Date: 03/09/2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION PARTNER ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC members, supporters and action alert subscribers,

Our partners over at the Northwest Motorcycle Association (NMA) sent us word that the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has released its Draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan.

You can read NMA's alert here: http://www.nmaoffroad.org/news.shtml#346 

BRC is asking our members and supporters in Washington to contact Washington DNR Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark, telling him the DNR should prioritize motorized recreation at Reiter.

We've put together another one of our INSANELY EASY 3-Step action items below.

Please take action today, and please forward this to friends and family who could help.

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

BRC WASHINGTON ACTION ALERT
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED

SITUATION:
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has released its Draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan, and there are serious concerns about the current plan. The new DNR plan proposes limiting ORV use to only 1,100 acres. That is 72.5% less land for ORV use than what has historically been available.

The DNR admits that 1,100 acres is inadequate to accommodate existing ORV use, and their own research has identified additional area suitable for ORV use. Still they refuse to increase the area available to ORVs.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Please write to Washington DNR Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark, telling him what you think of this plan, and asking him for a detailed reply on how he plans to solve the problem.

BRC'S THREE-STEP ACTION ITEM
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS:

NOTE: Please Remember - be polite. If possible, make your comments as personal as you can.

STEP 1:  Open your email program and start a draft email. Address the email to
                CPL@wadnr.gov.  Put "Draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan"
                in the Subject Line.

STEP 2:  Use the comments below as a guideline for comments in your email.
                Cut and paste is okay, but try to make your comment letter as personal as possible.

STEP 3: Take just a minute to add a bit about where you live, where you like to ride
               and how much trail-based recreation means to you. Be certain to include your
               name and address. A return email address is NOT sufficient! ("anonymous" emails
               are often discarded).

EXTRA CREDIT: If you can add any personal testimony about your experiences enjoying this spectacular area, please take a minute to add that to your email.

Then click "Send" and you're done!

SAMPLE COMMENTS:

The area the proposed Reiter Foothill plan allocates for motorized recreation is significantly inadequate to facilitate the current recreational usage. This shortcoming is addressable as noted below.
In addition to the proposed ORV area, additional suitable area should be allocated for lightweight, single-track motorized recreation.

It is important that the DNR recognize that different types of ORV use have different impacts on the landscape. Just because the largest ORV may be inappropriate in a specific area, that should not preclude allowing lightweight two wheeled ORV access.

Prioritizing motorized recreation at Reiter is consistent with the DNR's Statewide Recreation Program Vision and Management Goals. "DNR envisions a future in which the lands it manages offer distinct and diverse outdoor recreation opportunities within the overall fabric of recreation in Washington."

The overall fabric of recreation in Washington includes prohibitions on motorized trail recreation in all National Parks, all Wilderness Areas, all Natural Resource Conservation Areas, all State Parks (except the 600 acre Riverside facility near Spokane), the Mt Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest, and the vast majority of county and city parks. At a statewide level, motorized trail use is prohibited on over 80 percent of the trail mileage. In the areas adjacent to the Reiter Foothills, that prohibition is 100 percent.

When considering the overall recreation fabric, it is reasonable for all areas within the Reiter study area that are found to be suitable for motorized recreation to be incorporated in the plan as areas where some form of motorized trail recreation is allowed.

The Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan shows that the offroad motorcyclists are the largest user group, their recreational needs should be a priority.

 

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
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As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!