Ironman
May 17th, 2005, 07:53 AM
FYI...
This letter was sent from UFWDA in support of keeping passes open in Colorado.....
********************************
May 9, 2005
To: San Miguel County Commissioners
Subject: USFS GMUG - SMC Staff Meeting Recommendations Regarding Black Bear, Imogene, and Ophir Passes
Dear County Commissioners:
The below comments are submitted on behalf of the United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) and its member associations, clubs and individuals. UFWDA is an international association representing over 30,000 motorized recreationists and their families. Many of our members are residents of the State of Colorado and many more a frequent visitors. While the main focus of UFWDA is to advocate access to public lands for motorized recreation, many of our members participate in multiple forms of recreation; including but not limited to hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, bicycle riding, and gem and mineral collection.
We recognized the positive health and social benefits that can be achieved through outdoor activities. We also recognize that motorized recreation provides the small business owners in the local communities a significant financial stimulus. Our members are directly affected by management decisions concerning public land use.
The UFWDA members subscribe to the concepts of: 1) public access to public lands for their children and grandchildren; 2) condition and safety of the environment; and 3) sharing our natural heritage. The general public desires access to public lands now and for future generations. Limiting access today deprives our children the opportunity to view the many natural wonders of public lands. The general public is deeply concerned about the condition of the environment and personal safety. They desire wildlife available for viewing and scenic vistas to enjoy. They also want to feel safe while enjoying the natural wonders. Lastly, the public desires to share the natural heritage with friends and family today as well as in the future. How can our children learn and appreciate our natural heritage when native species are allowed to deteriorate and historic routes are routinely blocked or eradicated from existence?
I wish to express our concerns regarding the Black Bear, Imogene, and Ophir passes, and the planning team's recommendations. Land use planning is a difficult task and we commend the planning team for their efforts to develop workable and practicable solutions to an identified problem, and the Board of County Commissioners for reconsidering this issue.
Each year, more people visit our national forest and rural areas seeking a quality recreation experience. This growth does bring management issues. Closure of routes or areas is a drastic action that often brings more problems than those it attempts to solve. Education and enforcement are two tools for land management policies that are often under utilized.
UFWDA does not believe that closure of these passes by San Miguel County is a proper, nor appropriate, action.
UFWDA supports providing the Marshall Creek bypass road, which will allow unlicensed OHV use down Black Bear and up Imogene passes, as a viable option to provide access to these spectacular passes, without having unlicensed vehicles enter the town of Telluride.
UFWDA is a strong advocate for responsible recreation education efforts. We have developed a Safety and Awareness training course that has been taught to hundreds of 4x4 recreationists. We have developed a Volunteer Trail Patrol Program that has been accepted by the U.S. Forest Service and is used within the State of Colorado. We continue to partner with Tread Lightly! to refine the "responsible recreation" message and relay it to the public. We believe education is essential in promoting responsible OHV use.
The Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO) recently initiated the "Stay The Trail" media campaign with the USFS, BLM, and Colorado State Parks. This effort reflects the growing concern organizations have with the topic of responsible recreation and the positive actions taken to address the problem.
UFWDA urges you to considerer the following actions:
-- implement the tools of education and enforcement before closure.
-- reconsider the closure of Ophir pass to unlicensed vehicles.
Ophir Pass does not receive the heavy use experienced at other passes. It does have a long historic use as a motorized route and is a viable option to providing quality recreation opportunity while relieving other areas of heavy use. UFWDA does recognize that safety is a major concern and does agree that reasonable and prudent safety restrictions should be implemented within town boundaries.
Thank you for your consideration of our recommendations.
John Stewart
Director of Environmental Affairs
United Four Wheel Drive Associations
(619) 390-8747
--
This letter was sent from UFWDA in support of keeping passes open in Colorado.....
********************************
May 9, 2005
To: San Miguel County Commissioners
Subject: USFS GMUG - SMC Staff Meeting Recommendations Regarding Black Bear, Imogene, and Ophir Passes
Dear County Commissioners:
The below comments are submitted on behalf of the United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) and its member associations, clubs and individuals. UFWDA is an international association representing over 30,000 motorized recreationists and their families. Many of our members are residents of the State of Colorado and many more a frequent visitors. While the main focus of UFWDA is to advocate access to public lands for motorized recreation, many of our members participate in multiple forms of recreation; including but not limited to hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, bicycle riding, and gem and mineral collection.
We recognized the positive health and social benefits that can be achieved through outdoor activities. We also recognize that motorized recreation provides the small business owners in the local communities a significant financial stimulus. Our members are directly affected by management decisions concerning public land use.
The UFWDA members subscribe to the concepts of: 1) public access to public lands for their children and grandchildren; 2) condition and safety of the environment; and 3) sharing our natural heritage. The general public desires access to public lands now and for future generations. Limiting access today deprives our children the opportunity to view the many natural wonders of public lands. The general public is deeply concerned about the condition of the environment and personal safety. They desire wildlife available for viewing and scenic vistas to enjoy. They also want to feel safe while enjoying the natural wonders. Lastly, the public desires to share the natural heritage with friends and family today as well as in the future. How can our children learn and appreciate our natural heritage when native species are allowed to deteriorate and historic routes are routinely blocked or eradicated from existence?
I wish to express our concerns regarding the Black Bear, Imogene, and Ophir passes, and the planning team's recommendations. Land use planning is a difficult task and we commend the planning team for their efforts to develop workable and practicable solutions to an identified problem, and the Board of County Commissioners for reconsidering this issue.
Each year, more people visit our national forest and rural areas seeking a quality recreation experience. This growth does bring management issues. Closure of routes or areas is a drastic action that often brings more problems than those it attempts to solve. Education and enforcement are two tools for land management policies that are often under utilized.
UFWDA does not believe that closure of these passes by San Miguel County is a proper, nor appropriate, action.
UFWDA supports providing the Marshall Creek bypass road, which will allow unlicensed OHV use down Black Bear and up Imogene passes, as a viable option to provide access to these spectacular passes, without having unlicensed vehicles enter the town of Telluride.
UFWDA is a strong advocate for responsible recreation education efforts. We have developed a Safety and Awareness training course that has been taught to hundreds of 4x4 recreationists. We have developed a Volunteer Trail Patrol Program that has been accepted by the U.S. Forest Service and is used within the State of Colorado. We continue to partner with Tread Lightly! to refine the "responsible recreation" message and relay it to the public. We believe education is essential in promoting responsible OHV use.
The Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO) recently initiated the "Stay The Trail" media campaign with the USFS, BLM, and Colorado State Parks. This effort reflects the growing concern organizations have with the topic of responsible recreation and the positive actions taken to address the problem.
UFWDA urges you to considerer the following actions:
-- implement the tools of education and enforcement before closure.
-- reconsider the closure of Ophir pass to unlicensed vehicles.
Ophir Pass does not receive the heavy use experienced at other passes. It does have a long historic use as a motorized route and is a viable option to providing quality recreation opportunity while relieving other areas of heavy use. UFWDA does recognize that safety is a major concern and does agree that reasonable and prudent safety restrictions should be implemented within town boundaries.
Thank you for your consideration of our recommendations.
John Stewart
Director of Environmental Affairs
United Four Wheel Drive Associations
(619) 390-8747
--