moab riding area review.

copy of an email from coconino trialriders:

A lot of us have ridden at Moab. It is a great place to ride. The BLM is going through a planning process for Moab very similar to the one happening on the Coconino. WE NEED TO HELP!

Ride with Respect has done considerable work in developing an OHV-friendly alternative for public recreation in the Moab area. http://www.ridewithrespect.org/plan67.php . Their work deserves serious consideration.

Please see the Blue Ribbon Coalition Alert below for specific concerns and letter-writing tips. There is also a sample letter. PLEASE DO NOT CUT AND PASTE THE SAMPLE LETTER - unless you really are planning to take up rock crawling. Use it for inspiration in writing your own.

The letter doesn't need to be fancy. If all you have is fifteen minutes, take fifteen minutes and write a letter. If you still need inspiration, e-mail me and I will send you a copy of mine.

The Coconino Trail Riders say Thank You!



From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 10:34 AM
To: Jim Hall
Subject: ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO COMMENT ON THE MOAB BLM RMP AND TRAVEL PLAN

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO COMMENT ON THE MOAB BLM RMP AND TRAVEL PLAN

As always, if you have any questions or need any help, please call or email.

Brian Hawthorne Ric Foster
(208) 237-1008 ext 107 (208) 237-1008 ext 102
[email protected] [email protected]

__________________________________________

BRC 3 Step Moab Action Plan

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:
Read the SITUATION statement below and use the addresses provided there to prepare a draft letter or email.

Once you get your draft started, go to the COMMENT INFO section below.

STEP 2:
Take just a second to read through the "Issue" statements and decide which issues you want to comment on. IMPORTANT NOTE: You do not have to comment on every issue! The idea is to mix and match your comments on the issues that are important to you.

STEP 3:
Next, use the "COMMENT SUGGESTIONS" below each ISSUE as materials to help you write your comment letter (each suggested comment has a bullet). Remember, you do not have to comment on every issue -- and you don't need to use every bullet point comment in your letter. Again, the idea is to mix and match, and add some personal info if you can.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
A good comment letter starts with a brief paragraph about yourself and a bit about what you like to do when you visit the Moab field office. One more thing... Anonymous comments are often discarded, so be sure to include your name and address in your letter or email.

SITUATION:
The Draft Resource Management Plan (DRMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Moab Field Office has been released for public review and comment. The Moab DRMP/DEIS and supporting information is available on the project web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/planning.html.

In addition to a new RMP, Moab BLM will be formulating a Travel Plan for motorized vehicles and mountain bikes. Motorized and mountain bike travel will be limited to designated roads, trails and areas.

The BLM has set a deadline of November 30, 2007, for receiving information and comments pertaining to the Alternatives and the analysis presented in the DEIS.

Feedback regarding the four proposed alternatives will be used to formulate a Proposed Resource Management Plan, and ultimately, a Final Resource Management Plan and Travel Plan.

Comments and other information may be submitted electronically at: [email protected].

Comments and other information may also be submitted by mail to:
Moab Field Office RMP Comments, Bureau of Land Management, Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532.

COMMENT INFO:

Issue: The "Park-ification" of BLM lands
Sadly, today's BLM seems to have all but abandoned the time-honored and proven principles of Multiple Use/Sustained Yield. BLM lands are meant to be different than National Parks or Wilderness. The BLM has a Congressional mandate to manage these lands pursuant to the Multiple Use/Sustained Yield paradigm described in law. We believe under multiple use/sustained yield, OHV enthusiasts, mountain bikers, hikers, energy developers, equestrians and the like can share public lands and use them wisely.

Comment Suggestions:

* Not all uses are mutually exclusive. There are multiple uses that can and should occur parallel to one another.
* I believe that recreational, agricultural and industrial uses of public lands can and should coexist and share our public lands.
* Management objectives that use such things as primitive recreation zones, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, and so-called "areas with wilderness character" to create a de-facto Wilderness management are unlawful.
*
Congress put a deadline on inventory and study for Wilderness. The BLM should no longer be allowed to manage solely for "wilderness character."

