Uhhhhh.... Catfish.
Forest Service Moab Trails Project
Written Comments Due July 22nd!
The Forest Service has released its Proposed Action for the non-motorized trail system in the La Sal Mountains. It proposes to change 13.8 miles of bike/hike/equestrian trails to hike and equestrian only. It also proposes to add 14.1 (which includes 5.5 miles of road) of bike/hike/equestrian trails.' There are a number of other changes. Read it, it's short.
Before we all start writing letters, lets create a list of requests, ideas and grievances here on this site. Read the existing list and email your additions to info@MoabTrailFoundation.com. Be sure to say what you want and why it should be considered. And, be concise. I know it's important that your grandfather took you on rides down Hell's Canyon in the '60s, and it might be good stuff to include in your letter, but let's make this a list of items we can all, or at least a few of us, can pick from to include in a letter to the Forest Service.
The list will be updated daily. But don't wait too late to create your own letter with whatever items you want to include. Written comments due July 22nd, not postmarked, but due!
I'll try to add a sample letter soon. If you have ideas for one, email them.
Send your comments to:
Brian Murdock
Recreational/Trails Manager
Moab Ranger District
PO Box 386
Moab, Utah 84532
Email:comments-intermtn-manti-lasal-moab-monticello@fs.fed.us
Fax - 435-259-7737 attention: Brian Murdock
Questions regarding the proposed project can be directed to Brian Murdock at 435636-3360
The List as of June 30th:
Meeting to Discuss Trail Usage and Availability
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 - 6:30PM
Grand Center conference room, 182 N. 500 W.
Trail Mix enthusiasts and other interested people who would like to review the proposed Forest Service Moab Trails Plan should attend this Special Trail Mix meeting.
Hope to see you there with some constructive ideas, and ready to write in your personal comments on the plan.
Magnificent Seven Trail Work Day
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 - 8:30AM
It's gettin' real folks! Building and signing!
Meet at 8:30AM at Chile Pepper Bike Shop, here in Moab.
We'll be going up to the Gemini Bridges area, so four wheel drive is highly recommended to get to there. There should be enough 4WD vehicles to get us all there.[Obiwan voice] This is the trail you want to work on. [/Obiwan voice] Come on out and be a part of the new and improved Mag 7 trail system! (I know, "How can it be both 'New' and 'Improved'?" Well, it just is!
Bring the usual gear like water, gloves, sunscreen, snacks, more water, lunch.
Trail Mix should have all the tools needed, but if you have that special rake that fits you like a rake should, then bring it.
Call Sandy Freethy if you have questions 435-259-0253.
Magnificent Seven Trail Alternative C Approved!
Feb 8, 2011
First, thank you to everybody involved in getting this approved. Thanks to all y'all letter writers who had so many great reasons for approving the trail system. A boat load of thanks to Kristi Jensen and Fred Wilkinson who were key in getting this website up and going. Mucho thanks to the members of the Trail Mix committee for all the work in getting their eyes crossed and the T's dotted on the proposal so it didn't get caught up in red tape due to errors and ommissions. A ton of thanks to Sandy and Geoff Freethy who work tirelessly with feet on the ground, GPS in hand, maps spewing off their color printer and meetings galore to help make this and many other trails a reality. And, of course, thank you Katie Stevens and the rest of the local BLM office for all the hard work in digging through all the data and handling all the work needed to make the decision and put the report together. And, finally, thanks to the people who will be doing the work on the trail to get it to its planned state.
Okay so... The good news is that the BLM parts of trail have been approved. Most of what was Green Dot and Blue Dot was approved with only minor reroutes. There is, however, a section of Blue Dot which was not approved due to it being in a bighorn sheep migration area. Take a look at the small map at the bottom of the Map Page. The green line is Alternative A, which was not approved, the red line is Alternative C, which was approved. For now, we should be happier than pigs in Shinola, go out and dance and sing and ride like you just got a new Yeti for free. Then, at some point, in the not too distant future, look to see what we can do about getting another, off the jeep road singletrack approved. To get the green line (on the map) approved would require showing that the sheep will not be any more disturbed by bicyclists there than the jeep road. That doesn't mean trying to convince the BLM that your opinion is more valid than theirs, it means presenting real evidence and reasoned opinion that this is the case. Or, finding another route that is not through the sheep migration area. Or showing that this is no longer an existing migration path or habitat for the bighorn sheep.
There is a thirty day window for appeal, during which, as I understand it, the trail cannot be opened. I don't know if the Souther Utah Wilderness Alliance will appeal, but this could possibly delay things a little. If you take a look at the BLM Decision Record, you can see that SUWA's arguments against approval were addressed. So, maybe they have better things to do.
Then there are the SITLA (The State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration) portions of what was Green Dot (the blue boxes on the map), which we have to wait on. Hopefully this will be pretty quick, since the EA study has been done, but don't hold your breath. This is unfortunately fairly complex. A SITLA easement costs money per area used. Plus it costs a big chuck of change just to apply. So, Trail Mix tries to bundle applications for multiple trails to keep costs down. But, the SITLA portions of Mag 7 may end up being turned over to the BLM through a swap, which also takes time I'm sure. The BLM then may tuen this over to Grand County, which may then require a comment period. Or not. So, hopefully, by this summer, it'll all be good to go. Well, good to start. 'Cause then we have to wait for is construction and signage, both of which should be pretty quick. I'll post volunteer opportunities on the Trail Mix Google group.
Here's a link to The Decision Record of the BLM. If that link fails (in case they move the file location) you can also find it over there... to the right... see it? No, more towards the top... it's the one that says "Decision Record for Magnificent Seven".
I'll post updates as I hear them. Same Bat Channel, some Bat Time!
Magnificent Seven Trail Proposed to BLM
Dec 2, 2010
The Moab's Grand County Trail Mix Committee has submitted a proposal to the BLM for the Magnificent Seven Trail System. The public comment period is now open and we are strongly urging people to write the BLM letters in favor of them accepting the proposal (Alternative A in particular). The deadline for receiving, not postmarking, letters is December 29th, 2010, so put your thoughts to paper or email and get to work.
Send your letters to:
Bureau of Land ManagementAttention: Katie Stevens
82 E. Dogwood
Moab, UT 84532
Email Katie Stevens: katie_stevens@blm.gov
Please email a copy of what you send to the BLM to us: info@MoabTrailFoundation.com
Be sure to include your name and address even in an email. It lends credibility to your letter or email. Your friends all know who FordPrefect42@gmail.com is, but the BLM doesn't.
Check out the BLM Magnificent Seven announcement
Take a look at the EA: Magnificent Seven Environmental Assessment Study
Here are some guidelines, ideas and points about how to craft an effective letter:
