BIG RIDGE COMMENTS NEEDED

anderson750

I'm working on it Rose
Location
Price, Utah
Big Ridge is located in the area of Poison Springs, Hatch Canyon and Glen Canyon Recreation area. On Big Ridge there is a back country air strip built by Simplot. Access to Big Ridge is very limited. You can’t access Big Ridge without going through the Glen Canyon Recreation area which requires a street legal full size vehicle or motorcycle, no street legal ATVs are allowed. Big Ride is BLM land and not part of the Glen Canyon Recreation area. Coming off of Big Ridge into Hatch Canyon is a dugway. This was built with a BULLDOZER in the 1950s and is visible from Google Earth. This dugway bypasses the Glen Canyon Recreation area and allows ATVs and non-street legal machines to access the BLM trail system on Big Ridge. A few years back a large bolder fell on to the road and blocked ATV and full size access; however, motorcycle riders have been using it. In May of this year OHV users groups and the Utah State Parks had planned to take a trail cat down the dugway to remove the obstruction. SUWA found out about the the project, contacted the BLM and SHUT DOWN the project. In order to complete the project the BLM is now doing an EA (environmental assessment). SUWA has vowed to put a stop to this and has called upon its members to email the BLM field offices. Currently they are sending hundreds of emails to stop this.
SUWAs website information is riddled with lies. SUWA members are telling the BLM of inaccurate information. They claim that it is a “proposed opening”. This is false. The dugway is currently an open and approved BLM motorized travel route. They claim it has been impassible for over “30 years”. This is not correct. Seven motorcycles rode this dugway in March of 2013. They claim that this route is unnecessary because “ORV” users can access it through the Glen Canyon National Recreation area. This is not true. ORVs are NOT street legal. Only street legal motorcycle and full size vehicles are allowed into the park to access Big Ridge.
This dugway will allow for all OHVs that are not street legal. It makes a great loop for Jeeps and dual sport riding. It allows ATVs to access Big Ridge.
DO NOT LET SUWA WIN. DO NOT LET SUWA GET AWAY WITH THEIR LIES
Take less than a minute and send the BLM an email in support of the Big Ridge Dugway project. Here are some talking points:


  1. Include who you are your recreational interest (full size, ATV, MC, Dual Sport).
  2. The Current BLM Resource Management Plan supports maintenance of this route.
  3. Under the current travel plan this dugway is opened to motorized use.
  4. It was constructed by a Bulldozer and has been in use since 1950.
  5. Route leads to a back country air strip.
  6. Route is currently being used.
  7. Route was analyzed during the RMP process and was designated open by BLM staff.
Keep it simple. Even just an email voice support of it will help. Send your emails to both
Richfield Field Office Manager: Wayne Wetzel wwetzel@blm.gov
District Manager: Todd Christensen tchriste@blm.gov
 

jackjoh

Jack - KC6NAR
Supporting Member
Location
Riverton, UT
I know this is a repeat but comments are needed.

Subject:
BIG RIDGE YOUR COMMENT IS NEEDED URGENT


Please post this on your off road forums and forward to your user groups. We need your support on this.



Big Ridge is located in the area of Poison Springs, Hatch Canyon and Glen Canyon Recreation area. On Big Ridge there is a back country air strip built by Simplot. Access to Big Ridge is very limited. You can’t access Big Ridge without going through the Glen Canyon Recreation area which requires a street legal full size vehicle or motorcycle, no street legal ATVs are allowed. Big Ride is BLM land and not part of the Glen Canyon Recreation area. Coming off of Big Ridge into Hatch Canyon is a dugway. This was built with a BULLDOZER in the 1950s and is visible from Google Earth. This dugway bypasses the Glen Canyon Recreation area and allows ATVs and non-street legal machines to access the BLM trail system on Big Ridge. A few years back a large bolder fell on to the road and blocked ATV and full size access; however, motorcycle riders have been using it. In May of this year OHV users groups and the Utah State Parks had planned to take a trail cat down the dugway to remove the obstruction. SUWA found out about the the project, contacted the BLM and SHUT DOWN the project. In order to complete the project the BLM is now doing an EA (environmental assessment). SUWA has vowed to put a stop to this and has called upon its members to email the BLM field offices. Currently they are sending hundreds of emails to stop this.
SUWAs website information is riddled with lies. SUWA members are telling the BLM of inaccurate information. They claim that it is a “proposed opening”. This is false. The dugway is currently an open and approved BLM motorized travel route. They claim it has been impassible for over “30 years”. This is not correct. Seven motorcycles rode this dugway in March of 2013. They claim that this route is unnecessary because “ORV” users can access it through the Glen Canyon National Recreation area. This is not true. ORVs are NOT street legal. Only street legal motorcycle and full size vehicles are allowed into the park to access Big Ridge.
This dugway will allow for all OHVs that are not street legal. It makes a great loop for Jeeps and dual sport riding. It allows ATVs to access Big Ridge.
DO NOT LET SUWA WIN. DO NOT LET SUWA GET AWAY WITH THEIR LIES
Take less than a minute and send the BLM an email in support of the Big Ridge Dugway project. Here are some talking points:

1. Include who you are your recreational interest (full size, ATV, MC, Dual Sport).
2. The Current BLM Resource Management Plan supports maintenance of this route.
3. Under the current travel plan this dugway is opened to motorized use.
4. It was constructed by a Bulldozer and has been in use since 1950.
5. Route leads to a back country air strip.
6. Route is currently being used.
7. Route was analyzed during the RMP process and was designated open by BLM staff.
Keep it simple. Even just an email voice support of it will help. Send your emails to both
Richfield Field Office Manager: Wayne Wetzel wwetzel@blm.gov
District Manager: Todd Christensen tchriste@blm.gov


--
"DONT TREAD ON ME"
Culpeper Minute Men
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Thanks for the great background info anderson750, it makes it so much easier to send a thorough, thoughtful letter.

Email sent.
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wyoming
Received a (mass) reply today:

If you are receiving this email, it is because you, along with many others, send us an email during the scoping phase of our environmental assessment (EA). We will use your comments to help define the scope of issues to be addressed in the EA. Also this response will automatically
create an email contact list so that we can keep you apprised as we move through this process. Thank you, your input was very much appreciated.

Please keep sending them in! It only took me a few minutes to gather my thoughts and send it in! It doesn't have to be professional, just send in your thoughts.
 

anderson750

I'm working on it Rose
Location
Price, Utah
Am I right to be encouraged by the tone of that response?
My understanding is that the FO is in support of getting this route cleared, they just need to make sure all of their T's are crossed and I's dotted. SUWA in their propaganda will paint the picture that they are opening a route, but the fact is, this route is already designated open in the current travel plan. The F.O. has to jump through some hoops to get everything in order to do maintenance on the route.
 
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