As citizens sound off against forest road closures, Forest Service Trails Coordinator Marty Hornick asks for calls with specifics, and Friends of the Inyo Director Stacy Corless responds to attacks on her organization’s work.
Hornick did confirm that the Forest Service is willing to make adjustments in the current Travel Management Plan of road closures. He said, “We have already begun to look at some things – either mistakes in the document or things that can be fixed readily.” The reconsideration of road closures will cost money, and the Forest Service effort to get a state grant for that purpose did not come through. Hornick still maintained that the Forest is “looking at some places” for changes.
Asked to comment on the angry outpouring against road closures, Hornick said, “One of the sad things is that an awful lot of people are concerned now when we did have seven years of planning and four or five years of intensive public comment. We did a massive outreach,” he said, “and conducted some 50 public hearings.” Hornick said it “saddens” him that people are now saying the Forest Service blasted through or ignored comments.
Hornick said he does want to know about the key places to make improvements. “We need good feedback,” he said. Hornick pointed to Mono Supervisor Vikki Bauer who he said sat down with constituents and held meetings in June Lake. Hornick said, “They were developing specific, key concerns” for us to look at. “We will prioritize these,” said Hornick, “and plan to fix them.” He did say the Forest Service “can not fix every problem.”
Hornick restated that the Forest Service is supervising and working with Friends of the Inyo, which got a $600,000 State OHV grant for road restoration. Critics of the group have accused the Friends of contributing to the lack of access. Director Stacy Corless said, “We believe in stewardship of the land.” She said the current work is all part of that and that there’s “no black helicopter” circling overhead to take over the land. “It’s for the health and enjoyment of the land,” she said.
Corless said the way to deal with things now is to talk to Marty Hornick, go out on the ground and make a case. “That’s the way to have resolution,” she said. Corless said she does have sympathy for people who are “hard-working citizens who don’t have the time to go to meetings. I know their frustration.” She added that it’s “not appropriate to vandalize.” She supports “getting out on the land together, place by place to work together to make things better.”
No one is complaining about other work by the Friends who recently organized 44 volunteers to open Duck Pass, TJ Barrett Trail and other trails in the Lakes Basin. Corless pointed out that the Forest Service has been overwhelmed with the Reds Meadow blowdown of thousands of trees. Their non-profit organization has filled in. “Our mission is caring for Eastern Sierra public lands. We are not anti-OHV,” said Corless.
Encouraged by the Forest Service to help with the road closure plan, the Friends of the Inyo applied for California Parks OHV funds. Corless said one-third of those funds are specifically for restoration work, “to mitigate OHV damage,” she said.
Corless had a message for critics. “We are here now. Please don’t turn anger and frustration into vandalism. Talk to the Forest Service.”
(Marty Hornick, Trails Program Manager for the Inyo National Forest Service, 760-873-2461, [email protected], 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514)
Many people write here as if the Travel Management Plan maps are the final Forest road system and that the TMP is done. It is not done. It is a two part process. What the Forest has done is identify its version of the extent of the existing road system,… Read more »
The Travel Management Plan is a big waste of time and is based on the false assumption that there is a problem. This is simply a federal employment act to keep unelected Federal Cubical Rats employed. Ask yourself this; If these unelected Forest Service Cubical Rats disappeared today, would anybody… Read more »
Good post way forward .. We need to get the groups more organized get more folks involved.
Fortunately Big Albert, there are still plenty of roads for you to cruise on so you are one lucky guy and it sounds like the Inyo
Feds will work with you all to open some areas that they closed.
so gas up that quad and enjoy!
LOL Mr. Pickles .. thank you for that one, we’ll see .. always hope, but it is Allen hehe. gotta laugh sometimes otherwise you go crazy.
I’ve been just about on every dirt road in Inyo and Mono Counties. I’m glad I had the oppertunity before it was all shut down and locked up. Good luck Mammoth Motorcycle Club you’d better get out there and ride while you can. I’m done with this topic whomever hyjacked… Read more »
Rob .. I hear ya .. this horse is about beat to death too .. and so many people ar so worried about whether or not you give your real name or not .. seems like a personal problem .. I could give a rats xss if someone gives their… Read more »
People are using words like “lawbreaker” as a cudgel to advance a fallacy. Here’s the fallacy. Special interest groups make a lot of noise. Something must be done. “Meetings” are mandated to discuss fabricated issues and those conducting the meetings – bureaucrats – lose money and power unless regulation is… Read more »
“We are not anti-OHV,” said Corless.”
