The Forest Service is hosting several open houses to kick off the development of the travel management plan for the Dillon, Wisdom and Wise River Ranger Districts of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.  Forest visitors who travel routes on these Districts are encouraged to attend an open house of their choice to review current route maps and make sure their favorite routes are included.  People are invited to drop-in at any time during open house hours.  All open houses will start at 12 p.m., and will last until 8 p.m.  Below is the schedule<

Image: 

read more

You may have heard about one of our off-road groups "intervening" in a court action.  This is not the same as filing a lawsuit.  Herein we will explain what it means to be an "intervenor" in a court action, and why it is an essential part of our access efforts.

Legal actions can be described as offensive and defensive.  To intervene is a defensive maneuver that can save the day for us, by ensuring we have a seat at the table when recreational decisions are made.

read more

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hold an oversight field hearing entitled "Failed Federal Forest Policies: Endangering Jobs, Forests and Species." The hearing will examine how federal administering of the Northwest Forest Plan and Endangered Species Act has affected local economies, forest health and the Northern Spotted Owl. The hearing is on Monday, May 21, 2012, at 9:00 am at the Cowlitz County Convention Center in Longview, Washington.BRC will have updated info and a report in the coming days and weeks.

Image: 

read more

THIS IS A SPECIAL BRC "PACK THE HOUSE" ALERT  Just a reminder about the Joint Oversight Field Hearing being held on "Logs in the Road: Eliminating Federal Red Tape and Excessive Litigation to Create Healthy Forests, Jobs and Abundant Water and Power Supplies" this coming Monday, May 14, 2012, at 9:00 am at the Montrose Elks Civil Building in Montrose, Colorado. (See previous alert)  Gary Wilkinson of Handlebar Motorsports has been invited to testify, and BRC's own Public Lands guy, Brian Hawthorne, will be there as well.

read more

The Coronado National Forest, located in southeastern Arizona, has announced that the Safford Ranger District will participate in a final public meeting regarding proposed changes to the designated road system on May 16, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Graham County General Services Building, 921 W. Thatcher Blvd. Safford, Arizona. This meeting will be an "Open House" to invite public input for the ongoing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis.

Image: 

read more

Subcommittee to Hold Western Colorado Field Hearing on Restoring Access to Our Public Lands, Water Rights and Federal Mis-management of Forest Lands. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power and the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands are holding a Joint Oversight Field Hearing on "Logs in the Road: Eliminating Federal Red Tape and Excessive Litigation to Create Healthy Forests, Jobs and Abundant Water and Power Supplies" this coming Monday, May 14, 2012, at 9:00 am at the Montrose Elks Civil Building in Montrose, Colorado.

Image: 

read more

The Coronado National Forest, located in southeastern Arizona, is proposing changes to the motorized transportation system on the Santa Catalina Ranger District. The system that is currently in place was originally established according to direction in the Coronado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan; 1986, as amended). The first step in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process is "scoping," during which the public is asked to help identify issues, concerns and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action.

Image: 

read more

Forest Service officials are seeking public comments on a Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California National Forests (the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino).The Proposed Amendment would modify the existing land use zones allocations in selected inventoried roadless areas to include more back country non-motorized and recommended wilderness areas.  An alternate monitoring framework is also proposed.  The full details of the proposed action can be found on the project webpage at

Image: 

read more

In May 2011, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) closed the popular "Big Willow" OHV area in Payette County to protect habitat for Packard's milkvetch. The Packard's milkvetch is a plant that is listed as "candidate species" for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Motorized travel on lands adjacent to these roads and trails was also restricted. The closure affects approximately 7,100 acres northwest of Emmett, Idaho, which the BLM administers.

Image: 

read more

Last week BRC let you about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest supervisor's announcement to withdraw  their travel management plan decision. (See previous alert) The forest has now issued their "Path Forward" document on the Forest's travel plan which lays out what happens now. BRC will continue to work with local groups and individuals and keep you updated as this process continues. Thanks to everyone who has been involved. As always, please call or email if you have any questions or comments.

Image: 

read more