Monday, April 18, 2022

TRAIL VOLUNTEERS RISING

 

Forest Service Chainsaw Class - Mendocino National Forest


VOLUNTEERS RISING

  

It’s no secret the prolonged COVID-19 shutdowns had a devastating impact on many non-profit organizations that provide both contract and volunteer workers to help land agencies deal with post wildfire related trail clearing and other recreation projects.

 

Despite the hammer dropping on large-scale volunteer efforts during the lockdown, the good news was that some units allowed small 2-5 person teams that consisted of long time private sector partners to help with clearing downed trees off of trails and other routes.  

 

Those smaller work parties were often the difference between a trail network being reopened to the public and/or helped reduce the off-route impacts from users creating their own unauthorized reroutes to bypass trails sections blocked by downed trees.

 

The other good news is that the Forest Service and non-profit partners have - or are in the process of - restarting chainsaw certification classes for agency fire staff, recreation personnel, and volunteers.

 

The new Region 5 (CA National Forests) Chainsaw Class Video is real cool with good vibes – a great sign that things are getting better.   Watch it… it will make you smile.  You might even recognize yourself or somebody you know.

 

https://vimeo.com/698362331?ref=em-share

 

Thanks to all of you out there who already serve as volunteers or want to join that force.

 

# # #

 

 

Thursday, April 7, 2022

QWR NEWS RELEASE - CONGRESSMEN PETITION BLM TO REOPEN CLEAR CREEK RECREATION AREA

Will Harris, CA State Parks (L) and Don Amador, QWR/D36 (R)
May 2021 Field Trip of Clear Creek


NEWS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Don Amador

Email: damador@quietwarriorracing.com

Date: April 7, 2022

 

CONGRESSMEN PETITION BLM TO REOPEN CLEAR CREEK RECREATION AREA

 

 

COTTONWOOD, CA  (APRIL 7, 2022) -  OHV enthusiasts cheer two local congressional representatives  in Central California who sent a joint letter today to the BLM CA State Director, Karen Mouritsen, urging her to take administrative action to reopen the Clear Creek Recreation Area to managed OHV use.  Congressmen Jimmy Panetta and David Valadao said restoring public access would also benefit non-motorized recreation and address illegal uses.

 


Don Amador, President of Quiet Warrior Racing and Director of Government Affairs for AMA District 36, states, “The joint letter sent by Congressmen Panetta and Valadao petitioning the BLM to reopen Clear Creek is just the sort of good news the OHV community needs to hear.”

 

The letter also cited the field trip last year of Clear Creek as an important opportunity for local stakeholders and government representatives to learn about the risks associated with reopening the area, as well as for BLM to hear the concerns of the community that strongly supports reopening of the recreation area.



 

“I believe this joint letter will be the catalyst for starting an administrative planning process for reopening Clear Creek and reestablishing it as an important part of the OHV recreation land matrix to help address capacity challenges at other federal and state riding areas in California,” Amador concludes.

 

# # #

 

Contact Don Amador via email for a copy of the April 7 joint letter from Congressmen Panetta and Valadao