Now she’s just out right lying!
Quit your cryin. There are thousands of miles of roads to ride your ohvs. You Just don’t want anyone telling youwhat to do. Grow up and enjoy your National Forests.
And you like someone telling you what to do or you can’t do ..because of personal agendas beyond reason for protecting the forest Mr. Pickles?
Nice way to put it, but I wonder how many would complain if it went the other way?
Susan is right about the public attendance. We need a watch dog group that monitors these NGOS (FOI and MLTPA). This is important because they don’t always work in the general publics interest as we have scene with this Travel Management issue. It does not seem to add up how… Read more »
Yes I agree not left/right, that is what I was saying in earlier posts. They don’t always act in the interest of all users. But in all fairness, they have done a lot of good work otherwise in repairs and protecting some places of concern. But the fact still remains,… Read more »
I have been traveling to the Eastern Sierra since the mid 1970’s. On many occasions I have run in to volunteers from the friends of the Inyo doing trail work which I find quite admirable. I have yet to see any members of the off-road community do anything but complain.… Read more »
Charles .. I know people on the open access side have done work, while it isn’t noticed like FOI work, it is done here and there, and yeah maybe it is time for open access folks to really get more involved, it is isn’t all empty complaining, yeah there are… Read more »
Susan, you are very easily fooled by the USFS. What they did essentially is asked you if you would rather be kicked in the A** or punched in the face. You avoided being punched in the face and you think you got a good deal. In reality, the Forest Service… Read more »
Some good points Susan, the passion is running deep in this issue, and for good reason. It would be nice to see everyone on one page with this but I know how people can be, to many variables, to many agendas, no compromise, disdain for the other side. We see… Read more »
Thank you Susan.
Susan Cash, I applaud you! Thanks for chiming in with a voice of reason, as well as your background knowledge
I feel the need to clear up some misconceptions that are occurring around the subject of Travel Management, and how we find ourselves in the place we are today. Travel Management did not happen in a vacuum, and certainly didn’t happen in the dark. Well, to the extent that many… Read more »
My apologies – the A in CAT was “Alternative” rather than Action. You can imagine, I’m inundated with acronyms, many of them the same across many different subject matters.
Wise counsel Susan and thank you for your efforts to insure Inyo County involvement in the process. As far as compromise goes, yes there was a lot of discussion back and forth on selected roads, but the purposefully crunched time frame did not allow us to come close to dicussing… Read more »
Margy,
If you’re honestly confused, I would suggest re-reading all the comments (start to finish). Doing this might offer you some understanding as to why people are “angry” with the FS and FOI.
Some of the opinions do actually have value, do they not?
MMC you just don’t get it. You club made no significant effort to get folks interested and understanding of your concerns. I remember when the Wilderness bill came through. The FOI and other groups were all prepared. On the other hand the 4wd and MC OHV users were all by… Read more »
FOI is a invironmental extremist group.
People break laws everyday, and they don’t get caught. .
If we can’t prevent the barriers from being put up we’ll tear them down after they are installed. Count on it!
Fed up .. I really like your post .. except for the comment about partying and drinking, that was wrong. I have been wrong with a few comments and I apologize for some things, but stand on others. You’re right, if we can get people together and get them involved,… Read more »
Hi Fed Up, our club is fairly new, sorry that you feel snubbed by OHV. I’m sure FOI and related groups were prepared for the wilderness bill. Local mountain biking was also prepared and got a few consolation prizes but ultimately lost out big time. Our beef is the closure… Read more »
Fed up, some good point there… Thanks for comment. especially about the drinking and partying! It’s not entirely my fault though, and I feel that some of our members should also be held accountable for this tool! These “members” (mostly mammoth lakes greasball types) show up to our monthly meetings…… Read more »
I hear ya MMC .. those 10 percenter types, and I don’t mean to harp on that … 10 percenter label, but man .. it is so true. It’s that sort of junk that has gotten us where we are in this issue. Paul McFarland made the comment that people… Read more »
MMC (whoever you are???), I have read all the comments. The part that I am confused about is, why isn’t the anger directed at the folks representing the off-road community in the CAT negotiations…the many off-road folks who signed the proposal which was adopted by the FS — see: http://www.access-advocates.org/PDF/CAT_Proposal.pdf… Read more »
giving FOI and OHV grant is like giving the fox the keys to the hen house
What next a grant from the cattlemens asc.
