radair
October 20th, 2003, 09:55 PM
Your help is needed to protect the NORTH FRUITA DESERT
On September 29th, the Bureau of Land Management released a management plan for the North Fruita Desert, the area around what is known to recreationists as the “18 Road area”.
THE FUTURE OF NON-MOTORIZED RECREATION IN FRUITA IS BEING THREATENED!
The North Fruita Plan is bad! Here’s why:
1.The North Fruita Desert Plan opens up over 90% of the North Fruita area to motorized use, leaving only about 10% set aside for non-motorized recreation and conservation.
2. All of the washes and drainages in the North Fruita planning area are open to motorized use, which means that parts of the non-motorized area are actually OPEN to motorized use.
3. Several of the alternatives feature a motorized trail that runs directly through proposed Hunter Canyon Wilderness.
4. The plan promotes the construction of a motorized loop system in the desert, which will essentially makes the N. Fruita desert a destination area for motor vehicles
5. The plan recognizes that the North Fruita desert is home to threatened species and is critical wintering area for deer, but includes little protections for them.
6. The plan allows for shooting anywhere in the resource area, not designated to specific areas
This means quality opportunities for biking, hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing in N Fruita could be lost.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The Bureau of Land Management NEEDS to hear that citizens are not happy with the North Fruita Plan. You can-
1. Attend the public meeting about the North Fruita Plan in Grand
Junction, on Oct 23rd and voice your concerns.
2. Write a letter to the Bureau of Land Management about the plan.
3. Call your local BLM representative.
4. Send an email to your BLM representative.
TALKING POINTS FOR PUBLIC MEETING, LETTERS and EMAIL MESSAGES:
-Use the points listed on the front side of this alert for reasons why you are not happy with the North Fruita Desert plan
-Tell them why the North Fruita Desert is important to you, experiences you have had there etc. This is really important and helps for credibility!!!
-Ask for a plan that:
1. Keeps motorized use on designated trails, out of washes and drainages, and out of the non-motorized area.
2. Keeps all motorized use out of proposed Hunter Canyon Wilderness.
3. Prioritizes protection of the area’s natural values and resources.
4. Includes designated shooting areas for the safety of everyone using the N Fruita Desert.
5. Provides for a fair balance of local recreational needs and does not seek to turn North Fruita into a National motorized playground.
NORTH FRUITA PUBLIC MEETING:
Thursday, Oct 23 at 6pm
Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Please attend, and have your talking points ready for the public comment period.
LETTERS must be submitted by Nov 7th!!
Send letters to:
Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Please also send a copy to:
James Cooper
Bureau of Land Management
Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Clare Bastable
Colorado Mountain Club
Grand Junction Field Office
1000 N 9th St #29
Grand Junction, CO 81506
EMAILS must be submitted by Nov 7th!! (They give more weight to actual letters than they do to emails, so if you can write a letter, that would really help. If not, at least send an email!)
Send email messages to: james_cooper@co.blm.gov
Please also send a copy to: bastac@cmc.org
On September 29th, the Bureau of Land Management released a management plan for the North Fruita Desert, the area around what is known to recreationists as the “18 Road area”.
THE FUTURE OF NON-MOTORIZED RECREATION IN FRUITA IS BEING THREATENED!
The North Fruita Plan is bad! Here’s why:
1.The North Fruita Desert Plan opens up over 90% of the North Fruita area to motorized use, leaving only about 10% set aside for non-motorized recreation and conservation.
2. All of the washes and drainages in the North Fruita planning area are open to motorized use, which means that parts of the non-motorized area are actually OPEN to motorized use.
3. Several of the alternatives feature a motorized trail that runs directly through proposed Hunter Canyon Wilderness.
4. The plan promotes the construction of a motorized loop system in the desert, which will essentially makes the N. Fruita desert a destination area for motor vehicles
5. The plan recognizes that the North Fruita desert is home to threatened species and is critical wintering area for deer, but includes little protections for them.
6. The plan allows for shooting anywhere in the resource area, not designated to specific areas
This means quality opportunities for biking, hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing in N Fruita could be lost.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The Bureau of Land Management NEEDS to hear that citizens are not happy with the North Fruita Plan. You can-
1. Attend the public meeting about the North Fruita Plan in Grand
Junction, on Oct 23rd and voice your concerns.
2. Write a letter to the Bureau of Land Management about the plan.
3. Call your local BLM representative.
4. Send an email to your BLM representative.
TALKING POINTS FOR PUBLIC MEETING, LETTERS and EMAIL MESSAGES:
-Use the points listed on the front side of this alert for reasons why you are not happy with the North Fruita Desert plan
-Tell them why the North Fruita Desert is important to you, experiences you have had there etc. This is really important and helps for credibility!!!
-Ask for a plan that:
1. Keeps motorized use on designated trails, out of washes and drainages, and out of the non-motorized area.
2. Keeps all motorized use out of proposed Hunter Canyon Wilderness.
3. Prioritizes protection of the area’s natural values and resources.
4. Includes designated shooting areas for the safety of everyone using the N Fruita Desert.
5. Provides for a fair balance of local recreational needs and does not seek to turn North Fruita into a National motorized playground.
NORTH FRUITA PUBLIC MEETING:
Thursday, Oct 23 at 6pm
Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Please attend, and have your talking points ready for the public comment period.
LETTERS must be submitted by Nov 7th!!
Send letters to:
Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Please also send a copy to:
James Cooper
Bureau of Land Management
Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Clare Bastable
Colorado Mountain Club
Grand Junction Field Office
1000 N 9th St #29
Grand Junction, CO 81506
EMAILS must be submitted by Nov 7th!! (They give more weight to actual letters than they do to emails, so if you can write a letter, that would really help. If not, at least send an email!)
Send email messages to: james_cooper@co.blm.gov
Please also send a copy to: bastac@cmc.org