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Recreation Advocate

The OutdoorWire family websites feature news and information affecting outdoor recreation opportunities and access to public lands.

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2 minutes reading time (314 words)

Intense Wildfire and Over Regulation Impact OHV Recreation - Letter to EPA from BRC

Don Amador's Recreation HQ

John Stewart

Wednesday, 18 March 2015

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Closure Order - 2012 Mill Fire

Mendocino National Forest

The Recreation HQ believes it is important for recreationists to understand just how important forest health fuel projects (mechanical treatments such as logging or mastication, prescribed fire, fuel breaks) are as a management tool to help protect recreation facilities (i.e. trail catch basins, rolling dips, staging areas, etc.) from intense uncontrolled wildfires that burn mostly in the summer months.

Many of the same regulatory agencies such as EPA and CA Air Resources Board that govern OHV engine emissions also have regulations that, for the most part, functionally eliminate the use of prescribed fire to address excessive fuel loading on Forest Service, BLM, state, and private lands.

Because forest health projects are so important to both motorized and non-motorized recreation, I accepted an initiation to join FireScape Mendocino almost 3 years ago to try and find common ground with other stakeholders on fuel projects that could help reduce the threat of uncontrolled intense wildfires that often destroy OHV opportunities at areas such as Stonyford on the Mendocino National Forest (2012 Mill Fire) and Hull Creek OHV Area on the Stanislaus (2013 Rim Fire).

Mechanical Treatment

Sierra National Forest

Link to FireScape Mendocino

http://mendocinofirescape.blogspot.com/

That interest in forest health is what prompted BRC to submit a formal comment letter to the EPA on proposed regulations that appear to only further restrict land managers from using prescribed fire as a management tool.

Link to March 16, 2015 BRC Letter to EPA (more pics etc.)

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/EPA_BRC_fire_letter.final.March_16.2015.pdf

It seems that wildfire impacts to recreation and access to forest lands are often overlooked in the debate. I believe it is time to change that dynamic.

If you would like to see another article on fuel breaks (another management tool), you can click on the link below:

Link to QWR Fuel Break Article

http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2014/09/shaded-fuel-breaks-vital-tool-in.html

Please feel free to leave a comment and share your views on this subject.

Thanks for your interest!

Original link

Original author: Don Amador

About the author

John Stewart

Advocating access to public lands carries a responsibility to be part of the solution for managing the public lands. As a strong proponent for participation to make a difference, I am a full time advocate for recreation and the Managing Editor of the OutdoorWire family websites.

4x4Wire.com is dedicated to the four wheel drive recreation featuring technical articles and information to promote, protect, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities. 4x4Voice.com focuses on California issues. MUIRNet.net is focused on environmental, administrative and legislative news and information. OutdoorWire.com is Access and Landuse Central with an overall index to the contents of the family of websites.