MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WILL EVER CLICK ON

[RiverDave]

The BLM is considering land closures from the I-40 all the way to Parker!!

What this means is your ability to use OHV's will be SEVERELY impacted.. This is not a rumor, this is not some internet hoax, it's the real deal..

Please spend a minute and write a well written NON HOSTILE letter to

[email protected] <------ THIS IS THE E-MAIL YOU NEED TO WRITE TOO

and let them know you're thoughts on this. To date they have recieved only 500 e-mails.. In my mind that should be more like 5000 e-mails.

The basic information can be found here..

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/travel_mgmt/lhfo/hav-tmp.html

You can click on the square box at the top to see proposed land closures. (although it doesn't work on my computer)

On that note please feel free to call the Lake Havasu branch of BLM, please understand that the STAFF of the BLM office does NOT support this, but rather it would seem only one person does (Myron Mccoy is that person in case you are wondering)

Lake Havasu Field Office
2610 Sweetwater Avenue
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406-9071
Phone: (928) 505-1200
Fax: (928) 505-1208
E-mail: [email protected]
Field Manager: Ramone McCoy, Field Manager
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

Myron Mccoy's direct e-mail and phone # are
contact Myron McCoy at (928) 505-1216, or [email protected]

If you would like to talk to the person directly responsible.. Please keep it civil.

He is proposing this to "preserve" the land for future generations.. The reality of it is if they close the land, then they have just made it so future generations can NOT use the land.. Ironically enough pretty much doing the exact opposite of what they are proposing.

I absolutely encourage anyone to call, AND TO STOP BY THE OFFICE if you have a minute.



On that note, I called and spoke to Myron and it would seem he must have recieved some very hostile phone calls or something. One of the 1st things he said was "I'm not the devil, I don't have horns growing out of my head." I tried talking to him calmly, and I asked the simply question "Why" after fumbling around on words he said it was BLM's job to manage federal land, and it takes resources. I said there is nothing to "maintain" in the desert and financially it costs nothing.. So why close the land?

He said the converstion is over and hung up on me.. ???

I will be stopping by the Lake Havasu BLM office on the thursday before the weekend of Sept 11th. If anyone would like to join me to get the straight scoop you are more then welcome to come along.

RD

 

[Lavey5150]

Took care of it yesterday........:thumbsup

 

[2Driver]

This is going on all over the state and you aren't going to stop it. We lost the majority of our 2 million acre Tonto National Forest north of Scottsdale. They corral you to OHV areas then 2 years later they say the OHV areas are being over run and the desert is being destroyed. Well duh.

My take. There are 4 maps showing 4 different levels of closures based on which plan they choose. The 4 proposals range from keeping it the same to really clamping down and 2 others that are between the ends of the spectrum

The worst one (Plan B) shuts the most down except travel on major routes like major washes. No more back trails, or quad trails and off shoot exploring. So for Standard wash that means you go up the main wash and back down it with 5,000 other people.

It looks like if you want to find middle ground I'd be looking to get them to adopt plan "D: Access". They aren't going to just leave it as is.

THis is nothing compared to the travel plan for Utah. Better go now before it's left to the next generation

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I would also suggest using the comment forms to make it official. General emails are probably automatically sent to the File 13 folder (Outlook rules are so easy and fun to set up).

It's also a good idea to comment on each of the proposals, there are 4, and why you think one in particular would be better then the others.

Everyone should also get a chance to comment on the NPRM when the proposed regulation shows up on the Federal Register.

 

[speeddmn]

email sent

 

[Racey]

If they close the land they get more money to hire more rangers to enforce the closure (at least that's what they did up here in Nevada) instead of providing more rangers to help people and actually provide a worthwhile safety service while the land was still open, they pay them to keep you out..... Typical government mentality. Grrrrrr

 

[RiverDave]

This is going on all over the state and you aren't going to stop it. We lost the majority of our 2 million acre Tonto National Forest north of Scottsdale. They corral you to OHV areas then 2 years later they say the OHV areas are being over run and the desert is being destroyed. Well duh.

My take. There are 4 maps showing 4 different levels of closures based on which plan they choose. The 4 proposals range from keeping it the same to really clamping down and 2 others that are between the ends of the spectrum

The worst one (Plan B) shuts the most down except travel on major routes like major washes. No more back trails, or quad trails and off shoot exploring. So for Standard wash that means you go up the main wash and back down it with 5,000 other people.

It looks like if you want to find middle ground I'd be looking to get them to adopt plan "D: Access". They aren't going to just leave it as is.