_____________________________________________

Issue: BLM formulated three Alternatives, but there isn't much difference between them, and worse, the "pro-motorized" Alternative is LESS friendly to motors than the Preferred Alternative! Get this: In Alt. D, the Rabbit Valley/Westwater area is non-motorized!)

COMMENT SUGGESTIONS:

* Alternative D fails to provide a true motorized focus. Please provide an Alternative that maximizes all recreational uses, including motorized and non motorized trails.
* I strongly support designating the Utah Rims Special Recreation Management Area with a motorized and mountain bike emphasis.

_____________________________________________

Issue: White Wash Sand Dunes management plan is totally unacceptable and unworkable.

COMMENT SUGGESTIONS:

* Tell the BLM that you oppose the fee system contemplated in Alternatives C and D. Fee systems are inherently controversial and often unpopular with the recreating public.
* If funding for infrastructure needs cannot be met with existing funding and grant programs, then any fee system should require the full involvement of the Recreational Fee Advisory Council, BLM's Resource Advisory Council and the affected user group.
* BLM's open area in Alternative C and D must be expanded.
* Requiring fences around the cottonwood trees and "water sources" is both impractical and unnecessary. We strongly oppose this provision of the Draft Plan.
* BLM's open area should be located along easily identified geologic features, or preferably along boundary roads of Ruby Ranch Road on the West, Blue Hills Road on the North, and Duma Point/Ruby Ranch (back way) on the East.

_____________________________________________

Issue: Although many popular ATV routes are open roads in Moab BLM's Travel Plan, some ATV trails are not proposed as open and some of the motorcycle routes should be designated as ATV/motorcycle trails as well.

Comment Suggestions:

* Some of the "motorcycle trails" are very popular with ATV users. The Final Travel Plan should designate a mix of single track and ATV trails.
* The FEIS should consider designating more ATV trails, especially between White Wash and Red Wash. We strongly suggest looking closely at the proposal developed by Ride with Respect.

_____________________________________________

Issue: Moab BLM is closing a huge number of dispersed campsites. Moab BLM is proposing a "vehicle camping only in designated campsites" in the entire Field Office. Such a restrictive policy would be appropriate for National Parks or National Monuments, but for Public Lands this is truly unheard of.

Comment Suggestions:

* Tell the BLM that you oppose the camping policy as outlined in Appendix E.
* The analysis does not tell us how many campsites would be closed under each Alternative.
* Tell the BLM that you support a policy where existing campsites are open unless determined closure was necessary via lawful public planning process.
* Tell the BLM that it is very important that the final plan must mandate full public involvement in any establishment and management of "restricted camping areas" or "controlled camping areas."

_____________________________________________

Issue: BLM states the "user conflict" issue as a question: How should recreational uses be managed to limit conflicts among recreational users? A quick read of BLM's draft plan indicates that their answer is to create "exclusive use zones."

Comment Suggestions:

* When addressing "user conflict," the final plan should avoid "exclusive use zones" where, based on perceived or potential "user conflict," one or more "conflicting uses" is prohibited.
* In order to address the "user conflict" issue, the final plan should direct land managers to educate the non-motorized visitors where they may encounter vehicle traffic in certain areas as well as informing them of areas where they may avoid such encounters.
* The final plan should direct land managers to educate vehicle-assisted visitors of where a road or trail might be shared with non-motorized visitors, and if appropriate, direct slower speeds.
* If "user conflict" can be documented, the BLM should simply re-route one of the uses. For example, a hiking trail can be constructed to avoid a section of popular OHV route, or an equestrian trail may be constructed to avoid a section of popular mountain bike route, etc.

_____________________________________________

Issue: Special Recreation Management Areas: BLM uses something called a "Special Recreation Management Area" to manage recreation. Each SRMA is supposed to have its focus clearly described in the RMP.

