Collaboration with Counties
ROC is currently working with the following counties to request they authorize motorized mixed use on unpaved county roads that access national forest lands. Many of these roads have long been used by OHV riders. Unpaved county roads are often the primary corridors into and through the national forests and link to the FS road system. ROC encourages the different road management agencies to integrate their travel plans and provide an interconnected road system where mixed use is permitted. This will result in less confusion about where the public can ride, greater safety, and fewer law enforcement problems. The attached briefing paper was given to the County Boards to review prior to designating motorized mixed use on their unpaved roads.
County_brief_final_7_14_08 (13 kb)
On December 10, Shasta County Supervisor Les Baugh and ROC hosted a roundtable meeting with several county supervisors and staff, other elected officials or their staff, and OHV organizations in the north State. A representative from the State Off-highway Motor Vehicle Division also attended. This meeting was held in Redding. Goals of this meeting included the following:
- Review of Forest Service Travel Management policies and history.
- Discuss Forest Service travel management proposals and impacts.
- Identify and discuss potential approaches and next steps for having greater collaboration in the Forest Service travel management planning process
Thirteen counties attended the meeting or called in on the teleconference phone. Afterwards, nine meeting participants signed a letter to Regional Forester Randy Moore suggesting some steps to alleviate their concerns with the Forest Service travel management planning process. All the documents from this meeting are attached under December 10, 2008 County Roundtable Meeting.
December 10, 2008 County Roundtable Meeeting
ROC_travel_mgt_proven_principles (10 kb)
ROC_travel_mgt_situation_analysis_brief_final_11 18_08 (47 kb)
Cooperating Agencies Memorandum 1 30 02 (23 kb)
Cooperating Agency Memo Factors 1 30 02 (21 kb)
ROC_Travel_Mgt_Rule_overview_12_10_08 (6 mb)
Forest_TMP_schedule_12_8_08 (11 kb)
Designated Rtes Pyramid w-dates-7-11-03 (19 kb)
ROC_county_mtg_concerns_final_12_10_08 (2.87 mb)
Shasta County Letter - 12-10-08 (504 kb)
Butte County
ROC met with Butte County Board of Supervisors on September 9, 2008. The Board overwhelmingly agreed to designate many unpaved county roads for mixed use and supported ROC’s request that they write to Region 5 informing them of their intentions and requesting the Forest Service do the same with the unpaved roads in the Plumas and Lassen National Forests. They are currently working on the list of roads to be designated and it will come back before the Board on November 18th.
Lassen County
ROC met with the Lassen County Board of Supervisors on August 19, 2008. The Board overwhelmingly agreed to designate many of their unpaved roads for mixed use and supported ROC’s request that they write to Region 5 informing them of their intentions and requesting the Forest Service do the same with the unpaved roads in the Lassen National Forest. This letter was signed and sent out on September 9th.
They are still identifying the unpaved roads to be designated, but have the process nearly completed.
Lassen_Co_CHP_Farrow_ltr_9_9_08 (39 kb)
Lassen_Co_RF_ltr_final_9_9_08 (45 kb)
Modoc County
ROC has had numerous telephone conversations with Board member Pat Cantrall, who has assured us that her county will support ROC’s requests. Our requests were to be considered by their Board in November, but ROC suggested they wait until after the counties round table meeting in December.
Nevada County
ROC attended a Nevada County Board of Supervisor meeting on November 4, 2008, but did not propose anything at this meeting. ROC did speak to the Board chair after the meeting and explained what we were doing and invited him to the counties round table meeting in December. Chairman Owens said he definitely would be there as their county understood the need for managed OHV recreation and supported the concept.
Plumas County
ROC met with the Plumas Board of Supervisors on October 14, 2008. The Board overwhelmingly agreed to designate many unpaved county roads for mixed use and supported ROC’s request that they write to Region 5 informing them of their intentions and requesting the Forest Service do the same with the unpaved roads in the Plumas and Lassen National Forests. They are currently working on the list of roads to be designated.
Shasta County
ROC, several OHV clubs, Assemblyman LaMalfa and Congressman Herger’s aides, the County CEO, one County Supervisor, County Road and Planning Department heads, and the California Highway Patrol met at Supervisor’s chambers and discussed ROC’s request on September 16, 2008. The Planning Department stated: “We are here to serve the people and, therefore, our roads will be open for OHV use". At the Board of Supervisor’s meeting on October 21st, the supervisors overwhelmingly approved signing the letter to Region 5.
Shasta_co_Baugh_STNF_letter_9_19_08 (78 kb)
Shasta_Co_Matheson_Rd_resolution_6_3_2008 (112 kb)
Sierra County
ROC has spoken to Supervisor Gutzman on several occasions, but no official contact has been made. They are invited to the counties round table meeting and will be informed of what we are about and that we would like their support on this issue. Sierra County did write a letter to the Tahoe Forest in support of OHV recreation.
Siskiyou County
ROC met with the Siskiyou Board of Supervisors on September 2, 2008. They overwhelmingly agreed to support ROC’s request, but have not completed the paperwork at this time. They asked the local quad club to submit a list of unpaved county roads for the county to look at for designation for OHV use.
Tehama County
ROC met with two Tehama County Supervisors and head of the Planning Department on Monday, October 20, 2008 to present our issues. We were advised that they would take our request into consideration and get back to us. ROC met with the County Public Works Department on December 15, 2008. The Director stated he was going to call for a meeting and invite Lassen National Forest staff to discuss designating unpaved county roads for mixed use.
Trinity County
ROC met with two members of the Trinity County Board of Supervisors, Road and Planning Department heads, County CEO, and CHP to present ROC’s proposal to have county designate their unpaved roads and write letter to Region 5 letting them know of their intentions and requesting the Forest Service do the same. They assured ROC that they did not have many unpaved roads in the Forests, but do want to support other counties and OHV recreation. They asked ROC to prepare a list of roads used for OHV travel and they would look at them.
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