OPINION/REFLECTION - Perfect Storm Leads to Recovery

 

                                                            Vestal Road -  Tehama County, CA

OPINION/REFLECTION

By Don Amador

February 15, 2022

 

 PERFECT STORM LEADS TO RECOVERY

  

Over the last three years, many in the greater OHV recreation community experienced a perfect storm that consisted of dealing with massive wildfires in the West, COVID shutdowns, and political unrest.

 

It upended our lives, family, and nation.  On top of that some of us lost a loved one, suffered a serious illness/injury, or lost a job.

 

Crossing of Seasonal Creek - Tehama County

For me it has been a long and difficult journey.   Just how we respond to those trials defines who we are or teaches us what we should be.

 

The good news is we are a resilient people and that positive attitude is often helped by signs we see along our pathway.

                                              Historic Toilet at FS Lookout - Survived Zogg Fire

                                                           Shasta-Trinity National Forest

 While the wildfires were some of the largest and most intense in recorded history, many historic structures and recreation facilities were spared by an unexplained combination of dedicated firefighters, community grit, and providence.

 

In the early days of COVID, it appeared that government officials and health officers were trying to enact guidelines and mandates to protect public health.  But it did not take long for some to see that political science was driving a lot of policy.  Recent revelations appear to back up that impression.

 

I am still trying to process the national political malaise that infected our national body politic. It wreaked havoc all the way from the family dinner table to Washington D.C.

 

The views seen along my recent motorcycle ADV recon ride to review impacts of the Zogg Fire near Redding, California inspired me to write this piece (it also doubled as physical therapy for my rotator cuff surgery). Those scenes include a dirt road through green hills, a seasonal creek crossing, and an historic toilet at a Forest Service lookout that was spared from the Zogg Fire.

 

Growing up in Humboldt County, I always appreciated the simple things in nature.   Riding along dirt roads and seeing creeks, mountains, and valleys inspired me then as they do now.  

Don Amador at Pattymocus Butte Lookout - Spared in Zogg Fire

Shasta Trinity National Forest

 

I believe the trails and roads you take on life’s journey are important.  This ride reinforced that axiom for me.    

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PSA - New Career Opportunities at CA State Parks

 

QWR is posting this notice for our members of our OHV and resource management network who might be interested in pursuing a career with CA State Parks.  There are a number of ways that folks can support responsible recreation and land management and one is actually starting a career with a land management agency.

 

The Park and Recreation Specialist in particular, is a good professional entry level position for college graduates or young professionals.

 

The links below highlight three new online exams that have been released and are now accessible through CalCareers. Qualified candidates will have access to take the exams all year around and on a continuous basis.  The classification titles and links to view the official exam bulletins below:

 

1.            Park and Recreation Specialist : https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/Bulletin.aspx?examCD=2PBAN

 

2.            Staff Park and Recreation Specialist: https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/Bulletin.aspx?examCD=2PBAP

 

3.            Senior Park and Recreation Specialist: https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/Bulletin.aspx?examCD=2PBAR

 

Thanks in advance for reviewing these State Park opportunities.

 

JAN. 13 - HELP GUIDE OHV FUTURE AT BLM'S SOUTH COW MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA

Popular OHV Campground - South Cow Mountain OHV Area

BLM Ukiah Field Office

                      PLAN FOR OHV FUTURE AT COW MOUNTAIN – JAN. 13

 

This is just a heads-up for OHVers who love to ride and/or compete on the trail network at the BLM’s South Cow Mountain OHV Area near Ukiah, CA.  By participating in this specific and important non-scoping effort, it will also give riders experience in participating in other upcoming federal planning efforts on lands managed by the Forest Service and BLM.  Many federal units will or have starting major planning processes that WILL impact – for better or worse - where we ride and compete.

 

QWR believes that your participation is critical at Cow Mountain since the agency’s recent purchase of the 1,300 acre Blue Oak Ranch that could provide improved access to the trail network and easier access for RVs, camping, and staging for competition OHV events.   Here are some topics you may want to comment on:

 

One –  Continue to improve trail maintenance program

Two – Manage and continue historic OHV access for casual use and competition-related camping/staging on river bar at the Scott’s Creek entrance

Three – Construct new trails to separate vehicle types/sizes such as single-track trails to separate smaller OHVs from larger OHVs

Four – Expedite planning and implementation efforts to open the Blue Oak Ranch property

 

There are many other suggestions you may have so feel free to sign up and attend/participate in the January 13 BLM public meeting listed below.

 

BLM EMAIL ALERT BELOW RELATED TO SOUTH COW MOUNTIAN MEETING

Dear South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area Stakeholder;

 

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office wants to hear from you, as our users, how to improve the recreational experience at the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area. We’re inviting you to a public workshop to discuss potential changes to the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area. The workshop will be held via Zoom on Thursday, January 13, 2022, from 5:30-7:00 pm.

 Pre-registration is required to participate. Please use the following link to register for the workshop: https://kearnswest.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpc-2rrzsrHtxch28FDoYtdjI9hwQ1lk0i

  

The January workshop will include:

•             The BLM will explain the goals we hope to achieve with the development of the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area Implementation Plan and how it would benefit the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area and the public. 

