The Forest Service has released their draft plan for the Manti LaSal Forest. The Manti LaSal forest is in Northern Utah near Manti, and also in the LaSal Mountains in Colorado east of Moab. It makes up 1.4 Million acres in total. It is home to both the Arapeen Trail System as well as some of the best snowmobiling areas in Utah.

The plan has potentially devastating impacts on winter recreation, substantial cutbacks in motorized vehicle areas, and proposes 7 areas to be considered Wilderness areas.

REMEMBER: When submitting comments, the most important ones, and the hardest for us to get, are details on the trails you use. Include photos and Forest Service Road Numbers if you know  them, Please get your comments sent in one of the 3 ways before November 16.

BlueRibbon Coalition will be publishing comments on the plan, but we need your comments as well, especially those concerning how you, or your family, has used the area, what trails, what time of year, forms of recreation, any access issues like disabilities, etc. You can learn more about the details and submit comments on BRC’s Action Alert here.

Visit the Forest Service Project Page and Submit Comments Directly to the Forest Service Here. Suggested tip, hopefully you will have long strings of comments, photos, and more. These are most easily submitted by writing them in a document and attaching them rather than using the form box.

UPLA received comments from the San Pete Tourism Office which are copied below that you might use as a basis for your own comments.

WINTER RECREATION AND ACCESS
GUIDELINES (FW-WINTER-GD) – PAGE 2-60
02 TO MANAGE FOR AND PROVIDE A DIVERSITY OF WINTER RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, MOTORIZED, OVER-SNOW TRAVEL IS NOT SUITABLE IN PRIMITIVE AND SEMI-PRIMITIVE NON-MOTORIZED RECREATION OPPORTUNITY SPECTRUM CLASSES EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCIES OR ADMINISTRATIVE USES. NEW MOTORIZED FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD NOT BE DEVELOPED IN THOSE CLASSES.
Motorized over-snow travel is suitable in primitive and semi-primitive non-motorized recreation opportunity spectrum classes, as the landscape is protected by a layer of snow. No evidence of over-snow travel remains after the snow melts. Also, the more over-snow machines spread out, the lower the impact on wildlife, and the less conflict with non- motorized users that tend to recreate close to trailheads.
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SPECTRUM, NORTH ZONE
Summer ROS: no semi-primitive non-motorized areas should be designated in the Sanpete Ranger District. Alternative A is the preferred option for the north zone.
Winter ROS: no semi-primitive non-motorized areas should be designated- except on big game winter range.
RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT AREA
No areas on the north zone should be considered as wilderness, specifically:
1. Blind canyon
2. Mill fork
3. Fish creek
4. Candland mountain
5. Gentry mountain
6. Canal canyon
7. Sanpitch
Nor should the following standards, objectives, & guideline be practiced for the north zone. Such practices essentially allow the land to be managed as wilderness without congressional approval.
OBJECTIVES (MA-RECWILD-OB) – PAGE 4-95
01 TO ENSURE MAINTENANCE OF THE WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS THAT COULD ALLOW THESE AREAS TO BE ADDED TO THE WILDERNESS SYSTEM, CLOSURE ORDERS FOR COMMERCIAL FILMING AND LAUNCHING SHOULD BE WRITTEN WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF PLAN APPROVAL.
02 OVER THE LIFE OF THE PLAN, REQUEST THAT ALL RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS AREAS BE WITHDRAWN FROM MINERAL ENTRY IN CONFORMANCE WITH SECTION 204 OF THE FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976 (NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976).
STANDARDS (MA-RECWILD-ST)
01 COMMERCIAL FILMING SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED IN RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS AREAS.02 RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECREATION OPPORTUNITY SPECTRUM CLASSIFICATION OF PRIMITIVE.
03 RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS AREAS SHALL NOT BE SUITABLE FOR TIMBER PRODUCTION.
04 TIMBER HARVEST IN A RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS AREA SHALL ONLY OCCUR IF REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS OF THAT AREA.
05 RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS AREAS SHALL BE SUITABLE FOR WATERSHED RESTORATION ACTIVITIES WHERE THE OUTCOMES WILL PROTECT THEIR WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS, IF THE ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATION ARE MAINTAINED AND PROTECTED.
06 RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS AREAS SHALL NOT BE SUITABLE FOR MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED TRANSPORT, UNLESS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES, VALID EXISTING RIGHTS, OR ADMINISTRATIVE USE.
07 RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS AREAS SHALL NOT BE SUITABLE FOR NEW MOTORIZED OR MECHANIZED ROADS OR TRAILS.
08 SCENERY MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SCENIC INTEGRITY OBJECTIVE OF HIGH OR VERY HIGH. GUIDELINES (MA-RECWILD-GD)
01 TO MAINTAIN WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS, FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIONS SHOULD APPLY MINIMUM IMPACT STRATEGIES AND TACTICS, EXCEPT WHEN DIRECT ATTACK IS NEEDED TO PROTECT LIFE, ADJACENT PROPERTY, OR TO MITIGATE RISKS TO RESPONDERS.
02 TO ENHANCE OR IMPROVE WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS, VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ACTIONS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN USING THE MINIMUM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES NECESSARY.
03 TREE CUTTING MAY OCCUR INCIDENTAL TO OTHER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS TRAIL CONSTRUCTION, TRAIL MAINTENANCE, REMOVAL OF HAZARD TREES, OR FIRELINE CONSTRUCTION.

