IMPORTANT: OUR LOCAL FOREST SERVICE ROADS

[mudmike]

Not sure if you guys are aware of this, but I was just passed on this link with the copied info: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gwj/news- ... RDB5410175

Forest Service Seeks Public Input on Tough Roads Management Decisions
Release Date: Feb 19, 2013

Contact(s): Barb Walker (540) 552-4641

Forest Service Seeks Public Input on Tough Roads Management Decisions

Blacksburg, VA-The Forest Service is hosting four open houses to discuss the future management of national forest roads on the Eastern Divide Ranger District. The Eastern Divide Ranger District covers Bland, Craig, Giles, Pulaski, Tazewell, and portions of Botetourt, Roanoke, and Wythe counties in Virginia and Monroe County in West Virginia. "Access to the national forests is one of the biggest management challenges we face," says District Ranger Cindy Schiffer.　"As the gap between maintenance costs and available funds continues to widen, more seasonal closures will be necessary and many roads will be maintained to a lower standard than in the past. There are a few roads currently open that are poorly located and costly to maintain that will likely be proposed for closure to vehicle use."　

The open houses are an opportunity to discuss concerns and offer suggestions about specific roads. "There are difficult decisions ahead," contends Schiffer.　Most national forest roads were not designed or built for the amount of use and types of vehicles using them today.　 "I want to discuss the future of our roads with as many local users as I can." Schiffer intends to use information gained from these meetings to develop proposals which standardize winter closures, identify seasonal roads that can open earlier in the fall and specify roads that may be maintained to a lower standard or permanently closed. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals this summer. "We must work together to identify a safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable road system and understand the associated trade-offs."

Open House Schedule:

Thursday, March 7: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Giles County Administration Building

315 North Main Street, Pearisburg, VA



Monday, March 18: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Bland County School Board Office

361 Bears Trail, Bastian, VA



Thursday, March 21: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Craig County Courthouse

182 Main Street, New Castle, VA



Tuesday, March 26: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Eastern Divide Ranger Station

110 South Park Drive, Blacksburg, VA

For more information about these meetings or exact locations of specific roads, please call the Eastern Divide Ranger District at (540) 552-4641 or (888) 241-6669.

-USFS-

[BadAssEddie]

Good info Mike!

I'll get with the other Officers and discuss this. My initial thought is for us to attend the local Ope House as a club, in attire to participate and express how we feel about public use access.

[willhf1011]

I remember discussing this with Krantz at Windrock but hadn't gotten dates nailed down. Thanks man! We will come up with some show of support

[alk1174]

I was planning to go but it looks like work will have me out of town that day. It would be good to have a lot of people there. Might also be good to spread the word to other clubs in the area.

[UNIMOG-GUY]

Someone should let any and all of the local clubs in the area know about this. I'm going to contact Chris Rutherford president of the NRV Jeep club.

Something to think about is putting together something to say on behalf of the club with one person speaking for the group. That way there is a clear and concise message and we don't let our emotions get the best of us.

Having been around the club since the beginning and having been witness to several of the local trails being closed I only wish that we had done more when we had the chance to. Don't let this regret of mine become one of yours.

Any and all members that can attend should! An hour of your time could mean the difference in having local places to go offroading or not.

[mudmike]

I plan on going, but do not know the best way to approach our argument. Is there a meeting tonight? It might be best to discuss this ahead of time...

[BadAssEddie]

Alright guys, everyone who can attend tomorrow night, please come.

Let's meet at the Ranger Station at 6:30pm so we can go over some talking points I am going to prepare and get organized in case we have an opportunity to voice ourselves. Wear our club gear, I will bring a couple extra shirts and sweatshirts if anyone needs one.

Here's a link to Google Maps for the Ranger Station: http://tinyurl.com/bvug5tt

Let's do our part.

Attendance List:
1. Alec

[Lil Whitey]

Alright guys, everyone who can attend tomorrow night, please come.

Let's meet at the Ranger Station at 6:30pm so we can go over some talking points I am going to prepare and get organized in case we have an opportunity to voice ourselves. Wear our club gear, I will bring a couple extra shirts and sweatshirts if anyone needs one.

Here's a link to Google Maps for the Ranger Station: http://tinyurl.com/bvug5tt

Let's do our part.

Attendance List:
1. Alec
2. Jake

I will pick anyone up in bburg or on campus that wants to go so you dont have to go out to get your vehicles. Hit me up

We need to at least see whats going on in the forest service world. And likely offer our assistance with cleaning up or maintaining trails or roads that theyre thinking about closing.

