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Sequoia National Forest Trail Inventory and Trail
Plan Updated
10/30/11 |
After five years of planning the Sequoia National Forest Service released the trail plan for Greenhorn, Breckenridge and Lake Isabella areas in December 2009. Stewards of the Sequoia were heavily involved in this planning process . Most trails were kept open and vehicular access around Lake Isabella will continue in large part due to the efforts of Stewards of the Sequoia. There were some things we did not like about the plan, you can read about them and our appeal below, but we think the overall outcome was a good plan.
The Piute area was held out of the final area plan due to the 40,000 acre 2008 Piute fire.
Collaboration A Big Improvement In Planning
Due to the heavy involvement of Stewards of Sequoia and many other local organizations in plans over the years, the Sequoia Forest Service decided to collaborate with them and the community in 2010 on the Piute Trail Plan. This is a big improvement over the prior area planing process. Under collaboration the public was able to be involved earlier and help ensure the plan got off on a good foot and help draft the Proposed Action.
The outcome of that collaboration was that virtually all routes should remain open. However this is just the beginning of the Piute planning process as each of those routes will need to be analyzed and those that do not meet regulations will either have to be fixed so they do meet regulations or closed.
Stewards of the Sequoia look forward to working along with other groups and the public as we move through the Piute trail plan process and work to help keep our trails open. The Forest Service had hoped to announce public meetings in the summer of 2011, but they are running behind. Stewards continues to work with the Forest Service in order to move forward on the Piute trails plan and help keep your trails open to all. We hope our members will continue to donate to support our efforts.
What can you do now to help keep
your trails open?
- Unless you want to
spend hundreds of hours reading and commenting on
the numerous 1200 plus page planning documents, why not make a tax
deductible
donation
to help fund Stewards efforts to do that work
for you? Over 80% of our members have let their
membership donation expire or have not made a
donation. Although we are totally volunteer based
without donations we are dead in the water. While
economic times are hard, once the trails are closed
they will not be reopened.
- Attend meetings OR
donate the money you would have spent on gas and
time to attend the meetings, so we can represent you
and increase our efforts to keep your trails open.
Over the years many
people have told us there was no point in wasting time
attending meetings or submitting comments. They told us
the Forest Service will do what it wants and we the
public cannot do anything about it.
We are glad we ignored them because now it is clear they
were dead wrong.
Thanks for your support. Together we can help keep our
trails open.
It costs thousands of
dollars to hire specialists, draft comment letters
and file appeals that have been successful at keeping
your trails and Lakeside access open.
Please make a
donation to Stewards to
help fund our efforts. Once the trails are closed it is
too late.
What is the big deal
about Stewards making a
substantive comment?
Read some of the comments Stewards has submitted on
behalf of our members and the community
Click Here |
Success Story-
Stewards work kept almost all the Breckenridge, Greenhorn and Isabella existing trails open Read More>>>>
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