Posted on 03/29/2002 6:52:39 AM PST by grayeagle
03/29/2002
By JENNIFER BOWLES
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
The federal government is proposing to reopen thousands of acres of the California desert's most popular off-roading area, a move cautiously applauded by Inland recreationists and harshly criticized by environmentalists.
Reversing a Clinton administration decision, U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials said Thursday they want to allow vehicles back on nearly 50,000 acres of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, 100 miles southeast of Palm Springs.
Nearly one-third of the dunes was previously closed to vehicles to protect an endangered plant in November 2000.
"This looks like yet another environmental attack from the Bush administration," said Daniel Patterson of the Center for Biological Diversity in Idyllwild.
U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton, whose department oversees the BLM, said the agency's proposal is an attempt to find a compromise in a heated debate over public lands use.
Ancient forests, free-flowing rivers, living oceans and deserts and the abundance of life they contain: all these, having evolved over millions of years, are in danger of vanishing from the world within decades
Oh no,the oceans,rivers and deserts will vanish within decades.
That's real sound science their using.
We have areas 200 miles by 200 miles that 20 years was wilderness tundra and spruce. Now it is completely scarred with rutted trails ever 1/4 mile or so. They don't disappear. We have 4-wheelers and certain areas I just won't go out of luv and respect for the reason I call Alaska home, just common sense; don't want it to look like back east.
The push is on to restrict atvs & jeeps, ect. Sad that we all can't figure it out to police ourselves so we can continue to access the hunting resources.
We have short dedicated hiking trail up above timber to 300 foot waterfalls. It was a foot path 5 years ago. Now the jeep clubs from anchorage have made it impassable with 50 foot wide mud holes; you know, 3 foot ruts. This is what the greenies highlight and to be honest with you they are successful in locking out everyone this way.
Sad, but the only thing that works is gunfire. Once a jeep club gets shot at, they go somewheres else, at least that's how it works up here. Happeed several times that I know of. Also burning vehicles, so many arsonists.
Most of jeep people are ok. I have one trail that is on native land (now those guys really hate off-roaders). I groom the trail for my dogteam. Back early in winter, I'm running my dogs and here come several jeeps. I gave them all kinds of heck for puttin 2 foot ruts in my groomed trail so my dogs would break their legs in. They apologized turned around and haven't been back. Most of the jeep people ok and just need to understand why you got a beef.
If we all don't use common sense, the land will be eventually off limits to everyone.
Close the roads and public access and then control the water, you have elite Enviral Nazis rurally cleansing their Druid heavens of the rest of us!
I have been retired for 6 years. After my first to second year of retirement, I started running into closed roads as I tried to walk to remote areas to fly fish. At first I just parked and walked in with no real proble.
The last 2 summers/falls there was no way to get to the streams in S. Oregon and N. Kali. Without fire road maintenance the blackberries and other vegetation had taken over the roads and made it impossible to get to many streams.
Even if I got to a stream, I was uncomfortable due to the constant thought of if a fire started, I couldn't get out. Or if something happened and I was injured, no one could find me in the brush. Of course this is exactly what the enviral elites wanted with the road closure, no scum like me going in and fly fishing in their Druid Cathedrals.
Today, the water starts flowing again at the Head Gate in Klamath Falls. This assures the farmers/ranchers and those who work for them water for their planting and growing season. A big loss for the enviral Nazis and their head rural cleanser who lives in Ashland, Oregon.
EBUCK
There are streams up there now due to the road closing and Oregon's state weed, the blackberry bush, that you can't get down to the stream side without ripping yourself apart from the thorns. Then with all of the dead wood and brush, if a fire came, you go into the stream to stay or get fried.
The enviral nazis have about ruined your beautiful state and mine, Kali!
EBUCK
I live 80 miles ne of anchorage, can walk out my back door and go 250 miles due north before crossin the first dirt road, but still connected to the city of anch by highway. Therein lies the problem.
It all relates to people. More people more problems. We never had problems around here 10 years ago. But today we have hordes of people (and I dont blame them for wantin to get out of the city) out every weekend. The land can't stand the pressure and still remain the wilderness it once was.
I guess it would be different if they stayed on the stripped out areas or mined out areas, but they prefer the pristine bogs, wanna get in the mud.
Crazy thing is once you get off the road system, that can't be accessed by the hordes from the city; you do not see similiar problems. Everyone out there uses ATV's, jeeps, old trucks, swamp buggies, ect but because the pressure is not as intense & continuous; the land doesn't degrade.
It all relates to people and their numbers.
I have friends that continue to tell me out TOK Alaska way, so much more freedom, less people. Seems strange in an area that's mostly controlled by the FED's ; but then they can't be watchin everything and we have repubs in for 8 years now anyway. It all relates to people, no joke.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.