“It’s How Much to Ride?”Shawnee Trail ConservancyThe Forest Service (FS) of Shawnee National Forest is submitting their proposal before the advisory committee to get permission to begin charging for the use of the forest. They have to make their case to this committee and by law anyone opposing their proposal has a right to make their case too. If fact, anyone can appear before this committee in person for a three minute period to argue their position. The actual meeting date has not been set yet. The FS must first go through the comments sent to them and take them under advisement. SHAWNEE TRAIL CONSERVANCY (STC) OFFICIAL POSITION:The STC is against the recreational user fees because the forest service does not know how they are going to administer this program. There is too much incomplete information and no assurances that the money will stay in the Shawnee and be used to maintain trails. In other places where fees were derailed, the recreation and tourism concerns were the strongest and most valuable opposition voiced. Make your voice heard specifically whether user fees will change your visitation to Southern Illinois. Written comments MUST be submitted by April 15, 2008. They don't have to be formal, just write your opinion and be sure to explain why you are for or against user fees. Sign your name and address and send to the 2 offices listed:
· Hurston
A. Nicholas - Forest Supervisor - Shawnee National Forest
· The
Recreation Advisory Committee - Region 9 - Regional Office POINTS OF CONCERN:The FS indicates that "cross-country use (where authorized), would remain free", but they fail to tell you that cross-country riding will be phased-out across the entire Shawnee Forest piece by piece. This is happening in Forests all across the U.S. in effort to control "unmanaged recreation", which the politicians in Washington DC term one of the “four biggest threats” to our forests along with: fire, invasive species and loss of open space. The trails permit fees will not necessarily be EXTRA money to improve the trails. Each forest's trail budget is 'trickled down' starting with our elected Congressmen in Washington DC, who appropriate an ‘x’ amount of dollars to the U.S. Dept of Agriculture. Then a portion of that goes to the Forest Service...of which a portion goes to the Milwaukee regional office to be divided between the forests in the Eastern half of the country...of which a portion goes to the Shawnee...of which a portion goes to the trails budget. If $50,000 is charged in trails fees on the Shawnee, then Milwaukee could easily decide to appropriate $50,000 less next year to the Shawnee and use the rest for other purposes such as building a new multi-million dollar complex in Vienna OR send the $50,000 to another Forest which does NOT have fees??? For examples: the Daniel Boone NF in KY, Mark Twain NF in MO or the Allegheny NF in PA. Legislative action has been started by five states, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. They have issued bills to repeal the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act, better known as the RAT (PL 108-447). This Act was to improve visitor service on public land by enhancing amenities with developed parking areas, interpretive signs, trash receptacle, toilets, fire pits and other amenities that visitors expect. Instead this Act has been abused, with the removal of amenities in areas that were considered as “minimal” use. The Forest Service has assessed recreational facilities for profitability. The Recreation Act requires that fees be charged only if there has been a significant investment, defined as these six amenities: Security service – staffers who monitor if the payment has been made, permanent parking, toilets, picnic tables, trash receptacle and interpretive signs. The Forest Service has managed to get around this law by the establishment of High Impact Recreational Areas. One section may have a toilet and two miles away a trash receptacle, etc. The sizes of these areas have not been clearly defined and not mentioned in the FLREA. The law allows the Forest Service to charge certain fees, but prohibits entrance fees. The line seems blurred because parking at a trailhead to enter the forest, but needing a bridle tag – what is that? The Shawnee National Forest has a project proposal of a daily and annual fee for equestrians using ‘designated trails’. In the Lusk Creek Wilderness Area, one access is an entrance from a trailhead onto a road into the designated trail system. No amenities are provided at the trailhead and when asked if a toilet could be provided at this trailhead, the response was there was not enough money in that budget for one. The Land and Water Conservation Act, clearly states, that no admission fees of any kind shall be charged or imposed for entrance into any federally owned areas used for outdoor purposes. The Shawnee National Forest project states, cross-country riding will be allowed. With the new Forest Service Plan approval; forecasted during the first quarter - 2008, there will be no “open riding allowed”. In the Forest Service proposal, one horse or mule/per pass, will be allowed. The Recreational Act calls for fees to be used on trails that are open on a yearly basis, yet the Wilderness Areas trails are closed from January until the end of March. In the Lusk Creek Area trails are also closed after an inch of rain within a 24-hour period. The Act states that fee revenues are to be retained at the site of collection and used to enhance visitor services; including repair, maintenance and facility enhancement. It does not state ‘trail maintenance’. Not less than 80% of the recreation fees and site-specific agency pass revenues collected at a specific area of a Federal Land Agency shall remain available for expenditure. Yet, the Secretary may reduce this allocation; but not below 60%, if the Secretary deems that the revenue exceeds the reasonable needs of an area! What are reasonable needs? 15% may be used for administration, overhead and indirect costs. The Act includes harsh criminal penalties out of proportion to the crime of failing to purchase passes and not complying with the law. Failure to pay these fees can either be a Class A or Class B misdemeanor with hefty fines and/or considerable jail time, leaving the individual with a criminal record. Fines can be up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail. The owner of a vehicle entering a forest recreation area can be charged even if he/she is not driving or present. Forging a Recreation Pass is now a federal crime punishable up to $100,000. So...who wants to go riding??? The Shawnee Trail Conservancy is a grassroots nonprofit corporation which advocates multi-use of the Shawnee National Forest for recreational and sporting interests; yet, is dedicated to preserving and protecting its natural resources through proper trail maintenance, good trail signing and education of trail, camping and hunting users to achieve a low environmental impact and wise usage management practices. Our mission is to keep the Shawnee available, now and in the future, to the public for its use and enjoyment in a responsible manner. For more information visit our website at: www.shawneetrailconservancy.com |
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