Testimonials

Have an interesting story, or something you enjoy doing in the National Forest/BLM? Tell everyone how Public Land, for Public Use is important to you.

Guest ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): Kym Manula

Any compromises made with Hidden Gems, is the same as voting YES to their proposal. Wilderness designation will restrict the majority of the U.S. population from ever enjoying the remote, accessible areas of Colorado’s public lands.

It is the mission of the USFS to manage the land so you and I can enjoy many opportunities to use, enjoy and care for the lands and waters that sustain us all. They also make sure that America’s forests and grasslands are in the healthiest condition they can be. The employees are just like you and I in that they care deeply about the beautiful land we as Americans can all enjoy.

I would like Hidden Gems to explain how Spraddle Creek, in particular, was chosen as an area for their proposal since it is in clear violation of the conditions set forth by the Wilderness Act of 1964.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 describes wilderness as "untrammeled by man" and "with the imprint of man's works substantially unnoticeable." The Forest Service interpreted this to mean that areas with any sign of human activities, such as roads or previously logged areas, would not be considered for wilderness designation (the "purity doctrine").

Spraddle Creek was logged heavily in the 1940’s. A dozer created the road. A metal culvert was installed in the road to channel the underground creek. Again, it was clear cut in 1985-86, when a firewood seller, bought 100 acres for timber sale. An old sawmill was located near the top of the Spraddle Cr

Thursday, 22 July 2010

NIKKI ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): THANK YOU

THANK YOU WRFA for taking on Hidden Agenda oh I mean Hidden Gems, as a native of this great valley, and a dirt biker, jeeper, hiker, camper etc we must tread lightly but always protect what is ours! The Wilderness Workshop is being very shady on this proposal, of course we see this ever so often they propose hundreds of thousands of acres to close hoping they get a fraction. I was born and raised in the Basalt area and now reside in the Silt area, my husband and I are very familiar with Basalt Mtn, Red Tables and many of the beautiful terrain up valley. We must ban together and implore our local groups to come together to combat the Wilderness Workshop! Thank you for giving us a voice!

Thursday, 06 May 2010

Jody Woodworth ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): No to the Wilderness Hidden Gems Act

I am 35 years old and I have spent my entire life in Colorado. I grew up enjoying the outdoors here – skiing, hiking, camping, 4 wheeling, and even wood gathering with my beloved Grandpa. I have grown to love our forests and it has become my true passion in life to study the history, the people, the old ghost towns, the land, and all geology of Colorado. I collect books on Colorado (I have over 250) and old maps and I spend my extra time planning my own personal road trips. I protect every inch of land that I cross when I'm out and about. I tread lightly on the already in place/designated roads. I pack out more than I pack in. I respect the wildlife and vegetation. I do more than my part in protecting the wilderness - it's my honor to live here and I will never leave. I feel that the State of Colorado, the Division of Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forrest/Park Service has always done an amazing job protecting all 104,100 square feet of this state. I really don’t think that anything needs to be done to change that! In my opinion, The Wilderness Hidden Gems act is going to have negative effects if it is approved. It’s going to create stress on the area’s economy – from the loss of tourism dollars right down to the decreased licensing sales at hunting and fishing shops. Making these areas completely off limits to motorized equipment use is taking away our right to use them – the idea is just too extreme. Most of these areas are closed in the winter due to snow and are only accessed in the few summer months for recreation – I do not feel that these areas are miss-used or being run-down. The Wilderness Hidden Gems act is not a constructive answer to preserving these lands in Colorado. It is shutting most people out!

Friday, 05 March 2010

Shawn ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): Respectful Native of Forest Lands

I have lived in Colorado my entire life, 43 years. I have enjoyed the National Forest in almost every way. I have crawled, walked, hiked, biked, camped, fished, 4-wheeled and recently trail ride on my dirt bike. I started this 3 years ago when my aging mother could no longer walk/hike the trails and my family could not access most of the forest by foot! My parents purchased an ATV and literally have accessed hundreds of mile into the various forests around Colorado. My family chose dirt bikes as my husband and I were avid mountain bikers. We too, have accessed hundreds of miles that none of us would ever see if these areas were to become "wilderness" I have worked my entire life to protect the forest and never in any way have desecrated the beauty and wonderment of the forests. I think it is a shame and selfish to take away the recreation and enjoyment that we all have by going out into OURNational forest. I believe in upholding the designated wilderness I have hiked many miles there as well, but not all people can access by foot or horse. Shouldn’t everyone have the privilege of enjoying nature at its finest. I believe it is a select few that are destructive with this privilege and should be stopped not the masses that respect and use the National forest as intended, A PLACE FOR ALL TO ENJOY!!!

Friday, 23 October 2009

Derek of Rifle ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): Hunter and Outdoorsman

I have been in this valley my entire life and have enjoyed being the outdoors that Colorado offers. There really is no other place like it. All the back roads that can lead you to some place new and beautiful, all the wildlife you get to spot on these trips, and the oppertunities that bring so many out of state hunters to our neck of the woods. If, this bill goes through... it will directly impact our local economy! From Grocery stores to liquor stores, gas stations and hotels, not to mention The Division of Wildlife! In these hard economic times, we need to be incouraging tourism and out of state hunters. Not Sending them elsewhere! DO NOT let this proposal happen...

Friday, 09 October 2009

dastukes@gmail.com ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): Avid Hunter

I had the distinct privledge to take a disabled Vietnam Vet. on his first and sadly last Elk Hunting trip in Colorado. This was only possible from the access of a major Forest Service Road- FR601. If they shut down the forest, this whole area will reel in Economic pain as our Fall season of Tourism, brought to you by all of the boys in Blaze Orange bring- year after year, dollar after dollar.

Tuesday, 06 October 2009

Phoca Guestbook

Search


	Join Our Mailing List
	» JOIN NOW

Newsflash

The White River Forest Alliance would like to extend a thank you to everyone
who attended the public dialog and forum held on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at Dos
Gringos in Carbondale. Thanks also to Nelson Oldham and the staff of Dos
Gringos who graciously kept the place open late for this forum.

More than 100 wilderness advocates were present, representing a wide
spectrum of user groups, including ranchers, the disabled community,
mountain bikers, dirt-bike riders, hikers, snowmobilers, 4-wheel drivers,
and cross- and backcountry skiers. The forum primarily focused on what is
the true definition of Wilderness, what it means to us as a community and
how we can better work together and develop protocols to preserve our wild
lands while still being able to continue to utilize them.

Scott Fitzwilliams of the White River National Forest and Perry Will from
the Colorado Department of Wildlife were on hand to answer questions
pertaining to their specific organizations. Fitzwilliams spoke directly of
how we can all help augment the staff of the White River National Forest in
maintaining our public lands and educated us as to the process of the WRNF
Travel Management Plan. Will explained in detail the effect of what might
happen to funding for and care of wildlife in the event of blanket closures
of wilderness lands to Wilderness designation.

The White River Forest Alliance is a purely volunteer, Wilderness advocacy
group representing the multiuser in working for protection of our public
wild lands. The goal of the White River Forest Alliance is to create
awareness through education that alternative ways of protecting public lands
exist while still maintaining access and encouraging individuals to take
personal responsibility in gaining a better understanding of and
collaboration between user groups. We encourage the community to become
educated as to what Wilderness means and the processes of what constitutes
Wilderness designation.

White River Forest Alliance

Title:
Name:
Email:
Content:
Image Verification:

www.whiteriverforestalliance.org