NE WA closure due to unauthorized sled use

If it happens again we may lose access to another riding area Not sure if the riding up there is any good or not, but I hate to see us losing more places to ride due to people not following the rules. This is in the Newport/Ione area, north of Spokane.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 5, 2009
Contact: Mike Borysewicz 509-446-7500

FS CLOSES SNOWMOBILE ROUTE

The Colville National Forest has closed the Harvey Creek Road (Forest Road 1935) to snowmobiles for the rest of this season (Forest Order No. 09-05-01). This action was necessary because Forest officials found snowmobile tracks behind the gate on a closed side road; Forest Road 1935024, which is closed year-round (Forest Order No. 91-05-08). A few snowmobilers drove around the gate in an attempt to climb Molybdenite Ridge, which is closed to snowmobiling. The ridge provides habitat for woodland caribou; an endangered species. Off-road snowmobiling on high-elevation ridges in caribou habitat can bring machines into contact with the animals. Animals may become stressed if they are approached too closely. They may run and burn up energy reserves they will need to survive the winter. Consistent snowmobile use may cause caribou to abandon portions of a ridge or an entire ridge system altogether.

In 2007, the Colville National Forest (CNF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) entered into an agreement to prevent snowmobile use on Molybdenite Ridge before it becomes established. If snowmobile tracks are detected on the ridge or on closed roads in the area, the Harvey Creek Road will be closed for the remainder of the winter. If violations occur over three consecutive years, the CNF will confer with the USFWS about the need to permanently close the Harvey Creek Road to snowmobiles.

Last year, the Forest Service informed snowmobilers about the need to curtail illegal riding that has occurred on Molybdenite Ridge. Forest officials talked with each of the local snowmobile groups, published news articles, and posted signs. Snowmobilers respected the closure until late in the season, when a few individuals accessed the north side of the ridge for high-marking. The violation of the closure this year is the “second strike” after last year’s violations.

The Colville National Forest requests that snowmobilers get the word out about respecting road closures. If riders stay on the open routes in the area there is no reason why the Harvey Creek Road, which is presently not groomed, couldn’t become a groomed route. The future of snowmobile use on the road ultimately rests with the snowmobile riding community.

If you have any questions or comments please contact District Ranger John Buehler, (509) 447-7300 or Wildlife Biologist Mike Borysewicz, 509-446-7500.

so, when is the fat azz, doughnut eating, forest circus rangers going to go to that area and ticket the violators... it is a BS and just an excuse to close it for everyone, if the forest circus has there way they will place an order at all of the signs that states, "entering forest service land" it is now locked up and you can't use your land

Selfish A holes!!

This is another example of the voice of a few dictates the many. It's BS that some tree humpin hippie freaks decide that there might be a caribu up there, so we shouldn't let snowmobiles in that area. since they are usually unemployed welfare cases or wealthy californians with nothing better to do they spend their time promoting land closures. We all need to be members of snowmobile clubs that fight land closures like this!!!

snowcatter said:

This is another example of the voice of a few dictates the many. It's BS that some tree humpin hippie freaks decide that there might be a caribu up there, so we shouldn't let snowmobiles in that area. since they are usually unemployed welfare cases or wealthy californians with nothing better to do they spend their time promoting land closures. We all need to be members of snowmobile clubs that fight land closures like this!!!

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The issue is not those trying to protect some of the wilderness and the creatures that share the earth with us, it is idiot SLEDDERs causing this problem.

If there are signs you STOP, you do not trespass because you want to sled somewhere unbroken.

We have plenty of places to go, yet some think they should be able to go anywhere.

Then again, how clear are these signs? Do they make it clear, no snowmobiles beyond this point?

My take is a little different--
STAY OUT OF THE CLOSED AREAS!!
I don't disagree that areas need to remain open at all. But, once they are closed--STAY OUT!
It only takes a few stupid people to ruin it for several.
Same goes for gun control--a few stupid ruin it for the mass.

BigT

Just a thought - could it be the F.S. that put the tracks in there so they had an excuse to close it? Kinda goes along with the fake hair samples for Canadian Snow Lynx a few years back - they got caught planting those.

The fact is that these areas should not be closed to begin with . . every year we lose more and more land to protect caribu that are not even there. That is our land and they have no right to close it! If you don't like that then go back to your backpacking, and granola eating forum to complain about us snowmobilers.

ExtremeTeam said:

Just a thought - could it be the F.S. that put the tracks in there so they had an excuse to close it? Kinda goes along with the fake hair samples for Canadian Snow Lynx a few years back - they got caught planting those.

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This is EXACTLY what I was thinking!!

I think it's B.S., thats like saying if we catch a drunk driver on the road we are going to close the road for a year. Power corrupts, and obviously it has corrupted this ranger, he is using his power to punish innocent snowmobilers because he doesn't like them.

nwRMKman said:

I think it's B.S., thats like saying if we catch a drunk driver on the road we are going to close the road for a year. Power corrupts, and obviously it has corrupted this ranger, he is using his power to punish innocent snowmobilers because he doesn't like them.

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+2 on that.....When did they shut down I-5 because there were a few speeders. Go catch the violators, cite them and leave the rest of us alone!

