Bad news for Norcal wheeling

[t4r4life]

News & Events


Court Order Prohibits Motorized Vehicle Travel on 42 Popular OHV Routes

Release Date: Apr 4, 2012 Placerville, CA
Contact(s): Frank Mosbacher

Forty-two off-highway-vehicle routes that cross meadows in the Eldorado National Forest may be closed to motor vehicle travel this recreation season while the Forest Service completes an environmental analysis, announced Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Kathy Hardy.
The potential travel prohibitions are the result of a February 2012 court order by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton. The order said the Forest Service failed to comply with the National Forest Management Act in 2008 when it designated “open for public motor vehicle use” portions of 42 routes that cross meadows. Judge Karlton ordered the Forest Service to “set aside” the decision that designated these segments as open and to reconsider the decision.
A final court order with further direction to the Forest Service is pending. In the interim, Karlton ordered the 42 routes remain closed to motorized public use. The final order will identify specifically where travel will be prohibited until a new environmental decision is made.
“I know that prohibiting travel on these routes will be a big disappointment to forest visitors, but we have to be responsive to the order.” said Hardy. “I have a team of people lined up to complete a supplemental environmental impact statement as quickly as possible.”
The SEIS is scheduled to begin in April or May 2012 and to be completed by April 2013.
Hardy says many popular high county routes may be affected by the closure. Some of these routes include: Barrett Lake Jeep Trail; Squaw Ridge Four Wheel Drive Trail; Clover Valley/ Deer Valley Trail; Strawberry Four Wheel Drive Trail; Carson Emigrant Trail; Allen’s Camp Motorcycle Trail and the Bucks Pasture Motorcycle Trail. The Rubicon 4wd Trail is not affected by this court order.
Maps and a complete list of the routes affected by the court order will be posted on the Eldorado National Forest website at: Eldorado - Home. These maps will be modified to reflect the final court order once it is received. A free-of-charge motor vehicle use map that shows the routes that are open to wheeled motor vehicle use will be available at all Eldorado National Forest offices in June 2012 reflecting the final order.
“I intend to close the routes where it makes sense to do so if the final order prohibits travel on routes that cross meadows,” said Hardy. “A route may be closed near a meadow or some distance away depending on how difficult it is to turn a vehicle around.”
Some routes will also be closed indirectly because they branch off closed routes and will not be accessible.

trails closed
Eldorado National Forest Travel Management Meadow Court Order
04/03/12
1
List of 42 Routes
Route No Name
08N23B Prothro Headwater
08N35 Upper West Panther
09N01 Blue Lakes
9N04 Pardoe 4WD**
09N08 Stockton Camp
09N15 Leek Springs Valley
09N54 Leoni
9N82 Squaw Ridge 4WD Trail**
09N83 Clover Valley/Deer Valley Trail
09N95 Cosumnes Head
10N01 Spur off Woods Lake**
10N03 Devil’s Gate Sumer Home
10N06 Pebble Ridge
10N13
Strawberry 4WD Trail and road
connecting to County Road**
10N14 Mule Canyon
10N21 Long Canyon 4WD Trail
10N26** Sciots Creek
10N32 South Beanville Creek
10N98 Jim Quinn Spur
10NY04 Middle Long Canyon
10NY05 Rocky RoadEldorado National Forest Travel Management Meadow Court Order
04/03/12
2
10NY06 Upper Long Canyon
11N09A Bryan Creek
11N22** *Strawberry Creek
11N23F North Shanty Spur
11N26F Barrett lake 4WD Trail
11N70** McManus
11NY32 47 Milestone
12NY06 Crystal Shortcut
12NY15 West Robbs Peak
13N24** Dry Lakes
14N05 McKinstry Lake
14N27 Bunker Meadow
14N39 Richardson Lake 4WD
14N58 Jerrett Peak
17E12 Motorcycle Trail to Lover's Leap
17E16 Little Round Top
17E17 Bucks Pasture motorcycle trail
17E19 Allen's Camp motorcycle trail
17E21 Horse Canyon motorcycle trail
17E24 Carson Emigrant Trail
17E28 Long Valley motorcycle trail

 

[Stockwell45]

I've been trying to figure out who the best person is to email about this problem. We need to get our voices heard or else they'll find a way to shut down every trail in CA. I seriously was looking forward to another fun weekend at Squaw Ridge this summer...

 

[t4r4life]

they cant just take away our trails!!!!!!!!!!!! This is AMERICA!!!!!

 

[SV_Dude]

This is AMERICA!!!!!

Since when has that meant anything? The fact that this is America means that you have the right to voice your opinion either on your own or in a large group. Maybe you'll be heard, maybe you'll get your point across, maybe they will even give you what you want. But it's not and it has never been guaranteed. The fact that this is America only means that the government was created for the people and not the people for the government.

Yes it is screwed up at times and I am not defending some of the stupid choices that the government makes. I'm just simply stating the facts.

If you want to do something about it then you need to start a petition with as many people as possible and bring up the good facts to the government. Good facts such as what good things your local wheeling clubs do for the land (instead of thrash around it).

Unfortunately, the government of California has always been an extreme stickler for land preservation. The government of California is absolutely horrible and one of the reasons of why I would never live there.

Good luck!