Comment Suggestions:

* All SRMAs with a motorized focus should include direction regarding when and how additional or expanded routes/areas would be provided should there be a need.
* SRMAs and their "focus areas" should avoid excluding other uses categorically. The Preferred Alternative clearly shows Moab BLM recognizes the importance of providing some motorized routes in non-motorized "zones."
* The Utah Rims SRMA is necessary to properly manage this popular area. It should have a motorized and mountain bike focus, and include the ability to designate or construct routes should they be needed in the future. In addition, limiting camping to one small designated area, in the RMP, is not wise. The RMP should provide general direction and not limit camping in such a way.
* The Utah Rims SRMA should extend further southwest to encompass Mel's Loop and beyond. Increased visitation there warrants the more active management of a SRMA. This larger area would also provide enough room for a full-day's motorcycle ride, and the establishment of a mountain bike focus area.
* BLM should consider a SRMA in the Yellowcat area. Yellowcat is increasingly popular for four wheeling and ATV riding. Designating a SRMA there could utilize the dense network of mine roads that already exist.

_____________________________________________

Issue: In the Moab Field Office, true mountain bike single track trails are in short supply.

Comment Suggestions:

* The Mill Canyon - Sevenmile Rim biking focus area should be expanded as Mill Canyon -Tusher Rims in order to provide better terrain for pedaling.
* The Final Plan should extend the South Spanish Valley biking area further south toward Black Ridge.

_____________________________________________

Issue: The OHV community generally supports the "travel limited to designated roads trails, and areas." The Moab field office is home to several popular "open areas," but BLM's plan is not quite enough.

Comment Suggestions:

* The White Wash open area is much too small. This area should be expanded.
* An open area in addition to White Wash could provide different terrain for everything from bicycle free riding, to trials motorcycling, to hardcore rock crawling. As 99% of the Moab Field Office becomes limited to designated routes, open areas play an even more critical role for accommodating specialized sports. Perhaps parts of Black Ridge could remain unrestricted for this purpose.
* The Sand Flats Recreation Area could adopt special policies to permit slickrock exploration. We support Ride with Respect's recommendation that mountain bike travel be allowed on any barren rock surface. Slickrock within one hundred yards of a designated route could be open to motorized travel. This two-hundred yard corridor would accommodate the ways that people currently enjoy Sand Flats.

_____________________________________________

Issue: Some important motorcycle trails are missing from all alternatives. The preferred alternative includes about 100 miles of true motorized single-track. Alternative D adds another 100 miles. But in total, the final plan should keep roughly 300 miles of non-road motorcycle routes from being closed.

Comment Suggestions:

* Travel Plan Alternative D falls short of providing sufficient motorcycling opportunities. Since no single-track inventory was performed, the BLM should continue accepting data on existing routes and consider them for implementation.
* The Utah Rims single-track network should include at least 25 miles of additional routes, in order to be as complete as the Dee Pass network.
* In particular, long-distance single-tracks and rugged roads that connect SRMAs offer a unique experience. The Copper Ridge Motorcycle Loop should be combined with Thompson Trail in the final plan.
* A few more non-riparian washes should be left open, especially in the Cisco Desert. Wash riding is very popular. These travel-ways provide ATV and motorcycle riders an unconfined challenge that roads cannot.

_____________________________________________

Issue: Keep White Wash Sand Dunes Open!
The idea of closing the popular Dune area to OHVs didn't just come from SUWA. According to information BRC obtained, a proposed ACEC that would close the area to motorized use was formulated from within the Moab BLM office itself! In an incredible show of chutzpah, some in the Moab BLM are still pushing the plan to close the Dunes to motors and making it a "hiking and equestrian" area (in Alternative B).

Comment Suggestions:

* I strongly oppose the ACEC proposals in Alternative B. The White Wash ACEC is especially inappropriate.

