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Pasted below is an electronic copy of a USFS memo. It describes a soon to be implemented Backcountry Roads pilot program and speaks of the creation and designation of a new "SUV Recreation Roads" USFS Partnership.
This USFS memo was distributed last month at the American Recreation Coalition's Great Outdoors week. As many will know, the ARC played a crucial role in the formation of the Scenic and Backcountry Byways programs and remains amongst the most active promoters of, and lobbyists for, those programs. The ARC is currently midway though the process of creating a new website to promote both forms of "driving for pleasure". The url for is: www.byways2021.org
It now appears that the ARC is playing a crucial role in the creation of yet another Federally administered program designed to promote driving for pleasure. But this one is different. This one, if it gets beyond the "pilot" stage, will have a significant impact upon the way BACKCOUNTRY forest roads are designated, managed and promoted specifically for SUV driving.
OH... you might put another outfit on your radar screens http://www.suvoa.com . SUVOA's motto is: "Standing up for SUV, Pickup and Van Owners of America." They are ugly -- very ugly.
ARC's President, Derrick Crandall, is on their Board of Directors as is David Humphreys, the founder of the ARC and recently retired President of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.
If you want to see how ugly ugly gets ... visit the SUVOA website and be sure to explore their BLOG.
Scott
PS... notice in the final line the reference to Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association as the USFS partner. THAT IS IMPORTANT. That is Bob Warren's outfit. Warren speaks for both the National Alliance of Gateway Communities and for the ARC. I consider Warren to be amongst the top 20 most influential people in America when it comes to guiding the commercialization, privatization and motorization of outdoor recreation policy for America's public lands.
USDA Forest
Service Briefing
Paper
Date: June 14, 2006
Topic: New Backcountry Recreation Roads “Pilot” for
National Forest System Roads network.
Issue: Develop an agency strategy for transition of the
National Forest Road System from access to haul products out of the forest—to
directing and transporting visitors into
the forest attractions for wildlife viewing, SUV driving, adventure recreation,
specialty products, hiking, mountain biking, river access, hunting, OHV riding
and many more recreational activities. Declare the entire system open for SUV
driving routes as public roads and part of State transportation systems, thus
eligible for highway trust funds (OHV, passenger and Sports Utility vehicles,
etc.). Incorporate these roads as the “featured system” resulting from
transportation planning to implement the national OHV
Rule.
Proposal: Utilize a pilot program test
case to demonstrate the support for a new “SUV Recreation Roads” Partnership: a
Forest Service Community-Based “Backcountry Byways” SUV Driving Network tiered
to National Scenic Byways, Forest Highways and All American Roads. Highlight all
existing Forest Development Roads that meet criteria for “backcountry back-way
or byway” which can be tiered to “Forest Highways and/or National Forest Scenic
Byways” network. Model the designation criteria after Bureau of Land
Management’s Backcountry Byways program. Consider partnering with existing State
programs (Utah back-ways, Colorado backcountry routes, CA backcountry discovery
trails, etc.) and the BLM program to provide visitors with seamless and varied
choices.
Location
Primarily western states
but include one pilot within each Forest Service region; in Region 5, Northern
California’s Shasta Cascade
area in 2005/2006.
Policy
Complement implementation
of new National OHV Policy “On the Right Trail”, BLM ‘S Priorities
for
Recreation & Visitor
Services, Recreation Site-Facility
Master Planning Processes and the
Implementation Guidelines
for the new 01W Rule.
Goal
Expand upon the existing
network of National Forest Scenic Byways by identifying a complementary network
of SUV backcountry roads. Partner with states, DOT, Federal Lands Highways;
build upon existing state-wide strategic tourism marketing plans and their
partners. Link this pilot effort to recreation planning, roads analysis and
local economic development planning. Consider support from chambers of commerce,
car dealer distributorships, or car rental companies. Develop as a prototype for
potential funding within a category as yet un-described for backcountry public
SUV routes that could be considered in the upcoming discussions for 2009 Highway
Trust Fund reauthorization, or other future legislative
efforts.
Footnote: Incorporate excellent BLM Bishop, CA
Eastern Sierra Prototype working with Chamber of
Commerce.
See: http://www.bishopvisitor.com/activities/exp_motor.php3
Objectives:
Recreation
Opportunity: Provide Back-road (high clearance
vehicle) recreation visitor segment with high-quality excursions on backcountry
roads. Driving for pleasure is among the top 5 most popular recreation
activities at the Klamath, Six Rivers, Mendocino, and Modoc National Forests;
and the top 10 most popular at the Shasta-Trinity, Lassen and Plumas (NVUM
participation data). These are consistent with national trends throughout the
West and in eastern forests. Based upon outdoor recreation
trends,
demand for providing
back-roads driving opportunities will continue to increase in the near future
(NSRE data, drive off-road activity). Because of their extensive network of
national forest System roads, northern California national forests are
well-positioned as a good pilot program to show how a designated system of these
backcountiy roads can provide opportunities for exploration of this vast
backcountry region of the country.
Funding Spectrum Model and Economic Assistance: Develop a pilot
proposal for DOT Federal Lands Highways funding for affected Forest Service
& BLM System roads. Use in combination with rural community assistance
grants and federal planning technical support. Use “Scenic Byways and
Backcountiy Byways” as the flagship road network to highlight access to the
national forest [and BLM] rural and backcountry attractions, and to address the
maintenance needs for these “public” roads. Target the Volcanic Legacy All
American Road as the primary pilot corridor for test site. Use and leverage the
authorities vested in the Scenic Byways and the Federal Lands Title 23, Section
204 to access federal program funds for recreation and tourism! community
planning for development of this and other regional
pilots.
Planning: Use
results to inform other planning: recreation site facility master planning
process; corridor management planning and interpretive planning and others. Link
the network to the existing National Forest Scenic Byways network, BLM’s
Backcountiy Byway network, and existing non-motorized trail systems. The
Strategic Marketing Plan for Northern California Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
(ca 1996), identified the need for a unified Byways and Back-roads presentation
across agency and community boundaries. Use this effort as a tool to prioritize
CIP projects and the ranking of recreation site facilities in the Recreation
Site Facility Master Planning process. The effort would confirm/refine the
national forests’ niche development, corridor management plans and visitor
information outreach signing and facilities. Coordination with the
implementation of the Region’s route designation process will occur, so that the
route designation process is not impeded.
Partnerships/Collaboration: Collaborate with regional destination marketing
organizations to build trip itineraries, tourism products and seek sponsorships
and partnerships with car rental companies, car dealerships, and others, to
support outreach materials and other visitor information products. The
Shasta-Cascade Wonderland Association developed a brochure called “An Adventure
Around Every Corner” that was designed to serve the SUV market on a limited
basis. Eighteen northern California excursions were identified. This proposed
pilot would expand upon this initial effort and seek to tap additional
partnerships for gaining broader support and funding. Again the pilot program
would utilize BLM Bishop CA Eastern Sierra Motor touring guide as a model for
the FS Shasta Pilot.
Footnote: Incorporate
excellent BLM Bishop, CA Eastern Sierra Prototype working with Chamber
of
Commerce.
See: http://www.bishopvisitor.com/activities/exp_motor.php3
USFS Contacts: Floyd
Thompson, (202) 205-1423; Trinidad Juarez (707) 562-8844 Partner—Shasta Cascade
Wonderland Association
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