H.R. 980 - the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA) and the Taylor Park / Gunnison Basin Travel Plan in Colorado are two different deals, please get involved in BOTH!!!
BRC'S THREE-STEP ACTION ITEM
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS:
NOTE: Please be polite and, if possible, make your comment letter as personal as you can.
STEP 1: Open your email program and start a draft email. Address the email to
[email protected]. Put "
Comments on Gunnison Travel Plan"
in the Subject Line.
STEP 2: Use the comments below as a guideline for comments in your email.
Cut and paste is okay, but try to make your comment letter as personal as possible.
STEP 3: Take just a minute to add a bit about where you live, where you like to ride
and how much trail-based recreation means to you. Be certain to include your
name and address. A return email address is NOT sufficient! ("anonymous" emails
are often discarded).
EXTRA CREDIT: If you can add any trail-specific information or personal testimony about your experiences enjoying this spectacular area, please take a minute to add that to your email (see links above for maps and other info).
Then click "
send" and you're done!
Sample comment letter:
Gunnison Basin Travel Management DEIS
2250 Hwy 50
Delta, Co 81416
The Gunnison Basin has had a motorized and mountain bike recreational niche for many decades. Because of the growth in popularity of OHV and mountain bike use, and because of closures in other areas of Colorado, there is a need to enhance motorized and mountain bike trail based recreation on the Gunnison NF. Therefore, it incumbent on the decision maker to choose a travel plan that enhances the motorized and mountain bike trail experience.
I would like emphasize this comment with a rhetorical question. Given the fact that other national forests in Colorado have designated vast areas for the exclusive use of non-motorized recreation, and subsequently closed many thousands of miles of motorized routes, does the Gunnison NF have a motorized niche because of the opportunities existing on the forest, or has the U.S. Forest Service created the motorized niche because the agency has displaced so much OHV use from other Forests?
The answer is obvious: Both. The Gunnison has a motorized niche both because of the decades of use, but also because closures in other areas of Colorado are displacing more OHV people. Therefore, your preferred alternative, "Alternative 2 - The Proposed Action", which proposes yet more closures, is simply not logical. It also runs the risk of creating an unmanageable situation on the ground.
It is essential that all efforts to "mitigate first - close last" be made in formulating your Final Plan. I strongly support the specific trail recommendations made by the Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO), the Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA), the Thunder Mountain Wheelers and the Western Slope 4-Wheelers.
The Thunder Mountain Wheelers make some excellent recommendations, especially regarding FS Road # 701 (Stevens Gulch) and FS Road # 265 (Buzzard Divide Road) on the Paonia Ranger District.
I support the Thunder Mountain Wheeler's suggestions on the Oil Well Mt. Trail, Buck Mesa / Thousand Acre Flats Trail, FS Road # 783 (Coal Gulch), trail # 804 (Buck Mesa), FS Road # 704.4D (Spring House Park) FS Road # 704.4D1 (Spring House Park) and trail # 806 (Thousand Acre Flats). I also support their recommendations regarding the Overland Park Loop, Raggeds Trail, Minnesota Creek, Deer Creek and the proposed Sheep Mountain and Dyer Creek loops.
I strongly support the Trail Preservation Alliance's recommendations regarding the Crest Trail, Agate Creek, North Bank (lower Dr Park area), Roaring Judy, and Eyre Basin. Also, please adopt their recommendations for the Teocalli Ridge, Ferris Creek and Double Top Trail Systems.
Sincerely.
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