THis is nothing compared to the travel plan for Utah. Better go now before it's left to the next generation

Actually I called up to the BLM, and it is very stoppable. They said in particular to please use the e-mail address that I put up above as they are "documenting" each e-mail and counting the fors and againsts..

Right now they are at 500 for keeping it as it is..

0 at closing the land.

Dave, the person I spoke to on the phone said the more e-mails the better.

I would also suggest using the comment forms to make it official. General emails are probably automatically sent to the File 13 folder (Outlook rules are so easy and fun to set up).

It's also a good idea to comment on each of the proposals, there are 4, and why you think one in particular would be better then the others.

Everyone should also get a chance to comment on the NPRM when the proposed regulation shows up on the Federal Register.

Again, the person at the front of the BLM office said to please use the e-mail address above so that he and others that share the "keep it open" view point can document it.

They forward each of the e-mails to Myron personally.

RD

 

[Havaduner]

TNTCAT started a thread on this too, CJBuilder1 posted a nice comment, I dont know how to do the link thing, maybe someone else can, or go look at the thread. It looks like public comment period goes to 10-31. Rational calm emails work best, ranting gets us now where.
Dave, if I can make a it work, I will join you on thursday 10/9.

 

[Cole Trickle]

done

 

[RitcheyRch]

Done

 

[2Driver]

Actually I called up to the BLM, and it is very stoppable. They said in particular to please use the e-mail address that I put up above as they are "documenting" each e-mail and counting the fors and againsts..

Right now they are at 500 for keeping it as it is..

0 at closing the land.

Dave, the person I spoke to on the phone said the more e-mails the better.

RD

I hope so Dave, but I got the same talk about our area . Personally I think it's the easist way for them to grease your skid and avoid further debate. I continue to be told they are going to reopen one of our favorite routes anytime now (route 42) . Been told that for the past 3 years. But, all you can do it try and rally the troops.

Perhaps we should plan a OHV rally down main street?

 

[78 Continental]

Just sent my letter to them. It is amazing that this Myron guy has the agenda of trying to close this land but we all know that this position is being pushed from higher up. In this day and age all we can do is everything we can to try and stop our Public Lands that we pay for be taken away from us.

 

[DaveC]

As RD said take this shit seriously.

The forest around our families house in lake tahoe is now closed to OHV. No reason given. Just some government official decided to close it. There is no problem.

our family has owned the house for 80 years and I have rode here for 20 years without problems.

Now the land is closed. No reason given. Its B S

dont let this happen to your land!!!!

 

[lf2]

here is a link from pirate4x4 with a letter generator if it is easier for anyone to send a e-mail this way.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/letters/

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Actually I called up to the BLM, and it is very stoppable. They said in particular to please use the e-mail address that I put up above as they are "documenting" each e-mail and counting the fors and againsts..

Right now they are at 500 for keeping it as it is..

0 at closing the land.

Dave, the person I spoke to on the phone said the more e-mails the better.




Again, the person at the front of the BLM office said to please use the e-mail address above so that he and others that share the "keep it open" view point can document it.

They forward each of the e-mails to Myron personally.

RD

On the comment form it says public comments will be on display for public review during business hours at the BLM office. I'd like to know if the general emails are contained within the public comments on display. The PDF is editable [sic] and one could email that in when done.

I don't know if this an official public comment period or just the local BLM office asking for input.

Having been round and round with the federal gov't on a few other issues, I will say they do listen to well thought out public comment, so it's worth anyone's time if they are concerned on the topic. The gov't 'crats also tend to ignore the form letters, so take the boiler plate and edit it down a bit with your own thoughts.

 

[TPC]

120.000 people visit Glamis on Thanksgiving.
Maybe 8 show up to the ramp meetings.

I can't for the life of me understand why the BLM is always closure minded rather than open minded.

Probably the radical enviros have "their man" on the executive staff.

 

[cave]

As RD said take this shit seriously.

The forest around our families house in lake tahoe is now closed to OHV. No reason given. Just some government official decided to close it. There is no problem.

our family has owned the house for 80 years and I have rode here for 20 years without problems.

Now the land is closed. No reason given. Its B S

dont let this happen to your land!!!!

NO BS. Ive seen so much of Arizona closed to public use.
If there is any chance to keep it open take it!.
This should be a sticky Dave.

 

[riverratmike]

The BLM is considering land closures from the I-40 all the way to Parker!!

What this means is your ability to use OHV's will be SEVERELY impacted.. This is not a rumor, this is not some internet hoax, it's the real deal..

Please spend a minute and write a well written NON HOSTILE letter to

[email protected] <------ THIS IS THE E-MAIL YOU NEED TO WRITE TOO

and let them know you're thoughts on this. To date they have recieved only 500 e-mails.. In my mind that should be more like 5000 e-mails.

