Sequoia Forest Supervisor Tina Terrell held three meetings in January 2010 to discuss with the public her recently released decision to adopt Modified Alternative 3 on the Greenhorn, Breckenridge and Lake Isabella Route Plan.

PUBLIC WANTS LAKESIDE ACCESS AT LOW WATER

Stewards members and others from the public came out and clearly voiced their concerns over the elimination of traditional vehicular Lakeside access in some of the popular areas like Auxiliary Dam at low water levels. This is a especially valid concern since the lake levels will be unusually low for at least the next decade due to the Isabella Dam project. In other words low water will be the norm not the exception and the public wants to ensure they still have access.

PUBLIC OPPOSES CLOSURE OF 181 MILES OF ROUTES FOR NO REASON

The public also opposed the Fixed Date Seasonal Closure of 181 miles of roads and trails from 12/31 to 4/15 each year due to possible snow accumulations. Since the frost season varies by 90 days each year according to Forest weather data these Fixed Date Closures make no sense. Some years we have snow earlier, some years later, some years like 2007 hardly any snow or precipitation. The spikes in the weather chart clearly verify what we already know. There is no fixed season of wet weather here. The public reasonably wants to be able to enjoy the roads and trails if they are not covered in snow, but the new policy will close them even if there is no snow.

The Forest Service already has the ability to close roads and trails as needed due to snow, which has worked well in the past and continuing that policy makes sense.

The Forest Service and the Public have spent millions of dollars and thousands of hours together working on the Trail Plan. Implementing the plan with obvious errors like this makes no sense. This is an unnecessary closure of your public lands.

The Forest Service should eliminate the Fixed Date Seasonal Closures and stick with the closed as needed policy. It could even save them money in years when no closure is needed due to lack of precipitation. With a few changes the Forest Service can implement a Trail plan we can all be proud of. A plan that provides reasonable continued access for the public and does not harm our economy while still protecting the environment. A plan we can all live with.

The comment period for the Forest Service Plan is over, but changes can still be made to the plan. Congressman McCarthy wants to hear how you feel about Fixed Date Seasonal Closures as well about Lakeside vehicular access. Please send him a letter using the Contact link on his website

http://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/

Or by mail
Congressman Kevin McCarthy
4100 Empire Drive Suite 150
Bakersfield, CA 93309

Or by phone
661 327-3611

You can read more about this Travel Plan and the problems which need to be resolved at:
http://www.stewardsofthesequoia.org/AlertSequoiaTrailInventory.html

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