The BLM is asking for people interested in serving in various citizens advisory committees for the BLM. These are important opportunities to give early opinions about land use policies. Joan Kroc has been serving for almost 4 years and her term will be up in 2025, so we need volunteers to speak up for these positions.

NatCallforNominationsOct2023

Blue Routes Open, Red Closed, All Other Colors Restricted

It’s very difficult to comprehend the extent of the adverse actions against OHV access to our public lands. This interactive ArcGIS map of the Labyrinth Rims Gemini Bridges is layered so you can compare the closed routes to lands with wilderness characteristics and bighorn sheep lambing habitat to see that’s where the vast majority of the closures are. There’s also a layer showing SUWA’s Red Rock Wilderness proposal which also includes the areas with the most closures.

This map is the courtesy of Patrick McKay with CO Offroad Trail Defenders Virtual Crew, who has done immense work in trying to protect our access.

Labyrinth Rims Decision (arcgis.com)

If you’re fed up, take action by donating to Utah Public Lands Alliance. Up to the first $50,000, every donation will be matched dollar for dollar and the entire amount given to BlueRibbon Coalition for supercharging our fight. That would big a war chest of $100,000 to get them started!

It is with a heavy heart that we bring you the distressing news from Moab today—a destination cherished by many for its rugged trails and breathtaking landscapes. A staggering 317 miles of roads, including iconic trails like Hey Joe Canyon, Ten Mile Wash, and Hell Roaring Canyon, are facing closure by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM-FOREVER). This alarming trend is not isolated to Moab; it’s spreading across various regions, threatening the very essence of not only off-highway vehicle (OHV) activities, but everyone that uses motorized vehicles to get to the areas they enjoy recreating, including equestrians, rock climbers, backpackers, and virtually everyone that wants to get into the backcountry by vehicles before setting off on to enjoy their next adventure.

The recent decisions related to the BLM Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase National Monuments expansion, Middle Gila in Arizona, Rock Springs Resource Management Plan in Wyoming, Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest in Idaho, and Table Mesa in Arizona have further fueled concerns. These decisions are adversely affecting not only the off-road community but also devastating snowmobiling and other OHV activities in places like the Manti LaSal National Forest.

In times like these, being merely mad is not enough. We must unite and fight back to stem the tide of these continuous losses. Understanding the urgency of the situation, the Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA) has taken a stand and selected the BlueRibbon Coalition to lead this crucial fight. BlueRibbon has been fighting for our access for over 30 years, and we now want to supercharge their ability to lead this fight.

Now, we’re reaching out to you, the backbone of the off-road community, not just for comments or letters, but for your financial support. We need funds to mount a legal battle against these closures, and we’re asking your organization to stand with us in this critical moment.

UPLA is spearheading a fundraising campaign to benefit BlueRibbon Coalition defense efforts. We are so committed to this effort to save our future, UPLA is matching the first $50,000 in donations dollar for dollar, meaning your donation’s value will be doubled. In addition, we are seeking other clubs, businesses, and organizations to join this effort to extend the match beyond the first $50,000

Together We Can Win, But We Can’t Do It Without You.

Your support is not just a donation; it’s an investment in the future of off-road adventures.

to save the trails we love, protect our rights to explore, and ensure that future generations can experience the thrill of off-road adventures.

Thank You!

Loren Campbell

president@utahpla.com

The BLM is expected to release their Moab Labyrinth Canyon Travel Management Plan by September 30, and we are extremely concerned their plan is going to mirror other recent Federal government actions. We’re working closely with BlueRibbon Coalition to help prepare for legal appeals, but We Can’t Do It Without You.

The most common reasons for closure are that a trail is a duplicate, not being used, or is actively being reclaimed. It’s vital to prepare a good legal strategy to know details about every trail, including Trail Conditions, GPX tracks, Photos, and Why the Trail is Important, and we must gather this information BEFORE the closure takes effect.

Thanks to Patrick McKay with Colorado Offroad Trail Defenders, we’ve identified 199 miles of that need a status update.

What we need your help with is Running These Trails. Download the free tracks from UtahPLA.com  (We have both GPX and KML versions), load them into your navigation system, and go run the trails. We need you to record your track on the trail and report the Trail Using the UPLA form. Photos tell the story of a thousand words, so if you can submit a few pics that will really help.

Time is limited, so we hope that everyone going to Moab in the next month will help us collect data. Don’t worry about duplicates either, the more reports on the same trail add to our story.

Thank You, and Please Share This Message With All Your Friends

Click Here to Access the Tracks from our CalTopo Site where you can download them in any format you need

Click on From to Open Reporting Form

AND THEN

Click Here to Submit your own Comments Opposing This Rule by August 14