Action Alerts

Forest Service officials are seeking public comments on a Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California National Forests (the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino).

In May 2011, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) closed the popular "Big Willow" OHV area in Payette County to protect habitat for Packard's milkvetch. The Packard's milkvetch is a plant that is listed as "candidate species" for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

We wanted to update our members on the progress of the Nevada BLM's Carson City District Office process to revise their Resource Management Plan. We also have a few comment suggestions for folks who haven't made comments yet.

As the 2012 election season approaches, we find ourselves searching for a term other than "silly" to use. Perhaps... Serious season?

From the time Bill Clinton (then candidate for re-election) stood at the Grand Canyon in Arizona to announce the creation of a massive two-million acre National Monument in Utah, election seasons bring a sense of trepidation and fear to American citizens and local governments across the West.

The Six Rivers National Forest proposes to make limited changes to the National Forest Transportation System (NFTS) on the Gasquet Ranger District. The purpose of the project is to make limited changes to the NFTS that enhance motorized recreation opportunities, dispersed recreation opportunities, and administrative access, while minimizing ecological and cultural resource risk. In addition, this project restores terrestrial and aquatic habitats impacted by unauthorized routes.

The Pacific Ranger District of the Olympic National Forest is proposing to construct and maintain an OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) trail system in the North Fork Calawah watershed. The Proposed Action is the development of a trail system and staging area for OHV use in the Bonidu project area (see map here).

BlueRibbon Coalition is proud to mark our 12th year of helping the incredibly dedicated volunteers working on the Rubicon Trail to make it the dream trail we all want it to be. When  BRC helped form Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) in 2001, it was imminently clear that world-wide interest in the famed Rubicon Trail called for long-term, local, state, and federal cooperation with volunteers to make this icon of four-wheeling the treasure it deserves to be.

Last Tuesday we blasted news about an important Wilderness meeting in Choteau, Montana. Apparently, public response was such that a larger venue is required. The meeting will be held at the Choteau Public School Auditorium, 204 7th Ave NW in Chouteau, MT.

Since the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest released its travel management decision, there has been huge public outrage over the amount of road and trail closures. Indeed, over 800 people showed up in opposition to the travel plan at a recent public meeting organized by a group called Forest Access for All. 

The Sierra National Forest (SNF) proposes to change the process for determining motor vehicle season of use for National Forest Transportation System (NFTS) roads, trails and areas. The purpose of this action is to allow flexibility in public motorized use on SNF roads, trails and areas when resource conditions allow.

The next field trip and meeting of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) California Desert Advisory Council (DAC) will be held April 20-21, 2012, in Ridgecrest, CA. The council will participate in a field tour of nearby BLM-managed public lands on Friday, April 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and meet in formal session on Saturday, April 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Carriage Inn, 901 N. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest, CA.

The Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests (KIPZ) are extending the end of the comment period on both Draft Plans and associated Draft EISs from April 5 to May 7, 2012. In addition, the KIPZ is giving notice that the objection process under the 2012 Planning Regulations outlined in 36 CFR 219, subpart B, will be utilized.

We just received an email from John Schnorr, Executive Director Wisconsin Off-Highway Vehicle Association (WOHVA), asking us to pass along information on an important market survey being conducted by Ripon College.

Two years ago, motors were banned on Waldo Lake in Lane County, Oregon. This was another move by environmental extremists to deny motorized use on public land managed by the government.

You may remember news stories about a year ago about the Idaho Conservation League and The Wilderness Society winning a lawsuit on the Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel Plan. (The Idaho Recreation Council (IRC), BRC and other OHV groups participated in that case via the Amici process.)

Our partners over at the New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA), just sent us their latest Access Alert on the Santa Fe National Forest.

There is more information in the Access Alert, which is pasted below. The folks over at NMOHVA are doing outstanding work in the fight for access and are certainly deserving of your support, so visit their website and learn more about how you can help.

First off, apologies for the short notice. This one slipped by us.

Skip Schulz from MiTRALE sent us an email about the Upper Peninsula ORV Trail Development Association Board Meeting at Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

The Austin and Tonopah Ranger Districts, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, are requesting public input regarding these respective Ranger Districts' Motor Vehicle Use Maps (Travel Plan) to determine if there are any needed changes. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District--Sierra Front and Stillwater Field Offices, are seeking public comments to identify issues and concerns that should be analyzed the Carson City District Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The Ely Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, is requesting public input regarding the Ely Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Maps (Travel Plan) to determine what changes may be needed to designated roads and trails open to motorized use on the Ely Ranger District.

Last January, BRC updated you on a huge issue that will affect the management of tens of millions of acres of public lands managed by the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management - The Endangered Sage Grouse. BRC has a dedicated webpage on the issue.

We wanted to pass along the latest from the folks over at the New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA). 

In particular, we encourage BRC members and supporters to attend the "Bucky Birthday Bash" in  Glenwood, NM, on June 9th. Aside from the good fun and food, they will be raising money to help support NMOHVA's Access Defense fund.

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hold an Oversight Field Hearing in Elko, Nevada, on "Explosion of Federal Regulations Threatening Jobs and Economic Survival in the West." The hearing will be held on Monday, March 12, 2012, at the Elko Convention Center, 700 Moren Way, Elko, Nevada.

The Coronado National Forest, located in southeastern Arizona, is proposing changes to the motorized transportation system on the Nogales Ranger District. The system that is currently in place was originally established according to direction in the Coronado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan; 1986, as amended).

The Coronado National Forest, located in southeastern Arizona, is proposing changes to the motorized transportation system on the Douglas Ranger District. The system that is currently in place was originally established according to direction in the Coronado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan; 1986, as amended).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Baker Field Office originally announced that the deadline for comments on the Baker Field Office Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was February 23, 2012.

BRC just received an email Action Alert from Mike Swenson, Executive Director of the Utah Shared Access Alliance (USA-ALL), with a Critical Call To Action.

We've pasted USA-ALL's Action Alert below. Please take a minute to read the alert, take action and then pass it along to friends, family and riding buddies.

The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations, is pleased to announce its 2012 achievement awards to recognize outstanding trail projects funded by the national Recreational Trails Program (RTP).  The awards will be presented in Washington, D.C. during Great Outdoors Week 2012 (June 2-10) as part of the Coalition's ongoing effort to build awareness and appreciation of this highly successful program which has greatly enhanced the quantity and quality of trail experiences available to the public.

BRC just received an email from our partners over at Citizens for Balanced Use (CBU), with an announcement about the upcoming meeting regarding the Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area (WSA) that the Gallatin National Forest is holding next week.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a corrected Notice of Intent to address sage grouse in 10 additional National Forest System Lands and Resource Management Plans, and formally extended the comment period through March 23, 2012.  The notice was published in the February 10, 2012, Federal Register.