----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 22, 2004                                                                               

Use Spectrum

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This topic is a continuation of an earlier editorial titled "Diversity".  If you look through the first pages of Appendix A you will see all of the excuses that the BLM are using to close our trails.  Some are legitimate and were identified in the Record of Decision.  These include riparian areas, protected plants species habitat, vernal pools, and mines. However, some are new ones that the BLM inserted so that, when all the legitimate reasons failed, they would still have an excuse to close a route.  More...

From a quick scan of the Route Designation Record, it appears they used the excuse "17119 - Does NOT contribute to the use spectrum" to eliminate routes in the preferred alternative that are 'OK' in the "Enhanced Recreation Opportunity" alternative.  In other words, the use of this excuse is totally subjective.  There is nothing wrong with these routes except the BLM will not let you use them in Alternative A. What a bunch of crap. Sadly, they use 17119 as an excuse 209 other times to close routes that, in most cases, are otherwise not a problem.

So, what exactly is the OHV Use Spectrum.  Here is what the DEIS says:  Page 2-11 OHV Use/Recreation Spectrum:  Route selection would consider linking visitor desires with recreation opportunities. Nearly all routes have some recreation value. Nevertheless, it is important that the open route network contributes to achieving the CCMA plan’s resource condition objectives. Routes should be selected that provide a wide spectrum of recreation use throughout the CCMA and provide a variety of difficulty levels.  Consideration would be given to the level of recreation interest, providing a diversity of trail types and experiences, and allowing for a variety of recreation activities

This sounds real good until you look at the maps and the routes proposed to be open in the alternatives.  You would think that if a route were used just this year on an enduro that it would contribute to the use spectrum.  You're wrong!  Once again, the BLM did an inventory of routes and when they got close to 270, they stopped and closed everything else.  They apparently did not check current or previous enduro maps, they did not consult with the OHV community on the degree of difficulty of the routes, they just used their made up excuses to designate the routes closed.  And they did this all from the comfort of their office in Hollister.