Monday, January 27, 2025

OPINION - NORTHWEST FOREST PLAN HIGHLIGHT KEY ROLE OF COLLABORATIVES

Post Fire Hazard Sign - 2015 Route Complex Fire - Six Rivers National Forest


 


OPINION

By Don Amador

January 27, 2025

  

 

NORTHWEST FOREST PLAN HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF COLLABORATIVES

  

On, January 23, 2025, I attended a public meeting at Shasta College in Redding where the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment Draft Environmental Statement (DEIS) planning team gave an update on the planning effort.  Approximately, 50 stakeholders from across the North State attended the meeting to learn more about the DEIS and to share their views and concerns about current and proposed management of their National Forests.


NWFP Amendment DEIS Public Meeting - January 23, 2025
Shasta College, Redding, CA 


 

Several of the key concerns expressed by public statements or in discussions were about the truncated plan timeline, missing significant issues such as Recreation/Transportation Road and Trail System due to self-imposed narrow sideboards, and questioning the practical value of this multi-state regional planning document given the critical staff shortages and other factors at the Forest level which severely limit the agency from implementing current on-the-ground forest health and fuel projects.


Dan Yasuda,  FS Planning Lead 


 I think Don Yasuda, one of the Amendment’s planning leads, did a good job explaining how the agency developed their “Dry” and “Moist” forest management strategies that do reflect a lot of careful consideration of science, lessons learned from the 1994 Forest Plan, and public input.  Don noted the important role that tribes and local stakeholder collaboratives have, and will continue to have, in forest management.

 

While appreciating the work put into the plan so far, I asked the question about why the plan did not appear to analyze post fire restoration and forest management on the millions of acres of National Forest lands that were nuked by massive wildfires during 2018 – 2021 fire seasons?

 

It seemed the answer to that question about why that issue was not analyzed in detail and a subsequent strategy developed was due in part to the compressed timeline and overwhelming size of the 3-state planning area.  

 

Several people in attendance expressed doubt about the future of the process given the Trump Administration’s “pause or hold” on NEPA plans until after appointees have time to review them.

 

The FS Planning Team leads and representatives from the Mendocino, Six Rivers, and Shasta Trinity National Forests should be commended for fielding a lot of questions from the audience and sticking around to engage in meaningful dialogue with the public.


Allen Schrage - Mendo 4x4 Club Conservation Lead
  

 

It was great to be joined by the Mendo 4x4 Club conservation lead Allen Schrage and his family where he continued his strong advocacy efforts in support of agency partnerships and managed OHV recreation on public lands.

 

I encourage the recreation community to remained engaged in the planning process and to submit substantive comments on the DEIS.   The future of our forests and recreation opportunities in the Pacific Northwest depends on your participation. 

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don is a Co-Founder and Current Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don served as a North Zone Fire Cache AD Driver for the 2022 to 2024 fire seasons. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.  Don can be reached via email at: damador@cwo.com

 

 

Monday, January 13, 2025

POST WILDFIRE TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

2022 CA State Park Wildfire Presentation 



OPINION - By Don Amador - 1/13/25

  

Post Wildfire Traumatic Stress Disorder

 

Besides sending donations to organizations that are providing relief services to victims of the ongoing LA wildfires there is not much that I can do to provide immediate in-person assistance to those suffering tragic losses.

 

I have spent most of my personal life and professional career  recreating and working on public lands in Northern California impacted by the 450,000 acre 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire and the 1 million acre+ 2020 August Complex Fire and 2021 Dixie Fire.

Hard Traffic Stop on Highway 199
2023 Smith River Complex Fire


 I hope the following grief-related information that I have gathered since then might help affected parties in some small way cope with, and process, the devastating long-term effects these fires have on displaced families, first responders, business owners, relief workers, and many others.

 

The American Psychological Association (APA) states that trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.

 

APA goes on to say that accidents or wildfires are typically unexpected, sudden and overwhelming. For many people, there are no outwardly visible signs of physical injury, but there can be nonetheless an emotional toll. As we are seeing, it is common for people who have experienced disaster to have strong emotional reactions.

