Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2013
Members in Attendance:
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Abe, Johnston, Russ, John, Isabel, James, Kim, Junior,
Johnny “Rotten,”
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Members NOT in Attendance:
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Joe
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Guests:
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John Jr.
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I.
General
Announcements
·
Mammoth
M/C Welcomes it newest Member, Mr. Rotten.
A long time dirtbike enthusiast and local 2-stroke expert, Member Rotten
enjoys WFO on his KX500, Nachos, and Fish Lake Valley singletrack. He’s looking forward to a summer of
interesting rides in the Mammoth Lakes and surrounding areas. You can Contact Member Rotten at: outdooractionman@csnbc.com. For an immediate response, please put
“4strokes suck” in the subject line.
·
President
Abe was happy to announce that the NEW club tee-shirts (logo pictured above) will be in production soon, and sticker design
is also on its way. The tee-shirts will
be for sale at $5 above cost.
All proceeds to be kicked back into the treasury. Artwork design is hand drawn, courtesy of the
original “Jo-Jo.” Not the Joe Joe (Co-Co) seen speeding around town in my old
truck. Buy the shirt and support your
local dirtbike rider. FYI: The meaning behind the artwork isn’t as
subjective as you may think; a full interpretation will be explained at our
next meeting.
·
The
MMC 2-day “Death Valley Conservation ride” is scheduled for Saturday, March
23rd and 24th. We’ve got 5 riders so
far. The ride leader will be using his
trusty MVUM map for accurate trail navigation though the national park, so it’s
guaranteed to be an exciting time. Sorry,
all GPS tracks and ride location info are for members only. If the
Weather stays nice, Member Russ might join us as well! If the weather is too nice, however, Member
Russ is going surfing. Or maybe down
south to visit friends.
·
Please note that the Mammoth Motorcycle Club has
changed their membership procedure. In
the past, we’ve been open to all individuals, families, etc., who’ve expressed
an interest and who’ve simply donated (via PayPal or check). This system has worked fine, and we’re happy
to have the membership base that we currently have.
From now on however, individuals interested in joining
the club must either show up to a meeting, or have a current MMC member vouch
for their identity and character (or lack thereof). Approval will be decided on by the Current
club officers and members that at are present at the time. We feel that this change will be better for
our club down the line. The website has
reflected this change.
II.
PR Officer’s Roundtable Report
·
This roundtable meeting was by far, one of the most
productive on record. Happy hour drink specials
were flowing all night. Make no mistake; this special treatment from the
management was well appreciated. Many thanks
to the well-connected club member who made this happen. Live music after the meeting was great. MMC gives the Snow creek Bistro 2 thumbs up!
Members in
attendance are anxious to start the riding season (many already have!); ride
ideas were discussed at length, as well as repair/maintenance suggestions for some
of our favorite trails. We all know how
busy the “Friends” of the Inyo have been…Closing roads, and collecting green
sticker funds and taxes (unchecked).
If
there’s anything we’ve learned from this style of mis-management, is that in order to keep
trails open they must be ridden – and often.
Remember, these individuals and groups responsible for closures and
wanton trail destruction, have not and DO NOT ride. The more they close the less they need to
manage, so they target our riding areas, our trails, and our wallets.
As an offroad club,
we’ve decided that riding off-road motorcycles is much more important than
attending pointless meetings. We may
have been fooled in 2011, but in 2013 we plan on using our rights hands for less
glad-handing and more throttle. I won’t
go into too much detail about what rides and events were discussed (you must
attend for all the juicy details), but ideas ranged from Mammoth’s “Best-of,” to
Fish Lake Valley sand washes, to Sweetwater singletrack and various other dualsport trips.
Mammoth M/C
members are encouraged to run with any project or idea/event they can dream up. We will take our queue from FOI and roll them
out… all summer long!
3 different ride
reports were given during the meeting.
·
Fines: Although not in attendance due to a business
trip overseas, member Joe picked up a fine for abusing the email list (his
second one). Please remember that the
Google group email list is for motorcycle related OHV news and or club related communication
(information). Keep it that way, and
leave all the other BS out. Thanks!
