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Friends of Greenhorn Creek Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/9/08 Friends of Greenhorn Local Recreation Group Says Land Use Planning Must Be An Open ProcessFOLSOM, CA - A Nevada County Recreation group is concerned that closure directives were crafted an a recent secret meeting between the Bureau of Land Management Folsom Field Office, the Tahoe National Forest, Nevada County Sheriffs Office, and Hansen Brothers Enterprises (HBE). The Friends of Greenhorn (FOG) believes Orson Hansen provided a letter to the Nevada County Sheriffs office requesting assistance in keeping recreationists out of the Greenhorn Creek OHV area. A stipulation in the Mining Permit HBE holds at the pleasure of Nevada County clearly states HBE must provide access for “lawful recreation”. It appears that FOG was purposefully excluded from any meaningful participation by the aforementioned agencies and businesses on how to manage recreational access in the affected area “Our group has strong concerns about how decisions are being made in an apparent vacuum by land management agencies, county government, and local businesses.” said Jacquelyne Theisen, Friends of Greenhorn Member and spokesperson for the group. “We’ve put over 250 volunteer work hours into the area last year alone. I believe the recreation community deserves better treatment and a seat at the table.” “In the beginning they have appeared to have a willingness to work with us and other stakeholders to come up with solutions to some of the issues that occasionally crop up in the creek bed”, Theisen goes on to say “Sadly e-mails sent to BLM Folsom Field Office Director Bill Haigh go unanswered and our issues are ignored. I suppose it’s time for us to demand a response.” Confirmed with a Nevada County Sheriffs Office representative, the Greenhorn area is still legally accessible from Buckeye Road. “I encourage people to get down there and keep recreating!!” said Theisen. “Until there is an (obviously predetermined) closure order, and a Record of Decision is filed on Tahoe National Forests Travel Management process, this area will remain open for another couple of years. If you don’t use it, you will definitely lose it.” FOG believes that users should unite with local government officials and other stakeholders to petition the BLM to start a plan amendment process, which could allow for legal OHV use in the areas now closed. FOG believes this is the best track to take but the group wants to reserve the right to investigate other options if the petition process fails FOG is encouraging everyone who recreates in the Greenhorn area to speak up and speak up now. Write to Congressman Doolittle, State Senators Sam Aanestad and Dave Cox, Assembly members Ted Gains, Dick LaMalfa and Rick Keene, Nevada County Supervisors, BLM FFO Director Bill Haigh, Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Tom Quinn, and Hansen Brothers Enterprise’s owner Orson Hansen. Let them know you want open meetings and dialogue. Tell them how your family recreates in the area, and how long your family has recreated in the area. Let them also know how you use the area, panning, rock hounding, OHV, ATV, 4WD, SUV, Motorcycle, camping, touring etc.” For information friends-of-greenhorn@googlegroups.com or contact |
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