OPINION - FOREST ROADS PROVIDE CRITICAL ACCESS TO RECREATION, WILDFIRE, AND FOREST HEALTH ACTIVITIES

POST 2020 AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE ROADSIDE HAZARD TREE MITIGATION

Mendocino National Forest

 

Don Amador

OPINION

May 21, 2025

 

FOREST ROADS PROVIDE CRITICAL ACCESS TO RECREATION, WILDFIRE, and FOREST HEALTH ACTIVITIES

  

As a long-time partner that depends on access to Forest Service System Roads and Trails for OHV recreation and post wildfire trail stewardship efforts, QWR appreciates Chief Tom Shultz’s commitment to managed outdoor recreation, resource management, fuel projects, and wildfire mitigation activities.

 

In fact, the Forest Transportation System functions as the common thread that binds or connects virtually all forest recreation, management, research, or cultural activities.  

KEY FOREST ROAD NORTH/SOUTH TRANSPORATION ROUTES

Mendocino National Forest

 

Yet to date, none of the Administration’s stated policies or guidelines – including the May 20 post by Acting Associate Chief Chris French – highlight “roads” as a key focus area or acknowledge that none of the on- the- ground Forest management objectives or goals happen unless Forest roads damaged or blown out during winter storms are repaired in a timely manner.

 

ACTING ASSOCIATE CHIEF CHRIS FRENCH, MAY 20, STATEMENT ON OPERATIONAL PLANNING

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/leadership/update-interim-operational-planning

 

French notes the actions below aim to maintain essential services, address critical risks, and support the agency's priorities. Key focus areas (sans ROADS) with dedicated working groups include:

 

•             Employee and public safety

 

•             Disaster recovery

 

•             Active management (timber/vegetation/fuels)

 

•             Recreation

 

•             Energy, minerals and geology

 

•             NEPA planning

 

•             Grants and agreements

 

•             Information technology

 

•             Communication and legislative affairs

 

•             Fire response (incident management capacity)

 

•             Human resources

 

•             Law enforcement and investigations

 

•             Budget

 

•             Chief Finance Office (payments, billings & reimbursable agreements) 

 

•             Procurement & property services/contracts, facilities & leasing

 

 

 

Over the last 4-5 years, the subject of not having the funds and resources to effect post-winter repairs of FS storm damaged roads is almost always part of any conversation that QWR has had with agency staff or partners.

POST 2020 AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE ROADSIDE HAZARD TREE MITIGATION

Mendocino National Forest

QWR believes the Administration and Congress should make maintaining a quality Transportation System a top priority if they plan on increasing the pace and scale of forest management treatments and providing access to outdoor recreation.  

 

CHIEF TOM SHULTZ POSTS MAY 6 UPDATE ON NEXT STEPS

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/leadership/our-next-steps

PS- Thanks to the hard work by Mendocino NF crews and partners to recover forest lands and recreation facilities damaged by the 2018 Ranch Fire and 2020 August Complex Fire. 

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Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for 35 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance.  Don is a Co-Founder and Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino, a forest health collaborative that is part of the National Fire Learning Network.  Don served as an AD Driver for the Forest Service North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Fire Seasons. Don is a  Northwest California native and writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.  Don may be reached by email at: damador@cwo.com