goodtimes said:
There are groups here in AZ who oppose holding a route inventory because they are afraid that once the greenies have that, they they will have a list of trails that they just need to find a excuse to close. We don't trust them with the information. I'm sure 90% of *them* would not use the inventory against the OHV user in a manner to close trails that have no reason for being closed...but there is that 10% who, IMO, would likely try....so, because of that 10%, they aren't trusted by everyone. Of course, there is the flip side to that coin.....the OHV users have a certain amout of idiots out there who arent' to be trusted by the eco-nuts as well.....
Hi Goodtimes -
Regarding the quote above, I think it's interesting to note that the so-called greenies you mention ALREADY HAVE 100% inventory of all roads (legal and illegal) on all of the Coronado National Forest and about 45% of BLM lands in southern Arizona - they've had it done for about 3 years.
I know, because I was executive director of one of the groups that did the inventories, under cooperation with the Forest Service and BLM.
And - although the "greenies" have the information (all of it, excellently mapped in GIS with photopoints) - the sky did not fall in for 4x4 enthusiasts.
The reason is simple: the only roads that can be legally closed have to be closed by the land agency or by a group working under contract to the land agency. Legal roads - that is, roads that were planned, mapped, engineered, and built by the land agency - cannot be closed without a HUGE amount of review and input.
The only "roads" that have been closed down here are those that were illegally created by 1) drug runners and illegal immigrants; 2) the Border Patrol chasing #1; and 3) irresponsible ORV or 4x4 owners who drive off roads and then those tracks are followed by the next guy or gal.
The reason many of these roads need to be closed are from a land and wildlife management standpoint. Illegal roads often erode badly, foul up good trout streams, or allow access to areas that are important breeding habitat for deer or bears, which really shy away from roads. Some fabulous quail hunting habitat in Las Cienegas was destroyed by illegal roads - once those were closed, the quail returned and it's great hunting again!
Although I'm guilty of often using epithets to label people, "greenies" or otherwise, it's probably a good idea to realize that some of the so-called "greenies" are people like me and Jonathan who are environmentally rather radical and also love to hunt, explore the backcountry by vehicle AND on foot. It was a good education for me to be head of a conservation group and learn just how damaging it is to make assumptions about people's political or environmental stance just based on what they looked like, what they drive, what they eat, or what political party they belong to.
Roseann, a greenie who also loves great trucks, eats (and shoots) meat, carries a gun, and usually votes Republican