BRC Recreation News

NORTH OF THE BORDER:
Here is a great study on the health benefits of OHV use from the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV)
The Results Are in! Off-Road Vehicle Riding is Good for Your Body and Soul
http://www.marketwire.com/The-Results-Are-in-Off-Road-Vehicle-Riding-Good-for-Your-Body-and-Soul

And...
Lawyer criticizes Osgoode trail review
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Lawyer+criticizes+Osgoode+trail+review/3434636/story.html

A lawyer for Osgoode residents who don't want snowmobiles and other motorized vehicles on a trail near their homes says the city is following a "superficial" process while reviewing the issue.

Also...
Comment Period for Moose River Plains Proposals Extended to Sept. 17
http://readme.readmedia.com/Comment-Period-for-Moose-River-Plains-Proposals-Extended-to-Sept-17

One of the proposed actions is:

Create a new community-connector snowmobile trail from Limekiln Lake-Cedar River Road to Lower Sargent Pond, which will provide connections to Indian Lake, Inlet, Raquette Lake and Long Lake.  Resulting overall snowmobile mileage would be approximately 59 miles. Close dead-end spur trails and roads in the wild forest to snowmobiling, many of which currently receive little or no snowmobile use.

INTERESTING LAWSUIT IN NEW YORK:
Disabled veterans sue over Adirondack wilderness access
http://poststar.com/news/local/article_235b82c6-b20e-11df-b623-001cc4c002e0.html

UTAH:
The Take Back Utah Rally was a huge success! Kudos to the organizers for their time and effort, and also to the thousands of Utahans who attended. Here is a round up of the news.

Read and enjoy!

Ralliers throng Capitol to voice love of recreational access to Utah lands
http://www.standard.net/topics/ralliers-throng-capitol-voice-love-recreational-access-utah-lands

Utahns at State Capitol protest federal public land policies
http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-utahns-protest-federal-public-land-policies,0,5219272.story

5,000 rally to "Take Back" Utah's public lands
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700061067/5000-rally-to-Take-Back-Utahs-public-lands.html

Outdoor Advocates and Enthusiasts to Rally for States' Rights
http://kcpw.org/blog/local-news/2010-08-27/outdoor-advocates-and-enthusiasts-to-rally-for-states-rights/

Thousands of off-road enthusiasts ride to the Capitol
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50179959-76/utah-access-herbert-rally.html.csp

Let the Hate Mail begin!
Teabaggers' vision
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/50165948-82/utah-national-vision-future.html.csp

MORE FROM UTAH:
Add Utah's San Juan County to the growing list of Western counties attempting to leverage "cooperating agency" status to influence land use plans on adjacent public lands.

County Commission asserts "coordinating authority" with federal land agencies
http://www.sjrnews.com/County-Commission-asserts-Ccoordinating-authority-federal-land-agencies

Access advocates understand that "consistency" is one of the "4 Pillars of FLPMA." You can read more about the other 3 pillars here:
The Four Pillars of FLPMA
http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine/article/?id=580

Western states agreed to federal management of large parts of their States under certain conditions. Those conditions are spelled out in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. One of the "pillars" of FLPMA was specific instructions to the Secretary of the Interior to formulate land use plans that are consistent with State and local plans "...to the maximum extent he finds consistent with Federal law and the purposes of this Act." This pillar includes provisions to coordinate land use inventory, planning and management activities not only with other federal agencies, but specifically with agencies of the State and local government.

Becoming a "cooperating agency" or "coordinating authority" under a memorandum of agreement is often a method of last resort when federal land managers don't want to work with the local county.

"If federal agencies are doing anything in San Juan County that involves public land, they need to consider San Juan County policy," said Commissioner Lynn Stevens. "By federal law, they cannot ignore us."

Also from Utah...
Wilderness debate: Is Utah at a turning point?
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50125991-76/utah-county-suwa-wilderness.html.csp

McEntee: Making the wildlands debate productive
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50179754-76/debate-mcentee-gas-peg.html.csp
 

WASHINGTON STATE:
Reiter Foothills Update...
Off-road vehicle proposal scrapped for public roads near foothills
Plan to boost tourism near Reiter Foothills instead caused alarm
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100826/NEWS01/708269806&news01ad=1

NEVADA:
Couple spreads word on trails
Residents mobilize off-roaders to send comments to BLM
http://www.havasunews.com/articles/2010/08/27/news/doc4c774d4266c1e303208031.txt

Quote of the day:
Rick Mooneyham thinks the Bureau of Land Management shouldn't have called a recent public meeting an open house.

"It should've been called a closed house because that's what they're doing," Mooneyham said, referring to the Aug. 18 meeting on the Havasu Travel Management Plan and Environmental Assessment. "I thought the  wording was rather ironic. It was about closing the trails we all love  to use, not opening them."