·
Website
News: some updates, check
it out at www.mammothmc.com.
III.
John’s
Land Manager Update
·
And I'm not looking to paint Paul or Jon K. in a bad light.
Whenever a meeting reminder is sent out, different folks get interested in
piping in, this round was no different. The
bottom line is that the USFS is rolling out many projects, too many in my
opinion, but life moves on with or without my participation. At first I
was going to tackle one, then another is announced, and yet another. Meetings
are held to discuss these projects but the scope is very large and makes me
think that the average person (meaning unpaid public) doesn't have the time or
resources to become fully involved. I call it getting buried by the
process, that's what it feels like.
Regardless, thoughtful dialogue can still take place - it is important that we
can understand other point of views besides our own.
(Begin email chain)
(3/13/13
- from Paul, FOI)
Howdy John - Thanks for the reminder.
Wanted to pass on that in our comments on the Forest's proposed Mono Craters
restoration project, I included one of the routes east of the June Lake
Junction that I know you've brought up - U-01S302 - for addition to the Forest
Transportation System, among lots of other things. This is the route that goes
past the small red volcanic cones; it makes sense to add it back in for a
number of reasons. On the Upper Owens project, we suggested that no further
work be done in the Shady Rest area until some sort of area-specific recreation
planning is done, among other things. I hope you guys took advantage of these
projects to get comments in on specific routes.
I also understand that you talked to Laura at the last FS public meeting.
Always good to know the neighbors. She said you wanted to know why we didn't do
projects for motorized recreation. Got any to suggest? Just to get ahead of the
conversation, backhanded suggestions like "don't do travel
management" will be accepted, illicit a grin and then summarily dismissed.
I am seriously looking for projects you and others think would be good -
limbing, tread maintenance, mapping of routes not reflected in travel
management, loop signage, anything.
I have been able to get FS buy-in on having us organize a project maintaining
the single-track connecting the White Mountain Road to Black Canyon to Redding
Canyon in the southwestern Whites this season. I am looking at the first
weekend in June for this as June 1 is National Trails Day. Always looking for
partners and volunteers to ensure we do it right. This trail is one of my
favorite multi-use singletracks around, and we are hoping to have folks from
the full spectrum of the bike community - motors and pedals.
Tomorrow is another of Ed's meetings in Bishop. I am going to bring forward the
desire to have two meetings in Mammoth and two in Bishop each year, as well as
an expansion of the agenda from just OHV grant stuff to projects folks would
like to see done to benefit all forms of Forest recreation - motorized and non,
winter and summer. I've talked to Sauser and he said he would come if the
meetings came back to Mammoth, too. After the meeting, I am heading down to
work with a college spring break trip in the Kiavah Wilderness bordering
Jawbone doing restoration of MX routes in the Wilderness and maintenance on the
PCT. I just got back from there and was pretty blown away by the amount of
infrastructure Ed's own crews have done down there - from signage to campsite
delineation to fencing to road maintenance. It is really dry in the Mojave
right now.
Take care and thanks for any project ideas you all come up with, Paul
(3-13-13 - response from John, MMC)
Hey Paul, glad you have the time to email. I'm glad to hear that the red
volcanic vents will be accessible again. I missed showing them to
friends/family but I guess we could have always walked out there. But
nothing beats driving up on a benign road to collect some lava for any reason
at all. The ice/roller rink has a BBQ I bought from Castoff, the rocks
are from there. I wish we could take advantage and comment but again the
scope is too large. Between multiple staging area projects, proposed
restoration projects with maybe 10 separate areas, and a new forest future plan
roll-out I have a hard time touching all that. (Hammer time) I want too,
but just like travel management the devil is in the details and there are too
many to ferret out. I could make one or two choice comments, but, it is
hard only to take a small bite. I'm on a diet.
I did talk to Laura and I was a little embarrassed that I didn't know who she
was by sight. But she may have gotten my question confused with another
person from the audience. My question was "Is FOI getting out of the
OHV business?" Marty didn't want to answer for her but later she
told me that yes, you all were. Someone else piped in with the statement
that can't FOI enhance OHV rather than just close everything else.
