Post by pistonschick on Feb 12, 2009 14:35:05 GMT -8
As posted on another 4x4 forum open for discussion:
poorboy1.proboards31.com/index.cgi?board=pic&action=display&thread=3167&page=7
I am writing this post in response to the snow wheelin' pictures posted by Crusty (attached below). I apologize in advance that this post will be long and somewhat painful - but critically necessary - PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST!
Please note that I am not trying to pick a fight or unfairly harrass any one individual or group, but rather make an attempt to share information that will hopefully benefit all 4-wheelers equally.
I am writing this post TO all of the 4-wheelers in SW Washington and NW Oregon who would like to someday enjoy a vast, varied and challenging legal 4x4 trail system in SW Washignton.
My name is Crystal Crowder and I am the Club President and DNR Liason for Pistons Wild Motorsports. Some of you may have heard about the projects our club has been working on for the past 2 years towards creating a 4x4 trail system in the Western Yacolt Burn. We have hosted clean-ups and even held a cruise-in at Woody's 4x4 in October to raise funds for building trails.
For more information about our club please go to: www.pistonswild.com
First, I would like to point out that as a fellow 4-wheeler I like to see a great "stuck" picture as much as the next person. Hence the reason I found this thread.
On the other hand, as a quid-pro-quo for the Department of Natural Resources actively working to create 4x4 trails in the Western Yacolt Burn, I have been working very closely with the DNR staff trying to find ways to help protect some of their trouble spots in the forest. The pictures above were taken in DNR's current NUMBER ONE area of concern in SW Washington. This area is referred to as Bob's Mountain. All of these pictures are taken in and around a very sensitive stream crossing.
The dilema I'm faced with is trying to share with you the information that has been shared with me from DNR to convince the members of Poorboy Offroad and all other 4-wheelers to PLEASE CEASE AND DESIST any and all activity in this area.
I think we all know that we are past the point of "we didn't know it was closed", because anyone who's been there knows that the area has been aggressively barricaded off by DNR and Longview Fiber with gates and massive tank traps. I have personally visited this specific site 2 times in the past year with DNR and LF staff - and I can tell you that Longview Fiber staff is PISSED OFF at the 4-wheel drive community in regards to this area.
In addition, we are past the point of "this was our first time", because there are pictures of these same vehicles scattered all over the internet playing in this same area "sans snow".
The "greenie" technical reason why it is important to DNR that this area be abandoned by 4x4's has alot to do with reproduction of sensitive and possibly endangered salmonids (AKA water critters). Also, silt run-off from these activities can have devastating effects on wetland wildlife and vegetation downstream. If this 4x4 damage continues - the Department of Fish and Wildlife will be forced to intervene with the premise that DNR did not provide adequate protection for the natural resources. So you can see, that we actually have something in common with DNR staff - neither of us wants F&W taking over this area.
As I work through this project, I am reminded daily about the illegal 4x4 activities on Longview Fiber property. Illegal 4x4 activity on and around LF land is single-handledly responsible for Longview Fiber management REFUSING to come to the table to talk about providing legal off-road access on their land.
There is a vast amount of Longview Fiber land that already has existing "unsanctioned" 4x4 trails that we are attempting to legalize. In addition there is even more LF land that interconnects many of the DNR land parcels that are best suited for 4x4 trails. This is a critical part of expanding trail systems to meet our 4x4 recreation expectations for this area.
The reason why it is important to the 4x4 community that this area be abandoned by 4x4's has everything to do with the future of acquiring legal 4x4 trails in SW Washington. These illegal activities on Bob's mountain have a DIRECT IMPACT on our negotiations with the Department of Natural resources. If Fish & Wildlife gets involved - we may not only lose our very promising opportunites in the Western Yacolt Burn, but we will definitely lose all future opportunities in the DNR land north of Washougal (ie Bob's Mountain) also known as Eastern Yacolt Burn. This area IS currently on DNR's radar in consideration for off-road recreation opportunities in addition to the Jones Creek / Larch Mountain / 4-Corners area. Please do your part to help me keep all of these areas open to the possibility of 4x4 trails.
One more important thing to keep in mind is that every dollar that DNR or Longview Fiber spends on building tank traps, erecting gates, repairing damage and paying F&W fines are dollars that could be put towards building a kick-ass 4x4 recreation area in SW Washington.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this lengthy post - I will now copy this post over to Public Land Matters to open it for discussion.
I am wearing my flame suit - but please don't shoot the messenger...
AND - Please accept my apologies for going off-topic - however, I do know that this thread probably gets alot more play than the Public Land Matters section could ever hope for...
