public prior to making a decision on what to do. Additionally, the
>public needs to know what mandates, laws, and responsibilities the
>Forest Service has to work with. Through this understanding, maybe
>there is a way to meet concerns and develop a strategy for the future.”
>“Finally,” according to Ranger Cutts, “we need people who are willing
>to invest their own time in helping to manage this important trail system to join us in this discussion.”
>
>The public meeting will be held January 11, 2007 from 6 pm to 8 pm at
>the American River Ranger District office in Foresthill. The address is
>22830 Foresthill Road. Space and time are very limited, and so it is
>requested that groups select a spokesperson that can attend on behalf
>of the group and bring focus to the discussion and interactions. Please
>bring ideas and willingness to commit to future efforts on this issue.
>
>For additional information concerning this project, contact Mo Tebbe or
>Mark Lambert by telephone: (530) 367-2224; or by email:
>mtebbe@fs.fed.us or mdlambert01@fs.fed.us .
>
>Location map (opens in new window):
>
>http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=2...+Foresthill+CA
>+95631&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=14&ll=39.011981,-120.843859&spn=0.033679,0.08317&
>iwloc=addr

[TrailLegacy]

You've got to admire this motorsports dealer for becomming involved politically; as I've yet to meet one over the years that showed any interest whatsoever. (and I've made it a point to visit as many as possible before simply giving up).
Safety classes were the 2nd item on my list to talk about on these visits (locally/regionally) and this was frankly an even worse experience. (with one exception....a super small dealer who graciously lent me a brand new youth quad for a training class....without asking!).

Best of luck on your fight here.

[Denis4x4]

Winter closures are not uncommon here in SW Colorado. We've come to expect and accept them. Besides tearing up roads and trails, the big reason for closure is the elk migration routes and calving grounds.

The state Department of Wildlife biologists trigger the closures and they aren't always in the same place or at the same time year to year. Actually, the tree huggers get ticked off as some of the closures include X-country and snow shoe trails!

[TrailLegacy]

The following is interesting to me:

"...The resources are not able to sustain this level
of use year round. If the trails or roads were designed for wet weather
use we might be better able to control the damage, but neither was
designed for wet weather use....."

What this guy seems to be alluding to is that the problem is actually fixable....yet who exactly is going to bone up here for the resources needed to take these trails/roads into the 21st century?

I see so many instances around the country where folks complain about this or that....yet when the subject of 'pay to play' is brought up as a legacy-type sustainable solution....somehow "well....by gosh I never have before and never will (pay)..." is invariably the very last word on said subject.

Again, I admire the business driven effort put forth here...yet who ever stands up to claim that we responsibly build these trails to be used year round....then turns around to say those actually using same, should pay for it?