The following is from Sarah Rarick...she and her husband Troy own "Over the
Edge" biking shop in Fruita; many of you know them...


----- Forwarded message from Sarah Rarick <mtbsar@...> -----
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 11:47:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: If you like mountainbiking in Fruita....

...then you need to act now. The biking there is
being seriously threatened right now, and if enough of
us write letters, we can stop this from happening.
This isn't one of those "it's too big of an issue for
me and I can't make a difference" kind of a campaign.
If even a hundred of us write letters, it's going to
seriously shake things up. So PLEASE take a minute
and protect biking in Fruita. See my alert below and
PASS THIS ON!

ALERT***** ALERT
****ALERT****ALERT

Your help is needed to protect the NORTH FRUITA DESERT

On September 29th, the Bureau of Land Management
released a management plan for the North Fruita
Desert, the area around what is known to
recreationists as the "18 Road area".


THE FUTURE OF NON-MOTORIZED RECREATION IN FRUITA IS
BEING THREATENED!

The North Fruita Plan is bad! Here's why:


1.The North Fruita Desert Plan opens up over 90% of
the North Fruita area to motorized use, leaving only
about 10% set aside for non-motorized recreation and
conservation.

2. All of the washes and drainages in the North Fruita
planning area are open to motorized use, which means
that parts of the non-motorized area are actually OPEN
to motorized use.

3. Several of the alternatives feature a motorized
trail that runs directly through proposed Hunter
Canyon Wilderness.

4. The plan promotes the construction of a motorized
loop system in the desert, which will essentially
makes the N. Fruita desert a destination area for
motor vehicles

5. The plan recognizes that the North Fruita desert is
home to threatened species and is critical wintering
area for deer, but includes little protections for
them.

6. The plan allows for shooting anywhere in the
resource area, not designated to specific areas

This means quality opportunities for biking, hiking,
horseback riding and wildlife viewing in N Fruita
could be lost.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

The Bureau of Land Management NEEDS to hear that
citizens are not happy with the North Fruita Plan.
You can-

1. Attend the public meeting about the North Fruita
Plan in Grand
Junction, on Oct 23rd and voice your concerns.

2. Write a letter to the Bureau of Land Management
about the plan.

3. Call your local BLM representative.

4. Send an email to your BLM representative.



TALKING POINTS FOR PUBLIC MEETING, LETTERS and EMAIL
MESSAGES:

-Use the points listed on the front side of this alert
for reasons why you are not happy with the North
Fruita Desert plan

-Tell them why the North Fruita Desert is important to
you, experiences you have had there etc. This is
really important and helps for credibility!!!

-Ask for a plan that:

1. Keeps motorized use on designated trails, out of
washes and drainages, and out of the non-motorized
area.

2. Keeps all motorized use out of proposed Hunter
Canyon Wilderness.

3. Prioritizes protection of the area's natural values
and resources.

4. Includes designated shooting areas for the safety
of everyone using the N Fruita Desert.

5. Provides for a fair balance of local recreational
needs and does not seek to turn North Fruita into a
National motorized playground.

NORTH FRUITA PUBLIC MEETING:

Thursday, Oct 23 at 6pm
Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501

Please attend, and have your talking points ready for
the public comment period.

LETTERS must be submitted by Nov 7th!!

Send letters to:

Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501


Please also send a copy to:

James Cooper
Bureau of Land Management
Grand Junction BLM office
2815 H Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81501


Clare Bastable
Colorado Mountain Club
Grand Junction Field Office

1000 N 9th St #29
Grand Junction, CO 81506

EMAILS must be submitted by Nov 7th!! (They give more
weight to actual letters than they do to emails, so if
you can write a letter, that would really help. If
not, at least send an email!)

Send email messages to: james_cooper@...



Please also send a copy to: bastac@...

For more information email bastac@...


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----- End forwarded message -----