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Originally Posted by F-junker  Soil erosion control measures are an important thing to consider if you wan to insure the long-term integrity of an ecosystem, especially a stream (riparian) environment. as much as I love to wheel, the proposed closures COULD be justified. I say could because one needs to take exactly what factors and data the forester/regulator has used and taken into account here. I like to fish as well as knock the **** out of my truck in the woods but if 4 wheeling here is going to lead to severe or even moderate degredation of the environment it should be moderated or temper. stopped until a solution has been made. We don't want to lok like a bunch of hoodlems (even though most of us are  ) |
Agreed infojunky. And I understand what you are saying F-Junker. However, the Forest Service has NO information that supports their claims that erosion is coming from the OHV area specifically. And further, nothing that proves that the three trails named are the major sources of that run off.
While I agree in principle that erosion issues are somthing that we as a community need to be aware of and manage carefully so that we don't have an impact on our environment, this is a situation where a well known special interest group is bullying the Forest Service into unjustified, non-supported closures based on hearsay and allegations by that special interest group.
If you want to discuss erosion, best managment practices, and sediment control...bring it on. But in this case, it is clearly an action to attempt to avoid a lawsuit by said special interest group. This ain't only about dirt, its also about who has more support to get their agenda fulfilled.
I'll also add that we have been down this temporary closure road before. Do a little searching around the Georgia Cruiser's corner for Anderson Creek. The Forest Service decided to close it down temporarily to do an environmental analysis. That was close to 4-5 years ago I think. It's still closed and the study is not done. If the FS closes something for "analysis" you can kiss it goodbye. We've been there and done that and we are not about to let that happen without a fight.
Been a long few days, so this is pretty hot on my mind right now. Sorry if I am coming off a little strong. If you have questions about what is going on, please feel free to PM me.
Thanks.
*rant off*