Posts Tagged ‘recreation’

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…

Recreation Coalition Files Brief in Ongoing Roadless Lawsuit

Contacts
Brian Hawthorne, BRC Public Lands Policy Director
Phone: 208-237-1008 (x102) | Fax: 208-237-9424
Email: brbrian@sharetrails.org | Webpage: http://www.sharetrails.org/staff/#BrianH

Pocatello, ID (January 5) – A coalition of recreation advocacy groups filed an Amicus Curiae brief in the 10th District Court of Appeals related to the 2001 Roadless Rule this week, marking over a decade of involvement in the controversial issue. The recreation groups include the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs (“CA4WDC”), United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA).

Environmental activists are appealing a 2008 decision by U.S. District Court of Wyoming Judge Clarence Brimmer declaring the Clinton era Roadless Rule illegal. That ruling came in a case brought by the State of Wyoming in 2007, which paralleled an earlier complaint filed by Wyoming in 2001. Brimmer’s 2008 decision minced few words, concluding the 2001 Rule “was driven by political haste and evidenced pro forma compliance with” environmental laws, using descriptors such as “flagrant” and “cavalier” in characterizing the “unequivocal” violations.

Read more…

DNR Invites The Public To Help Plan Trails And Restoration Projects In Reiter Foothills Forest (Washington)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2009

OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a workshop in January to collect public input on restoration work and trail opportunities in Reiter Foothills Forest. The popular area is located in eastern Snohomish County near Gold Bar and Index.

When: 6 to 8 p.m., January 13
Where: The Commons, Monroe High School, 17001 Tester Rd., Monroe

The public workshop is in conjunction with the overall recreation planning process that DNR has been conducting over the past two years. As DNR prepares to implement the plan, the agency will be collecting information about site-specific restoration and trail projects. Public involvement will be critical to the success of the plan.

Read more…

Echo Ridge Nordic Area Opens (Washington)

News Release – USDA Forest Service – Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Contact: Joe Kastenholz, Chelan Ranger District Resource Assistant, 509-682-4900
Ken Dull, Chelan Ranger District Winter Recreation Manager, 509-548-4962
Website: www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee
Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/okawennf

Chelan, WA- This week’s winter storms have brought deep powder snow to the Chelan area, allowing the winter season’s beginning of cross country skiing. The Chelan Ranger District is happy to announce that Echo Ridge Nordic Area is officially open for cross country skiing with most of the system trails already flat packed with a corduroy surface. Fantastic scenery may be seen from many of the trails that will have tracks set as snow conditions allow. Almost all trails are open. “Zoom” and the “Inner and Outer Rim Trails” are scheduled to be open before Christmas.

Ski passes are required and available on-site at Echo Ridge Trailheads. Fees for Day Passes are $10.00 per adult, with no charge for skiers and snowshoers age 17 and under. Season passes are $70.00 and are available at the Chelan Ranger Station located at 428 W. Woodin Avenue. The Chelan Ranger Station is open Monday – Friday from 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.

For current winter trail information, please contact the Chelan Ranger Station at 509-682-4900.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/news/2009/12/04/index.shtml

Stormy Weather Wreaks Havoc on DNR Trails In The Olympic Peninsula (Washington)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DNR Crews Cleaning Up Foothills And Sadie Creek Trail Systems

Olympia, WA – Last week’s high winds pounded the Olympic Peninsula, causing extensive damage to a widespread swath of forest land and recreation areas managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The agency is alerting visitors that sections of Foothills Off-road (ORV) and Sadie Creek/4×4 trail systems will be closed while crews assess the damage and work to clear downed limbs and trees from the trails.

For safety reasons, staff in DNR’s Olympic Region advise the public to turn around if they encounter tree limbs and downed trees across the trails. DNR asks that the public avoid cutting or bucking up downed limbs and trees, which can be highly dangerous. Certain sections of trail have also been washed out, creating even more unsafe conditions.

Crews are working to re-open the trails as soon as possible, but it may be a week or two before the trail sections are passable.

To find out the status of trails in the area, contact Wayne Fitzwater in the Olympic Region office at 360-374-2800.