But since you are asking... An adventure trail system like Inyo County’s
could work up here in Mono. I like the idea of people being able to
access our communities for gas, food, lodging - I do it already because I ride
dual sports. Travel Management did a pretty good job of weeding out the
interesting trails and connectors. I always like the idea of unsigned
routes that allowed for one to get lost, I guess nowadays getting lost is
something frowned upon and everyone has an iPhone (and QR codes) to do the
thinking for them. Always interested in new trails, but that doesn't seem
popular with anyone. Opening the track on a limited basis would be nice
too.
Not too concerned with travel management, I think it will prove itself
unsustainable. Eventually money will dry up.
The trail you are mentioning up in the Whites is something I've never been on;
probably it would be over my head with the side hill exposure. I think
it's one of Jerry Counts claim to fame? Not sure. Keep me posted on
the project, I might be able to get some helpers but it's far out.
Sounds like a good time ahead down in Jawbone. It's cool that you walk
your talk, hope you find peace in your work. We're just trying to grow up
with our kids and spend 5-7 days/week with them on the snow. Trying to
sustain that is tough, but worth it. Land projects galore, mostly our own
stuff, but we did buy Manzanar 4 new fruit trees for their welcome plaza.
I'm all about non-native plants and trees, and using Inyo's water and sunlight
to the fullest. See you around, John.
(3/15/13 - from Jon, USFS)
Hi John,
I just wanted to drop a
quick note and remind you and the club of the many projects the Inyo has going
right now and the opportunity for your club and members to comment:
1. Shady Rest Staging Area –
Scoping comment deadline passed, but we will still consider comments in the
analysis. The “official” comment period on the EA will take place later in the
spring.
2. Scenic Loop Staging Areas
– Same as above, comment any time. In both projects, I’m curious what the club
thinks about the off-loading ramps we have proposed. A few motorized users who
participated in the Sherwins Working Group recommended these structures, but I
have since heard from a few OHV and OSV users that they are not really
necessary. What do you all think?
3. Restoration Projects – I
know you are aware of these.
4. OHV Grants – The Inyo has
5 grants, including our law enforcement grant. It would be great if MMC could
comment on these projects. You can do so through the State OHV Division
website. Pay particular attention to the “Travel Management Improvement” grant
that we have asked for. At our open house last night, folks were excited about
this grant.
Hope you all have a good
meeting. The Bistro ribs are pretty incredible.
(3/15/13 - response from John, MMC)
Hi Jon, thanks for the email. I'm aware of all the projects including the
forest re-visioning plan too. (That could be #5.) It's all too much for
me to participate effectively. The restoration projects alone had me
stuck with the multitude of maps and just talking about one road up on
Wheeler Crest.
Also I looked at one OHV grant (restoration and monitoring of Little Antelope
Valley, Mammoth Creek, and urban interface of the Whites) and it appeared to be
just a huge contract for FOI to continue their OHV business. At the one
meeting Laura told me they weren't going after more grants, but, if the USFS is
upon their behalf then what is the difference? The whole point of
protecting the Mammoth Creek water-shed from OHV is a non-issue. There is
no OHV activity in or near Mammoth Creek, protecting Los Angeles water quality
sounds like DWP wrote that grant application, but even they don't care.
Long time ago we used to use berms or dirt piles to unload bikes behind the
Shady Rest ball field #3. They are still there and people get creative
and still use them today. We don't trailer much anymore so we don't use
them, but yes, unloading ramps are functional and will be used. Most
visitors to the area come self-contained and will have their own ramps, but
once they see an unloading ramp they'll use those too. -John.
(3/15/13 back from Jon,
USFS)
Thanks for the comments John. Yes, forest plan revision should have been on the
list, thank you for adding it.
I know that trying to keep
up with all of our projects – to read all the documents, to study all the maps
and to take time to comment – is a challenge for the public. This problem has
been mentioned many times and I will continue to advocate that we do all we can
to simplify our documents, maps and the access to this information. Public
input on these processes is extremely helpful and we have a responsibility to
make the process as minimally onerous as possible while still following the
laws and policies that govern our planning and decision making.