The basic information can be found here..

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/travel_mgmt/lhfo/hav-tmp.html

You can click on the square box at the top to see proposed land closures. (although it doesn't work on my computer)

On that note please feel free to call the Lake Havasu branch of BLM, please understand that the STAFF of the BLM office does NOT support this, but rather it would seem only one person does (Myron Mccoy is that person in case you are wondering)

Lake Havasu Field Office
2610 Sweetwater Avenue
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406-9071
Phone: (928) 505-1200
Fax: (928) 505-1208
E-mail: [email protected]
Field Manager: Ramone McCoy, Field Manager
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

Myron Mccoy's direct e-mail and phone # are
contact Myron McCoy at (928) 505-1216, or [email protected]

If you would like to talk to the person directly responsible.. Please keep it civil.

He is proposing this to "preserve" the land for future generations.. The reality of it is if they close the land, then they have just made it so future generations can NOT use the land.. Ironically enough pretty much doing the exact opposite of what they are proposing.

I absolutely encourage anyone to call, AND TO STOP BY THE OFFICE if you have a minute.



On that note, I called and spoke to Myron and it would seem he must have recieved some very hostile phone calls or something. One of the 1st things he said was "I'm not the devil, I don't have horns growing out of my head." I tried talking to him calmly, and I asked the simply question "Why" after fumbling around on words he said it was BLM's job to manage federal land, and it takes resources. I said there is nothing to "maintain" in the desert and financially it costs nothing.. So why close the land?

He said the converstion is over and hung up on me.. ???

I will be stopping by the Lake Havasu BLM office on the thursday before the weekend of Sept 11th. If anyone would like to join me to get the straight scoop you are more then welcome to come along.

RD

Done!

 

[cave]

done

 

[Ms.Havasu]

I just got this update from a fellow realtor here in town. Looks like all the letters have at least given us a little more time to try and fight this.

Message:

The message below is from the secretary of Parker 4 Wheelers and who is actively working on educating the community about BLM trail closures....please read below.


Hello All,
I just would like to say THANK YOU to everyone that emailed BLM with their concerns about closing access to OUR public lands. We currently have sent BLM 692 emails asking to extend the public comment for Havasu's Travel Management Plan (TMP), and I am receiving more as I am typing this email. We have received amazing emails voicing our concerns not only from the local area of Havasu, Kingman, Parker, Yuma and Bouse. We have also received them from all over the United States including Canada and from our amazing men and women in the Armed Forces all around the world.


BLM has not replied to any email which concerns us and we are currently addressing it with them. They only have two people reading each email and do not have an automated reply confirming that they received each email. I can assure you that I have read all 692 myself and will be printing up hard copies of each email that was sent to them just to ensure that they are getting them. The great news is BLM has extended the public comment for the TMP until October 31st.
You can read their comment here:
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/info/newsroom/2010/august/b
lm_lake_havasu_travel.html


Here is an article for you to read about a local couple (Mooneyham's), who have been working extremely hard to make our community aware of what is going on:
http://www.havasunews.com/articles/2010/08/27/news/doc4
c774d4266c1e303208031.txt Darryld from the Havasu 4 Wheelers that has also been working for the last 5 years to help protect our trails. You guys are doing a great job and we would not be where we are without all your help.


I would also like to commend the local off road clubs in the area for uniting together to address this issue. Just so you know it wasn't just off road clubs that are joining in it is hunting, rock hounding and equestrian clubs that have joined the fight to keep our public lands open. We have also received help from clubs across the United States too.


Here is where we currently are with BLM; they have extended the comment period until the end of October 31st. This will allow us time to address issues like the reasoning for shutting down routes so we can address them and also adding routes to their maps that they don't even know about. During this time we also need to write more letters. We need to justify why we would like certain trails kept open. How do we do this? We use their forms and explain in our own words why they should be kept open. These forms can be found on BLM's web site. We need to do this with each and every trail we want to keep open. I will be putting on classes here in the next few months on how to do this and what terminology we need to use (I will have one next week date and location to follow soon).
This will give us the opportunity to help write effective letters, be organized about it and then I will deliver the letters to BLM.


The reason this concerns me so much is due to Havasu, Parker, Bullhead and Yuma are all cities that rely on our summer and winter residents to keep our economies going. If we don't have public land open this would drastically affect our local economies.


Please forward this to everyone you know including local businesses and lets spread the word to keep our public lands open.


If you have questions please feel free to contact me.


