November 19, 2007
Dave Marlow, Acting District Ranger 1536 South Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701
Dear Mr. Marlow,
I am writing on behalf of the Dust Devils Motorcycles Club of Reno. For the past ten years, we have been staunch supporters of National Forest Service efforts to manage nearby public land for responsible use. Our seventy members have provided input to the Peavine and Martis travel management plans and publicly supported the results. We have performed hundreds of hours of volunteer service, which have been counted as matching contributions for grants. However, the recent anti OHV articles in the Reno Gazette Journal plus forest-wide efforts to restrict motorized use to an ever shrinking number of routes have forced us to re evaluate our position.
The Reno Gazette Journal articles featuring Ranger Machler in an unprovoked attack on OHVs use are offensive and inaccurate. For example, a picture shows Ranger Machler hiking “through an area damaged by OHVs”. He is actually on Upper Ranch Road – a.k.a. Hunter Lake Road - where it crosses private property, and not in the National Forest. Washoe County, which poses as an adventure destination, has done nothing over the years to maintain this critical access to public land. The damage is caused by neglect, not OHV use. This ill-considered article has destroyed much of the good will which some of us have worked so hard to develop.
Constant environmental attacks which accuse OHVs of destroying the forest are nothing more than thinly veiled hatred and prejudice encouraged by people who make their living by inventing trash. These so called environmentalists live in cities, drive to work and shop at malls, and then the pretend to save the planet by attacking legitimate recreation. Not content with virtually destroying the logging industry and fostering idiotic policies leading to disastrous fires, they have targeted motorized recreation as their next victim.
We could probably forgive the newspaper article, but can never support nationwide efforts to close all forest land to cross country travel while simultaneously eliminating existing routes. In our own region alone we have already lost over a hundred miles of long-used roads. The El Dorado Forest is proposing to close about 1,00 miles of existing routes. The Tahoe Forest is proposing to close a similar number of miles. This same dreadful process is being repeated throughout the National Forest system.
Our members support designated routes in sensitive and heavily used areas where it can be demonstrated that OHVs are actually having an adverse effect. The Forest Service has long had this power and we have always supported it.
The current effort is something quite different. Citing vague statistics about sales and OHV use, the Forest Service is closing all its land to motorized travel on non designated routes – without proving the need to do so in specific areas. At the same time, the various forests propose to close thousands of miles of existing routes. In this twisted logic, the solution to more OHVs is fewer legal opportunities to use them. The NFS is creating a new class of criminal behavior and abolishing a right of free travel citizens have long enjoyed. This is an egregious violation of due process and we intend to resist it.
Imagine the mischief that could be caused if other agencies adopt similar approaches. Departments of fish and game could close hunting areas based on increases in the sale of firearms without regard to the number and condition of game species. States could close DMV offices based on the number of motor vehicles sold without regard to the needs of the local population.
We do not have the time or inclination to perform volunteer services for the benefit of an organization that is working against us us.
We will no longer engage in volunteer work for the USFS nor publicly support travel management plans unless they increase riding opportunities.
We all do every thing in our power to educate the public about the issues and encourage resistance by all legal means.
We will support national motorcycle groups protecting our rights to ride and encourage them to file suits against the NFS.
We will take an active interest in all local actions affecting our recreation and oppose all actions which limit our riding opportunities.
You may not really care what the Dust Devils think, but consider the implications. The Forest Service has repeatedly said it needs help and support from responsible users. If seventy of the most responsible and supportive people imaginable are vehemently opposed to the OHV actions in progress, then what user support can you possibly hope to claim?
The Dust Devils would like to keep our channels of communication open in the hope that we can find some common ground. We would like to meet with you and discuss our concerns. Please advise us of a time that would be convenient.
DDMC Reno, NV
