As you may know, the four Southern California National Forests are undergoing revision of their Forest Land Management Plan (FLMP). The latest round of public open houses was allegedly for the purpose of reviewing a preliminary range of proposed alternatives, making sure that people's concerns relative to the issue topics were addressed, and determining if the range of alternatives was adequate. Those objectives do not appear to have been met.
Even the least restrictive of the six proposed alternatives provides for the implementation of many new control measures that would significantly restrict forest use for off-road motorized recreation. New land use classifications have been proposed, which would result in even further restrictions upon multiple use and OHV recreation. Forest planners appear to be working side-by-side with anti-OHV groups, such as the Sierra Club and so-called Conservancy organizations, thereby giving an unfair advantage to the opponents of vehicular recreation. Back-room politics seems to be what is shaping the FLMP revision process.
The Forest Service has not adequately clarified their proposed plans regarding the specific impact that they will have upon multiple use in general, and upon OHV recreation in particular. Our local Forest Service representatives have not provided for adequate public input on the proposed plans, and appear not to be working with the various user groups that could provide valuable feedback for refining the proposals. For example, none of the current proposals support dispersed recreation, which will likely cause heavy impact on some areas. The public meetings do not appear to be a sincere effort to obtain input or assistance in the planning process.
The Forest Service's public meetings leave people feeling like they are being manipulated, instead of being heard. Publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Forest Land Management Plans will take place this coming Fall. Before the revised Forest Plan becomes a done deal, it is important for you to voice your position loud and clear, so that your recreational needs will be heard by the planning committee of your local National Forest.
STRATEGY
Visit the Forest Plan web site to find out what has been going on. The deadline for requesting DEIS and FLMP materials has been extended to August 30, 2003. You can submit your request from the web site.
If you have valid, specific complaints about the FLMP revision process, send an e-mail to Ronald L. Pugh, Program Leader for Southern California Forest Plan Revisions, at rlpugh@fs.fed.us
Join the Sierra Club. For only $15 a year you will get heads-up warnings about their sneaky, anti-OHV moves, you will be able to vote for recreation instead of restriction, and if enough OHV people become members, they could even take over the organization!