Shane Miller
United We Stand Divided We Fall.
Keep Public Lands Public!
Parker 4 Wheelers
Secretary
[email protected]




For those of you that are on Face Book you can support us and keep up with all the latest information here:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?
gid=102908713102446 If you don't have a Facebook account I will be sending out emails on a regular basis to keep everyone updated.


If you would like to be added to this mailing list reply to an email requesting me to "add" you and we will keep you updated.
If you would like to be removed from this mailing list reply to this email with "Remove" in the subject line and you will be removed from the mailing list immediately.

 

[charlyox]

I gave them a piece of my mind. :thumbsup

 

[OGShocker]

Let's not forget.

One angry or rude email can undo 100 others. Please be respectful in your emails.

Thanks for the STICKY, RD..

 

[YoPengo]

here is a link from pirate4x4 with a letter generator if it is easier for anyone to send a e-mail this way.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/letters/

Done.:thumbsup

 

[Chucky]

HI everyone. Just sent a note to BLM. If we dont stop this kind of crap it will never end. Every day we are getting more and more taken away from us. Thanks for this info and the easy link to respond with.


Chuck
Riverland
:moon:

 

[MMD]

How Obama Is Locking Up Our Land&#8232;
by Michelle Malkin

Have you heard of the ?Great Outdoors Initiative??

Chances are, you haven?t. But across the country, White House officials have been meeting quietly with environmental groups to map out government plans for acquiring untold millions of acres of both public and private land. It?s another stealthy power grab through executive order that promises to radically transform the American way of life.

In April, President Obama issued a memorandum outlining his ?21st century strategy for America?s great outdoors.? It was addressed to the Interior Secretary, the Agriculture Secretary, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency and the chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. The memo calls on the officials to conduct ?listening and learning sessions? with the public to ?identify the places that mean the most to Americans, and leverage the support of the Federal Government? to ?protect? outdoor spaces. Eighteen of 25 planned sessions have already been held. But there?s much more to the agenda than simply ?reconnecting Americans to nature.?

The federal government, as the memo boasted, is the nation?s ?largest land manager.? It already owns roughly one of every three acres in the United States. This is apparently not enough. At a ?listening session? in New Hampshire last week, government bureaucrats trained their sights on millions of private forest land throughout the New England region. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack crusaded for ?the need for additional attention to the Land and Water Conservation Fund ? and the need to promptly support full funding of that fund.?

Property owners have every reason to be worried. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a pet project of green radicals, who want the decades-old government slush fund for buying up private lands to be freed from congressional appropriations oversight. It?s paid for primarily with receipts from the government?s offshore oil and gas leases. Both Senate and House Democrats have included $900 million in full LWCF funding, not subject to congressional approval, in their energy/BP oil spill legislative packages. The Democrats have also included a provision in these packages that would require the federal government to take over energy permitting in state waters, which provoked an outcry from Texas state officials, who sent a letter of protest to Capitol Hill last month:

?In light of federal failures, it is incomprehensible that the United States Congress is entertaining proposals that expand federal authority over oil and gas drilling in state water and lands long regulated by states? Given the track record, putting the federal government in charge of energy production on state land and waters not only breaks years of successful precedent and threatens the 10th Amendment to the United Sates Constitution, but it also undermines common sense and threatens the environmental and economy security of our state?s citizens.?

This power grab, masquerading as a feel-good, all-American recreation program, comes on top of a separate, property-usurping initiative exposed by GOP Rep. Robert Bishop and Sen. Jim DeMint earlier this spring. According to an internal, 21-page Obama administration memo, 17 energy-rich areas in 11 states have been targeted as potential federal ?monuments.? The lives of coyotes, deer and prairie dogs would be elevated above states? needs to generate jobs, tourism business and energy solutions.

Take my home state of Colorado. The Obama administration is considering locking up some 380,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land and private land in Colorado under the 1906 Antiquities Act. The Vermillion Basin and the Alpine Triangle would be shut off to mining, hunting, grazing, oil and gas development and recreational activities. Alan Foutz, president of the Colorado Farm Bureau, blasted the administration?s meddling: ?Deer and elk populations are thriving, and we in Colorado don?t need help from the federal government in order to manage them effectively.?

Indeed, the feds have enough trouble as it is managing the vast amount of land they already control. As the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Limited Government group, which defends private property rights, points out: ?The (National Park Service) claims it would need about $9.5 billion just to clear its backlog of the necessary improvements and repairs. At a time when our existing national parks are suffering, it doesn?t make sense for the federal government to grab new lands.?

The bureaucrats behind Obama?s ?Great Outdoors Initiative? plan on wrapping up their public comment solicitation by November 15. The initiative?s taxpayer-funded website has been dominated by left-wing environmental activists proposing human population reduction, private property confiscation, and gun bans, hunting bans and vehicle bans in national parks. It?s time for private property owners to send their own loud, clear message to the land-hungry feds:

Take a hike.

