[pct-l] 2 million acres in California at stake for recreation

[marmot marmot]

Sierra Trails is not the Sierra Club.That is exactly why I did not respond to this request without finding out more. Add mtn. bikers to the list with clear cutters, miners,cattle ranchers and dirt bikers. If designation deals with invasive species(human or animal or plant) I'm all for it. I will gladly take a longer route or road walk around some fragile habitat.I'm fine with fishing being banned if that brings back the normal fauna(disclosure: I'm vegetarian)Since, from what I have observed, most commercial enterprises have almost zero presence in the wilderness,.I do not believe this will impact jobs.Those are concentrated around specific towns and resorts.Tourists/Motorhomers look at the mountains from no more than a few feet from their vehicles .They have or will stop most of the mtn. destroying mining practices in the high country.I hope. I don't think having these places designated will require the hiking to stop. We walk through Boulder Oaks--just can't camp there during frog breeding season. What we call a lot of hikers is only in comparision to what it used to be.  It has been quite pleasant to re-hike this trail --this time without having to avoid as many cow pies and destroyed water sources.Marmot
> Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:28:03 -0700
> From: David_Harris at hmc.edu
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] 2 million acres in California at stake for recreation
> 
> Something smells fishy (or froggy?) here. Before hikers mobilize to write
> to the Forest Service, some more information would be worthwhile.
> 
> I can't tell who Sierra Trails really represents.  Their web site mentions
> "arsenal of equipment, for working on motorized trails, mulit-use trails
> and accessible pathways"
> 
> For all I know, they may be at least as concerned about ATV trails as hiker
> trails, and they may be fearful of regulations that could restrict dirt
> bikes in sensitive riparian areas.
> 
> Designating a million acres of critical habitat for endangered amphibians
> doesn't mean that the million acres of forest will be closed to hikers, but
> it should mean that the forest is closed to abusive practices that threaten
> the endangered species.  There is more information at
> 
> http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wildlife/tes/docs/esa_references/critical_habitat.pdf
> 
> I'd hate to have hikers band together to protest critical habitat
> designation for endangered species and later learn that we're stooges for
> the clear cutters, cattle ranchers, and dirt bikers.
> 
> David
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