Okanogan/Wenatchee seeking comment on motorized routes

[Skyvalhunter]

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Seeks Comments on Motorized Routes

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, located in north-central Washington, is formulating a new travel plan that will limit ALL vehicle use to designated roads, trails and areas. The Forest Service (FS) will be hosting a series of public meetings on the travel planning process during the month of April 2009.  (See schedule below)

On March 24, 2009, the FS published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a Proposed Action to implement the Travel Management Rule to designate a system of roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicle use. This NOI initiates the scoping process, which guides development of the Environmental Impact Statement.

The Forest is asking for your comments on the proposed action during a 45-day public scoping period. Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received by May 7, 2009, so they can be fully considered. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is scheduled for completion by December 2009. The FS plans to have the Final EIS completed by July 2010.

Comments are most valuable if they are site-specific. Comments about existing or proposed conditions on individual routes, desired motorized or non-motorized recreation opportunities, uses and impacts, and route designations are being sought.

Public meetings to explain and gather comments about the proposed action will be held at the following locations and dates from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.:

Ellensburg, WA, April 6, 2009     Hal Holmes Community Center.

Yakima, WA, April 7, 2009            Howard Johnson Ballroom.

Cashmere, WA, April 8, 2009        Apple Annie Antique Gallery.

Okanogan, WA, April 9, 2009        Okanogan County Agriplex.

Seattle, WA area: To be announced and posted on the Travel Management website http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okawen/travel-management.

It is important that you submit comments to make sure that there is a public record of support for maintaining motorized and mechanized access.  Comments are most useful if they are specific.

Involvement from OHV enthusiasts in the scoping process is critical.  If you want to protect your favorite trails and routes in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, be sure to attend one or all of these meetings and make your voice heard.

Your feedback is important to this process. If you have comments, you may submit through any of the following methods:

Mail Comments To:
          Travel Management Planning Team
          Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
          215 Melody Lane
          Wenatchee, WA 98801

Email Comments To:
          okawen-travel-management@fs.fed.us

[ICEMAN]

I don't like the sounds of this, thanks Sky. I will definitely be sending my thoughts.

[Elkaholic daWg]

   That Seattle meeting would cause the most damage. As you might gather from my signature I have been fighting closure issues (Wild Lie for one) for a while.  One thing we as hunters need to remember is that if any of us are on the side  of closures......we are on the WRONG side. Outdoor enthusiasts need to Band together and not be seduced by the Dark side which will use you to complete thier agenda-once doing so....greenie liberal as they are you find out they are PETA too.

[colockumelk]

I support road closures but also know that hunters are not the only ones out there.  There are many that instead of hunting take their family on trail rides so I would not want to take their rights away just like I would not want them to take my rights away.  I feel that gates are the best solution.  During the summer and non hunting times keep the trails open for the ORV peopel so they can have fun and enjoy the wilderness with their family.  But when it's hunting season close some of those roads in order to give some escapement for the animals.  People have legs and need to use them more.  In the last few years I have seen the number of road hunters probably quadruple. 

When I refer to road closures I mean places like the Nile or the Colockum.  Places such as Manastash should be left alone and remain open since that place is basically designated as a ORV paradise.  I think that in each area one are or GMU such as the Manastash should remain how it is so people can enjoy their ORV experience.  But leave areas like The Rimrock, Bumping and the Norse Peak area with very limited access.  That way every one can enjoy what they like to do.  The ORV and road hunters can drive all over the Manastash and people like me who like to hike in and get away from people can go to the Rimrock or the Norse Peak or the Alpine Wilderness area and get away from that stuff.  This way everyone is happy and we can all stand together as one against the likes of PETA and the other hippies. 

[boneaddict]

As stated previously, I am so pissed at those that can't follow the current laws I'd support closing the woods to them at the moment.  Frickin pisses me off, and I know guys that use them correctly.  For them I apologize.

[colockumelk]

As stated previously, I am so pissed at those that can't follow the current laws I'd support closing the woods to them at the moment.  Frickin pisses me off, and I know guys that use them correctly.  For them I apologize.

I agree.  Until the state starts enforcing the current laws and makes the fines and penalties stiffer they should close them down. 

I think that if you get caught going down a closed road then you automatically lose your ORV.  Not this petty tiny little fine they have now.  And give out reasons for people to turn others in like cash rewards or 5 bonus points for hunting.

[KillzElk]

I am not from this area but have been there to Rec.. These rules that they try to come up with suck..

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okawen/travel-management/

[mossback91]

As stated previously, I am so pissed at those that can't follow the current laws I'd support closing the woods to them at the moment.  Frickin pisses me off, and I know guys that use them correctly.  For them I apologize.

I agree.  Until the state starts enforcing the current laws and makes the fines and penalties stiffer they should close them down. 

I think that if you get caught going down a closed road then you automatically lose your ORV.  Not this petty tiny little fine they have now.  And give out reasons for people to turn others in like cash rewards or 5 bonus points for hunting.

Pretty little fine is 1200 bucks.............

[boneaddict]

i caught a guy  two years ago behind a locked gate.  My little ladies hiked back 2 miles and here he comes.  Took his license plate and turned him in.  I bet nothing happened.  I found out where he lived and what his name was.  Funny thing was he showed up here and was pissing and moaning about someone being in the elk feeding stations.  He disappeared after I sent him a pm. LOL