Coyote Canyon - WE WON (sort of...)

[Badbuggy]

Personally, I think it's crap. I am so tired of seeing new mountain bike trails created everywhere with the BLM's blessing, but when we try to open a trail which was already established we have these ridiculously strict regulations. I don't think this is a compromise, I think it's a blatant slap in the face! For all of the hundreds of hours (literally!) of trail work and maintenance the Moab Friends for Wheelin’ do in cooperation and conjunction with the BLM, to be treated like this is ridiculous.

None of these restrictions were mentioned in the proposal, so where did they come from, and where is the precedent for such a strangling set of restrictions. I could see a locked gate with a reservation system, or a minimum per day, or use only on certain days, but all three of those together are a joke.

I am so disgusted with this decision. I think the BLM has given us a pile of crap to eat and said either eat it and like it, or don't, but that's all you get so just deal with it!

I was reading this thread and thinking the same thing.

I believe that it is better than nothing, I really appriciate everything you guys have done to get it re-opened, I think we should take advantage of having it re-opened and in the meantime give them no reason or excuse to not give us the trail back... follow the rules and continue to petition them to open it up without such choking restrictions...repectfully, but with focused intensity....

Agree, but am shaking my head the whole time.

I also want to say THANK YOU to the MFFW crew who put a lot of work into getting it this far. You guys deserve a huge pat on the back. We are indebted to you!

Yes, you guys knock me out! Thank You!!!

 

[TEAM FRED]

Thank you!

 

[drtsqrl]

The BLM's "Decision Record" can be seen at https://www.blm.gov/ut/enbb/index.php. Type "coyote" into the search feature.

The document is 60 pages long. While I don't necessarily agree with all of the stipulations, I respect the amount of effort and time on BLM's part that went into it. Virtually every comment that was received was analyzed and responded to, and the resulting decision reflects that effort. It is woth noting that there is a mandatory 30 day period for protest/appeal, so we are not totally out of the woods yet. I am sure that certain individual(s) will take that opportunity to continue the fight, but I am reasonably confident that the decision will hold. If anyone feels like thanking BLM for the decision, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt, but I would recommend against arguing too much about the restrictions right now. MFFW will definately have discussions with them to see if some of the restictions could eventually be eased, but at this time we are happy with what we got.

I don't know how to cut and paste from a PDF file, or I would copy the limitations and registration system here. If someone knows how to do that, please do... the rules are listed in Appendix C on page 57.

It is going to take us a little while to digest this and figure ou what exactly we need to do. We'll probably meet on the ground with BLM in the next week or two, and hopefully come up with a plan for implementation. We are going to need to install fencing and/or other barricades, create and install signs, build and install gates, and who knows what else. Might be an opportunity for an RME work party sometime .

 

[Herzog]

PDF: https://www.blm.gov/ut/enbb/files/11-0149.pdf

 

[zukijames]

jeff i think you should just not tell people its open for that 30 day trial period.. that way no one will get over there and screw things up

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Solid work Jeff & crew. Permits and daily limits are nothing new on Utah's public lands, Wave, Maze, Needles, White Rim, Arch Canyon, etc... While we many not be warm and fuzzy about them... its a far better solution than a closed route. I'd like to think their is in fact a process for easing on the permit restrictions but at this time I the BLM wants to see how their current management goes and work from there.

 

[JL Rockies]

it's a PITA but it does keep the riff raff out.

 

[zukijames]

it's a PITA but it does keep the riff raff out.

I know it would
Be a pAin and everyone would complain but I think everyone on a rock crawling or 4x4 trail should have to take. 1 hour tread lightly/land use class and then have a permit..

Restrictions suck yeah but. If it helps keep trails open I'm okay with it no one likes going down the trails and seeing someone has made another illegal bypass or knocked over 200 yards of bushes to go do one little climb

 

[Olaf]

Awesome job Jeff and Moab Friends For Wheelin'!!!!

I think it's a great first step but it would be great to negotiate these restrictions away, completely, over a certain time period based on the fact the trail wasn't closed for any reason other than the technical fact that it wasn't included in the list of trails to assess for closure on Route Management Plan. I could understand the restrictions if it was closed because of abuse, damage etc., but it wasn't.

 

[Bart]

Great job to everyone involved, but I have to agree with Dave, and I worry about the wheelers that see a few head up and are locked out. Those restrictions will be tough to enforce. Glad I got the chance to run it a few times when it was open.

