June 1, 2004
R. Cunningham
The national Forest service has published its draft proposal for how it intends to manage its lands from Monterey to the Mexican border for the next generation. The proposal will be explained and put up for public comment at a series of meetings that will take place tonight and continue for over a month. All mountain bikers who can show up should attend at least one meeting.
Our trail access is at stake. We have been fairly treated by the NSF. The NSF resisted pressure by the Sierra Club and its affiliates to cordon off most of the National Forest lands in Southern California for primitive use or as designated Wilderness and chose a more balanced plan. Now the Sierra Club has organized a huge contingent of anti-bike and pro-wilderness folks to show up at the review meetings demand that the NSF adopt the most conservative of the six options--which will boot mountain bikers off most of the singletracks and many of the dirt roads--pretty much forever.
Show up and firmly insist that the National Forest Service sticks to its plan. Come forward and state that you don't think it is necessary, ethical or legal to close trails to mountain bikes now that there is historical evidence that the existing trail system can safely support their use--and that bikes have the same or less of a negative impact upon habitat than hikers or equestrians do.
The Warrior Society is a mountain bike organization in Orange County,
California that has been working successfully with the NSF to fend off malicious attempts by anti bike organizations to seal off the mountains to bikes. They published some suggestions for those who attend the meetings that are gold. Whether you agree or not, show up--and bring a friend.
For more information, log onto the Warrior Society site (www.warriorssociety.org).
LIST OF MEETINGS:
June 3 (Thursday)
Foothill Christian Center
242 West Baseline Avenue, Glendora, CA
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
June 4 (Friday)
Wrightwood Community Center
1275 Highway 2, Wrightwood, CA
3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
June 5 (Saturday)
Pasadena City College
Campus Center Lounge
1570 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST
June 2 (Wednesday)
Pacific Valley Station
Highway 1, Pacific Valley, CA
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
3. MEETING INSTRUCTIONS AND PROTOCOLS FOR SOUND MANAGEMENT ADVOCATES
The following information is needed:
We need to know what trails are contained within the specially designatedareas: Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Natural Research Areas andSpecial Interest Areas.
Questions to ask related to these areas:
1. What existing trails are located in proposed special designated areas -Wilderness, Wild and Scenic, Research Natural, Special Interest?
2. What is the real "need" for a particular direction - are existing uses such as trails not impacting these areas and thus should access not be restricted?
3. Are the proposed wilderness areas, or areas with the Primitive ROS
(Recreation Opportunity Spectrum) designation at high risk for fire, which could affect local communities, and what strategies are being implemented to address fire suppression and management of these areas? Alert your local fire marshal and Fire agency union representatives and ask them to review and comment on the fire management proposals being advocated in Conservation Alternative 6, which is advocated by the Center for Biodiversity and the Sierra Club (copies can obtained from the Warrior's Society) and in Alternative 2 (for the Cleveland) and 4 (for the Angeles, San Bernardino and Los Padres National Forests). Also ask what threats are being posed to these areas that they warrant wilderness protection? Are the threats real or overblown, etc.
The information from these questions is what we need to comment on the DEIS Draft Plan. This information many also be used for future actions, such as an appeal (if needed), and to show a particular direction or designation is simply not needed.
Remember when evaluating these areas:
Your feedback will be most helpful if you:
* are as specific as possible with your comments by naming the proposed
wilderness area, Wild and Scenic River, Natural Resource Area, Special
Interest Area that you are commenting on (and provide pictures if possible).
* indicate what trails will be affected
* Suggest alternative management approaches or solutions to the specific problem(s) that warrant specific designations - i.e. trails will not impact area (take pictures for proof) or trails can be rerouted around area prior to designation being applied.
What ever information you can provide would be most helpful, so don't feel overwhelmed. We are going to compile all the information received after the meetings are over and formulate our appeal. Your help will be a big part of influencing these plans.
PROPOSED DRESS AND BEHAVIOR CODE FOR FOREST PLAN OPEN HOUSES
1. THE TASK: inform our motorized, equestrian and mountain bike recreation representatives (whom are planning on) attending the Forest Plan Open Houses to wear "business casual" attire, preferably kaki, and or, green unmarked garments.
2. DEFINITION: These are public business meetings, not club social events. Hence the concern and suggestion is, "Please, resist the temptation to wear your favorite 'motorized, equestrian or mountain bike recreation interest apparel."
3. RESULT: Adhering to this simple "plan of action" will help minimize the initial "stereotyping" from opposing non-recreational representatives. This will enhance our effectiveness in discussing opposing opinions and give us the freedom to roam the room with less likely hood of confrontation.
4. PROPOSED GUIDELINES:
DO'S: DON'TS:
FS appreciation pins Club, org., assoc., or council, attire.
Smokey Bear knickknacks
Green hued shirts or polo's
Conservative shorts, slacks or denim.
Conservation sponsored cleanup T's,
PROPOSED CONDUCT CODE FOR RECREATION ATTENDEE'S
1. Don't argue! Remain calm. On either end of the spectrum we will encounter folks that can be quite vocal and militant.
2. Assign a knowledgeable group representative for each meeting, to address your initial questions and concerns and plan for action. If you have no knowledge of the Forest Plan Alternatives don't get caught airing your lack of understanding outside the privacy of your group.
3. Identify those in your group that have experience speaking at public meetings and ask them to act as your liaison and address those in attendance. They must also try to neutralize the emotions of those fed up with the religious fanaticism of the environmental movement. Ask these individuals to share their prime concerns within the control of your group. Use a "reflective listening" technique such as, "So, what you are saying is, you are adamant about this boundary being here, as opposed to there?" Or, escort that person to an FS person you trust, to privately address their fear.
Please follow these instructions so you can be an effective representative of the recreation community.
The Warrior's Society
A Tax-exempt organization under 501(c) 4 of the IRS Code
www.warriorssociety.org
A MTBAccess affiliated club
http://www.mtbaccess.com
Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of
The Warrior's Society
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