Re: Juniper Flats in the News

Thank you for toning down your rhetoric. You are obviously presenting Gail Fry's agenda in response to my earlier request to her. Although the last posting seemed to be the personality of William Schweiss, it seems that Gail is back, so I will speak to her.

Your agenda is familiar to locals and very likely to readers of this forum: resentment of law enforcement and public agencies including BLM, perceived and actual governmental disfunction, resentment of private landowners, disdain for BLM biologists and support for legalizing all trails in the desert. You claim that the public is being fed incorrect facts without being specific. Much of your agenda is against protection of the environment. You have a tough balancing act as an activist because activism tends towards environmental awareness. But, then again Swartzenegger is campaigning as a conservative, so whatever works for you (as long as you are able to stay in the closet).

As for your claim that you were left out of the process, you were at the meeting at the Green Tree when all attendees were invited to speak. Laughing Bear spoke in behalf of the local residents and property owners. Various persons concerned about species and environmental protection also spoke. The OHV community had representation. However, for all the anger you have voiced towards the residents, environmental organizations and the BLM itself, you never stood up to say a single word. The reporter that wrote the Daily Press article was in attendance. She may have written a different story if you would have stated your viewpoint that evening instead of waiting until the article was written to complain through this Forum as "Auggie". If you really represent John Q. Public as you claim, why didn't you stand up and address your constituency at the Green Tree?

Perhaps you should check your own facts as you do not know the area like the back of your hand as you claim. Cottonwood Springs was the reason that the ACEC was established in the first place and is very definitely within its boundaries. That has been the whole focus of resident's objection to the trail through it.

The fencing you are obsessing about is either cattle-grazing fence or part of the Willow Fire restoration effort. While you were looking for attorneys to file lawsuits, the BLM biologists were planning and effecting a fire restoration effort which included fencing. What did they do to deserve your wrath? Are you also blaming them for placing the fencing around the Village, Bowen Ranch and in the Devil Fire recovery area off 3N14? All of these projects were approved by the Area Manager. Your beef should be with him.

And, yes, residents do support the recreational needs of the non-motorized users and their right to ride and hike in a designated area without interference from dirt bikers. That area should be Cottonwood Springs. Your support for an OHV trail through Cottonwood Springs is one step from opening Deep Creek Hot Springs to OHV's.

Like a pig, your favored illegal trail will never fly, Auggie/Gail/William.