Recreation on DNR-Managed Lands

DNR manages more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, aquatic, agricultural, conservation and urban lands. Most recreation on these lands takes place in the 2.1 million acres of forests that DNR manages as state trust lands. By law, DNR manages state trust lands to produce income for schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, local services in many counties, and the state’s general fund. State trust lands are also managed to provide fish and wildlife habitat and educational and recreational opportunities.

DNR-managed lands provide a variety of landscapes throughout Washington State. Recreational opportunities include hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping, motorized vehicle riding, mountain biking, and boating.

DNR’s main recreation focus is to provide trails, trailhead facilities, and a primitive experience in a natural setting.

Media Contact: Toni Droscher, Communications and Outreach Specialist, 360-485-3406 (mobile), and toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/News/Pages/nr09_184.aspx

Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest Seeks Comment On Road And Trail Designations

News Release
USDA Forest Service
Sawtooth National Forest
Contact: Your PAO, jathomas@fs.fed.us

Fairfield, ID – The Forest Service is proposing to amend the travel management use designation of a few select, existing road and trail routes on the Fairfield Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest. A need for these route designations has been identified to help better manage motor vehicle use on the Fairfield District. The following trail routes were designated during travel management planning but further analysis of use patterns in the area has identified a need for a change in designation. The proposed road designations are existing roads that were overlooked during our travel management analysis and the need of these routes for public and administrative access has since been identified. The proposed route designation changes are:

Trails:

• Jeep Trail #7634 (Wash Canyon) – from a jeep trail to a route closed to motor vehicles.
• Trail #7185 (Free Gold Cr.) – change designation from single track motorized to OHV less than 50′
• Trail #7813 (Phillips Cr.) – from an OHV trail to single track motorized
• Trail #7083 (Fleck Summit) – change designation from single track motorized to OHV less than 50″

Roads:

• Cherry Creek road-designate approximately 0.6 miles of existing road for access to private land and connects to BLM trail opportunities for the public.
• Salt-Bounds Sheep Corral road-designate approximately 0.3 miles of existing road that is needed to access
• Forest Service sheep corrals that are currently used by permittees, the public and the Forest Service.
• Confluence road (at the confluence of Big Smoky Cr. and the South Fork Boise River) – designate approximately 0.4 miles of existing road for public access and dispersed camping.

The purpose of this project is to better manage motor vehicle use in the area while providing a quality recreation experience for forest visitors. To be most helpful, written comments need to be submitted by December 25, 2009. For more information call the Fairfield Ranger District at 208-764-3202.

Submit written comments by December 25, 2009 to:

USDA-Forest Service
Sawtooth National Forest, Fairfield Ranger District
P.O. Box 189
Fairfield, ID 83327
Attn: Jennifer Hulme

Or submit comments via e-mail to: comments-intermtn-sawtooth-fairfield@fs.fed.us

http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth/news/2009/11/d5_road_trail_designate.html

BRC Christmas Auction Project Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Del Albright, BRC Ambassador
Phone: (209) 286-1009
Email: brdel@sharetrails.org
Date: November 20, 2009

POCATELLO, ID (November 20) – The excitement continues to build for the Christmas Auction Project of the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC). This list of “presents” is building fast, and the bidding will start December 1st. This special online auction is designed to help us all save trails and keep our sports alive. Check out our latest list of off-road goodies.

Just in, we have:

Nemesis Industries Hi-Line Front Fenders
Currie Enterprises Heavy Duty Steering System
GenRight Offroad Jeep goodies (TBA)
Tom Wood’s Custom Drive Shafts Apparel, goodies and discounts
5 ea. Of Del Albright’s Recreational Leadership Training Course (RLTC)
Roundeyes LED dome lights
PIAA Accessory Light Kit

These additions add to our growing list here:

5 off-road Tires from BFGoodrich with a set of 5 Monster Beadlock Raceline Wheels by Allied.
2 Dynatrac ProRock 44s for JK Jeeps (yes, the new ProRock 44, ready to install)
Rubicon Express JK Suspension Upgrade
4 Diff covers from Dynatrak
Olympic4×4 Heavy Duty Deluxe Receiver Rack
Poison Spyder Rocker Knockers
Recovery Gear from WARN

We’re still adding to our list as businesses continue to jump in and contribute, so get ready to bid. BRC sends a heartfelt thank you to the businesses who are making this Christmas and holiday season a very special one indeed.

See the auction items here starting Dec. 1st: http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=25971

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org