[Lil Whitey]

BUMP

Who plans on going to this tonight????

[willhf1011]

I cant attend due to work, but here are my thoughts on the situation.


I think it is very important to realize that this is not truly a "land use" issue in the traditional Al sense of public land availability. If there is hope for a trail like potts staying open more success will be had by working with the forest service to minimize its burden on them as opposed to butting heads over our rights, which aren't specifically applicable to a situation like this.

In the eyes of the USFS (and as far as law, rights, and taxes are concerned) Potts is very much the same as the paved 2 lane leading right up to it except that it requires specialized maintenance, doesn't actually lead anywhere not already more easily reachable, and has very very low annual traffic comparatively. This is why it's very important that we act as a friend to the forest service and not a combatant or nuisance. The reality is Potts is in the eyes of many, a favor to people like us and we need to make sure that we express our appreciation and willingness to work to keep it.

[mudmike]

Attendance List:
1. Alec
2. Jake
3. Mike

I agree I think we need to see what we can do to work with the Forest Service in keeping more trails open. Once we can understand the issues behind maintaining these trails we can come up with a better solution.

Is the problem that people are going places they do not belong, leaving trash behind, or are too many people getting stuck back there without a tow out??

Hopefully most problems we can volunteer to help fix.

[BadAssEddie]

I cant attend due to work, but here are my thoughts on the situation.


I think it is very important to realize that this is not truly a "land use" issue in the traditional Al sense of public land availability. If there is hope for a trail like potts staying open more success will be had by working with the forest service to minimize its burden on them as opposed to butting heads over our rights, which aren't specifically applicable to a situation like this.

In the eyes of the USFS (and as far as law, rights, and taxes are concerned) Potts is very much the same as the paved 2 lane leading right up to it except that it requires specialized maintenance, doesn't actually lead anywhere not already more easily reachable, and has very very low annual traffic comparatively. This is why it's very important that we act as a friend to the forest service and not a combatant or nuisance. The reality is Potts is in the eyes of many, a favor to people like us and we need to make sure that we express our appreciation and willingness to work to keep it.

I wasn't planning on being combative. I just want the Rangers to see that these services and and areas have patronage and interest on continued accessfrom the general public. They are not responsible for these budget cuts and are not funneling land access away from the public, and if we can show that it would impact citizens to a large enough degree than an alternative solution could arise. That is the premise put forth in the announcement. None of us are going for a "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" approach. One of my talking points is an adopt a highway type program or similar volunteer actions to work with the Rangers, not against as Im sure they are all even more adament about the subject of National Land and decreasing funding than us.

[Lil Whitey]

We just need to see what we can do to help keep these roads open, plain and simple. Offer our interest in these roads, our appreciation of their past efforts to maintain access for us/the public, and our willingness to work with them to develop a relationship and hopefully see some of these roads survive for the future.

[MtnManMatt]

Attendance List:
1. Alec
2. Jake
3. Mike
4. Matt

Gonna try to come out and do whatever I can to help support and keep NFS roads open. Not a very good speaker and don't know if it would be at all useful, but I can certainly attest to how much it sucks when the forest service stops maintaining and closes roads and trails. I come from an area surrounded by huge tracts of beautiful NF land and hundreds of miles of FS roads and trails. The area has tons of potential, but for the most part is wasted because people either can't access it or because of the unwillingness of the local ranger district office to do anything. Seriously, the NFS in my area just flat out SUCKS and except for the few discouraging individuals who sit at the Clinch Ranger District Office, is all but nonexistent. All roads are always closed. The idea of a recreational off-road trail is ridiculous. The few hiking trails kept open, though beautiful, are poorly maintained and completely unadvertised. And when you call or visit the ranger office for information, it's amazing how unhelpful they can be. One has to work pretty hard to engage in any activity on NFS land which completely defeats the purpose. Basically, the attitude of the FS where I come from is akin to that of an old man guarding his lawn.

I was blown away when I came to Blacksburg. Open FS gates? Trails with other people hiking on them at the same time? A trail like Potts open and maintained specifically for off-roading and not privately owned? Active FS officials? It was all hard to believe and just some of the many reasons I love this area. It would be a real shame to see the NF around here end up like the district where I come from...

[tomg]

Wish I could have made it, but I am definitely waiting to hear how it went from all of you that went!