Winter Travel Plan - SNOWIES

[CO 2.0]

I copied and pasted this info from someone else...

I was recently forwarded an email from Biodiversity Conservation Alliance(BCA). This is the wilderness group in Laramie Wyoming. They are trying to gain support for the new winter travel plan in the Snowy's. They are pulling videos from areas that are not filmed in the Snowy's to convince people that we are topping trees and destroying the back country. Please everyone write the forest service tell the what fun you have riding the Snowy range and explain that if anymore restrictions are place in the Snowy's you will be force to find new areas to ride. You know that wallets are affected the forest service will have to listen. To contact to the forest service please follow the link provided. Lets make our letters out number the opposing side.

If you would like a copy of the email I am more than happy to provide it for you. Please send me an email Kyle@backcountryawareness.org and I will forward it.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/mbr...m_medium=email

Remember constructive positive comments go a lot farther than negativity. Make the comments count!

 

[CO 2.0]

Just talked to a Colorado DOW guy. He said that the most effective person at applying pressure is the Governor's office.
Governor Matt Mead. http://governor.wy.gov/contactus/Pages/default.aspx
307-777-7434

I think we should also request (insist) that any new 'special orders' not be issued without first allowing public comment/meeting on any proposals. I'm going to also try to get a commitment that they allow public comments before implementing any new 'special rules'.
A nice way to get some attention is to have Wyoming residents contact their Senators and Representatives to request that the Forest Service not cram these new rules 'down our throats' without listening to the public. We demand that the Forest Service at least listen to the public before issuing these 'special orders'.
Contact info for Wyoming politicians are as follows;
Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) http://www.barrasso.senate.gov/publi...Us.ContactForm
307-772-2451.
Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) http://www.enzi.senate.gov/public/in...l-senator-enzi
202-224-3424
Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) http://lummis.house.gov/contact/
202-225-2311

 

[CO 2.0]

Here is the PDF in text form from these azzhats...

BCA is pleased that Forest Officials are at least beginning to respond to the heavy snowmobile recreation occurring in the Medicine Bow National Forest. While much greater efforts are needed to protect the Snowy Range and its fragile plant and animal communities, this is a step in the right direction. The first step to solving any problem is to recognize a problem exists.
One of many problems caused by snowmobile recreation is one that may be surprising. Tree-topping.* Yes, snowmobiles zipping around off roads and trails (cross-country) are doing tremendous damage to young conifers and willows in particular. Topping conifers (cutting off their meristems) prevents them from growing tall. Topped young conifers become mere shrubs and never fulfill their natural role in the subalpine ecosystem.
Another major problem caused by snowmobiles is snow compaction leading to destruction of habitat for many small mammals and birds (subnivean creatures) that live between the ground surface and snow throughout the winter months. These animals depend on naturally compacted snow for their survival. Snowmobiles heavily compact snow. Anyone who has shoveled naturally compacted snow and snow compacted by pedestrian traffic or vehicles can imagine how difficult heavily compacted snow makes the lives of these subnivean creatures.
Cross-country snowmobiling should be prohibited but snowmobile enthusiasts demand to play with their machines on public land. Efforts to address this destructive form of recreation continue and BCA is leading the way on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.
As stated in the June 2007 Eastern Snowy Range Travel Management Environmental Assessment, the Service has recognized the off road vehicle (ORV) problem since 2004. Then U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth stated, "Environmental and social impacts associated with unmanaged motorized vehicle use are not unique to the Medicine Bow National Forest - they are a nation-wide problem.
As early as January 2004, the Forest Service recognized unmanaged recreation - especially impacts from ORVs - as one of the four major threats to the nation's forests and grasslands. At that time, he expressed concern about the number of unplanned roads and trails, soil erosion, watershed and habitat impacts from off-road-vehicles use. Every Forest Chief since has reiterated this concern.
Regulations regarding travel management on National Forest System lands were put in place to clarify policy related to off-road-vehicles.
While the focus of the Forest Service has been to allow off-road vehicle motorized travel only on designated roads and trails on all areas of the Forest, the growing snowmobile use has been largely ignored. This year, a Special Order has been issued that at least begins to address the impacts of snowmobiling in the Snowy Range.
BCA encourages you to call 307-745-2300 or email to thank the Medicine Bow-Routt Forest Supervisor for recognizing the problems associated with snowmobile recreation.
Or provide comments online.
*To see the damage a snowmobile can do to small conifers in just a two-and-a-half minutes click here and here and here.
You'll see trees being topped but it's the trees you don't see that are the majority of those being damaged or killed. Yes, it's the small trees and shrubs covered by a few inches of snow that are really getting hammered by snowmobiles. Now, imagine the damage caused by literally tens of thousands of snowmobiles speeding across the Snowy Range daily over a 6-month period. Remember, this damage is occurring year, after year, after year.
To learn more about this issue please email Duane or call 307-742-7978.