I know FOI is passionately against cattle grazing on public land too.
I don’t think we should redirect anger at any group or individuals Margy. These people who you are refering too really had n choice to sign, they pretty much had to sign it, to insure nothing could be changed at a later time. While they were not satisfied with it,… Read more »
I am confused as to why the anger is directed at FOI and the FS??? The motorized community was well-represented in the CAT negotiations, which generated the proposal used by the FS to determine which roads/routes are part of the system. To name a few of the motorized community participants… Read more »
Margy- First, it was not a democratic outcome. The forest Supervisor at the time decided what he thought was best for everyone else. Second, the maps at the end of the long period of so-called collaboration and input are very different than the current maps at the visitor center. Nobody… Read more »
Mr. Barton, I can not speak to the maps. That is an issue on its own. But, your statement that it was not a democratic process because he “decided what he thought was best for everyone else” implies that since you didn’t get your way, you are going to call… Read more »
If one reads the travel plan the forest supervisor comes right out and states “I have choosen Alternative 4”. To say this implies I didn’t “get my way” is too wide of a leap in logic. Understanding that compromise is a two way street, it would be appropriate for all… Read more »
John, First, thanks so much for keeping the tone civil! I really appreciate that. Now as far as being a democratic outcome, I believe it was about as democratic an outcome as anyone could hope for working with a big bureaucracy. A diverse constituency — in which off-roaders were extremely… Read more »
Hisierragal, I’m thinking we should convert your Prius into a 4wd so you can experience what many here are talking about. What’s basically being said is that FOI and the FS should have taken more time and done a better job of explaining the reasons for the closures if even… Read more »
Bachar Boulder road closure Each year my wife and children and I make many trips to the eastern sierras with my family to climb. ‘Bachar Boulders’ is one of our favorite spots to go bouldering after a cool swim at June lake. I park my car in the shady areas… Read more »
the same ol’, same ol’ – I can’t drive or park my motor vehicle where I want to so I am going to go out and tear up the barricades and carry a gun and slander and threaten people to quote Mick Jagger: “You can’t always get what you want”… Read more »
Nice post hisieragrl … way to be generalizing in your way of thinking. But you never answered my question, were you there opening day of deer season last year to see what I saw? I love how your comments like this one shows a lot of hate and contempt on… Read more »
That’s funny…one of my neighbors went climbing at the Bachar Boulders yesterday. I asked him how he got there, as it was my understanding from this forum that the road had been closed. He replied: “there are lots of ways to get there.” Therein lies part of the problem…lots of… Read more »
So if everyone going to Bachar has to take the same route I’d expect that route to have errosion problems due to the traffic. It’s actually a good thing there’s multiple routes to the same destination.
Boycott the business that support FOI, start with the ones mentioned on their website.
Margy- Yes, redundant new roads should be closed. Roads that went through wet meadows should be closed or re-routed. Roads that have been known to exist for decades should NOT have been closed. This is the crux of the problem.
Not all redundant roads should be closed.
Having redundant roads allows for a 2nd way out in the event of brush fire. If that’s not the case it’s time to close either 203 or the scenic loop.
That is a good point Rob, some redundent roads offer escape routs for certain situations, some others, might have something different to see.
The Forest Service does what it wants to do. Remember the Whitney Trail toilet decision, look at that and the public comments. The public lost that one also.
