UPDATE: Sand Lick / Big Bend Area Road Management and Water Quality Improvement Project
Daniel Boone National Forest - Slade, KY
On November 23rd, 2010 SFWDA President Roger Theurer and Jeffrey Dozier, a SFWDA representative from the Bluegrass Cruisers, Tom Biebighauses, and Casey Craven representing local wheelers met with Dave Manner, a District Ranger from the Daniel Boone National Forest and his assistant in the Forest Service office in Morehead, KY.
Jeffery Dozier had scheduled this meeting over concerns related to the management of the Sand Lick / Big Bend area for OHV recreation.
The concerns resulted from the need to restore 125 abandon oil wells by capping and removing the associated piping. This area has been used for OHV recreation for the 20 plus years, even prior to forest Service ownership.
Some private land is also used for OHV recreation in this area. One of the main ways to access this area is by using the stream as a road. It is a designated Forest Service Road open to high clearance vehicles.
This access has been used by the power company as well as the oil companies to maintain their infrastructure. The stream must be restored and protected once the oil wells are capped. Part of this restoration will require temporary access for heavy equipment for the restoration work.
We expect the Forest Service to issue a Scoping letter early next year to present the issues and their proposed solutions for the area.
This meeting was held to be sure that the proposed actions included continued use of the land for OHV recreational activity.
Jeffrey Dozier presented a plan to the Forest Service to keep vehicles out of the stream and provide 15 miles of trails for OHV use.
Based on discussion we understand that the Region 8 office will not approve any OHV designation for these trails. The Daniel Boone National Forest wants to be sure they can designate the trails for OHV use.
Some of the specifics discussed during the meeting are as follows:
The group agreed on an action item to propose a re-route of the highway legal routes such that they avoid streams and that they meet Forest standards.
This plan will be developed by the users and presented to the District Ranger for consideration prior to any action.
It appears that the Forest Service and the user groups share the same goal to help preserve the area for the uses intended described in the Forest Management Plan.
For more information or to find out how you can become involved; please contact the SFWDA Director of Land Use and Conservation or visit the SFWDA website.
Daniel Boone National Forest - Slade, KY
On November 23rd, 2010 SFWDA President Roger Theurer and Jeffrey Dozier, a SFWDA representative from the Bluegrass Cruisers, Tom Biebighauses, and Casey Craven representing local wheelers met with Dave Manner, a District Ranger from the Daniel Boone National Forest and his assistant in the Forest Service office in Morehead, KY.
Jeffery Dozier had scheduled this meeting over concerns related to the management of the Sand Lick / Big Bend area for OHV recreation.
The concerns resulted from the need to restore 125 abandon oil wells by capping and removing the associated piping. This area has been used for OHV recreation for the 20 plus years, even prior to forest Service ownership.
Some private land is also used for OHV recreation in this area. One of the main ways to access this area is by using the stream as a road. It is a designated Forest Service Road open to high clearance vehicles.
This access has been used by the power company as well as the oil companies to maintain their infrastructure. The stream must be restored and protected once the oil wells are capped. Part of this restoration will require temporary access for heavy equipment for the restoration work.
We expect the Forest Service to issue a Scoping letter early next year to present the issues and their proposed solutions for the area.
This meeting was held to be sure that the proposed actions included continued use of the land for OHV recreational activity.
Jeffrey Dozier presented a plan to the Forest Service to keep vehicles out of the stream and provide 15 miles of trails for OHV use.
Based on discussion we understand that the Region 8 office will not approve any OHV designation for these trails. The Daniel Boone National Forest wants to be sure they can designate the trails for OHV use.
Some of the specifics discussed during the meeting are as follows:
- Fire road 212 must be relocated out of the stream.
- Highway legal vehicles are approved for travel in the Sand Lick / Big Bend area. Travel ways must meet minimum standards for roads.
- OHV and Highway Legal vehicle users support the clean-up of the area.
- The District Ranger is aware of and recognizes the present and past use of this area for OHV recreation. He will strongly consider including in any proposed action that highway legal vehicle access is maintained.
The group agreed on an action item to propose a re-route of the highway legal routes such that they avoid streams and that they meet Forest standards.
This plan will be developed by the users and presented to the District Ranger for consideration prior to any action.
It appears that the Forest Service and the user groups share the same goal to help preserve the area for the uses intended described in the Forest Management Plan.
For more information or to find out how you can become involved; please contact the SFWDA Director of Land Use and Conservation or visit the SFWDA website.