The “Restoration,
Monitoring and Repairs” grant application does include a request to fund a FOI
restoration crew. The crew would cost about $100k per year and 1/3 of the cost
is paid for by FOI, over three years. As with any organization that has the
capacity, skills and ability to perform work that the Forest has identified as
a priority, the INF will continue to partner with FOI to accomplish our program
of work in a way that engages the public in the management of their lands. The
most attractive part of the FOI relationship for the INF is that organization’s
interest and ability to facilitate volunteer efforts and get the public out on
the ground to help manage the national forest. The US Forest will work
with any organization that shares this interest and can help the forest
implement its management objectives. If MMC or any other organization would
like to assist with the maintenance of the motorized system, I would be glad to
help facilitate that partnership. Please note that ALL work performed by
FOI or any other partner organization is directed by and overseen by the US
Forest Service. The “Travel Management Improvement” grant, if we receive it,
will be an opportunity for groups, like yours, to work with the USFS to
identify and prioritize ways that we can enhance the motorized system. I
believe that this management objective would be in line with your club’s
interests, so hopefully we can work together on this. If your club, or members
of the club, has interest, please submit a comment to the OHV division stating
how the club or members want to be involved.
As for Mammoth Creek,
existing bare soil on some of the routes that are not part of the motorized
system is leading to erosion into Mammoth Creek. Sedimentation into streams is
a water quality issue and the US Forest Service has a responsibility to
mitigate these resource impacts. Improving water quality is not only in the
interest of the downstream water consumer (LA), but also of interest to anglers
who want healthy fish populations along Mammoth Creek and the Owens River. Fish
rely on cold oxygenated water and sedimentation leads to increased water
temperatures. Especially in these drought years, it’s important to keep these
streams running as cold and clear as possible.
Thanks again John for
taking the time engage. Please keep it up and encourage your club to ask
questions and submit comments.
(3/15/13 forth from John, MMC)
Hi Jon, thanks for taking the time to clarify. I understand that FOI is
poised to partner, the same can be said for CLM (California Land
Management). My preference is for your organization to manage the land,
not others. Some things shouldn't be outsourced. I do understand
that you have a good relationship with FOI.
Part of my beef with them is that they are 'wilderness' driven and
backed. Of course they also have well rounded, normal, folks on board who
enjoy all recreation. I always read their Jeffery Pine Journal because
it's very informative and I like conservation too. However, in many
previous issues their members and articles would brag about how their passion
is signing roads closed to OHV. It's all online and I can forward links
if you'd like. So flash forward to now, and they've turned that passion
into a paying gig.
One time in the desert a whole contingent went down there and put about 40
signs and numerous barricades all over one of our properties at the mouth of
Surprise Canyon. No one knew! It was a sign/blockade party, lots of
time and materials all to be wasted on the tax-payers dime.
Overseen can mean varying degrees of supervision. We participated in one
field day out at Inyo Craters hosted by FOI and MLTPA. There was no
supervision and conflicting orders. It appeared that FOI had their own agenda
and wanted specific areas of the parking lot and other spurs closed even though
the direction from USFS was not to close anything. I was there.
I'm not suggesting that MMC can do better. But the USFS can, and if it
costs more, it's worth it.
And I don't disagree with water quality issues. Our household drinks
straight from the creek. (Not Mammoth) What I disagree with is how OHV is
spun into Mammoth Creek thereby needing the grant. I see it as 'needing
the grant' creates issues that really have no cause or effect from OHV.
It makes me uncomfortable. Mammoth Creek is heavily impacted by use up at
the Lakes Basin, and comes right through town, condos, miles of walking trails
(user created and Town/USFS created), and heavy grazing, only to end up right
on private (LADWP) controlled land, except for a few spots that are USFS or
someone else. OHV isn't a player in Mammoth Creek.
I'll take a look at the TM improvement application, if there is something there
we can work with I'll let you know. -John.
(3/15/13 final from Jon,
USFS)
Thanks John. I understand your concerns and we share some of them. I will
continuing to work on improving how we partner with organizations and keep your
ideas in mind. I appreciate the thoughtful input, Jon
IV.
Summary
If you’ve managed to make it this far and still understand
what's going on, you are doing very well indeed. See ya next time!