Hey Look, The FOI is seeking an new Executive Director. Any one intrested? Please submit a cover letter, resume, professional writing sample (grant proposal or report, newsletter, website, etc.) and contact information for at least three professional references as .pdf documents to the Friends of the Inyo Executive Search Committee… Read more »
The OHV users will drive on and over anything they can find until it is nothing but trails of ruts. Those complaining here seem to ignore that this is public land, and that does not mean just those living in the Owens Valley. It also includes the users from another… Read more »
David Underwood, Lots of sweeping generalizations there… But that’s ok. You’ve got a wonderful imagination too – I can appreciate it. I think we all know that there was lots of “public input,” that’s undeniable. We also know that the FS used public input to make some good decisions (also… Read more »
MMMC .. I think, that if they are going to let out a project of this sort, they need to have the whole end users involved in the work, I’m glad to have heard that in your post, not just one group. This could happen, I feel representatives of all… Read more »
There are more than enough ORV roads and trails for everyone. These lands belong to all the people not just the motorheads. The constant destruction of these lands must cease, we have lost millions of acres of these lands to those who would continue to destroy them until they are… Read more »
Greg, I personally commented on some of these closures, I know you did, and I know of several .. several locals who commented on closures. So how is it, that the Forest Service can tell us we did not comment … no sympathy … sorry .. It is because, as… Read more »
Greg, it is hard to believe that you signed the Travel Management Plan document based on your comments above. But YOU did!
For the record, what choice did we/they have? If open access folks did not sign it, it only left it open for future changes to be made. If no signatures were made, closed access proponents could say .. well there is no evidence of opposition to the plane, it must… Read more »
Hey there Greg and other posters – My crews have treated no one rudely. This really isn’t getting anyone anywhere. Threats to my crews and others should be tolerated by no one who believes in democracy. If you can’t speak or work without threats then democracy can’t work. We can… Read more »
Mr. McFarland, how much are you personally being paid to close roads? How much is a typical crew member being paid? What percentage of the crew are FOI members? Where was the job announcement posted?
Mr. Truth Seeker, your questions are a distraction from the subject being discussed. They are irrelevant. I feel sorry for someone with a personal vendetta.
McFarland’s pay is a fair question. If they’re out there blocking roads on their own time they would obviously feel very strong about what they are doing, and I think they do. If they’re paying themselves I’d bet they’re taking advantage of the oppertunity. . So tell us where the… Read more »
I agree a swell .. it is a relevant question for the record. For the record, we would like to know, I think we have a right to know. I think, that people in a position in an organization such as Friend of the Inyo, should not receive pay for… Read more »
Thank you for that post Paul.
Greg, Thanks for your post. Unfortunately, you don’t know what your crews are doing unless you are with them. The many photographs documenting the covered trails, misdirected arrows, and the personal testimony of more than a few people regarding the treatment they received from people who they thought were FOU… Read more »
Yes I agree Rob. What is being lost is choice for those of us who use the forest with care, because some idiots don’t know how to act.
And, road closures were not done in a responsible manner in some cases.
Let me tell you I am not a dealer. I have a 4wd. I visit the back-country roads on occasion. I tread lightly. My 4WD goes slow but get’s there . It is really disgusting to find that roads I used to travel are closed for not GOOD reason. I… Read more »
I’m assuming that FOI is an organization that can’t discriminate against anyone who wants to join them. The posters here and all of their friends and people who think like them should just join this organization and change how it spends its grant money. A fifth column voting block of… Read more »
Yes John, some of that going on here .. we just need to get it out where the rubber meets the gravel. hehe
I drive over 300 miles to come to this community over 10 times a year for 10 years. Every time I come up more and more roads are closed to riding my bike, hiking or running/walking your trails!!!!! What is going on up there. I am getting the Impression you… Read more »
green queen…..There are NO closures as far as walking,hiking,or riding a mountain bike….all that is allowed on ALL public land..closures are meant for motorized vehicles…Sometimes,people try to “spin” it that way…making it look like the Government is “not allowing” people on public land…that’s NOT the way it really is…As far… Read more »
Wayne, enjoy the following article on closed camping areas as a direct result of TM. Notice the pictures in the article – are non-motorized users really being considered? It might come as a surprise to you, some motorized users actually do other activities as well. These are “all inclusive.” http://www.mammothmc.com/news/closedroadsandclosedcamping… Read more »
good Post MMMC
“they get to an area on a road…and then they tear everything up around the area…” this is exactly what FOI did where they placed the barricades Mr. Monroe was speaking of. I am assuming it was FOI who cut living sage brush and dug up live plants to use… Read more »
Wayne .. you better read up on the definition of bikes as to whether or not they are considered natural or mechanical. They are motorized in the eyes of the government and greenies.
Elected officials? Since when is the Forest Service (or FOI, for that matter) elected?