 

[MMD]

I have a lawyer friend who's involved in environmental issues (he's an avid Jeeper too so he loves off-roading). Here's his take with some history:

The issue of control of public land goes back at least to the era during which western states were becoming states. If you'll indulge me in a brief history outline:

In the east, land was mostly privately owned from the colonial period onward. Not so in the west. Upon admission to the union, in establishing the size and boundaries of the newly-admitted state, a western state was given a certain amount of territory by the feds. Generally areas where there were existing towns, ranches, etc. (Often, the new state boundaries coincided with the previous boundaries of the territory, but not always). All other land within the boundary of the newly created state (or territory) was reserved to the federal government. In some cases, this was a lot of land. Nevada, for example, is 87% owned by the feds.

With regard to the southwest, particularly, certain large land grants from the mexican government were honored under the treaty of guadelupe hidalgo. Those remained large ranches after the annexation to the US.

Some land was granted to the railroads (typically in a checkerboard configuration) to facilitate construction of transcontinental railroads.

Initially--say in the period from 1848 to 1880--the feds adopted a policy intended to divest the federal lands. Primarily, in my cynical view, to get white folks on it and force out the indians. Thus, the homestead act of 1860, the mining law of 1872 (which allowed for obtainment of fee title through patented mining claims), etc.

Ultimately, however, the fed policy turned to one of retention. Land was available for public use, access, ranching or exploitation of natural resources, but title was forever to be held by the fed gov't. But that was generally ok with most folks because the land was still available for public use, without restriction, in a sort of general pool of public lands.

Then, certain lands began to be "withdrawn" (which is a legal term in this context) from the pool by congressional acts/laws. Different management applied to these withdrawn lands. In large part, this presaged the establishiment of the national parks system in the late 1800s, early 20th century. Ie, activities such as timbering, grazing and mining were prohibited within national parks. Different rules also applied to the national forests as compared to BLM lands.

Creation of national parks (and, in most cases, other limits on the use of lands in "withdrawn" designations) requires an act of congress. E.g., Wilderness Act of 1964.

The Antiquities Act of 1906 allows land to be withdrawn via executive order (no legislation required). Therefore, if you're president, its easier to get lands withdrawn under the Antiquities Act. You can do it yourself. Most often, the president will use the Antiquities Act as the authority to designate the land a national monument by executive order. (Again, a nat park creation requires legislation, monument doesn't).

I should have said "misuse". A review of the language of the Antiquities Act makes clear that it was never intended that it would authorize presidents to withdraw MILLIONS of acres of open land. To quote, the Act authorizes presidents to proclaim "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" as national monuments, "the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected."

Clearly, the Act was really about historic structures, archeological sites, etc. That's even reflected in the use of the word "monument". Monument means a precise feature, such as the Capitol Building in Washington DC. No one would argue that the president has the right to designate the Capitol Building a national monument and prohibit citizens from grazing their sheep on the lawn in front of the building.

The Act was not intended to authorize the monument-ification of a million acres of Utah desert...as was designated when Clinton made the Escalante / Grand Staircase monument in 1996. (Clinton did this because the environmentalists wanted to close the land to oil shale exploration).

So, when it was enacted in 1906, the Act was supposed to be applicable to small withdrawals only. However, almost immediately (in 1908), Teddy Roosevelt cited it as his authority for creating 800,000 acre Grand Canyon National Monument. There was little opposition to TR's action because, at the time, Arizona was still a territory. There was some critcism of the use of the Act to withdraw large areas of land in 1943, when FDR attempted to use it to create a monument at Jackson Hole. Eventually, in 1950, Congress went ahead and threw in the towel--creating Grand Teton Park by legislation. But, the Act creating Grand Teton barred further use of the Act to withdraw lands in Wyoming.

A similar situation occurred in the 1970s, when Carter created more than a dozen monuments in Alaska. Congress initially opposed that too, but eventually capitulated and created the monuments by legislation--again, though, the legislation doing so curtailed further use of the Act to withdraw lands in Alaska.

In summary, presidents use the Act to create national monuments to gain bureaucratic control over lands that could not be withdrawn by legislation because the withdrawal is opposed by Congress. Its a way around seeking Congressional support. And, by the way, the locals ALWAYS oppose the designation too.

Anyway, this is the long way of saying, expect that Obama will get away with HIS millions-of-acres land grab too.

 

[YJJeepguy]

Alright my E-mail has been sent. We need to kick this thing in the ass!