 

[I Lean]

Hopefully at least the Fri-Sat restriction goes away, as any trips to Moab for me will certainly be mid-week excursions. Having it only available those two days makes it still effectively off-limits for me.

Still, I really appreciate the effort put forth by all parties!

 

[benjy]

We are going to need to install fencing and/or other barricades, create and install signs, build and install gates, and who knows what else. Might be an opportunity for an RME work party sometime .

In. A week or two advance notice and I'll be there. Thanks to all involved for making this happen.

 

[mbryson]

.... We'll probably meet on the ground with BLM in the next week or two, and hopefully come up with a plan for implementation. We are going to need to install fencing and/or other barricades, create and install signs, build and install gates, and who knows what else. Might be an opportunity for an RME work party sometime .

In with similar conditions as BenYJ. Thanks for all the efforts of MFFW and even all those that actually took the time to send a message to BLM. (maybe that's why they have the small group and day restrictions? Not enough comments?)

 

[rockreligious]

Its Kinda like the price of fuel going from $2.25 to $5.00, everyone freaks until they lower it down to $4.00 then everything is ok. it still went from 2.25 to $4, but the around-a-bout process makes it seem like a compromise. Our Government has used this process for years, made extreme movements, then with public disapproval, they move the marker half way back.. We need to continue to work towards moving the marker closer to responsible freedom.

 

[drtsqrl]

In with similar conditions as BenYJ. Thanks for all the efforts of MFFW and even all those that actually took the time to send a message to BLM. (maybe that's why they have the small group and day restrictions? Not enough comments?)

We actually had a fair number of comments, and I'd like to thank everyone that took the time to write. There were 398 comments recieved during the "scoping period" from March 31 to August 8 2011, 389 of which were in favor of re-opening. (I believe many of these comments were actually written earlier, when we first started petitioning BLM for re-opening). During the actual "comment period" from Aug 8 to Sept 30, the numbers weren't quite so good, with 95 comments received (I don't have the for/against numbers).

By the way, the Record of Decision lists all of the people/organizations that submitted a comment during the official comment period, so if yur name is not on the list, we know you didn't comment . Hell, half of our own club members (MFFW) didn't comment, and I hounded them time and again to please do so. Just shows the apathy that we have to battle every day. If someone doesn't care enough to take part in the process, they really don't have much of a right to complain about the outcome.

 

[Herzog]

In. A week or two advance notice and I'll be there. Thanks to all involved for making this happen.

Agreed. Jeff let us know and we'll try to get a good crew on board.

 

[Herzog]

By the way, the Record of Decision lists all of the people/organizations that submitted a comment during the official comment period, so if yur name is not on the list, we know you didn't comment . Hell, half of our own club members (MFFW) didn't comment, and I hounded them time and again to please do so. Just shows the apathy that we have to battle every day. If someone doesn't care enough to take part in the process, they really don't have much of a right to complain about the outcome.

I better be on that list because I certainly sent in comments. Makes me wonder how many might have been "lost" or omitted. Price BLM Office had a similar incident with GPS coordinates of existing trails...

 

[drtsqrl]

I better be on that list because I certainly sent in comments. Makes me wonder how many might have been "lost" or omitted. Price BLM Office had a similar incident with GPS coordinates of existing trails...

Wow.

Shane, your name is not on the list. I believe you 100% when you say you submitted your comments.

So I wonder how many other comments were either lost or otherwise not recorded. I don't know if they would have made a difference in the decision, but it is an area of great concern.

I don't want to stir up a bunch of crap with the BLM right now, but if you submitted a comment during the "comment period" between August 8th and September 30th, I would suggest checking the list to see if your name is there. Click on the link that Shane provided in one of the posts above, and look at section 5.3.2 starting on page 38 of the PDF. If you are not there, maybe an email to BLM asking why would be in order, or just let me know and I will pass it on to them. If you do email BLM, please be polite, thank them for re-opening it, and ask them why your comment was not recorded. But please don't rant about the restrictions at this time. (Letting them know that you would prefer less restrictions is one thing, but a bunch of nasty letters at this point is not going to help.)

To everyone that submitted their comments (recorded or not!), thank you very much. I am sure that without them, the final decision would have been much worse.

Jeff

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Can't view the EA from my phone... Hoping my comments were recorded.

 

[I Lean]

There are only 86 names listed on that .pdf, so it's not a complete listing. Kurt, your name is on there. Mine is not.