Well GQ .. it’s their agenda .. they hold all of the cards .. when they shove it down other people’s throats, it’s amazing, that with all of the people you talk to around here, and a fair amount of those who come to visit .. are not for these… Read more »
It’s not an easy problem. OHV of any kind do degrade the environment even when using old, established roads. They disturb wildlife, destroy plants, create erosion, pollute. The Owens Valley and Easter Sierra do depend on hoards of tourists to sustain the local economy. All those people come up here… Read more »
Ken, in the eyes of the friends of Inyo, you are a carbon producing human who disturbs wildlife, destroy plants, create erosion, pollute exept the people who run these NGOs and foundations. As the economy collapses and gas prices rise. Less and less people will be driving on these roads.… Read more »
Here’s one vote for responsible Off-Highway Vehicle use on OUR public lands. Guess that ought to include fuel-efficiency and emissions standards, noise-level certifications and operator age restrictions, responsible guidelines that the rest of us obey on our public highway system.
I read through the 200 or so public comments documented in the EIR, it looks to me that nearly every public comment on record was against any road closures. Seems the OHV advocates did participate and make their voices heard, but the USFS ignored them.
You’re right Numbers.
You know Big Al and others against these closure as I am, we are all focused on being heard at the many meetings but we have to remember that there isn’t anything written that says they have to listen or do as we ask. We’re so focussed on the process… Read more »
You’re right SierraFan.
Al Capone was loved in the streets of Chicago for opening up soup kitchens. The volunteer good deeds done by FOI in the back country does not overcome the $600,000.00 they are being paid to close roads that their friends and neighbors use in the front country. It is despicable… Read more »
Why hasn’t MMMC or anyone else filed a lawsuit? If the comments were overwhelmingly against closures and those comments were ignored, that is a solid basis for an effective lawsuit. Stop letting the local greenies win, go to a judge.
Numbers; There you go confusing the USFS and FOI with the actual facts! It was a rigged game from the start. The meetings were political theater to make locals think they had a say and a cover so they say to people that they should have showed up for the… Read more »
The power of conservative guru Rush Limbaugh knows no limits and his influence has found its way onto this format. The obese, OxyContin-inspired talk-radio champion hates the environmentalists aka “greenies” aka “environmental wackos” almost as much as he hates “liberals” (aka Democrats). And when hardpressed, his loyal, angst-ridden legions will… Read more »
Can’t speak for others, but you certainly won me over with the your reasoned nuanced argument which explained that I may be a “loyal, angst-ridden legion” who “keeps the hatred flowing” and am a “grizzled, dangerous, tea-party, and anti-authority freak”. Dude, you totally won me over with your objective and… Read more »
Note how Tourbillon never mentions the source of the hatred in America today – Limbaughism (nobody ever listens to Limbaugh, right?) He begs to be “won over.” Nobody ever said the tea party people were a secure and peace-loving lot. Don’t you wish these fanatics would find a hungry family… Read more »
Limbaughism is so passe. Why are you so concerned about a drooling tool like him? From what you have posted it sounds like you actually listen to him. I am a self confessed “greenie” / liberal that is awake to the corruption going on with the green movement. I find… Read more »
The right/left paradigm certainly is an issue …
in every facet of America today.
The far left is just as corrupt as the far right. Both can do just as much harm. The anti rightest campaign resulted in millions of deaths under the Mao regime. Both sides can be brainwashed and played off on each other. It is ok to fight for your constitutional… Read more »
Tourbillon,
Don’t you have a tea party meeting to go to?
Limbaughism strikes again,
And so has Al Sharpton!
Are you saying Al Sharpton has a following that listens to polarization 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, and reruns on weekends? Please think before you post, SierraFan. You are sounding like Limbaugh. (psst) (in a whisper) Don’t anyone tell SierraFan what just happened in the Supreme Court… Read more »
A Happy American, Are you sure? Happy?? My post was to our Limbaugh hating friend! He’s a hater for anything right and seems to demonize the same. Most of us are actually “Happy American’s” here as a whole but he likes to place all conservatives as Rush followers which is… Read more »
I think .. there should be an audit … as to where exactly all of the $600,00.00 went in all of this? I’m sure some of it could be accounted for, for some of the really nice camp outs FOI members went on … camping at locations that they closed… Read more »
Big Al,
I understand your request for accountability of funds, but much of what you have written is total speculation. You have no evidence of what FOI did or didn’t do with the grant money. Why not just pose questions instead of making assumptions.
