- Location
- Antioch, CA
I'm a little late getting this, but I thought it would be best to post it up anyway.
Friends of Greenhorn cancels Greenhorn Creek Clean-up
Warns local OHV enthusiasts to avoid the area this weekend January 17th and 18th.
Nevada City CA – January 16th, 2009
In an effort to stop an annual gathering in the Greenhorn Creek area, the Nevada County Sheriff Officer Sgt. Saunders, recently sounded the alarm to local residents announcing that “300+ vehicles will be using your road,” naming Friends of Greenhorn contact Jacquelyne Theisen as the responsible individual. This annual gathering has been a tradition in the Greenhorn Creek bed for many years, and is not associated with Friends of Greenhorn, or California Association of 4Wheel Drive Clubs Winter Fun Fest event.
“I received many emails over the last few days, some in support of our group, some very upset at the prospect of 300 vehicles coming down a local road. While we welcomed the opportunity to communicate with neighbors, getting a number of angry emails was very stressful.” said Theisen. "It is understandable that they would be upset, but I am not responsible for the many vehicles that were there last year, or the several years before."
“We had to be very clear that Friends of Greenhorn was planning the same sort of trash pick we have done in the past where we provide educational materials on responsible OHV use, pass out trash bags, and display maps showing public and private property boundaries. We see the amount of enthusiasts who traditionally come to the area this one day a year, as an opportunity to educate many OHV enthusiasts at once."
Sgt Saunders stated that the Bureau of Land Management and Department of Fish and Game, Tahoe National Forest Law Enforcement, and the Nevada County Sheriffs OHV division would be there in force. “We will be enforcing all vehicle codes, and DUI laws. There will be a checkpoint set up at the corner of Red Dog Rd. and Buckeye Rd. Saturday and Sunday.” said Saunders.
Closure of traditional OHV areas leaves visitors and locals looking for other places to recreate. This shifts traffic to other areas where it may not be welcome. Just two weeks ago, a special Cascade Shores HOA meeting was called because of complaints about OHV riders in their area. Residents blamed the recent Hansen Brothers and BLM Greenhorn Creek OHV area closures as the cause of an increase in OHV traffic in their neighborhood. Supervisor Beason attended the meeting and discovered just how contentious and divisive OHV closures can be to a community.
“These types of closures are not useful” said Theisen, “as it sometimes tempts otherwise responsible riders to ‘explore’ new areas. Simply outlawing all OHV use is not good management. Proper resource management strikes an even balance, yet BLM persists in single-sided ‘management by closure.’ It is not effective, and it is not productive. It can be is destructive to the community, private property, and recreational opportunity, and it splinters productive relationships between responsible OHV users and land management entities.”
“Friends of Greenhorn won't be at Greenhorn for this 'gathering' on Sunday as we had planned,” says Theisen. “While we see this as a lost opportunity to educate a large group of users at once, we will reschedule our clean up for a later time. While the Tahoe National Forest portion of Greenhorn is still legally open for use, we ask that all local and visiting OHV enthusiasts avoid the area this weekend. If you must go, please be respectful of others private property, and please drive slowly and safely through the neighborhoods."
Anyone interested in becoming a member of this proactive, educational, pro access OHV group can do so by signing up on our Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/friends-of-greenhorn
###
Friends of Greenhorn
[email protected]
Jacquelyne Theisen
[email protected]
Friends of Greenhorn cancels Greenhorn Creek Clean-up
Warns local OHV enthusiasts to avoid the area this weekend January 17th and 18th.
Nevada City CA – January 16th, 2009
In an effort to stop an annual gathering in the Greenhorn Creek area, the Nevada County Sheriff Officer Sgt. Saunders, recently sounded the alarm to local residents announcing that “300+ vehicles will be using your road,” naming Friends of Greenhorn contact Jacquelyne Theisen as the responsible individual. This annual gathering has been a tradition in the Greenhorn Creek bed for many years, and is not associated with Friends of Greenhorn, or California Association of 4Wheel Drive Clubs Winter Fun Fest event.
“I received many emails over the last few days, some in support of our group, some very upset at the prospect of 300 vehicles coming down a local road. While we welcomed the opportunity to communicate with neighbors, getting a number of angry emails was very stressful.” said Theisen. "It is understandable that they would be upset, but I am not responsible for the many vehicles that were there last year, or the several years before."
“We had to be very clear that Friends of Greenhorn was planning the same sort of trash pick we have done in the past where we provide educational materials on responsible OHV use, pass out trash bags, and display maps showing public and private property boundaries. We see the amount of enthusiasts who traditionally come to the area this one day a year, as an opportunity to educate many OHV enthusiasts at once."
Sgt Saunders stated that the Bureau of Land Management and Department of Fish and Game, Tahoe National Forest Law Enforcement, and the Nevada County Sheriffs OHV division would be there in force. “We will be enforcing all vehicle codes, and DUI laws. There will be a checkpoint set up at the corner of Red Dog Rd. and Buckeye Rd. Saturday and Sunday.” said Saunders.
Closure of traditional OHV areas leaves visitors and locals looking for other places to recreate. This shifts traffic to other areas where it may not be welcome. Just two weeks ago, a special Cascade Shores HOA meeting was called because of complaints about OHV riders in their area. Residents blamed the recent Hansen Brothers and BLM Greenhorn Creek OHV area closures as the cause of an increase in OHV traffic in their neighborhood. Supervisor Beason attended the meeting and discovered just how contentious and divisive OHV closures can be to a community.
“These types of closures are not useful” said Theisen, “as it sometimes tempts otherwise responsible riders to ‘explore’ new areas. Simply outlawing all OHV use is not good management. Proper resource management strikes an even balance, yet BLM persists in single-sided ‘management by closure.’ It is not effective, and it is not productive. It can be is destructive to the community, private property, and recreational opportunity, and it splinters productive relationships between responsible OHV users and land management entities.”
“Friends of Greenhorn won't be at Greenhorn for this 'gathering' on Sunday as we had planned,” says Theisen. “While we see this as a lost opportunity to educate a large group of users at once, we will reschedule our clean up for a later time. While the Tahoe National Forest portion of Greenhorn is still legally open for use, we ask that all local and visiting OHV enthusiasts avoid the area this weekend. If you must go, please be respectful of others private property, and please drive slowly and safely through the neighborhoods."
Anyone interested in becoming a member of this proactive, educational, pro access OHV group can do so by signing up on our Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/friends-of-greenhorn
###
Friends of Greenhorn
[email protected]
Jacquelyne Theisen
[email protected]
a portion of the dues goes to United Four Wheel and many local trail causes also.
