new issues for moab

[jonharis]

Hi guys-
As Daniel knows, I've been pretty busy on Facebook and in some other forums the last few hours trying to get the word out with the goal that people educate themselves on the facts and come to their own conclusions. I think one of the most effective things you can do is voice your opposition (or in fairness your support) to this proposal on manufacturers Facebook sites. it will send a clear message.

Here are some links.

The full text of the proposal can be found here. I tried uploading but it's too big.
http://action.suwa.org/site/DocServer/PetitionWithPhotos_FINAL.pdf?docID=11127

The FB page for the proponents is here.
https://www.facebook.com/GreaterCanyonlands

The FB page for the opponents is here.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southeastern-Utah-Against-Greater-Canyonlands/403396616399117?fref=ts

IH8MUD discussion is here.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/chit-chat/6...ds-letter-what-businesses-do-you-support.html AND http://forum.ih8mud.com/land-use/652368-another-massive-national-monument-pushed-utah.html

ExPo Discussion is here.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/88267-Greater-Canyonlands-National-Monument

 

[timmbuck2]

very interesting discussion on Facebook on Area BFE's page

Area Bfe TO Red Desert Adventure
Dear Sir and/or Madam,

I have just recently discovered that your business has signed on to a letter that was sent to President Obama to ask him to designate the Greater Canyonlands area a National Monument.

Let me voice my great disappointment with this fact. As an avid outdoor person, I have chosen to live in Utah because of it's diverse recreation opportunities, some of which involves motorized offroad vehicle use. By designating the Greater Canyonlands area as a National Monument, it would no doubt close this area off to responsible motorized use, and people that would not be able to enjoy the area by any other means would be denied access to the wonders and beauty within the area.

Please understand that I truly respect your position on this matter, but I just wanted to inform you of my position. Additionally, as a corporation in Utah, we cannot, in good conscience, support a business that would knowingly exclude people such as my elderly parents or people with special needs from enjoying what this great land has to offer. In the future, I will look to support businesses and organizations that openly promote inclusive and responsible land use.

Respectfully,

Management
AreaBFE LLC



Red Desert Adventure
I have received many attacks via fb due to signing the letter. Your letter is polite and I thank you for that. I am all for grandfathering in current OHV routes in this area. The letter is about saving this area from energy development. The off road community may feel more threatened than they need to be, maybe someone from the community should step forward and work with this group to secure the access they want.


Area Bfe
Good Morning,
It seems that many of the companies that signed on to this letter are under the same impression. However, if you read the actual letter and then compare it to the SUWA proposal, you'll notice that the verbiage is the same.
Taken from the letter, "Federal land use plans inappropriately open scenic and undeveloped land... and fail to address exploding off-road vehicle use that is damaging riparian areas, cultural sites, soils and solitude."
I'm sorry, but how can the off highway vehicle community get behind this?
Additionally, have you looked at the list of 114 companies behind this letter and asked why not one is related to motorized vehicular recreation?
I believe your impression may be skewed based on how this letter/proposal was presented and perhaps you should do more research into the issue. Please contact me with any questions.
Olaf Kilthau
562-233-6523

 

[jonharis]

Letter from several elected officials against the proposal.

http://www.arra-access.com/site/Doc...sing_Canyonlands_Monument_11-14.pdf?docID=542

And another from a host of user groups.
http://www.arra-access.com/site/DocServer/Canyonlands_letter_logos.pdf?docID=541

 

[txanm]

As somebody that has sat in litigation with SUWA for a 7 year fight I wish you luck. You will need it and I warn you the odds are against you. They have deep and influential pockets that have been funded for decades by outdoorsmen. I predict they will allow the continuing of some areas being open, in trade of permanent closure of other areas. Be careful they play dirty and in some cases illegally. Google Tim DeChristopher for a good example.

 

[sleeoffroad]

This is from the SUWA document posted here http://dev.suwa.org/wp-content/uploads/PetitionWithPhotos_Exhibits_FINAL.pdf

" Unfortunately BLM’s current management strategies as set forth in the RMPs are
a mix of exactly the kinds of actions that would compound the effects of climate
change. This is most notable in the BLM’s overly-expansive network of roads and ORV
trails, which were adopted without analysis of the ramifications of climate change in
combination with ORV use, and failed to discuss the implications of climate change in
the coming years."

What a bunch of crock. How do these people think the spectacle of Moab and surrounds were created? By a climate that has never changed? It is exactly these changes the brought about the deposits of soils and rocks and the subsequent erosion of it. Who are we to thing we can stop nature going it's course in an environment like that?

and then they site this article "Dust, snow make for problematic mix for skiers" (listed in the PDF). So we can't 4wheel so that skiers have more snow? So is all that barren land next to Grand Junction the result of 4wheeling as well. Yeah, those don't contribute to the dust at all.

Man, I should not read these docs. Don't people have common sense anymore? Yes, we should manage it, but it is for all to use, and that unfortunately includes the idiots. What makes one groups passion and hobbies more important than the others. When have it become so politically correct to just sway to any minority and trample on the rest.

Why ask the rich to pay a little more, why doesn't Obama ask these people to pay a little more so that these areas can be managed?

Case and point:

" Theeffect is perhaps felt no where as deeply as in the Greater Canyonlands where hundreds
of thousands of motorized visitors on ATVs, dirt bikes, rock crawlers, and modified jeeps
regularly churn over thousands of miles of rough BLM trails, wash bottoms, riparian
areas and canyon bottoms."

You use the fact that there are hundrers of thousands of people using this area, but you want to limit them. And in order to do so, you quote studies that does not have common sense and site climate change. And then you blame the BLM for not managing the area.

So we are special, only we can use these areas. You guys can go play elsewhere in the sand box.

" Given the
extremely generous ORV riding opportunities on lands outside the Greater Canyonlands
area, restricting ORV access to this remarkable area will not significantly affect
recreational access to various areas."