BK
Bennett
I suggest you not post comments not “signed” with the persons full and true name!
Sydney, in case your new here, Benett hasn’t a clue how to effectively administer a public forum like this. It’s basically hands-off, unless someone is slamming her reporting. Note to Ms Kessler: take the time to actually set some ground rules and take control of this site — it’s sinking… Read more »
Jason,
I disagree. Welcome to blogging. You’re always free to go somewhere else.
Benett Kessler
Thank you Bennet for letting the public speak their minds with out heavy censorship. Censored Internet. Thank you Bennet for allowing the public freedom of speech. Your generosity with allowing the public to post their thoughts is much respected. The Internet is slowly being censored each passing week. People like… Read more »
In the absence of incisive reporting, assumptions will be made.
I don’t see why benett is so sensitive on this issue. Make me wonder her relationship with FOI.
Discovering the truth often starts with a little speculation. .
Rob, Not sure what you mean about “sensitive”. No more sensitivity here than on any other high profile
public issue.
Benett
“The day before opening day, they were harassing deer to get them moving and all nervous for opening day. I even talked to a hunter who was harassed by some of the members opening day. who is “they” and what kind of proof do you have for your allegations because… Read more »
I saw them camping at Coyote lake, no idea how long before season opener, that they were there, but they were there the morning of the opener. What I saw I know for fact. Now if you want to say I did not see what I saw hisierragrl, well that… Read more »
Hey Big Al, How about you learn yourself a little grant writing instead of “speculating” in a libelous manner? Administrators – usually already a part of an organization, being paid food and fuel for participants – I have worked on more than one grant funded project – received a “stipend”… Read more »
well ya learned me some on that there grant writing and all thank you very much .. You are right I did not know a whole lot about it, but you enlightened me, and that is what I was asking. It wasn’t speculating in a libelous manner .. I was… Read more »
The legislation that created the OHV program requires that a certain percentage of the grant funds go for conservation/protection/repair purposes. Please check the enabling legislation for the exact %. It’s in the interest of all of us to ride responsibly, to have access not excess. The vast majority of rider… Read more »
Thank you Mike for that post ,, as I said .. I don’t mean to attack anyone that is doing right, I know there are those who care, but there are those who pretend to care and use situations such as this to further their own agendas. This happens on… Read more »
Here is a trick that will screw up the Forest Service and Inyo GreenPeace commies but good. File a Mining Claim for $100 bucks a year at various locations in areas you want to access. It is illegal for the BLM or Forest Service to block your access to ANY… Read more »
the pro greenies sure can spin it. sure they had open meetings for ” public input” but a majority of people just dont go for any number of reasons and these conservation groups know this and use it to their advantage instead of finding a way to get real data… Read more »
Here is how they do it. They have public meetings on days when people work or far from the affected areas. What they will never do is post on the internet a map of the roads that they propose to close so people can study it and respond in writing,… Read more »
Yes truth seeker .. they have played the game well .. I think .. if we can harness all of this energy we are seeing here in opposition to this plan .. we can turn the tables on them .. right now I see a good awakening with people, in… Read more »
the maps were on the internet and were available for viewing at your convenience at the FS office as well, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt that you are not aware of this fact in spite of it being in print over and over and over again but you… Read more »
Where are the maps now? The “new” maps at the visitors office are very different than the ones on the walls during the comment period up to the end! Let’s see both be made available and then we’ll see if the word “dishonest” still applies!
They refuse to release copies of the maps to the citizens who pid for them. They refuse to post a digital version on their website. They refuse to post all the comments regarding the closures. With hundreds of road closures, people need to have maps with them. Having a very… Read more »
I never claimed ignorance, but you must have. We all see how the process works, however you see it, we see it as it is, you can try to sugar coat it if you like hisierragrl, and what are you sorry about .. your voicing your opinion.
I attended a couple of meetings in the evening – I guess you did not go at all –
So you attended a couple meetings hisierragrl .. and can say for fact, that people did not attend the other meetings that .. you did not attend?
