Local off-road issues

By Monty Sanders

"Lamont Sanders"
<montysan@hotmai To: mailroom_r9_shawnee@fs.fed.us
l.com> cc:
Subject: OHV Trails designation info
07/10/2006 11:29
PM
 
 
I was looking for information on the status of OHV trails designation
program for the Shawnee NF. I cannot seem to find a schedule of when the
trails study is to begin. Will there be meetings for puplic input and what
if any volunteer groups are involved? I would like to have some input on
what trails are to be opened and for what class of vehicle may be used on
them. I tried to find trail maps of the old trails but I'm not sure where
to look. Can I request a copy of any maps of trails that are under
consideration?
 
 
Thank You
Monty Sanders

 

"Lamont Sanders"
<montysan@hotmai To: Mailroom_R9_Shawnee@fs.fed.us
l.com> cc:
Subject: Re: OHV Trails designation info
09/05/2006 01:55
PM
 
 
 I still have not heard anything from anybody, but I did find out that the
Shawnee Forest managers have said that they are waiting to see what other
NF's are going to do. I would suggest that they look at the Daniel Boone NF
 
and copy that. The DBNF has an excellent trail system that is well managed
and very successful. It is also has similar terrain. In the next few months
 
I will be putting together a grass roots organization to get area OHV
enthusiasts organized so we can help with the trail designation. I will be
working with the AMA and the Blue Ribbon Coalition. We will also volunteer
our help with trail construction and maintenance. I look forward to working
 
with the forest service and hope we can form a partnership that will have a
 
positive outlook and create a quality OHV trail system.
 
 
Thanks
Monty Sanders

REPLY:

Dear Mr. Sanders, I apologize for the delay in the response to your
e-mail message. We have recently completed the revision of the Shawnee
National Forest's Land and Resource Management Plan. The revision process
considered and analyzed alternatives with various levels of All-Terrain
Vehicle/Off-Highway Motorcycle (ATV/OHM) travel ways and also alternatives
with no ATV/OHM trails. In the Record of Decision for the 2006 Forest
Plan, the decision was made that ATV/OHM trails will not be established on
the Shawnee National Forest in the near future. We feel that the
establishment of an ATV/OHM trail system at this time would require an
investment of funds and staffing for the analysis and development of such a
program that would preclude other recreation program activities on the
Forest. We are just getting started on the establishment of a designated
equestrian trail system on the Forest, and that is expected to utilize much
of the recreation budget on the Forest for several years. However, access
with licensed OHV's, including street-legal OHM's and 4-wheel drives, will
continue to be allowed on all open roads on the Shawnee National Forest.
Maps of the Forest which show roads that are open to licensed motorized use
can be obtained at the Supervisor's office in Harrisburg, at the district
offices in Vienna and Jonesboro, and at the work stations at Elizabethtown
and Murphysboro. If you have any other questions, please let me know.
Steve Hupe
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stephen Hupe
Forest Planner
Shawnee National Forest
Phone - 618-253-7114
Email address - shupe@fs.fed.us
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Dear Mr. Sanders: 

Thank you for your e-mail of June 13, 2006, to Chief Dale N. Bosworth regarding the use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on the Shawnee National Forest. Chief Bosworth has asked me to respond.

I appreciate your concerns and interest in management of the national forests, and hope you will continue to work with the staff of the Shawnee. OHVs are a legitimate use of national forests and grasslands – in the right places. The Shawnee is one of the smallest national forests in the country, and must balance recreation demands with the capacity of the land.

The Shawnee National Forest’s 2006 Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) retains the current travel management direction reflected in the 1995 District Court order and 1997 decision by the Forest Supervisor. Highway-legal vehicles are welcome on all open National Forest System roads. Non-highway-legal vehicles are allowed on the Shawnee under permit, for administrative use, or for emergency use.

The input from OHV groups and individual OHV proponents was considered in the plan revision process. The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the revision of the Forest Plan considered two alternatives that included all-terrain vehicle/off-highway motorcycle (ATV/OHM) trails. Alternative 1 included up to 286 miles of ATV/OHM trail corridors. Alternative 4 included the 286 miles of ATV/OHM corridors from Alternative 1, plus additional ATV/OHM access on up to 50 percent of the maintenance level 1 and 2 Forest System roads. As explained in the Record of Decision, neither of these alternatives was chosen to become the 2006 Forest Plan. 