 

[YoPengo]

I received this email yesterday morning. :thumbsup

Havasu Springs will be hosting a comment writing workshop on Thursday September 9th from 6-8 pm. This workshop will give you the knowledge to write an effective comment that will get results that can not be ignored by BLM. So please forward this email to your friends, family and business owners so everyone can take part in keeping our public lands public. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.


Havasu Springs is located at:
2581 Arizona 95
Parker, AZ 85344-8701
(928) 667-1073


Shane Miller
Parker 4 Wheelers
Secretary
[email protected]
928-230-6091

 

[MMD]

Land Access - How YOU can help

Here are some ways you can stay informed and help keep our trails open. There are several organizations that stay on top of current issues. I blatantly copied this from Pirate4x4.com, but it saved me from retyping the same thing.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=776046
Q: So how do I save my Trails?

A: In short: get Active! You do not need to be a ?land-use? expert or have some special knowledge or skills to get involved. You just need to ACT. We need more people to get active right now since this is such a critical time with all the current closures and closures coming down the pike.

I would suggest taking these steps:


1. Get informed on what is going on.

There are many people out there that do not act because they do not know!

One of the best places to get up-to date information is right here on www.pirate4x4.com in the land-use section. There are many Land-use leaders and gurus on this site, and many activists. Posted on a regular basis are many land-use letter campaigns, rallys, meetings to attend etc. here on Pirate4x4.com.

I also suggest signing up for BRC?s action alerts. You can do that for free at this link: https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/l...subscribe&id=2

NORA (website listed below) also has e-mailed action alerts, as does UFWDA (I think)

You should also attend as many meetings as possible as they are posted here on Pirate4x4.com


2. Join an Organization


I have listed many organizations below. They can be grouped into two types, National and Local. I suggest joining a national one, and your local one. If you can afford to join several, that may even be better. See which organizations best fit your interests and goals.

*A WORD OF WARNING*

Yes, our Organizations need money BADLY.

However, just sending in a donation or joining one IS NOT ENOUGH. If we are going to have any hope of saving trails or opening up new ones, we need people active in many other ways, which leads me to step number three:


3. Participate in ?Friends of? work-parties

This is critical. There are many ?Friends of? groups that desperately need volunteers to keep our trails and campsites in good shape. Nearly all of them are free to join, and nearly all of them are undermanned. If we are going to keep trail open, we NEED more volunteers.

If you do not have a local ?Friends of? group: START ONE! It?s very easy to do.
PM me if you need help in starting one, or ask another one of Pirate4x4.com?s other land-use guru?s


4. Become a leader and an activist.

National Organizations:

Blue Ribbon Coalition
http://www.sharetrails.org/

United Four Wheel Drive Association
http://www.ufwda.org/

Trails in Trouble
http://www.trailsintrouble.org/

Tread Lightly
http://www.treadlightly.org/

SEMA
http://www.sema.org/

National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
http://www.nohvcc.org/

Local and State-based Organizations:

Rubicon Trail Foundaton
www.RubiconTrailFoundation.org

Pacific North West Four Wheel Drive Association
http://www.pnw4wda.org/

Colorado Off-Highway vehicle Association
http://www.cohvco.org/

Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Association
http://www.glfwda.org/

East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association
http://www.ec4wda.org/default.asp

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
http://www.sfwda.org/

Utah Shared Access Alliance
http://www.usaall.org/

?Friends of? groups

Friends of Fordyce
http://www.fordycetrail.org/

Friends of Johnson Valley
http://www.fojv.org/

Stewards of the Sequoia
http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/

Friends of Panamint Valley
http://www.fopv.org/

Friends of Sand Mountain
http://www.sandmountain-nv.org/

Friends of Oceano Dunes
http://www.oceanodunes.org/

 

[YoPengo]

Updates from Shane:


Comment writing workshop will be held in Lake Havasu City at Schlotzsky's on September 20th from 6-8 pm. This workshop will focus on what BLM is currently attempting to do with land closures in Havasu. This workshop will give you the knowledge to write an effective comment that will get results that can not be ignored by BLM.


Forward this to your, friends, family, business owners and your customers so everyone can take part in keeping our public lands public. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.


Schlotzsky's is located at: 2144 Mcculloch Blvd Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. They will have food and drinks available during the workshop.


Shane Miller
Parke 4 Wheelers
Secretary
928-230-6091

 

[erb]

Done

 

[Pinball]

Would it be possible to record any of the workshop on the 20th? Would be great for those of us unable to attend in person.