 

Health professionals at the Mayo Clinic state that Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

 

The Mayo Clinic also states that most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.

2019 Post Wildfire Recovery Project on 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire


 I have found the posting of stories and pictures of my experiences in the affected areas to be therapeutic.  Talking with friends, colleagues, and partners are other important ways that survivors cope with PTSD.

  

As the LA Firestorm continues, it is important for us to exercise patience until firefighters and other 1st responders complete their assignments and understand they may be in some stage of a Post Wildfire Traumatic Stress Disorder (PWTSD).

 

Also, it is important for family members and friends that are outside of the burn area to understand that they too might be suffering from PWTSD.

  

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. . Don is a Co-Founder and current Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.  Don may be reached via email - damador@cwo.com 

Sunday, January 12, 2025

QWR OPINION - RECREATION ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO NATION AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

Backcountry OHV Route
BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area
Redding Field Office



REPORTS SHOW HUGE ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO RURAL AREAS AND THE NATION

As both motorized and non-motorized recreation organizations engage in the 2025 state and federal legislative season, it’s important to remember the good fiscal news they got last year when the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) found that outdoor recreation continues to provide a significant fiscal benefit to the U.S. economy. According to the latest data from the BEA Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, outdoor recreation generated $1.2 trillion in economic output (2.3% of GDP), comprises 3.1% of U.S. employees and accounted for 5 million jobs in 2023. 

 

BEA 2024 REPORT

https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/orsa1124_0.pdf


Bothemotash Campground with Trinity Alps in Background
BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area, Redding Field Office

 

Fiscal contributions made by the powersports community were presented at the August 1, 2024 CA State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission meeting that highlighted the initial results of a multiyear study the economic impacts of OHV and OSV recreation in California.  That preliminary report authored by Samuel Lankford - a professor at California State University, Fresno – detailed data gathered in over 2,500 in-person surveys.  The study showed that  OHV and OSV recreation provides a $10 billion economic impact to the state and supports approximately 58,000 permanent, temporary, and seasonal jobs and generates $1.8 billion in tax revenues. A final report is expected in early 2025.



Bohemotash Campground, BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area, Redding Field Office

 

The study also included the economic impact of permitted motorized special events that occur mostly at destination OHV areas managed by the Forest Service, BLM, and CA State Parks. Some of the larger events include vehicle use on the Rubicon Trail at $57.4 million and the King of Hammers at $34 million.

Black Diamond OHV Trail, Chappie Shasta OHV Area, Redding Field Office

 



One prime local example of where those motorized-related economic benefits are generated is at BLM’s Chappie Shasta OHV Area located next to Lake Shasta about 15 minutes from Redding, CA.  This destination unit provides access to over 250 miles of world class high quality routes that are open to dirt-bikes, ATVs, SxSs, and 4 wheel-drives.  The trail system has a wide range of difficulty ratings from easy to black diamond.  It also has a very challenging 4x4 obstacle course at the main staging area along with a beginner play track.

                                Scenic Overlook of Lake Shasta with Mt. Lassen in Background


The high country routes and the Bohemotash Mountain dry camping area provide many multi-million dollar views of the Shasta Bally, Trinity Alps, Marble Mountains, Mount Shasta, Mount Lassen, and Lake Shasta.  

View of Mt. Shasta from Bohemotash Campground
BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area


 

QWR President, Don Amador, states, “I am proud of the partnership that exists between the OHV community and our partner land agencies that work together to provide access to sustainable motorized trail opportunities on public lands in the Western US at riding area like Chappie Shasta where outdoor recreation brings a significant economic benefit to rural communities.”

 

“It is inspiring to see how the BLM recreation staff worked with local OHV clubs and a post wildfire recovery non-profit - with grant support from the CA Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division – to repair damage done by the devastating 2018 Carr Fire and promptly reopen the recreation site to public use,” Amador concludes.

# # # 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.