Southern Sierra Management Plan - submit feedback form

[mungeclimber]

This effort crosses multiple Forest Service areas. I just heard some news on NPR this weekend about how the plan is going to take into account sustainable land management with regard to wild fires.

But the overall effort is more robust and climbers will be impacted if we fail to engage in this overall document...

"the document that outlines the guiding vision for how each forest will be managed for the next 20-30 years.  The Forest Service recently published draft management plans for each of these Southern Sierra forests and they're looking for input from you, the public, on how to improve them."


Here's one form... the language is modifiable...

https://secure.everyaction.com/V6f0hpTWN0OzPBCRRhcuTA2?utm_source=AAC+Master+Subscriber+List&utm_campaign=d0a8e4ad6c-Region_5_Forest_Planning_Final_7_28_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0b83d34132-d0a8e4ad6c-250257242&mc_cid=d0a8e4ad6c&mc_eid=3eeb657ac6

[John]

Thanks for the share.

After scanning over the OA site I saw that they have pretty broad intentions and I didn't see any real Southern Sierra specifics. What did you hear that motivated you to get involved, Munge?

[mungeclimber]

When I heard it was 3 different forests putting a guiding doc together and saw the Access Fund alert, its always better to have climbing positive language added now since it will be harder to get it in later in 20 more years.

[susan]

Thanks for the post, but I have not had much time and see the letter is due today! Using a phone to look into it while driving not going well... I have not seen the EIS yet either. Maybe I'll get a chance at the end of the evening.

[mungeclimber]

Looks like no one commented. I just looked at the latest draft plan and it doesn't mention anything about rock climbing.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd640160.pdf

Kiss your access goodbye.

[donutnational]

I went to the 8/21/2019 meeting, which seemed to be mostly attended by MTB people interested in Bass Lake area issues (specifically the fate of the 007 trails) and 4 wheelers.  The Sierra National Forest FB page indicates that public comments will be accepted until 9/26/2019.  That being said I have a feeling pretty soon we will not be allowed to climb when, where and how we want in SNF (at least not legally).  Drill now, drill often and keep your areas quiet, pretty soon we may have to ask the forest circus for permission to establish new routes.

[mike a]

Morning, SNF has no money, resources nor the man power to maintain on the services they have now, I maybe see SNF law enforcement ranger up once every couple year up there. We are the smallest user group be far in SNF and I think the SNF has no glue what is really going on up there??? holy cow they do not even monitor the hunters up there, you all have seen it hunters driving down the road with their rifle barrel hanging out the truck window looking for dear and bear, if they are not monitoring that can not see them (SNF) getting out of their truck looking for us trying to stop us climbing! My thoughts on that, happy climbing Mike A.

[mungeclimber]

The enforcement part of any policy happens down the road.

The key thing is to get broad based acknowledgments from the FS that climbing and fixed anchors are a traditional use of the forest.

Without something like that they could ban fixed anchors.

Its about the long game.

My comments appear to have not been received so I’ll be submitting another letter.

Thx Donut for going!

[susan]

Tx for the heads up!

[mungeclimber]

Access Fund finally emailed something....

We need your help to shape the future of climbing in the Sierra Nevada, including iconic areas like The Needles and Shuteye Ridge.

The Sierra and Sequoia National Forests are in a forest planning process and have released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement that will inform how all forest resources, including climbing areas, will be managed for decades to come.

We have identified several areas of this plan that are critical to the climbing community and could be improved—including recognition of rock climbing as a legitimate activity and acknowledgment that conditional use of fixed anchors in accordance with the Wilderness Act is appropriate.

We need climbers to speak up! Once this plan is finalized it won't be updated for decades.

Use our easy letter-writing tool and pre-drafted talking points to submit a letter to the Forest Service and ask them to protect climbing opportunities in the Sierra Nevada.

https://www.accessfund.org/take-action/campaigns/help-shape-the-future-of-climbing-in-the-sierra-nevada

Sincerely,


Katie Goodwin
California Regional Director & Policy Analyst

[donutnational]

Comment sent.  Very easy using the link Munge listed.  There may not be enough rangers to do much enforcement, but it doesn't take many resources to lock some gates and close some roads.  I hope the younger folks get to keep climbing and camping free and don't need to submit applications for new routes to a committee in the future and stay at some USFS approved site. 

[susan]

Yes, it was easy, thanks you guys! Except I usually feel I've got to tailor it to what else I really want to say, so there's that which took some time but is soooooooo worth it! feels good to have done it.

[mungeclimber]

thanks much!

[mungeclimber]

Please check your spam folders for bounce backs. I got this on the 19th...

Hello, this is the mail server on outbound.mailmanager.net.

I am sending you this message to inform you on the delivery status of a message you previously sent.  Immediately below you will find a list of the affected recipients;  also attached is a Delivery Status Notification
(DSN) report in standard format, as well as the headers of the original message.

  <r5pplanrevision@fs.fed.us>  delivery failed; will not continue trying


I think it was from the AF letter maker. I've contacted AF to verify.

fug

[susan]

I rec'd a confirmation of receipt, so I'm covered.