 

[PolarBearKing]

Done

 

[YoPengo]

More updates from P4W:

First and foremost I would like to apologize to everyone for not having enough room at last nights workshop. I did not expect the turnout that we received. It just goes to show that the community of Havasu cares deeply about how BLM is shutting down parts of the desert and that it will affect every single one of us.


I placed sign up sheets throughout Schlotzsky's and 147 people signed their name to them! An un-offcial count put us around 200 people that showed up last night. Not everyone could hear or see the presentation, people stood outside the business looking through the windows and in the main dining area hoping to be able to hear what was being said. Some people left due to this and once again I apologize, we did not expect the numbers of concerned citizens to be that high.


For those of you that could not make or simply couldn't get into the workshop, I will be holding three more workshops before the October 31st deadline. We are also working on getting a larger building to host it in so no one will have to stand out side and not hear the presentation.


I will be holding another one in Lake Havasu at Schlotzsky's on September 30th from 6-8 pm. This workshop will focus on what BLM is currently doing with land closures in Havasu and how you can write an effective comment to help keep our public lands open. Schlotzsky's is located at: 2144 Mcculloch Blvd Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. They will have food and drinks available during the workshop.



some of the people who placed their information on the sign up sheet I was unable to read their email address and not able to add them to my list. Forward this to your, friends, family, business owners and your customers so everyone can take part in keeping our public lands public. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.


Shane Miller
United We Stand Divided We Fall
Parker 4 Wheelers
Secretary
[email protected]
928-230-6091


Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102908713102446


If you would like to be added to this mailing list reply to an email requesting me to "add" you and we will keep you updated.If you would like to be removed from this mailing list reply to this email with "Remove" in the subject line and you will be removed from the mailing list immediately.

 

[mjc]

Here is a copy of the PPT from the meeting monday

 

[mjc]

I also received this e-mail about a webinar on the 26th

Amy Granat from the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs has offered to do a webinar on "How to write effective comments" on September 26th from 6-8 pm Pacific Standard time. This is the same workshop that I have been putting on in Havasu. This workshop will help you write an effective comment to BLM and help keep our trails open in Havasu.

The webinar is for anyone who has been unable to make the workshops (ie; winter visitors that have not come home yet, our men and women that are over seas protecting our country, etc). You will be able to participate in the webinar from anywhere in the world need all you need is a computer. To participate in the webinar you will need to send Amy an email to be added to the list. The webinar is limited to 150 people only, to reserve your spot send Amy an email. [email protected]

Forward this to your, friends, family, business owners and your customers so everyone can take part in keeping our public lands public. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Shane Miller
United We Stand Divided We Fall
Parker 4 Wheelers
Secretary
[email protected]
928-230-6091


Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102908713102446

If you would like to be added to this mailing list reply to an email requesting me to "add" you and we will keep you updated. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list reply to this email with "Remove" in the subject line and you will be removed from the mailing list immediately.

 

[NdaWind]

Map of closures in the works

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/567495/specialty/HavasuTrailClosures.kmz

 

[sixdays]

letter sent!!!

 

[u4ea32]

Keep it up!

Odd that freedom takes so much effort...

 

[badberk]

email sent.

 

[MMD]

Arizona BLM Travel Management Planning Comment Deadline Is October 31, 2010

Date: 10/18/2010 BLUERIBBON COALITION PARTNER ALERT!

ARIZONA BLM TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANNING COMMENT DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 31, 2010

Dear BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) members, supporters and action alert subscribers,

Bruce Spiers, President of the Havasu 4 Wheelers (www.havasu4wheelers.org), wanted to make sure BRC's members in Arizona send comments in on an important Travel Plan. The Arizona Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Lake Havasu Field Office, has extended their Travel Management Planning comment deadline until October 31, 2010.

To assist members and the general public in writing and submitting effective comments to the BLM, the Havasu 4 Wheeler's Public Lands Committee will be hosting a comment letter writing clinic at the Mohave County Library as follows:

Monday October 18, 2010, 5:00 to 9:00 PM
Please note that the training day is broken up into 50-minute sessions starting every hour on the hour. Pick a time that works for you - no appointment required.I have pasted Bruce's email below; please take a minute to read it over.

Please pass this on to your friends, family and anyone who you think might be able to help.

Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

To: director Blue Ribbon Coalition
From: Havasu 4 Wheelers
P.O. Box 1486
Lake Havasu City, AZ. 86405

RE: BLM CLOSURE ALERT

For the past 6 weeks the Havasu 4 wheelers, a club of 150 families, have been documenting the impact of proposed route closures on off road tracks or trails in the area. Just one small route closure can cut off access to an entire trail or area.

WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP. TIME IS SHORT, WITH THE COMMENT DEADLINE OCTOBER 31, 2010. PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR MEMBERS TO ACCESS OUR WEBSITE.

www.havasu4wheelers.org

REVIEW THE CLUB DOCUMENTATION AND WRITE COMMENT LETTERS SUPPORTING BLM MAP D, WITH NOTED CHANGES.

Our cover page, and accompanying information, documents the impact of the BLM recommended Map C closures on the Havasu Unit area immediately around Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

The web site also contains instructions on how to access the BLM maps and documentation and the BLM Comment form that can be downloaded. Letters and emails to the Lake Havasu BLM office are also acceptable. A list of sample comments is also shown on the web site. Your personal thoughts and experiences should be voiced.

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND CONTACT THE LAKE HAVASU BLM WITH YOUR CONCERNS.

Public land closure to off highway vehicle use is increasing across the nation. Your efforts will help keep Havasu Trails open for everyone's use and may help stop closures in the future.


Thank you for your action

 

[Havaduner]

A couple notes from another website, citing BLM press release, the public comment period has now been extended to Feb, 25 2011.
Also, the latest Mohave County Supervisors meeting was well attended by off roaders who asked for help from the supervisors in dealing with the BLM.
Supervisor Buster Johnson has pledged to help, as he is seeing the economic affects these closures would have.

 

[RiverDave]

A couple notes from another website, citing BLM press release, the public comment period has now been extended to Feb, 25 2011.
Also, the latest Mohave County Supervisors meeting was well attended by off roaders who asked for help from the supervisors in dealing with the BLM.
Supervisor Buster Johnson has pledged to help, as he is seeing the economic affects these closures would have.

That is good news!!

RD

 

[Havaduner]

That is good news!!

RD

Yeah, but we need to stay on top of this, make sure we keep applying pressure. There are closures that the Havasu office have applied that will affect us on the Cali side as well. We are organizing, and there are a few of us that are definelty staying on top of what is going on.
Regardless of whether or not these closures may affect someones personal riding area, we need to stick together on fighting all closures. As you said in your letter Dave, if they close an area to "preserve" if for future generations, it will never be used again, so what good is a closure?

 

[Eazykiller]

The BLM is considering land closures from the I-40 all the way to Parker!!

What this means is your ability to use OHV's will be SEVERELY impacted.. This is not a rumor, this is not some internet hoax, it's the real deal..

Please spend a minute and write a well written NON HOSTILE letter to

[email protected] <------ THIS IS THE E-MAIL YOU NEED TO WRITE TOO

and let them know you're thoughts on this. To date they have recieved only 500 e-mails.. In my mind that should be more like 5000 e-mails.

The basic information can be found here..
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/travel_mgmt/lhfo/hav-tmp.html

You can click on the square box at the top to see proposed land closures. (although it doesn't work on my computer)

On that note please feel free to call the Lake Havasu branch of BLM, please understand that the STAFF of the BLM office does NOT support this, but rather it would seem only one person does (Myron Mccoy is that person in case you are wondering)

Lake Havasu Field Office
2610 Sweetwater Avenue
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406-9071
Phone: (928) 505-1200
Fax: (928) 505-1208
E-mail: [email protected]
Field Manager: Ramone McCoy, Field Manager
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

Myron Mccoy's direct e-mail and phone # are
contact Myron McCoy at (928) 505-1216, or [email protected]

If you would like to talk to the person directly responsible.. Please keep it civil.

He is proposing this to "preserve" the land for future generations.. The reality of it is if they close the land, then they have just made it so future generations can NOT use the land.. Ironically enough pretty much doing the exact opposite of what they are proposing.

I absolutely encourage anyone to call, AND TO STOP BY THE OFFICE if you have a minute.



On that note, I called and spoke to Myron and it would seem he must have recieved some very hostile phone calls or something. One of the 1st things he said was "I'm not the devil, I don't have horns growing out of my head." I tried talking to him calmly, and I asked the simply question "Why" after fumbling around on words he said it was BLM's job to manage federal land, and it takes resources. I said there is nothing to "maintain" in the desert and financially it costs nothing.. So why close the land?

He said the converstion is over and hung up on me.. ???

I will be stopping by the Lake Havasu BLM office on the thursday before the weekend of Sept 11th. If anyone would like to join me to get the straight scoop you are more then welcome to come along.

RD

omg this is not good....would it be considered cheating if ya (anyone)forward a letter and we copy pasted it..... I cant read or write...oh and i cant type


shhh i wont tell i am so serious....

 

[LV R SCHIADA'S]

BLM SUCKS ASS !!!!!!!!, SO DOES THE SIERRIA CLUBBERS !!!!!!!!!!:bang::bang: