Every day, more roads and trails used by the public for motorized
vehicle travel are being closed and even more areas are threatened.
For the most part, there are few answers about why trails are closed.
THE USDA Forest Service often uses the general statement that a
specific road or trail is not part of the Travel Management Plan, that
an area is part of a vital watershed or a threatened or endangered
species lives in the area. But most often there is no explanation.
In the last few months, the local Travel Management Plan has begun
implementation by the Mountaintop Ranger District in the San
Bernardino National Forest , which includes the area surrounding
Big Bear Lake. The funding for this has come mostly from the
Recovery Act funds, and the materials used for blocking roads and
trails as well as other formerly open areas popular for camping and
relaxing are large boulders from the new bridge project next to the
Big Bear Lake dam.
Some of the work has been undertaken by the Forest Service while
much of it has been completed by private contractors. These
contractors have used red dayglo paint on living trees to mark areas
where roads are to be blocked. Trail access is then blocked with
boulders, the ground along the trail is chunked and covered with
brush in order to camouflage the old road. The problem is that the
camo does not hide the old road and the brush used in hide the road
is cut from living trees, a procedure that is apparently sanctioned by
the Forest Service. Once the work is completed, and presumably
after many citizens complained about the dayglo red paint on tree
trunks, the contractors have gone back to paint over the red paint
with brown paint, which shows up only slightly less then the red paint
since it does not match. This methodology likely causes more
damage to the forest than motorized vehicle user could cause in 20
years, especially from those users who travel on public lands
responsibly. It seems that our grandchildren's money could be more
wisely utilized.
Some the road closures are old, historic roads that should never
have been closed. The problem is that the USDA Forest Service,
when the local travel management plan was created, held several
meetings for public input and provided a period for public comment.
And the public land users who travel via motorized vehicles were not
vocal enough. Which is why we have created tis section on the
SoCal 4x4 trails web site. We cannot let this happen again and we
must do what we can to get some of these important and historic
roads and trails reopened.
Below are important links to more specific information, who to
contact and important document downloads. Being informed makes
taking action easier. And taking action will help preserve OUR
access to our lands. But the most important factor for the land users
is to use the land responsibly.
vehicle travel are being closed and even more areas are threatened.
For the most part, there are few answers about why trails are closed.
THE USDA Forest Service often uses the general statement that a
specific road or trail is not part of the Travel Management Plan, that
an area is part of a vital watershed or a threatened or endangered
species lives in the area. But most often there is no explanation.
In the last few months, the local Travel Management Plan has begun
implementation by the Mountaintop Ranger District in the San
Bernardino National Forest , which includes the area surrounding
Big Bear Lake. The funding for this has come mostly from the
Recovery Act funds, and the materials used for blocking roads and
trails as well as other formerly open areas popular for camping and
relaxing are large boulders from the new bridge project next to the
Big Bear Lake dam.
Some of the work has been undertaken by the Forest Service while
much of it has been completed by private contractors. These
contractors have used red dayglo paint on living trees to mark areas
where roads are to be blocked. Trail access is then blocked with
boulders, the ground along the trail is chunked and covered with
brush in order to camouflage the old road. The problem is that the
camo does not hide the old road and the brush used in hide the road
is cut from living trees, a procedure that is apparently sanctioned by
the Forest Service. Once the work is completed, and presumably
after many citizens complained about the dayglo red paint on tree
trunks, the contractors have gone back to paint over the red paint
with brown paint, which shows up only slightly less then the red paint
since it does not match. This methodology likely causes more
damage to the forest than motorized vehicle user could cause in 20
years, especially from those users who travel on public lands
responsibly. It seems that our grandchildren's money could be more
wisely utilized.
Some the road closures are old, historic roads that should never
have been closed. The problem is that the USDA Forest Service,
when the local travel management plan was created, held several
meetings for public input and provided a period for public comment.
And the public land users who travel via motorized vehicles were not
vocal enough. Which is why we have created tis section on the
SoCal 4x4 trails web site. We cannot let this happen again and we
must do what we can to get some of these important and historic
roads and trails reopened.
