Please Participate - IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED

[KTMrad 513]

Got this at the last SDORC Meeting.............PLEASE SEND IN LETTERS, it only takes a few minutes of your time and the difference we can all make is dramatic !

USPS mail makes the best impact when sending letters.......

Dangerous New Precedent Could Close

Access to Multiple National Forest

Recreation Areas

Stop the Closures…Act NOW ! -- Instructions Below --

Original Deadline for public comment extended to

January 31, 2007

Cleveland National Forest is proposing seasonal closures to ALL forms of recreation at 1) Corte Madera Mountain & El Cajon Mountain 2) Rock Mountain & Eagle Peak. Though the Forest Service did not originally make this information available to the public, due to considerable pressure being brought to bear, they have now extended the comment period from January 12th to January 31st, and posted the proposals HERE

It is important to note that the Forest Service did not previously make these proposed measures available to the public because they apparently deemed them to be of insignificant consequence to the public . . . these proposals actually state:

“This closure order is considered to be a routine administrative action that normally does not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment and therefore may be categorically excluded from documentation in an EIS [Environmental Impact Statement] or EA [Environmental Assessment] unless scoping [public comment period] indicated that extraordinary circumstances exist.”

This premise is unacceptable. If you feel YOUR National Forest IS part of your “human environment”, than let the Forest Service know you disagree…the public should ALWAYS be made aware of this type of “administrative action”.

Unless challenged, these proposals will ban ALL human activity within 2,640 feet in all directions of any current or future golden eagle, prairie falcon, or “other cliff-nesting species” nest, even though these “other” species types are not identified. These measures are partly based on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which includes over 800 birds, some as common as the swallow & hummingbird. Make no mistake, these proposals will establish legal precedent allowing for similar closures to be enacted on all public lands! These proposals affect climbers, hikers, backpackers, mountain-bikers, horseback riders, and off-road enthusiasts alike, closing off areas of YOUR National Forest!!!

Please list the following reasons when telling the Cleveland National Forest that you oppose these closures because you feel these measures WILL “have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment” . . . ACT NOW!!!

1. These closures are inconsistent with the USFS multiple use mandate, “as set forth in law…to meet the diverse needs of people,” and as such do not adequately take into consideration the unique value of climbing, hiking, backpacking, mountain-biking, horseback riding, and off-roading within the National Forest areas in question.

2. The USFS is misinterpreting its legal authority to use the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), together with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, to close access to our public lands for non-threatened species. This is a radically extreme method to limit passive recreational use on our public lands given that the MBTA was signed by Congress in 1918 to prevent over-commercialization of migratory birds.

3. The Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, and “other cliff-nesting species” are not listed on the USFS Sensitive Animal Species list for Cleveland National Forest and do not require drastic protection measures.

4. The Corte Madera proposal is extreme, onerous, and scientifically unsound as it is being based on the “historical” presence of eagles. According to the proposals contributing author, Dave Bittner, Executive Director of the Wildlife Research Institute, golden eagles have not nested at Corte Madera since 1991.

5. Also particular to Corte Madera Mountain is the arbitrary closure limit distance: this distance is not based on exact nest locations, not accurately depicted on USFS closure proposal maps from well known cliff-face nest locations, and if applied per these proposals criteria would unacceptably close off the popular Espinosa off-road trail.

6. Climbers, Hikers, and other passive National Forest users have co-existed with wildlife peacefully for decades; therefore, among other factors, changing climate conditions and decline of natural prey populations are more likely to blame for any suspected bird loss.

7. These proposals are inconsistent with highly effective closure precedent already established nation-wide.

Oppose these closures…write a letter (or e-mail), title it -- Comments to proposed seasonal closures at:

Corte Madera Mountain, El Cajon Mountain, Rock Mountain, & Eagle Peak

Send it directly to the Cleveland National Forest at the following address (e-mail is fine, hard copy is better):

kwinter@fs.fed.us

Kirsten Winter-Cleveland National Forest,

10845 Rancho Bernardo Rd #200,

San Diego, Ca 92127

[sandiegoland 0]

Cleveland National Forest is proposing seasonal closures to ALL forms of recreation at 1) Corte Madera Mountain & El Cajon Mountain 2) Rock Mountain & Eagle Peak.

Seasonal meaning pretty much year'round?

ALL forms of recreation? Even hoofing it on foot?

[pyro 1]

This is scarey stuff. I emailed and snailmailed today requesting a personal response. Thanks for keeping us aware.

[carguy 1]

Some of you may not know where these areas are and how they effect you.

Corte Madera Mountain is in the Corral Canyon/Los Pinos Espinosa Green Sticker route. Near the area we just volunteered to re-open, they are trying to close. It could expand to the very trails we repaired.

There is already Pine Creek Wilderness and Houser Canyon Wilderness areas near this location.

We are being pushed out of our land.

Do you have a minute and a pen??

[Kevin 0]

Some of you may not know where these areas are and how they effect you.

Corte Madera Mountain is in the Corral Canyon/Los Pinos Espinosa Green Sticker route. Near the area we just volunteered to re-open, they are trying to close. It could expand to the very trails we repaired.

There is already Pine Creek Wilderness and Houser Canyon Wilderness areas near this location.

We are being pushed out of our land.

Do you have a minute and a pen??

I wonder why the Ranger at Corral neglected to let this information of the closure out while you were all volunteering on the weekends to get that area re-opened sooner?

[Santa Fe Dreamin 0]

This sucks!!!

I emailed and mailed. Hope it helps.

[SDmotor 0]

I sent an email an will send a letter out to USFS and my reps in Washington. This really stinks.

[Kevin 0]

I sent an email an will send a letter out to USFS and my reps in Washington. This really stinks.

Just my opinion on what might work better:

Try starting from the ground up. The people in Washington dont know whom you are, and/or dont care. Start from the ground up. Start with your local elected official! They might care if you vote for them and the local issues as it impacts them directly. State clearly that if they do not support your view, that your vote will go to there opponent. If there is adequate local influence, thne hopelfully this will filter up!

[husky4me 0]

I'm with you guys.... Randy, thanks for keeping us informed... Anything else we can do besides the letter, e-mail, and local officials? It is upsetting that they try to keep this info. out from the public...