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Scoping Notice - FDR 240D Hogpen Mountain Road (AKA Old Long Run) Closure
I received this notice from the District Ranger's office,via OCC.Contact Bob Tennyson (click to send email) at the Rangers Office (FAX: (540) 265-5145 is the supervisor’s office in Roanoke; FAX: (540) 828-2592 is the ranger office in the Dry River District.)
with your response to this notice AFTER READING THE RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW:
I have forwarded it to Chris and Carla Boucher and have previously spoken with them about this issue. VA4WDA may be in the process of formulating a response that may involve the contribution of funds to mitigate some of the issues where money is needed. In addition to funding, there will also be a need for a significant commitment of time from volunteers to do trail work and probably other things. This will not guarantee that closure does not occur, but it may allow us to engage the district office and at worst postpone closure, and at best allow us to get a working plan in place to prevent closure.
During this time, I believe it is in our best interests to avoid the following activities:
Negative correspondence or phone calls to the District Office: I think it is safe to say that if we alienate the District Ranger or his staff, we will have a hard time getting our case heard. I believe it is best for us to have a unified front with VA4WDA or UFWDA speaking on our behalf. This is what they do, and they can bring the weight of the organization and past experience to bear on this issue. At the risk of offending anyone, and I include myself in this, it will accomplish nothing if the district office receives mail and phone calls from a bunch of screaming lunatics. If you feel you must write a response, I encourage you to do so, keeping in mind that Mr. Gyant is a public official who is responding to public needs. He is a regular guy just like all of us, and will listen to reason, and wants solutions to problems. He does not need criticism, or other unproductive types of commentary. Offer help to solve the problem, not criticism for his need to address this issue.
Destructive behavior: The worst thing we can do at this time is to go wheeling in this area and conduct ourselves in a manner contrary to our stated goals. We want the trail to be kept open, want the environmental issues to be balanced with our needs as users of public land, and want a good relationship with the Forest Service and the local land owners. Anything we do is under scrutiny and will be used either for or against us in making a decision about the trail. If the Forest Service has nothing but a long list of behavior problems, and documented land use violations, I don't think anyone will have any problem figuring out what they will decide about the trail.
Confronting land owners: We must all remember that most of us do not live in the area where the trail is located. Most of us are not local land owners. We are recreational users who "commute" to the trail, have our fun and go home. We have a basic handicap in that we are not members of the local community so our recreational needs do not necessarily take precedent over the needs of people who live and work in the area near the trail. Again, our behavior as visitors and guests to the area goes a long way toward how we are perceived and can greatly influence whether or not the trail remains open and our offers to help solve the problems will be accepted. Not only should be establishing and maintaining a good relationship with the surrounding property owners, we should be putting our best foot forward when we make use of the products and services in the Harrisonburg area.
For example, McDorman's is a popular muster location. It has come to my attention in recent months that McDorman's are at best ambivalent about our use of their parking area to collect, air down and up. In conversation with the store owners, it is my impression that while they welcome our business, they do feel that we intrude upon their private space. Please remember that the parking area surrounds their personal residence and also doubles as their driveway. Think about how you would feel if 30 vehicles descended on your driveway and spent an hour there engaged in noisy activity, using your bathroom, then disappearing without so much as a "please" or "thank you". McDorman's could be our ally and advocate for our continued use of the trails in the area, and just as easily could go to a public meeting and side with those who wish to close the trails. It's up to us.
Please don't take my commentary as criticism, for surely, I have been a part of groups traveling to the trail and am NOT saying that anyone has done anything wrong. Let's just keep our heads and show the Forest Service and the community that we are responsible recreationists who care about the land.
I have been asked what kinds of things we should talk about in our letters to the Ranger District Office. Here is my response. Please remember, a hostile note that does not offer to help solve the problem will not forward our cause to keep the trail open. Do not write an angry letter and zap it off. Write it, have a friend read it who is not a wheeler, then if they think you sound nice and helpful, consider sending it on.
Request extension of response period (Letters currently must be received by June 20 so get busy writing!)
Request a public hearing
Cite volunteer work done (I know you guys have done several clean-ups - list dates and participants, send pictures)
Cite the nature and volume of trash found (for example, we typically find household appliances and furniture, and other household refuse - we have not found trash that originates from recreational users - see what I mean? The trash we take out is above and beyond our own trash that which we already manage properly)
Cite willingness to volunteer manpower and resources to work on mitigation of trail repair/maintenance issues
describe demographic of your organization (men, women, children, ages, incomes, profession)
describe nature of club, commitment to environmental issues, Tread Lightly, support for Forest Service Goals, no drinking/drugging/driving policy
Describe how your use of National Forest contributes to local economy (use of goods and services - for example when I go, I use camping grounds/hotels, restaurants, gas stations/car washes, Wal*Mart, Tractor Supply, Luigi's Pizza, McDormans, Sheetz, etc.
Describe how your group fosters appropriate use of FS resources through training and by group leadership (in other words, people who go there with your group learn to stay out of illegal areas, conduct themselves in a manner consistent with FS guidelines, etc. versus the people who do not have the benefit of that good example and the potential for unacceptable behavior)
Refrain from:
DO NOT criticize the proposed decision to close the trail
DO NOT criticize or question issues listed by ranger (they are real to him)
DO NOT criticize private land owners
DO NOT finger-point to other 4WD groups, users, hunters, individuals who may NOT be acting appropriately
ADMIT that the trail is in need of attention, and is not fine as-is.
Questions? Drop me a line.
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