Posts Tagged ‘public lands’

Washington State DNR Releases Final Recreation Plan For Ahtanum State Forest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2010

DNR, Citizen Group Work To Improve Recreation Opportunities And Access

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today released a recreation plan for the Ahtanum State Forest, a 76,000-acre block of forested state trust land about 20 miles west of Yakima.

The Ahtanum State Forest is a popular year-round recreation area for visitors from both sides of the Cascade Mountains. Over the years, the area has experienced increased use from a variety of recreation activities including off-road vehicle riding, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding.

“This plan provides the foundation for creating safe, sustainable, and enjoyable recreation opportunities in the Ahtanum State Forest,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “The strength of the plan lies in the collaborative efforts of citizens representing diverse recreation interests who helped develop a vision for the forest.”

Read more…

Where in the Heck is New Princeton, Oregon?

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT OR-09-19
Contact: Michael Campbell (503) 808-6031

Portland, OR. – Folding a map may not be the easiest thing for some people, but finding the right map of Federal public lands in the Northwest – and finding New Princeton – has just become a whole lot easier for everyone! Hint: It’s in southeast Oregon.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has recently produced wall-size maps showcasing the vast array of both Oregon and Washington public lands. The Oregon and Washington maps are a significant update to versions that were created in 1994.

Read more…

Temporary Road Closures North of Burns (Oregon)

Hines, OR – Approximately two miles of road and trail will be closed in the Coal Pit Spring/Cave Gulch area northwest of Burns near Boulder Canyon beginning Tuesday, December 1, 2009. During the summer, unauthorized levels of surface disturbance occurred in this area, preventing some access to public lands and creating unsafe travel conditions in specific locations. The temporary closure will prevent further resource damage and allow for stabilization of the disturbed roads and trails.

Signs will be posted at main entry points in the temporary closure area. A re-open date for the closure area is undecided pending recovery status. All motorized vehicle use is restricted. Maps of the closure area are available at the Burns District Bureau of Land Management Office at 28910 Hwy 20 West in Hines. You can also go online to: www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/plans/index

For more information on the temporary closure, contact Three Rivers Resource Area Field Manager Richard Roy at (541) 573-4400.

About the BLM:

The BLM manages more land – 256 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM?s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/files/CaveGulchTempClosure_1109.pdf

Olympic National Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Map Has Been Published and is Soon to be Released

Olympic National Forest
1835 Black Lake Blvd.
Olympia, WA 98512-5623

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 9, 2009
Public Affairs Office: (360) 956-2274 FAX (360) 956-2330

Olympia, WA – Olympic National Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Map, which identifies routes available for motor vehicle use, has been published and will soon be available to the public. This map was created in response to the Forest Service’s 2005 Travel Management Rule which required all National Forests to designate roads and trails available for both passenger vehicle and off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. The objective of this rule was to manage off-road vehicle use on public lands, protect resources, provide for safety, and minimize conflicts among visitors.

The routes depicted in this map correspond with those identified in Olympic National Forest’s 1990 Forest Plan. The 1990 Forest Plan prohibited cross country travel of off-road vehicles on the forest, but allows for off-road motorcycle on the following trails:

Trail 830 – Gold Creek Trail, from Road 2870-230 to Road 28780
Trail 833 – Lower Big Quilcene, from Road 27-080 to Road 2750
Trail 833.3 – Lower Dungeness, from Road 2870-230 to Road 2870
Trail 836 – Mount Zion, from Road 28 to the Mount Zion Summit
Trail 858 – Lower Pete?s Creek, from Road 2204 to West Fork Humptulips River
Trail 871 – Church Creek, from Road 2361-600 to Road 2372

Hood Canal District Ranger Dean Yoshina said, “The completion of this year’s motor vehicle use map will not only clarify existing routes, but it can potentially help us identify additional routes, given the high demand of interest in this recreational activity.”

Maps will be available online at the Olympic National Forest Website, and at all Olympic National Forest offices in Olympia, Hoodsport, Quilcene, Forks, and Quinault, beginning on November 23, 2009. The maps are free of charge, and are designed to be used in conjunction with the Olympic NF Forest Visitor Use Map.

Proposed Motorized Trail Designation on Public Lands in Lincoln County

For Release: August 5, 2009
Contact: Steve Smith (509) 536-1200
Release No: OR135-FY2009-025

SPOKANE, WA – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District Office has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), analyzing the environmental effects of a proposed designation of an off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail in the Lakeview Ranch area near Odessa, Washington.