Dear TS, I can sympathize with all your frustration about public process. A similar situation is true of the Adventure Trail which happens to go down my road. Meetings were not well publicized. Many wrote concerns addressing the Mitigated Negative Declaration which were totally ignored by Inyo County claiming there… Read more »
Mr. Truth Seeker – you have just demonstrated that you have been asleep for the past few years. Your ignorance of the Travel Management process is astounding and actually frightening.
Or perhaps misinformation is your tactic?
What part did I get wrong? The Travel Management Plan is in fact a Road Closure Plan. The 600K grant that FOI applied for and received at the behest of the USFS was to close roads. Nothing else. The outcome was predestined by the USFS and anybody who attended the… Read more »
The FOI and local off-road community had many local meetings in Bishop and came up with the plan that the Forest Service adopted. Go ask thetrail users in Bishop.
All that time and grant money to put sticks across dirt roads? What a joke. What did you really do with the grant money?
It would be interesting to see how much of the grant FOI is taking for “Adminstrative Costs” . 15% to 20% is the usual range. That would be Stacy’s salary most likely.
Yes Truth Seeker, that was what I was getting at .. or was it speculating .. or was it folly?
We have seen how other organizations .. some humanitarian orgs. that have their administration members paid exorbitant amounts of money.
Using OHV grant money to close OHV areas for the alleged “health and enjoyment of the land” according to FOI’s interpretation of “enjoyment of the land” (non-OHV use) is obscene. The OHV grant money is for promoting OHV access and use – NOT eliminating it.
One way to fight back is to contact the grant issuers and let them know you will vote against them for this. Contact your local state and federal representatives. Write letters. It does work. FS and FOI – You need to stop closing roads to vehicles. Period. And regarding the… Read more »
Oh Lord, what the heck? What is this, the FOI and FS vs. us country-dwellers? Take a long hard look; it’s not just motorized users you people are pissing off. This entire thing in unconstitutional to the core. You know it, I know it. “…Hornick said, “One of the sad… Read more »
Good post jerry
We must realise that NGO and foundations like the friends of Inyo, MLTPA and the thousands of others are heavily funded from grants. They only get their grants if they go with the big agenda created by ‘green bureaucrats’who could care less about your local economy and only look at… Read more »
who are these “green bureaucrats” I keep hearing about?
Nice try Stacy. You did not answer one of the submitted questions. If your organization is all about honesty and truth, please answer all the submitted questions here and post them on your web site as well. The ball is in your court if you have nothing to hide. The… Read more »
Friends and I helped form Friends of the Inyo in the 1980’s as the Inyo NF Management Plan was being redone. We’re still here in 2012 ready to work on projects that foster the health and sustainability of the public lands here in the Eastern Sierra. All of us are… Read more »
So what Mr. Prather is showing is that it is entirely possible for a parasite to grow a host.
Tactics revealed. Derision may be all you have to go on, eh?
hsg, I had ta give you a thumbs up for word usage. Very good. However this is not a new game as alluded to and obviously known to many of the posters, as well as those concerned. These groups start as little “yes” groupies. As they gain trust and prominence… Read more »
Mike- Anyone can visit the FOI website and see what is being done. You have failed to address the concerns many citizens have brought up here about this SPECIFIC issue. Your website mentions part of the mission of FOI is “preservation”. Preservation should apply to wilderness areas. I would like… Read more »
Great work by FOI which they talk about on their web site as well as show pictures.. They should be proud of this work. Why don’t the mention taking 600K from the Forest Service to close roads that local people have used for decades? Where are the pictures on the… Read more »
Thanks for the Facebook link to this, Mike. It’s amazing that people could be so hostile to a volunteer group that is trying to make the forest a better, healthier system for everyone’s benefit.
NewDay, I could be wrong, but I think the people on here are concerned (angry) about access to public lands (or loss thereof), and the “groups” that are involved with making it into a business. Lets try to stick to the facts. But I am glad the whole Facebook thing… Read more »
What the heck! You Friends got 600K bucks from the State in a grant from the OHV funds to Restore roads and you are using it to restore the Forest. YOO people need an Audit. Your Free ride is OVER MS Corless. OVER. Will someone post this Grant Award. If… Read more »
It’s just amazing that they’re using OHV funds to close roads.
WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK!