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BLUERIBBON COALITION AND COLORADO OFF-HIGHWAY
CITIZENS GROUPS CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC
LANDS ACCESS FOR ALL CITIZENS
 Grand
Junction, Colorado June 20, 2006 - The
BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national
trail-based recreational access group, will hold
a press conference and rally today on the steps
of the Federal Building in Grand Junction. BRC
and other citizens groups will express support
for recreational access to the region's public
lands. Two local groups, the Motorcycle Trail
Riding Association (MTRA) and the Western Slope
ATV Association (WSATVA) are to join the press
conference.
"We're here to encourage our political
representatives to keep public lands open for
recreation and to counter the proposals of
radical environmental groups," said Brian
Hawthorne, BRC's Public Lands Director. "The
public lacks an understanding of what Roadless
Areas are and what Wilderness areas do to their
ability to enjoy public lands. One-sided media
coverage of this issue is troubling to our
organizations, and Western Colorado can't take
access and recreation on public lands for
granted.
The groups are concerned that without public
outcry, environmental groups may influence
management plans recently released by the U.S.
Forest Service that close roads and trails,
limit the ability to connect trails to create
recreational loops and allow elderly and
disabled citizens to access areas of the Grand
Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest
Lands. "This problem affects all recreational
uses, not just motorized access," Hawthorne
said. "When Roadless and Wilderness areas are
created, the young and healthy is the only
segment of our society allowed to enjoy these
lands we all pay for."
A poll recently commissioned by the groups
shows an overwhelming support for multiple use
and flexibility in forest management. "Active
management and on-the-ground flexibility are
required to properly manage recreation on Forest
Lands." Hawthorne stressed; "Anti-access groups
and some in the media rarely tell the public
that inventoried "Roadless Areas" have hundreds
of miles of roads, and we have the maps to prove
it." Examples of such maps will be shown at the
press conference.
Hawthorne pointed out that much of Western
Colorado is already off limits to motorized
vehicles and even to mountain bikes. Hawthorne
pointed to the millions of acres of Wilderness,
where mountain bikes and motorized vehicles are
banned, and noted that both BLM and Forest
Service already have set aside hundreds of
thousands of acres exclusively for hiking and
horseback riding.
Steve Gunderson, President of the Motorcycle
Trail Riding Association, pointed out that OHV
users contribute millions of dollars each year
to help maintain trails on Colorado's public
lands via the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle
registration program. "Years ago, vehicle users
essentially taxed themselves in order to provide
land managers funds to maintain our trails."
Gunderson said.
Steve Chapel, President of the Western Slope
ATV Association said he is proud of the
volunteer work OHV clubs do for Colorado
outdoors. "The Western Slope ATV Association has
adopted trails on the Grand Mesa and Uncompahgre
National Forests. We work with the Bureau of
Land Management to maintain trails in the Bangs
Canyon area, and our group was instrumental in
building a staging for the Tabeguache Trail
which is used by all forms of outdoor
recreationists."
Gunderson added this; "Colorado's Western
Slope is home to world-class recreational
opportunities for all forms of outdoor
recreation. Whether you hike, mountain bike,
snowmobile or ride ATVs, this region has much to
offer. We want to make sure Colorado's political
representatives know how important it is to
protect access to our public lands."
Below you will find links to some Mandatory
Reading.
SOME ROADLESS RAMBLINGS
http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine.cfm?story=641
LAND USE FOCUS
http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine.cfm?story=798
WHAT I DID THIS HUNTING SEASON
http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine.cfm?story=739
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