Below are important links to more specific information, who to
contact and important document downloads. Being informed makes
taking action easier. And taking action will help preserve OUR
access to our lands. But the most important factor for the land users
is to use the land responsibly.
| Motorized Vehicle Use on Public Lands Information & Issues Vital for Continued Access to OUR Lands! |
Copyright 2009 Don Alexander
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Trail Indexes
Click on a Link
Click on a Link
Congressman Jerry Lewis
Representing California's 41st District
Send a Message to Jerry Lewis
District Office
1150 Brookside Avenue
Suite J-5
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: (909) 862-6030
1-800-233-1700 (within California)
Washington, D.C. Office
2112 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5861
Representing California's 41st District
Send a Message to Jerry Lewis
District Office
1150 Brookside Avenue
Suite J-5
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: (909) 862-6030
1-800-233-1700 (within California)
Washington, D.C. Office
2112 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5861
San Bernardino National
Forest CONTACTS
Supervisor's Office
602 S. Tippecanoe Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 382-2600 (Voice)
(TDD/TTY dial 7-1-1)
Arrowhead Ranger Station
(909) 382-2782
Barton Flats Visitor Center
(909) 794-4861 Summer
Season Only
Big Bear Ranger Station &
Discovery Center
(909) 382-2790
Idyllwild Ranger Station
(909) 382-2921
Lytle Creek Ranger Station
(909) 382-2851
Mill Creek Ranger Station
(909) 382-2882
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains National
Monument
(760) 862-9984
Forest CONTACTS
Supervisor's Office
602 S. Tippecanoe Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 382-2600 (Voice)
(TDD/TTY dial 7-1-1)
Arrowhead Ranger Station
(909) 382-2782
Barton Flats Visitor Center
(909) 794-4861 Summer
Season Only
Big Bear Ranger Station &
Discovery Center
(909) 382-2790
Idyllwild Ranger Station
(909) 382-2921
Lytle Creek Ranger Station
(909) 382-2851
Mill Creek Ranger Station
(909) 382-2882
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains National
Monument
(760) 862-9984
TEMPORARILY CLOSED TRAILS AND ROADS LIST
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
San Bernardino National Forest Fire Conditions
(CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Weather Conditions
(CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Off Highway Vehicle
Info (CLICK HERE!)
Road Conditions (Highways) (CLICK HERE!)
Fire Restrictions (CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Alerts and Notices
(CLICK HERE!)
Cal 4 Wheel Safety Requirements (CLICK HERE)
(CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Weather Conditions
(CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Off Highway Vehicle
Info (CLICK HERE!)
Road Conditions (Highways) (CLICK HERE!)
Fire Restrictions (CLICK HERE!)
San Bernardino National Forest Alerts and Notices
(CLICK HERE!)
Cal 4 Wheel Safety Requirements (CLICK HERE)
What you can do!
Click HERE!
Click HERE!
The photos to the left and above show the
top of 2N88Y at the junction with 2N01.
Boulders from the dam were used to block
access then the road was chunked and
slashed (covered with native materials, in this
case freshly cut tree limbs) to camo the
road. Note the dayglo vest on one tree and
the red paint on the one to left, which is hard
to see in the shadows. Even worse, when we
hiked down the trail to what was done, we
found significant amounts of trash beneath
the cut tree limbs.
top of 2N88Y at the junction with 2N01.
Boulders from the dam were used to block
access then the road was chunked and
slashed (covered with native materials, in this
case freshly cut tree limbs) to camo the
road. Note the dayglo vest on one tree and
the red paint on the one to left, which is hard
to see in the shadows. Even worse, when we
hiked down the trail to what was done, we
found significant amounts of trash beneath
the cut tree limbs.
The three photos to the left and above show
the bottom of 2N88Y above the junction with
2N61Y (Heartbreak Ridge). Boulders from
the dam were also used here to block
access then the road was chunked and
slashed (covered with native materials, in this
case freshly cut tree limbs) to camo the
road. Red paint was used here also to
denote the spot to place the boulders to
block the trail. When we last checked in
early December, 2010, the red paint was not
yet covered with brown paint like the marks
on the tress at the opposite end of the
closure.
the bottom of 2N88Y above the junction with
2N61Y (Heartbreak Ridge). Boulders from
the dam were also used here to block
access then the road was chunked and
slashed (covered with native materials, in this
case freshly cut tree limbs) to camo the
road. Red paint was used here also to
denote the spot to place the boulders to
block the trail. When we last checked in
early December, 2010, the red paint was not
yet covered with brown paint like the marks
on the tress at the opposite end of the
closure.
