New George Washington National Forest Access & Management Report Out

[rambomanor]

Hey guys, the National Forest Service just snuck an announcement onto the internet that the open comment just began (yesterday) for the new land use and access plan for the George Washington National Forest. This is relevant to us: The Cove, Crabtree Falls/Shoe Creek, Big Levels and other of the VERY FEW remaining open wheeling areas and trails on public land near where we live and work may be affected by the new land use/access plan. As you can imagine, big business - mostly coal, forest products and hydrocarbons (oil and gas) - tends to lobby hardest and have the deepest pockets. Its interests are not aligned with ours as off-roaders, four-wheel drivers, overlanders and rock crawlers. We will lose what little access we have if we remain silent. Please check out the documents (voluminous and slow to wade through, I admit...) and make your voice heard. Just devote an hour to getting informed and writing a reply if you have a comment! Start here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gwj/home/?cid=stelprd3799959

Rob, you have the best contacts with the Blue Ribbon Coalition. Maybe they should be alerted to the important documents that have just been released, in case they are not aware of them.

 

[matzell]

Hey guys, the National Forest Service just snuck an announcement onto the internet that the open comment just began (yesterday) for the new land use and access plan for the George Washington National Forest. This is relevant to us: The Cove, Crabtree Falls/Shoe Creek, Big Levels and other of the VERY FEW remaining open wheeling areas and trails on public land near where we live and work may be affected by the new land use/access plan. As you can imagine, big business - mostly coal, forest products and hydrocarbons (oil and gas) - tends to lobby hardest and have the deepest pockets. Its interests are not aligned with ours as off-roaders, four-wheel drivers, overlanders and rock crawlers. We will lose what little access we have if we remain silent. Please check out the documents (voluminous and slow to wade through, I admit...) and make your voice heard. Just devote an hour to getting informed and writing a reply if you have a comment! Start here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gwj/home/?cid=stelprd3799959

Rob, you have the best contacts with the Blue Ribbon Coalition. Maybe they should be alerted to the important documents that have just been released, in case they are not aware of them.

Reid,

I sent this to Del Albright,

 

[Pacer]

Get involved folks, this is copied from chapter one page 11.
At least read chapter one!

BACKGROUND: The Forest is within a day’s drive for a large population of people in the eastern U.S. Local and
regional visitors use the forest for a variety of recreational opportunities, from primitive hiking and camping to
developed recreation sites and motorized travel. Developed recreation is not a significant issue; however,
demand for long-distance trails for special recreation events, such as long-distance mountain bicycling,
equestrian endurance rides and runner marathons, has increased in recent years. The demand is greatest
among the equestrian and mountain biking communities. The public demand for motorized trail opportunities
exceeds the national forest supply. Private lands are not a measurable provider at this time. Some comments
stated that off-highway and all-terrain vehicle use is not appropriate at all on the Forest due to the noise,
potential environmental damage, and the need could be met commercially on private lands.