I want to clarify a few things- I work for the FS, and this happens to be my ranger district. I'm NOT saying the decision was right or wrong, just putting this out there.
The area in question is caribou recovery habitat... just like with the grizz it has the potential to support caribou, and since somebody somewhere along the line decided to list the caribou as endangered in the lower 48 the FS is required by NEPA to protect its habitat. Again, I'm not saying this is the right decision, or that I agree!
This area is patrolled on a regular schedule, though I can't recall how frequently it it checked.
I don't know how well the area is signed, when it was closed, or any other info (I'm new up here) but from what I gather talking to other folks its been this way for a long time. I'm just trying to pass what info I do have along, maybe by getting word out we can prevent problems like this in the future.

snowcatter said:

The fact is that these areas should not be closed to begin with . . every year we lose more and more land to protect caribu that are not even there. That is our land and they have no right to close it! If you don't like that then go back to your backpacking, and granola eating forum to complain about us snowmobilers.

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Way to show your intelligence!

I agree the area should be open to ALL recreationalists, however, once it is closed I simply say STAY OUT! Name one time that riding in an area that has been closed to snowmobiling actually opened to riding because someone decided to protest and ride in the area. Come on--name one!
To use the drunk driving example. I don't see state, county or local governments changing the laws to allow DWI because there are so many people drinking and driving anyway. Hasn't happened yet anyway!

All I was trying to say is that if you don't want to see riding areas closed then follow the rules. By not following them you are only fueling THEIR fire.

BigT

Cowboy: I don't think anyone here is being critical of you. I knew you worked for the FS and think I recall you used to be in Omak area, Klamath Falls and now Newport.

I'm sure you're a good guy and dedicated federal employee. We appreciate you getting the word out to keep the situation from getting worse.

I have friends in the FS in the Omak area and have a little inside info that more than a few in charge don't care of any motorized use on OUR Federal Land.

I didn't think anyone was being critical, I just wanted to explain where I'm coming from and that not all FS employees are granola crunching land lockers. BTW, good memory!
I'm hoping to chat with the wildlife biologist on this side to see if I can get any more info. From what I gather this isn't a new or recent closure and the higher-ups are growing tired of dealing with the small handful of people who decide to ignore the closure year after year.

very endangered,almost extinct

they keep taking away more land for the caribou.has anyone ever actually seen a caribou in this area?i mean besides the mount in the tavern.good riding in priest lake already got shut down because somebody thought they saw a caribou.this is just an excuse to put our land to waste.i don't condone breaking the rules,but what are we supposed to do after our areas get shut down.all worried about a few recreationalists, but in less than 10 more years it will be a housing development or worse yet a suckadia.

Is there a sign on the gate that states this is a wildlife protection area? Could be an issue for argument. I know they use the cop out we have to know where these areas are but at the same time isn't that entrapment? Could make for a good argument, you know, like the greenies use to sue the feds to support their quest?

Congrats!

snowcatter said:

The fact is that these areas should not be closed to begin with . . every year we lose more and more land to protect caribu that are not even there. That is our land and they have no right to close it! If you don't like that then go back to your backpacking, and granola eating forum to complain about us snowmobilers.

Click to expand...

snowcatter said:

This is another example of the voice of a few dictates the many. It's BS that some tree humpin hippie freaks decide that there might be a caribu up there, so we shouldn't let snowmobiles in that area. since they are usually unemployed welfare cases or wealthy californians with nothing better to do they spend their time promoting land closures. We all need to be members of snowmobile clubs that fight land closures like this!!!

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Lucky You! You win the close minded, backward thinking, yell and call names if I don't get my way award for the day!

You should be so proud!

Bag

snojunkee said:

has anyone ever actually seen a caribou in this area?

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I was actually there in 1996 when the caribou were relased at Harvey Creek. I don't agree that rules or postings should be ignored, but I don't agree either with how we got to this point. I am the son of 2 Colville Tribal members and as such I have had a gut full of all the hypocritical effort to re-introduce native species.

Is anyone aware of any special interest groups that are as concerned with re-introducing an Indian (human) to their native environments and traditional land uses like the massive efforts for caribou, wolves, lynx, etc.

Everytime we have a wilderness closure or proposed wilderness area designation, I as a decendent of native inhabitants am forced to give up access to areas that were once used by my ancestors and my family as well as the ancestors of current caribou, wolves, lyns, and a host of birds, fish, and even plants.

How do these species and even weeds in some cases rate so much higher on the Forest Srevice preservation scale than my family and the families of all Americans? I just don't get it. Rant Over. Thanks RMK for the heads up. I gotta go prepare my tax payment now. Sheesh. EW

The sledders who are riding where they don't belong are most likely gun toting right wing nut jobs who think that rules don't apply to them, and feel like they should be able to ride where ever they want to. It is hilarious that right wing nut jobs are saying "our land" when referring to government land. If you aren't on your own private property, then it's NOT your land, and there are rules/laws that you have to comform to.

It's funny that right wing nut jobs like to throw the word socialism around and use it as an insult when referring to democrats, but at the same time they try to say that government land is THEIR land and they should be able to do what ever they want on it. Saying that government land belongs to the people is basically the epitome of socialism.