Travel Management Directives; Forest
Service Manual 2350, 7700, and 7710
and Forest Service Handbook 7709.55
From the Federal Register, 12-09-08
this document covers amendments to the
Forest Service Travel Management plan.
Service Manual 2350, 7700, and 7710
and Forest Service Handbook 7709.55
From the Federal Register, 12-09-08
this document covers amendments to the
Forest Service Travel Management plan.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS FOR YOUR
INFORMATION
CLICK ON THE DOCUMENT NAME TO DOWNLOAD OR OPEN
In the coming months, we will post articles offering opinions about these
documents and how you can use them and/or their contents to keep access to
the San Bernardino National Forest. For now, continuing to use the land and
your vehicles in a resonsible manner is the most important tool we have.
INFORMATION
CLICK ON THE DOCUMENT NAME TO DOWNLOAD OR OPEN
In the coming months, we will post articles offering opinions about these
documents and how you can use them and/or their contents to keep access to
the San Bernardino National Forest. For now, continuing to use the land and
your vehicles in a resonsible manner is the most important tool we have.
Travel Management;
Designated Routes and
Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
this document covers: The Department of
Agriculture is revising regulations
regarding travel management on
National Forest System lands to clarify
policy related to motor vehicle use,
including the use of off-highway
vehicles.
THIS IS THE MASTER DOCUMENT FOR ALL
NATIONAL FORESTS TO USE AS A GUIDE
FOR LOCAL TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANS
Designated Routes and
Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
this document covers: The Department of
Agriculture is revising regulations
regarding travel management on
National Forest System lands to clarify
policy related to motor vehicle use,
including the use of off-highway
vehicles.
THIS IS THE MASTER DOCUMENT FOR ALL
NATIONAL FORESTS TO USE AS A GUIDE
FOR LOCAL TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANS
LINKS TO IMPORTANT
INFORMATION WEB SITES
INFORMATION WEB SITES
The Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976
this document was created by Congress
to establish public land policy; to
establish guidelines for its administration;
to provide for the management,
protection, development, and
enhancement of the public lands; and for
other purposes.
Management Act of 1976
this document was created by Congress
to establish public land policy; to
establish guidelines for its administration;
to provide for the management,
protection, development, and
enhancement of the public lands; and for
other purposes.
FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 20
this document is CHAPTER 20 - TRAVEL
ANALYSIS
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 20
this document is CHAPTER 20 - TRAVEL
ANALYSIS
FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 10
this document is CHAPTER 10 - TRAVEL
PLANNING FOR DESIGNATIONS
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 10
this document is CHAPTER 10 - TRAVEL
PLANNING FOR DESIGNATIONS
FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 7710
this document is CHAPTER 7710 –
TRAVEL PLANNING
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER 7710
this document is CHAPTER 7710 –
TRAVEL PLANNING
Environmental Assessment
Motorized Travel
Management EA
San Bernardino National
Forest
this document published in January,
2009, is the key document covering, if you
looking deep enough, what is going on in
the San Bernardino National Forest right
now.
Motorized Travel
Management EA
San Bernardino National
Forest
this document published in January,
2009, is the key document covering, if you
looking deep enough, what is going on in
the San Bernardino National Forest right
now.
 |  |
Road Analysis Process
In August 1999, the Washington Office of
643 Decisions about Managing the
National Forest Transportation
System".
In August 1999, the Washington Office of
643 Decisions about Managing the
National Forest Transportation
System".
ACTION
NEEDED
ITEMS
NEEDED
ITEMS
Click on a link for
more INFO!
Senator Boxer
Legislation Info
Senator Feinstein
Wilderness Bill
more INFO!
Senator Boxer
Legislation Info
Senator Feinstein
Wilderness Bill
IMPORTANT NEWS! Forest Service 2020 Plan requires 70& of all roads to be drivable by 2WD sedans by 2020!
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