 

[shelbwyo]

Wow didnt even know there was a yuppie group in laramie like this. That little write up has got to be the dumbest thing i have ever read. There are not facts at all (that i have ever heard) to back up any of those statements. Apparently they have never heard of the pine bark beetle and how much damage they are doing doing? I just hope the forest service doesn't listen to these yuppies.

 

[Spaarky]

Umm..... Conifers grow from the top up. If you top one that is small, it will produce a new leader and continue to grow.

The number of people that ride MB, I can't imagine the economic impact on the surrounding area. It would be like SD loosing pheasant hunting.

 

[sixorseven]

Tens of thousands daily sounds a little exaggerated. Is there a link to the video by chance?

 

[Braap Wraps]

All of the videos have been removed by the creators.

 

[tdblakes]

I sent an email to the FS and actually got a response from the Public Affairs Specialist thanking me for my input and saying they're keeping track of all input from the public that they get on this issue. So be sure to send something so the snowmobiler's voices are heard...

 

[CO 2.0]

^^^ got the same response today. SEND IN THOSE EMAILS FELLAS. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

 

[Braap Wraps]

I received a response as well today. Sounds about the same as every one's response.

That is what I expect and please do not be discouraged by this. From my understating they count the letters and make notes. At the end of the season they review which side has more support. If it is close they take no action if it skew one way or the other and is trending that way year after year they do something about it.


Please keep up with the letters.

Please remember constructive positive comments go a lot farther than negativity. Make the comments count!

 

[dooman92]

Snowies

What is the best avenue for riders who do not live/vote in Wyoming? I did not find a comment or email option at the above forest service link. I would like to indicate my opposition to any additional restrictions on snowmobiles.

 

[tdblakes]

What is the best avenue for riders who do not live/vote in Wyoming? I did not find a comment or email option at the above forest service link. I would like to indicate my opposition to any additional restrictions on snowmobiles.

I'm not a WY resident, I just sent an email here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/mb...n=December+2013+Biobroadcast&utm_medium=email

I just talked about how great it is to ride in the backcountry in the snowys and how many great memories and experiences my family and I have had out there. I said if more restrictions are added, then my family and I will be forced to find a more accommodating vacation destination. Simple as that.

 

[dooman92]

link

Thanks tdblakes, that link worked. I forward my opposition to any additional limits on snowmobiles. I encourage others to do the same.

 

[Bailiekid]

I am a Wisconsin resident and just sent a letter to the forest center hope it helps!

 

[sabels]

Email sent!

 

[dooman92]

keep responding

I received a positive acknowledgment from an Aaron Voos with the forest service regarding my email on this issue. He advised all input is welcome so let our voice be heard as many times and professionally as possible.

 

[tkuss]

I sent an email in and also got a nice reply from Aaron Voos as well. He replied he agrees that public access to public forest is a great thing.

I encourage everyone to send a short email in, asking for continued future use of public lands for all types of recreation. Both motorized and unmotorized

 

[tkuss]

for what its worth, I also made it a point in my email to not get hung up on the positive economic impact that snowmobiles have, instead I pointed out that it is our right to recreate on public land, and taking this right away is a definite step in the wrong direction.

 

[Steelman]

Email sent from Iowa.

 

[snow_god]

Another one sent from the badger state!