The EA is available for review and comment on the internet at http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/plans, or upon request from the Spokane District Office at (509) 536-1200.

BLM is seeking comments on the EA until September 4, 2009.

Comments may be sent to or_spokane_mail@blm.gov or by postal mail at Spokane BLM District Office, 1103 North Fancher Road, Spokane Valley, Washington 99212. ATTN: Lakeview Proposed OHV Route.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment ? including your personal identifying information ? may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

The BLM manages more land ? 256 million acres ? than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM?s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

Enjoy Fall at a National Wildlife Refuge

For Release on August 4, 2009

Contacts:
Vanessa Kauffman, 703-358-2138, vanessa_kauffman@fws.gov
Martha Nudel, 703-358-1858, martha_nudel@fws.gov

Enjoy Fall at a National Wildlife Refuge

A world of seasonal wonders awaits you this fall at a National Wildlife Refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world?s premier system of public lands and waters
set aside to conserve America?s fish, wildlife and plants. There is a National Wildlife Refuge within an hour?s drive of most major cities.

Premier Hunting Experiences Accessible?

Where is the closest National Wildlife Refuge that offers turkey hunting for people with disabilities?

You don?t need to guess or start phoning names on a long list. A new National Wildlife Refuge System interactive Web site, Your Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges, (http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting) provides
hunters with an easy search mechanism to find a refuge by special interest, such as game species (i.e. deer, waterfowl, big game), zip code, youth or special needs (i.e. universally accessible), or using any combination of
topics. You can also search by a refuge name or state name.

More than 2 million hunters visit National Wildlife Refuges each year. Hunting, within specified limits, is permitted on more than 300 refuges. Of these, 43, including Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland and
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona offer accessible turkey hunting; 97 refuges offer youth hunts.

While definitions of hunting categories vary by refuge and state, migratory bird hunting generally includes ducks and geese. Small game hunting includes animals, such as rabbit, squirrel and raccoon. Big game hunting may cover animals like elk, moose and bear.

Refuge hunts are carefully managed to give hunters a quality experience according to four guiding principles: manage wildlife populations consistent with approved management plans; promote visitor understanding and appreciation for America?s natural wildlife resources; provide quality recreational and educational experiences; and minimize conflicts with visitors participating in other wildlife-dependent recreational activities.

The instructive Web site offers additional information and includes tips to hunters, facts on archery hunting, special stories about hunting in Alaska and becoming a more effective waterfowl hunter. In addition, information on state hunting licenses is provided. For those who wish to bring the guide with them; it is available as a downloadable publication organized by state.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and
trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

National OHV Group Supports GAO Recommendations on OHV use

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Greg Mumm, BRC Executive Director
208-237-1008 ext 101
Brian Hawthorne, BRC Public Lands Policy Director
(208) 237-1008 ext 102

Date: August 3, 2009

POCATELLO, ID (August 3) – The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national OHV advocacy group, today said it generally supports the recommendations made in a report released by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the increased use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on federally-managed lands. The report was requested by Arizona Representative Ra?l M. Grijalva, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

The purpose of the report was to examine the status of OHV use on federal lands managed by the
Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Park Service and focused on fiscal year 2004 through fiscal year 2008. The report also examined the environmental, social, and safety impacts, strategic planning, actions taken by the agencies’ field units in managing OHV use and current OHV management challenges.

“The report itself leaves much to be desired, but, by and large, we support its recommendations,” said Greg Mumm, Executive Director of BRC. Mumm said BRC was one of several OHV groups involved as part of GAO’s review. Mumm noted certain parts of the report are inconsistent and some parts are not accurate. “This is an imperfect analysis, but it is far from the manifesto for closure anticipated by the anti-access lobby,” Mumm observed.

The report makes four recommendations generally addressing identification of additional strategies, time frames for monitoring progress of OHV plan implementation, establishing performance measures and time frames for meeting goals, enhancing communication with the public about OHV trails and areas, and reviewing fine amounts across various U.S. district courts to establish consistency.

Brian Hawthorne, BRC’s Public Lands Policy Director, also agreed with the recommendations, but said the study is an “unfortunate example of government agencies doing too much evaluating and not nearly enough actual management. The conclusions and action items of this GAO report are remarkably similar to reviews completed by the Forest Service in 1985 and in 1996,” noted Hawthorne.

The GAO report is available online at: http://www.gao.gov/Products/GAO-09-509

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. http://www.sharetrails.org