Quick Help Needed In Missouri!!

USA-MARK TWAIN NATIONAL FOREST LAND USE UPDATE
URGENT ACTION REQUESTED

SITUATION:
The Scoping period for the Mark Twain National Forest Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Plan has begun. This is an important part of the approval process when public comment is taken regarding the proposed actions of approving three separate OHV areas within the National Forest. This is a GIANT opportunity for the OHV communities to have a voice on how YOUR National Forest is managed and how Forest access is allowed in the future! The Forest Service is listening, now is the time for action! We only have until Feb. 19, 2004 to respond to have our voices heard.

PROPOSED ACTION:
The Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is proposing to conduct a three-year study to open and evaluate three motorized trail systems in Missouri. This study would help the Forest Service determine the environmental and social impacts of OHV trails on the National Forest. The primary purpose of this project is to study OHV use and users to guide future management options on OHV trail opportunities and use. Social impacts such as customer satisfaction, demographics of trail users, and compatibility between trail users would also be studied. Therefore the OHV customer, the resource manager, and the environment will all benefit from this study. The proposal will establish three new OHV designated areas in the MTNF . These areas will be opened to full-sized vehicles such as Jeeps, as well as ATV’s and Motorcycles.

The proposed action includes the MTNF’s participation in a national study conducted by the San Dimas Technology Development Center, who will collect the empirical data for the study. The results of this study will be used to guide future management decisions on OHV trail management in Missouri and elsewhere in the National Forest System nationwide.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Please take a minute or two to read the information below and then send your comments to the Forest Service showing your support. The Mark Twain National Forest is looking to hear from the OHV community! We need your support in writing a letter or sending an email to show your approval for opening additional Off-Highway Vehicle Special Use Areas in the National Forest. Comments can be sent here via e-mail (preferred), [email protected] , or via regular mail to, Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District, P.O. Box 188, Potosi, MO 63664

More information on the proposal can be found on the MTNF’s website here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/marktwain/projects/project.htm

Letters should include a brief description how important OHV recreation is to your family and in your own words. Copied and forwarded letters will have less impact then well formed opinions.

SUGGESTED COMMENTS:
Off-Highway Vehicle recreation is a family oriented social experience. OHV enthusiasts prefer to recreate in groups and are often belong to clubs and organizations. OHV clubs should be seen as a resource to the Mark Twain National Forest. Clubs can help leverage OHV grant money for OHV management and law enforcement. MTNF’s new plan should make it easier for clubs and organizations to visit and enjoy the Potosi/Fredericktown area. If you belong to a club, tell them about it and all of the great work you do. Tell them how your club instills a proper backcountry recreational ethic. Include a link to you clubs homepage so you can let them see for themselves how much we work at recreational ethic education.

Remind them that during their statewide public meetings we asked for more trails to be opened and that we were not satisfied on just running their system roads. Then thank them for listening to our comments by creating this proposal.

Thank them for recognizing the fact that there is an increasing demand for OHV recreation opportunities on public lands and National Forests and that the proposed openings show their acknowledgement of these facts and are meeting them head on.
Let them know you support their effort to make the National Forest more accessible to the OHV community.

If you have additional comments or if you would like additional information you can contact me at [email protected]

Sincerely,

Jim Williams
Midwest Jeepthing
Director of Trails

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Off-Highway Vehicle Study

The proposed action is to conduct a three-year study to evaluate three motorized trail systems. This study would help the Forest Service determine the environmental and social impacts of OHV trails on the National Forest. Existing conditions would be evaluated prior to opening the trail systems, and resource conditions would be monitored throughout the duration of the study. Management would respond to trail conditions and potential resource concerns by using different techniques, such as seasonal closures and weather related closures, which would be part of the study. Preliminary monitoring of the project area would be used as a baseline to determine environmental effects occurring during the study period. Prior to initiating the study, preliminary levels of acceptable change would be established. If changes to the environment occur that are beyond the levels of acceptable change, the study would be modified or OHV use terminated during the 3-year study period.

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