Blue Ribbon Coalition
MONTANA-FS Announces Travel Management Open Houses for Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF
The Forest Service is hosting several open houses to kick off the development of the travel management plan for the Dillon, Wisdom and Wise River Ranger Districts of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Forest visitors who travel routes on these Districts are encouraged to attend an open house of their choice to review current route maps and make sure their favorite routes are included. People are invited to drop-in at any time during open house hours. All open houses will start at 12 p.m., and will last until 8 p.m. Below is the schedule<
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:Legal-Ease 101: What is Intervention in court (and why)?
You may have heard about one of our off-road groups "intervening" in a court action. This is not the same as filing a lawsuit. Herein we will explain what it means to be an "intervenor" in a court action, and why it is an essential part of our access efforts.
Legal actions can be described as offensive and defensive. To intervene is a defensive maneuver that can save the day for us, by ensuring we have a seat at the table when recreational decisions are made.
Directors' Pick: 0 Staff Column Del Albright & Brian Hawthorne Trail Ride: 0Subcommittee to Hold Washington State Field Hearing
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hold an oversight field hearing entitled "Failed Federal Forest Policies: Endangering Jobs, Forests and Species." The hearing will examine how federal administering of the Northwest Forest Plan and Endangered Species Act has affected local economies, forest health and the Northern Spotted Owl. The hearing is on Monday, May 21, 2012, at 9:00 am at the Cowlitz County Convention Center in Longview, Washington.BRC will have updated info and a report in the coming days and weeks.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:REMINDER-Subcommittee to Hold Field Hearing - Help Us Pack The House
THIS IS A SPECIAL BRC "PACK THE HOUSE" ALERT Just a reminder about the Joint Oversight Field Hearing being held on "Logs in the Road: Eliminating Federal Red Tape and Excessive Litigation to Create Healthy Forests, Jobs and Abundant Water and Power Supplies" this coming Monday, May 14, 2012, at 9:00 am at the Montrose Elks Civil Building in Montrose, Colorado. (See previous alert) Gary Wilkinson of Handlebar Motorsports has been invited to testify, and BRC's own Public Lands guy, Brian Hawthorne, will be there as well.
Directors' Pick: 0ARIZONA-FS Announces Meeting Regarding Motor Vehicle Use On Safford Ranger District
The Coronado National Forest, located in southeastern Arizona, has announced that the Safford Ranger District will participate in a final public meeting regarding proposed changes to the designated road system on May 16, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Graham County General Services Building, 921 W. Thatcher Blvd. Safford, Arizona. This meeting will be an "Open House" to invite public input for the ongoing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:Subcommittee to Hold Western Colorado Field Hearing
Subcommittee to Hold Western Colorado Field Hearing on Restoring Access to Our Public Lands, Water Rights and Federal Mis-management of Forest Lands. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power and the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands are holding a Joint Oversight Field Hearing on "Logs in the Road: Eliminating Federal Red Tape and Excessive Litigation to Create Healthy Forests, Jobs and Abundant Water and Power Supplies" this coming Monday, May 14, 2012, at 9:00 am at the Montrose Elks Civil Building in Montrose, Colorado.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:ARIZONA-FS Proposing Changes to Santa Catalina Ranger District Motorized Travel System
The Coronado National Forest, located in southeastern Arizona, is proposing changes to the motorized transportation system on the Santa Catalina 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 first step in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process is "scoping," during which the public is asked to help identify issues, concerns and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:Public Comments Sought for Proposed Land Management Plan Amendment
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).The Proposed Amendment would modify the existing land use zones allocations in selected inventoried roadless areas to include more back country non-motorized and recommended wilderness areas. An alternate monitoring framework is also proposed. The full details of the proposed action can be found on the project webpage at
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:IDAHO-BLM- Four Rivers Field Office Releases Draft Plan for Big Willow OHV Area
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). Motorized travel on lands adjacent to these roads and trails was also restricted. The closure affects approximately 7,100 acres northwest of Emmett, Idaho, which the BLM administers.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:OREGON-Wallowa-Whitman NF Land Use Update - What Happens Next?
Last week BRC let you about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest supervisor's announcement to withdraw their travel management plan decision. (See previous alert) The forest has now issued their "Path Forward" document on the Forest's travel plan which lays out what happens now. BRC will continue to work with local groups and individuals and keep you updated as this process continues. Thanks to everyone who has been involved. As always, please call or email if you have any questions or comments.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image: Action AlertAction Alert and Update on Carson BLM RMP Revision
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. The comment deadline is Monday, April 30, 2012 so please take a minute to send an email today. BRC's Don Amador and Del Albright have been working with various OHV clubs across California and Nevada on various issues related to this important planning effort.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:BRC National Land Use and Legislative Update
Well... we used to call it "the silly season." 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. Clinton's Utah monument, designated without even a phone call to Utah's Governo
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:ARIZONA - Kaibab National Forest Releases Draft Forest Plan and DEIS
The Kaibab National Forest has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Kaibab Land Management Plan. The revised plan will provide forest-level direction for meeting the mission of the Forest Service and managing its lands to provide for healthy, resilient ecosystems that meet the diverse needs of the American people over the next 10 to 15 years. The public is invited to review and comment on the Draft Plan and DEIS.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image: Action AlertFamilies for Outdoor Recreation (FFOR) Newsletter-April 2012-Issue 16
Check out Montana's Families for Outdoor Recreation latest newsletter. In this issue - House Pass Legislation to Prevent Last-Minute or Unwanted National Monument Designations, Input Critical for Forest Plan - Please Comment and Measure to Protect Hunters' Access on Public Lands Passes House.
Directors' Pick: 0 Announcement Trail Ride: 0BRC Mourns The Loss Of A Founder & Recreation Champion
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Contact:
Greg Mumm, BRC Executive Director
BOISE, ID (April 6, 2012) -- The OHV community joins together today in mourning the loss of one of its greatest activists. On Thursday, April 5th, 2012, Adena Cook--one of the original founders of the BlueRibbon Coalition--passed away.
Directors' Pick: 0 mediaCALIFORNIA - FS Proposing Changes to Gasquet Ranger District Motorized Travel System
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.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image: Action AlertWASHINGTON - Olympic NF Proposes OHV Trail System In North Fork Calawah Watershed
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). The trail system would utilize both existing system roads and user-created trails. There would be no cross-country travel, and user-created trails in the project area that are not part of this proposal would be closed / rehabilitated.
Directors' Pick: 0 Image:CALIFORNIA - FS Approves Rubicon Trail Route Improvements
New Regular Feature from BRC
Capital Research Center's Foundation Watch
During a recent presentation at a local OHV club meeting, I was struck by an assumption that a lot of folks make about how these radical anti-recreation groups are funded. What assumption? That these litigious greenie groups are funded by taxpayer money.
Directors' Pick: 0 Announcement Trail Ride: 0BRC Asks Your Help In Saving Johnson Valley (And The Hammers)
JOHNSON VALLEY, CA (April 23, 2012) -- The U.S. Marine Corps is still considering taking away most all this famous OHV area in southern CA, and we need your help to stop this takeover.
This video tells the story, but rest assured we’ve made substantial progress in working to educate folks of the importance of Johnson Valley. But more work and help is needed. You can help us be proactive.
Directors' Pick: 0 Press Release Trail Ride: 0
