Wilderness/ Monument Designations 2.6.16 Update

[Butch]

The Obama administration has been doing a lot of this recently, which excludes a lot of users from enjoying our wilderness. Horses are not excluded, mt bikes are. Good luck to ever getting to ride a moto there once an area is designated as "Wilderness".

If you can send in a comment supporting mt bikes it will help the dirtbike community.

Overview:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/planning?cid=STELPRD3803608
and
https://www.imba.com/blog/inyo-sequoia-sierra-plans

Comment form:
https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=3375

Oh yeah, like by Monday...

 

[SonoraMike]

Wilderness Act has been in place since the late 60s protecting these areas with the intent to leave them pristine. Has nothing to do with the obama administrstion other than to continue the existing act. Horses are animals, mtn bikes are mechanical. But I'll give you that horses have way too much negative impact with ground and tree wear along with their feed bringing in noxious weeds. I'd support a ban on horses, but not what you suggest.

 

[Butch]

here is the ARRA version (I think):
Support Collaboratively Developed Public Lands Legislation Instead of Top Down National Monument Designations!

Take Action to Encourage the Administration to Support the Utah Public Lands Initiative and Other Collaboratively Developed Land Use Bills and Avoid Massive and Inappropriate Monument Designations!

On Wednesday, January 20, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Rep Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) unveiled the first draft of the Utah Public Lands Initiative. This release follows three years, 1,200 meetings and consideration of 65 detailed proposals. This draft is intended to be just that – a draft. Comments, suggestions and recommendations will continue to be accepted and considered by the bill sponsors. The draft represents a compromise that includes many important provisions that boost recreation, land conservation, economic development, and certainty in eastern Utah communities. Please visit www.UtahPLI.com to view the draft language, maps, and other summaries regarding the draft Utah PLI Act.

The release of the draft provides a great opportunity for all ARRA members to remind the Administration that truly collaborative public lands management processes take time, commitment and dedication. Too often the Administration seems willing to hold a public meeting or two in an area then designate a massive swath of nearby public lands as a National Monument and all but eliminate the opportunity for meaningful local public involvement. The Utah Public Lands Initiative serves as a shining example of collaboration, hard work and compromise.

Send an email encouraging the President and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to support the Utah Public Lands Initiative and other collaboratively developed land use bills that allow for meaningful public involvement as opposed to creating new National Monuments that do not have widespread support.

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/OTV2LT0NvW1B3XRN6IMuTg

 

[SFMCjohn]

... which excludes a lot of users from enjoying our wilderness.

Thanks for this, Butch ... I always cringe when I see those "wilderness
designation study area" signs when I'm out riding ...

As time goes by I see more of my motorcycle
friends buying quads to use in Baja ... jeeps for the Sierras ...

When I asked one of my older Moto
pals why he'd used a quad on a recent Baja trip
rather than his old BMW GS he laughed
and said "quads don't fall over when
I stop ..." :laughing

... the real prize in the wilderness designation issue
would be an exception
for any vehicle with a handicapped plate ...
or, failing that, an exception for electric vehicles
with handicapped or "senior citizen" plates ...

I'd buy an electric motorcycle if I could continue to camp
in some of my favorite areas that I expect to
be gated in the future ... arty

Alas, in the end, I suspect it's simply cheaper to manage
these areas with locked gates ...

But, get the Boomers and the Disability Rights
activists on the wilderness designation issue, and who
knows ... :ride

we'll certainly all hang together
if all we do is sit around the campfire ... :laughing
... hope to see you in Stonyford in April ...
-- John A

 

[Butch]

I just read an email from ARRA that the Senate is trying to make these "executive order" wilderness designations expire if not ratified. Or something.

https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/ARRA/Campaigns/44290/Respond

Easy to send a note to your Senator!

 

[Butch]

And another!
Please sign; really easy.

Reports Indicate that the President May Move to Make Designations in the California Desert

Despite legislation moving in both Houses of Congress, there are rumors that the Administration is considering National Monument designations in the California Desert. Please Take Action now to send an email urging the President NOT to move forward with these designations!

ARRA has previously alerted you that Senator Feinstein (D-CA) and Representative Cook (R-CA) each have introduced legislation (S. 414 and H.R. 3668) that would provide for the management of the lands being considered for National Monument designation. These bills were developed over time and are the result of collaboration and compromise between various groups with often competing interests.

It is unlikely the Administration will designate the multiple OHV recreation areas designated as such in the Feinstein and Cook bills. As for the areas that will be designated as National Monuments -while motorized recreation and other multiple uses are not specifically prohibited in National Monument areas, history has proven that even the most responsible multiple uses are banned or restricted once an area is designated.

Click the link below to take action on this issue:
https://www.votervoice.net/Shares/BqH9QAxlACs1KA-DESO7ABA