 

[KidVermicious]

Exactly right, SV. There's a guy running his mouth on Yotatech about how he's going to drive these trails anyway because it's his inalienable god-given right to drive his truck anywhere he wants... it doesn't work that way. Part of living in a society means you don't always get to do what you want to do when you want to do it. The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is just that we get to b*tch about it.

 

[Burt]

they cant just take away our trails!!!!!!!!!!!! This is AMERICA!!!!!

Obviously, they aren't our trails. I expect to see more and more of this across the country. Shame, but they gotta do what they must.

 

[Beach Runner]

Similar things are happening over here on the east coast with Cape Hatteras National Seashore RECREATIONAL Area. SV is right, start/sign as many petitions as possible and write your local representatives; I know I am.

 

[BucknutBob]

Active 4WD clubs are one of the best defenses, especially those that get involved with the regional forest or natural resource mgmt.. Here in the Black Hills, the clubs work directly with the forest service, adopting trails, cleaning the area, helping with signs and maps, etc.. The less organized we are, the easier we are to defeat. A while back, there was a story about where the lawmakers in some area wanted to pass a law where ALL trails were closed unless physically marked as being open (the lazy way of taking tons of roads out of circulation, because most are NOT marked). Thankfully, there was a strong club movement in the area, and they got it shot down. Between politicians who don't give a crap, and environmentalists who think the only way to appreciate nature is to never be allowed out in it, we will always have a fight looming somewhere.

 

[the great him]

its sad but this is happening at an alarming rate across the country, people need to start being good stewards of the land, and picking up after them selfs and packing out what they pack in... in a local club im a part of we have a work party every month to either work on opening new trails, repairing current/existing trails, and or picking up trash. we also have two weekends a year set aside for just picking up and hauling out every thing we can(we will usually fill one or two large drop dumpsters and remove several vehicles that have been left/abandon. LE is involved and if they can track the trash(ie VINs on vehicles, or mail ect) they will go after the owners and fine them and charge them with crimes if they can. we also are out doing education to the general populous about picking up after them selfs when camping and or shooting and asking them to please stay on the trails and dont make new ones that are not authorized... its a lot of hard work and a lot of money out of our pockets, but in the end its all well worth it. i encourage each of you to find a local 4wd club/group and join, help out and at least try to make a difference. keep our trails clean, keep our trails open!

 

[SV_Dude]

In my mind, the only real fix is to get the government out of the picture. We need more OHV parks that are privately owned and not on federally controlled land (if there is such a thing). I would gladly pay $10-$20 per day to go wheeling on privately owned land that is maintained and set up for 4wheeling. The more control that the government has on land the harder it will be to wheel on it.

 

[BucknutBob]

In my mind, the only real fix is to get the government out of the picture. We need more OHV parks that are privately owned and not on federally controlled land (if there is such a thing). I would gladly pay $10-$20 per day to go wheeling on privately owned land that is maintained and set up for 4wheeling. The more control that the government has on land the harder it will be to wheel on it.

I agree, those kinds of parks can be a lot of fun, but for me the real fun is getting out there and exploring the hundreds of trails that only large national forests and lands can provide. I don't like hitting the same stuff over and over, even if it IS a lot of fun at the time--I want to see new places as often as I can. Government control CAN be good, as they can provide resources for maintenance that locals cannot; BUT, they are too easily swayed by the outcries of people who think wilderness-style isolation is the only way to save these areas.

 

[t4r4life]

i guess some people didn't take my south park reference as a joke.

 

[TRDCal]

The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is just that we get to b*tch about it.

:bravo::lol:

 

[KidVermicious]

In my mind, the only real fix is to get the government out of the picture. We need more OHV parks that are privately owned and not on federally controlled land (if there is such a thing). I would gladly pay $10-$20 per day to go wheeling on privately owned land that is maintained and set up for 4wheeling. The more control that the government has on land the harder it will be to wheel on it.

There's a park like this called Area BFE outside Moab, it's run by volunteers on donated land and is entirely free (with a donation box, of course). It's great for the crawler guys, but I agree with Bucknut too - I'm not in it to conquer rock, I like to explore. It'd have to be an awfully big off-road park to keep my attention for more than a couple days.

Hopefully this deal in NorCal turns out to be just a bit of paperwork the FS forgot to file and the enviro's are making a stink over, and these trails can be reopened. I haven't spent much time down there, but it's a beautiful area with great trails, and it'd be a shame to lose vehicle access to them.

 

[the great him]

check this out guys, and share this with your friends... this is not just going to be a big "oops we forgot to do some paperwork, my guess is they will close it all down and screw up whats left open like they have done all over the place...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0kUhLMi97dg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[SJC]

The NW is better. Screw California. So many traffic lights!

 

[KidVermicious]

The NW is better. Screw California. So many traffic lights!

I grew up in the PNW, and while I prefer it to California in almost every way, northern Cal is freaking gorgeous, and wilder/less populated than most of Oregon and Washington. It'd be a damned shame to lose these routes.

 

[SJC]

I grew up in the PNW, and while I prefer it to California in almost every way, northern Cal is freaking gorgeous, and wilder/less populated than most of Oregon and Washington. It'd be a damned shame to lose these routes.

Where at in the NW?

 

[KidVermicious]

Born in Eugene, I've lived in Portland and Bend.

 

[SJC]

Nice i just met a girl down in mexico, she was from bend haha.

I love Washington and Oregon