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Illegal Trail Building Must Be Stopped

Sedona Red Rock scenic area

Sedona AZ (June 16, 2012) – In a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor, a reader writes:

“God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools.” — John Muir

I commend the local Forest Service’s actions in attempting to bring a halt to illegal trail building in the National Forest. I encourage the Forest Service to continue to identify and prosecute individuals who believe they can violate foundational environmental laws without consequence. I wholeheartedly support emergency closure to cross country mountain biking in some sensitive areas of the district while decisions on future trails are being considered.

Everyone is entitled to their viewpoint regarding the appropriate use of their public lands. However violating the law is not an option.

I realize I am probably in the minority, but I favor lower impact uses of the Sedona area forests that promote conservation of wildlife and vegetation in a very sensitive high desert environment like ours, where vegetation can take 50 or more years to become established and viable. Having said that, I am not opposed to mountain biking, or any other form of forest recreation, if legally planned and implemented.

The building of new trails in the National Forest requires prior review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) so that all environmental and natural resource impacts are considered, and alternatives are scientifically evaluated. Facts matter when it comes to NEPA, not opinions. The Forest Service has personnel who are trained to conduct these evaluations. To the best of my knowledge, most mountain bikers do not have the training or qualifications to do NEPA assessments.

The Forest Service is required to provide appropriate (in quantity and quality) recreational opportunities for mountain bikers, hikers, equestrians, and all who want to enjoy their forest—while minimizing environmental impacts. However, the massive influx of mountain bikers into the Sedona area in a relatively short period of time represents a change in usage of the Coconino National Forest not anticipated in the current Forest Management Plan.

Creation of additional multi-use trials is not even mentioned in the Plan. This change in forest usage has not been properly planned. Planning means consideration of the future circumstances in advance of the activity, not making it up as you go along.

The Forest Service is now trying to catch up with limited funding and personnel and address this unanticipated issue. I hope they can do it.

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” –John Muir

Signed,
Ron Vernesoni
 

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3 Comments

  1. you mean like the large corporations who ‘buy’ public land without a vote…or put in golf courses…let’s see…about six or seven from flag to phoenix…where does all the water come from?…did you ever stop to think where all o’ the wild critters are going to go when cottonwood, sedona and camp verde merge?…charging to be on or see ‘public lands’…well yeah, guess there’s a lot o’ that there violating goin’ on…playing angels’ advocate…on the other hand…did you know that if you use these lands…you might have some adventures and see some awesome sights simply by following animal trails?…may we all meet in the middle…

  2. Liked this story on Facebook.

  3. Teak Monkey says:

    Maybe you should be more concerned about the impact the off road tours are having on the forests than the mountain bikes and foot traffic, They have destroyed every road and caused massive erosion that did not exist before. not to mention that most of the trails you are referring to were not even built by the self proclaimed mountain bike community. those trails were blazed by cowboys herding their livestock. we used to ride our mini-bike on 90% of the trails that the mountain bike community claims that they built and put in! just saying my piece….

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