Re: Level II Roads in our National Forests

["Color Country" <otdumas@color-country.net>]

Connie,
I think you really have a lot of misinformation on the Level II Roads Policy
and the Presidents Land Legacy Roadless Area.  These are most positive
proposals for equestrians and especially endurance riders as it greatly
increases the quantity and quality of opportunity for endurance riding
within the National Forest System.  Many endurance rides have used these
closed Level II roads for years  as part of there course including the OT.
You road on a little of them on day 3 and 4 when you rode the OT.
An Environmental Impact Statement is already at the heart of these policies.
It is called "Cumulative Impact".  It is the driver of need to manage the
level II roads along with the overwhelming watershed degradation that has
been brought about by the misuses of 4-wheelers.
The "Cumulative Impact" to watersheds and wildlife habitat caused by the
plethora of open roads prevents management actions in adjacent roadless
areas.
The private land owners, county commissioners and public land users in and
about the National Forest I'm responsible for are really working together to
improve there watersheds and promote responsible use.  If this is not done
then it ends up like CA with houses sliding into the ocean, great flood
damage, and challenging culinary water shortages.
The alternative (which some ride mangers like) is to put on road rides where
they can drive every inch and the riders have the joy riding a ride in "rush
hour" traffic.
The closing of and stabilization of Level II roads does not mean that they
cannot ever be used again or you cannot ride horses on them or that they
cannot be designated as ATV trails.  It simply means that the overall
cumulative impact to a watershed will be reduced.
If you have any questions for further clarification I'll be glad to answer
them because I do not think your letter represents the best interest of
AERC, the Trails Committee or the Equestrian Community.
I wish you had discussed this with the Trails Committee before you sent the
response.
Sincerely, Crockett





----- Original Message -----
From: "connie B Berto" <cberto@juno.com>
To: <roadless/wo.caet.slc@fs.fed.us>
Cc: <aerc@foothill.net>; <bvhwla@aol.com>; <cberto@juno.com>;
<wstf@foothill.net>; <aerc@foothill.net>; <cberto@juno.com>;
<desertbred@usa.net>; <rockingb@worldnet.att.net>; <lindac@gilroy.com>;
<otdumas@color-country.net>; <hikryrdg@evansville.net>;
<patoliva@earthlink.net>; <annparr@earthlink.net>; <pscribner@foothill.net>;
<jscwall@aol.com>; <petdoc6@aol.com>; <phlames@aol.com>; <beckeg@aol.com>;
<archvent@aol.com>; <ahc@horsecouncil.org>; <csha@lightspeed.net>;
<htrails@earthlink.net>; <re@well.com>; <envirohors@aol.com>;
<goppert@foothill.net>; <calippitt@earthlink.net>; <trailtales@aol.com>;
<easyrider@sierra.psnw.com>; <riosanbravo@hotmail.com>; <natrc@newmex.com>;
<wnsims@aol.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 1999 1:51 AM
Subject: Level II Roads in our National Forests


> Gentlemen:  On behalf of the American Endurance Ride Conference,  a
> non-profit organization with 5,000 members, I wish to register my
> strongest possible objections to the hasty and purely politized plan to
> decomission and close Level II roads in US Forest Service areas.
>     This will effectively ban most, if not all, recreational use in
> millions of acres of our PUBLIC LANDS.   Lack of access will be
> catastrophic in the inevitable event of forest fires and medical
> evacuations.
>     Existing regulations effectively monitor the use and maintenance of
> these roads.   There are already adequate rules for protection of the
> environment in these areas.
>     The funds generated by the responsible use of areas with such roads
> are highly important, if not essential, to the management  of our PUBLIC
> LANDS.
>     This ill-conceived proposal deserves the bear the full light of an
> Environmental Impact Statement.  I urge that this plan be shelved until
> an EIS is conducted with full input from the public.   Please put me on
> the mailing list for all further information on this subject.   Thank
> you.
>      Yours very truly,  Connie Berto, Chair of the Trails Committee,
> American Endurance Ride Conference (phone:  916-823-2260).   My home
> address:  70 Crane Drive, San Anselmo Calif.  94960, phone 415-454-2923.
>
>
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