Those interested in contacting the Mooneyhams are asked to send e-mails at rickmooneyham@yahoo.com  or at the Facebook group "Save Havasu OHV access!"

COLORADO:
Is this news???
Environmental groups back Eagle-Summit wilderness proposal
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100826/NEWS/100829869/1078&ParentProfile=1062

District Court judge clears way for lower Burnt Mtn. trail
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/142146

A U.S. District Court judge in Denver has ruled that the U.S. Forest Service acted properly when it approved an Aspen Skiing Co. proposal to build a ski trail on Burnt Mountain East at Snowmass Ski Area.

BLM advisory group against drilling ban in Vermillion Basin
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/blm_advisory_group_against_dri/

OREGON:
I'm not certain how it works in Oregon, but here in Idaho we've been able to leverage Secure Rural School funds for various recreation related projects. It may be worthwhile to volunteer for this panel.

Eugene BLM wants Linn volunteers for panel
http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_eea60304-afb4-11df-bfc6-001cc4c03286.html

Mt. Hood National Forest cuts off-road riding
http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/article_e9f4df83-6394-5e26-aba0-9df685ef0ad6.html

NORTH DAKOTA:
Grasslands plan being revamped
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/article_8d7bd19a-af95-11df-9726-001cc4c002e0.html

The Forest Service says it will bend to pressure and revamp an Environmental Assessment on a controversial plan to close up to 1,400 miles of roads in the Little Missouri National Grasslands in western North Dakota.

The official comment period will close Friday, but the agency announced in a press release Tuesday that it will take additional comments after that because comments so far have "demonstrated a need for additional review of this plan."

MINNESOTA:
Snowmobile association seeks members
http://www.wasecacountynews.com/news.php?viewStory=6187

NEW MEXICO:
Off-roaders stress need for official OHV parks
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Off-roaders-stress-need-for-official-OHV-parks

Close to $1.5 million dollars is sitting in a Trail Safety Fund, raised through increased New Mexico registration fees on dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles and other off-highway vehicles.

The greenbacks cover education, enforcement and 17 other mandates under a 4-year-old New Mexico Off-Highway Vehicle law.

But development of official OHV parks, a mandate Sid Mace, owner of Santa Fe Motorsports, and other off-roaders would like to see some of the money spent on, is still way off.
 

FLORIDA and America's Great Outdoor Initiative Update:
Do I get to say "I told you so" this early? See:
http://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/?section=AGOI

Environmental Groups Call for Expansion of Panther Refuge
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/08/23-7

NAPLES, Fla. - August 23 - When the U.S. Department of the Interior comes to Orlando this Thursday as part of the "America's Great Outdoors" tour, environmental groups will present a request that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service significantly expand the boundaries of the 26,000 acre Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Expansion of the refuge will expedite the protection and recovery of the endangered Florida panther and the many imperiled species which share its Southwest Florida habitat.

Here is the report:
http://www.npca.org/stateoftheparks/grand_canyon/GRCA-report.pdf

MAINE and another America's Great Outdoor Initiative Update!
Maine's New Conservation Proposal
Submitted by George Smith on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 9:15am.
http://www.downeast.com/georges-outdoor-news/2010/august/maine-conservation-washington

ARIZONA:
Too many off-road forest limitations
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2010/08/28/20100828satlets283.html

IDAHO:
Crapo announces first Owyhee land acquisitions
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2010/08/27/news/doc4c77f3864ad00684720085.txt

NEVADA:
Off-road vehicle nuisance riders create problems, county leaders pay us a visit
http://www.rgj.com/article/20100901/DAYTON03/9010315/1042/DAYTON

BLM gives further opportunity to weigh in on off-road trails issue
The public comment period for BLM's Havasu Travel Management Plan and Environmental Assessment has been extended to October 31, 2010.
http://www.parkerliveonline.com/blm-gives-further-opportunity-to-weigh-in-on-off-road-trails-issue/

TENNESSEE:
Editorial: Smokies prepared for national initiative
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/aug/30/smokies-prepared-for-national-initiative/

CALIFORNIA:
HEADS UP RECREATIONISTS!!
Southern CA OHV users may want to keep an close on on this project for potential negative effects on recreational uses.

Draft Environmental Study Issued for 550-MW 'Desert Sunlight' Solar Plant
http://sunpluggers.com/raft-environmental-study-issued-for-550-mw-desert-sunlight-solar-plant-0877

BONUS #1:
We are posting this in the Yamaha Rules the Earth category...
Yamaha GRANTs $50,000 in Q2 for OHV riding
http://www.powersportsbusiness.com/output.cfm?ID=2610595
Powersports Business

BONUS #2:
I know this blurb from Wired Mag's website has been around a while. Apologies if you've seen it.
Very cool...
Astronaut's Eye View: Time-Lapse Videos of Earth
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/09/astronaut-time-lapse-videos/?pid=42&viewall=true