Regards,
Crystal Crowder
AKA "Pistons Chick" or "Ford Chick"
Pistons Wild Motorsports
poorboy1.proboards31.com/index.cgi?board=pic&action=display&thread=3167&page=7
I am writing this post in response to the snow wheelin' pictures posted by Crusty (attached below). I apologize in advance that this post will be long and somewhat painful - but critically necessary - PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST!
Please note that I am not trying to pick a fight or unfairly harrass any one individual or group, but rather make an attempt to share information that will hopefully benefit all 4-wheelers equally.
I am writing this post TO all of the 4-wheelers in SW Washington and NW Oregon who would like to someday enjoy a vast, varied and challenging legal 4x4 trail system in SW Washignton.
My name is Crystal Crowder and I am the Club President and DNR Liason for Pistons Wild Motorsports. Some of you may have heard about the projects our club has been working on for the past 2 years towards creating a 4x4 trail system in the Western Yacolt Burn. We have hosted clean-ups and even held a cruise-in at Woody's 4x4 in October to raise funds for building trails.
For more information about our club please go to: www.pistonswild.com
First, I would like to point out that as a fellow 4-wheeler I like to see a great "stuck" picture as much as the next person. Hence the reason I found this thread.
On the other hand, as a quid-pro-quo for the Department of Natural Resources actively working to create 4x4 trails in the Western Yacolt Burn, I have been working very closely with the DNR staff trying to find ways to help protect some of their trouble spots in the forest. The pictures above were taken in DNR's current NUMBER ONE area of concern in SW Washington. This area is referred to as Bob's Mountain. All of these pictures are taken in and around a very sensitive stream crossing.
The dilema I'm faced with is trying to share with you the information that has been shared with me from DNR to convince the members of Poorboy Offroad and all other 4-wheelers to PLEASE CEASE AND DESIST any and all activity in this area.
I think we all know that we are past the point of "we didn't know it was closed", because anyone who's been there knows that the area has been aggressively barricaded off by DNR and Longview Fiber with gates and massive tank traps. I have personally visited this specific site 2 times in the past year with DNR and LF staff - and I can tell you that Longview Fiber staff is PISSED OFF at the 4-wheel drive community in regards to this area.
In addition, we are past the point of "this was our first time", because there are pictures of these same vehicles scattered all over the internet playing in this same area "sans snow".
The "greenie" technical reason why it is important to DNR that this area be abandoned by 4x4's has alot to do with reproduction of sensitive and possibly endangered salmonids (AKA water critters). Also, silt run-off from these activities can have devastating effects on wetland wildlife and vegetation downstream. If this 4x4 damage continues - the Department of Fish and Wildlife will be forced to intervene with the premise that DNR did not provide adequate protection for the natural resources. So you can see, that we actually have something in common with DNR staff - neither of us wants F&W taking over this area.
As I work through this project, I am reminded daily about the illegal 4x4 activities on Longview Fiber property. Illegal 4x4 activity on and around LF land is single-handledly responsible for Longview Fiber management REFUSING to come to the table to talk about providing legal off-road access on their land.
There is a vast amount of Longview Fiber land that already has existing "unsanctioned" 4x4 trails that we are attempting to legalize. In addition there is even more LF land that interconnects many of the DNR land parcels that are best suited for 4x4 trails. This is a critical part of expanding trail systems to meet our 4x4 recreation expectations for this area.
The reason why it is important to the 4x4 community that this area be abandoned by 4x4's has everything to do with the future of acquiring legal 4x4 trails in SW Washington. These illegal activities on Bob's mountain have a DIRECT IMPACT on our negotiations with the Department of Natural resources. If Fish & Wildlife gets involved - we may not only lose our very promising opportunites in the Western Yacolt Burn, but we will definitely lose all future opportunities in the DNR land north of Washougal (ie Bob's Mountain) also known as Eastern Yacolt Burn. This area IS currently on DNR's radar in consideration for off-road recreation opportunities in addition to the Jones Creek / Larch Mountain / 4-Corners area. Please do your part to help me keep all of these areas open to the possibility of 4x4 trails.
One more important thing to keep in mind is that every dollar that DNR or Longview Fiber spends on building tank traps, erecting gates, repairing damage and paying F&W fines are dollars that could be put towards building a kick-ass 4x4 recreation area in SW Washington.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this lengthy post - I will now copy this post over to Public Land Matters to open it for discussion.
I am wearing my flame suit - but please don't shoot the messenger...
AND - Please accept my apologies for going off-topic - however, I do know that this thread probably gets alot more play than the Public Land Matters section could ever hope for...
Regards,
Crystal Crowder
AKA "Pistons Chick" or "Ford Chick"
Pistons Wild Motorsports