The Record of Decision states that-- “The programmatic analysis of current unauthorized use, use on other national forests, the prohibition of use on state lands, use on private ATV riding areas and the costs and benefits of potential ATV/OHM use, it is clear that comprehensively addressing the anticipated adverse effects on safety, the environment and Forest resources from the use of these vehicles, and prevention of unauthorized use, would require an investment of funds and staffing for program analysis and development that would preclude virtually any other recreation-program activity. Such a resource investment in the foreseeable future to establish an essentially new recreational use of the Forest far outweighs any benefits of establishing this recreational activity. Because of this, the 2006 Forest Plan adopts the prohibition of ATV/OHM use from the 1995 district court injunction and continues the 1997 Forest Supervisor decision and closure order prohibiting ATV/OHM use on the Forest, except as allowed for administrative use, by emergency vehicles and under permit.”

The Regional Forester’s decision for the Shawnee National Forest is consistent with the national travel management rule. The travel management rule (36 CFR part 212) requires each national forest to designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicle use. 

Mr. Sanders 2

The rule does not require that every national forest provide opportunities for every class of vehicle.

I know that there is a demand for OHV riding opportunities in southern Illinois. Private OHV riding areas in the vicinity of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois may help address some of the demand. The Turkey Bay riding area at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Tennessee has about 100 miles of OHV trails covering a variety of terrain, offering something for every skill level. The Wayne National Forest in Ohio manages a network of OHV trails. Hopefully these other OHV riding areas can provide for some of the recreational opportunities you desire.

Thank you for your interest in the management of the Shawnee National Forest, and I encourage you to stay active and informed regarding its management.

Sincerely,

/s/ Gail van der Bie (for)

JAMES S. BEDWELL

Director of Recreation and Heritage Resources

Dear Mr. Bedwell,

Thank you for your letter. I guess I got the wrong idea about Mr. Bosworth's release # 0605 That stated all forest managers designate roads and trails that are open for motor vehicle use. Since there are miles of trails that are suitable for OHV use in the Shawnee Forest I took that as a directive to study and designate those trails. I know that a system of trails is being built for equestrian use so I don't think it would be that much of a strain on resources. It is very well known that horses do much more damage to trails than ATV's and dirt bikes. User fees and partnerships with local OHV groups would offset any funds or extra staff needed.

As far as the new forest plan I attended two of the public comment meetings and the impression I got was that plan 1 was the most favored. But I realize that the forest supervisors already had their choice made, no matter what the public wanted. These public forums tend to be dog and pony shows anyway.

As far as costs outweighing benefits, I live here and I own an ATV/ Cycle repair shop. My business depends on OHV's and I would like to see a day when ATV rallies could come to southern Illinois and enjoy a system of great trails. Trails that go point to point and not around in circles. Trails that have scenic destinations. That would bring badly needed business and revenue to my area. Americans deserve to be able to recreate responsibly on Their lands.

As far as private riding areas, I have been to The THREE we have. Little Egypt park is about seven hundred acres of which about half is usable for most. The rest is very difficult terrain that is not usable for the average person. The other two private areas are so small they are more like racetracks than trails. Turkey Bay states that there is 100 miles of trails but about 30 miles of that are trails the average rider will use. the rest is very difficult, rocky and steep hills that are dangerous. So to say we have plenty of trail opportunity's is just a misstatement. Quality OHV trails are just not here. We deserve trails that will make people want to make southern ILL. a destination. That will help the economy of the region.

In working with the Blue Ribbon Coalition and the American Motorcyclist Association, I hope to bring this matter to the attention of all OHV enthusiasts. Perhaps we could look into how and why the Shawnee was closed in the first place. A lot has changed in the last ten years. How people look at OHV use has changed. I think OHV people have changed and are more responsible now and aware of their relationship with the land. For the forest managers to just turn their backs on them is reprehensible. As Mr. Bosworth said in release # FS 0605 "Land managers will use the new rule to continue to work with motorized sports enthusiasts, conservationists, state and local officials and others to provide responsible motorized recreational experiences in national forests and grasslands for the long run" I think he meant to provide opportunities in ALL National forests. Thank you for the response to my first letter.

  In closing, I had further contacts with the AMA and the Blue Ribbon Coalition and they don't have the resources to commit to fighting the forest service on opening new trails, they are busy trying to keep existing trails open. Note that the Forest Service says they don't have the budget to open and maintain OHV trails but they did have a couple of MILLION dollars to build a new Office in Vienna! Thanks for that!