_____________________________________________

Issue: There is a need for additional mountain bike, trials motorcycle and rock crawling focus areas. The BLM is drastically reducing the "open" areas which will concentrate a lot of use currently dispersed all over the field office. To properly manage recreation, the final plan needs to include additional focus areas.

Comment Suggestions:

* Tell the BLM you support the proposal by Ride with Respect for additional mountain bike, trials motorcycle and rock crawling focus areas.

_____________________________________________

Issue: Route specific comments:
It is important to understand that SUWA is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on photos and "environmental analysis" designed specifically to close individual routes. Any specific comment on any road or trail, whether proposed as open or closed, is useful and we believe taking the time and effort to do so will be very worthwhile. Use BRC's maps to help you identify the routes. Below are just a few suggestions:

Please keep the following routes open:

* The last bit of Gemini Bridges road. There are very few natural stone bridges that can be driven across. This thrill has been available for decades. Please keep this open.
* The Thompson Trail and the Copper Ridge loop as proposed by Ride with Respect.
* Ten Mile Wash has been a popular OHV route for several decades now. Many riparian washes are being proposed for closure. Popular washes that have had vehicle use for many years should remain open.

_____________________________________________

SAMPLE LETTER/EMAIL

Moab Field Office RMP Comments
Bureau of Land Management, Moab Field Office
82 East Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532.


Dear Planning Team,

My family has been recreating in the Moab area for many years. We enjoy ATV, dirt bike and 4x4's, although not all at the same time! Normally, we like to camp at the White Wash Sand Dunes or south of Dubinky Well. We prefer dispersed camping and we seldom use developed camping or pay sites. When riding our Jeep, we like to explore the many back roads and the "lower than 4 rated" Moab Jeep Safari Trails. When we take our ATV/dirt bikes, we enjoy riding the White Wash Sand Dunes, 10 Mile Wash and the many great motorcycle trails in the area.

Not all uses are mutually exclusive. There are multiple uses that can and should occur parallel to one another. I believe that recreational, agricultural and industrial uses of public lands can and should coexist and share our public lands. Management objectives that use such things as primitive recreation zones, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, and so-called "areas with wilderness character" to create a de-facto Wilderness management is unlawful. Congress put a deadline on inventory and study for Wilderness. The BLM should no longer be allowed to manage solely for "wilderness character."

Your open area at White Wash in Alternative C and D must be expanded. The current proposal is unworkable because it closes the killer hill-climb and camping area to the West of the Dunes. Such a small area confines a huge amount of vehicle use into a very small area and the area's boundaries are not well defined and cannot be easily identified on the ground.

Requiring fences around the cottonwood trees and "water sources" at the White Wash Sand Dunes is both impractical and unnecessary. We strongly oppose this provision of the Draft Plan.

We oppose the fee system contemplated in Alternatives C and D. Fee systems are inherently controversial and often unpopular with the recreating public. The Final RMP should not require a fee system. However, I am willing to support funding for infrastructure if needs cannot be met with existing funding and grant programs, but not with an "individual Special Recreation Permit" program.

We oppose the camping policy as outlined in Appendix E. I support a policy where existing campsites are open unless closure was determined necessary via lawful public planning process. It is very important that the Final RMP mandate full public involvement in any establishment and management of "restricted camping areas" or "controlled camping areas." Besides, I looked at your maps and can't tell if the campsites we use are going to be open or closed.

The Utah Rims SRMA is necessary to properly manage this popular area. It should have a motorized and mountain bike focus, and include the ability to designate or construct routes should they be needed in the future. The Utah Rims SRMA should extend further southwest to encompass Mel's Loop and beyond.

Yellowcat is increasingly popular for four wheeling and ATV riding. Designating a SRMA there would utilize the dense network of mine roads that already exist.

Some of the "motorcycle" trails are actually ATV trails. We support the recommendation of the Utah State Parks on which should be open to ATVs.

Our family is considering modifying our Jeep to be able to experience "Rock Crawling." Please designate an area where we can experience that ourselves as well as try more challenging routes to hone our 4x4 driving skills.



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