•             A demonstration of the virtual mapping tool which will allow the public to provide feedback on existing and potential new trails, amenities, recreational opportunities, and goals for the OHV management area.

•             An opportunity to discuss potential improvements for the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area.

 

Please note that this workshop and the mapping exercise are not part of the scoping process under the National Environmental Protection Act. While your comments in the meeting and in the mapping exercise will help the BLM identify preliminary concepts for the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area Implementation Plan, they will need to be resubmitted once scoping begins in order to be included in the official record for the Implementation Plan.

 

Please feel free to contact us at BLM_CA_UK_SouthCowPlan@blm.gov

with any questions. We look forward to seeing you on January 13.

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Ashley Poggio

Outdoor Recreation Planner, Ukiah Field Office

Bureau of Land Management, California

Department of Interior, Region 10

Office: (707) 468-4056
  

COMMENT ON FS POST-FIRE HAZARD TREE REMOVAL PROPOSAL

 

COMMENT ON REGION 5 HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVEL PROPOSAL

Comments Due on Nov. 15, 2021

 

QWR believes it is important for OHV recreationists to be engaged in important planning efforts that affect our post-fire access to designated roads, trails, and areas that can be used for both casual use and permitted competition events.

 

The Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region (R 5) is accepting comments on the proposed Post Disturbance Hazardous Tree Management Project.   As you know, wildfires over the last several years in California have resulted in fire-killed or damaged trees that pose threats to public health, safety, and property.   The R5 Post Disturbance Hazardous Tree Management project includes hazard tree felling and removal, as well as removal of downed woody fuels resulting from hazard trees (slash), to reduce public safety hazards along portions of roads, trails, and near facilities (campgrounds, trail heads, Forest Service offices).

 

QWR is preparing comments and urges you to file your own comments since most all of us who ride are affected by post-fire impacts to trail use.

 

NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION

https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDAFS/2021/10/26/file_attachments/1976934/Interested_Parties.pdf

  

LINK TO PROPOSED ACTION AND RELATED DOCUMENTS

https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60950

 

Thanks for your review of this public service announcement and for your ongoing support of post-fire management projects.

 

NEWS RELEASE - QWR Relocates to Redding Area to Enhance Recreation Management Opportunities

 

Don Amador (L) with BLM Recreation Manager, Sky Zaffarano (R)

BLM Redding Field Office, Chappie-Shasta OHV Area

NEWS RELEASE

Don Amador

October 12, 2021

QWR Relocates to Redding Area to Enhance Recreation Management Opportunities

Quiet Warrior Racing (QWR) is proud to announce that we have relocated our recreation and wildfire recovery operations to Cottonwood, CA near Redding which is the recreation and wildfire management center of Northern California.  QWR believes this move will enhance our ability to increase access for sustainable OHV recreation on public and private lands for casual trail use, permitted competition events, SxS driver training, and adventure touring.

 

QWR will also continue to work with land agency partners, state agencies, county resource conservation districts, fire services, powersports industry, and forest health collaboratives to restore and recover recreation facilities and other critical resources damaged by wildfire.  

 

Don Amador, President and Founder of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting, states, “QWR is excited about its move up to Cottonwood so our operations will be located much closer to key recreation and forest management activities.  Our post-COVID reality has shown an increased demand for all types of recreation including OHV.   This move will allow QWR to have a greater impact on addressing those related management challenges in a positive manner.”

 

NEW ADDRESS

 

*Until we secure high-speed internet services in this very rural part of the state, the best way to reach us is via email or text.

 

Don Amador, President

Quiet Warrior Racing

3306 West Ho Trail

Cottonwood, CA 96022

Cell: 925.783.1834

Email: damador@quietwarriorracing.com

 

 

 

OHV JOB OPEN TO PUBLIC - GS- 8/9 OHV RECREATION POSITION ON MENDOCINO NF

 

Popular OHV Trail on Upper Lake Ranger District

PSA - JOB OPPORTUNITY 

GS- 8/9 OHV RECREATION POSITION OPEN ON MENDOCINO NF

 

The Recreation HQ is proud to share info with you about an OHV Recreation position (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) that is currently open on the Upper Lake Ranger District on the Mendocino National Forest in Northern California.  Posting expires on September 15.

Please forward this job opportunity to anyone in your trail network who wants to work in one of the most popular OHV programs in the country.   Over the last 30 years, I have had the privilege to work with some of the best Forest Service line-officers, foresters,  and recreation staff that I know of on various OHV recreation and resource management projects.  The Upper Lake Ranger District is home to a high quality network of designated roads, trails, and areas that also connects up to the Grindstone Ranger District and their trail network.

 

This is a permanent full-time position at the GS-8/9 level that is OPEN to the public.  If you or you know of somebody who is interested in this recreation position, please click on the link below.

 

LINK TO OHV RECREATION POSITION ON THE UPPER LAKE RD

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/609119700

 

Thanks for your interest in managed OHV recreation!

JENNIFER EBERLIEN APPOINTED TO LEAD ROLE IN USFS REGION 5

 

NEWS RELEASE

July 23, 2021

By Don Amador

          JENNIFER EBERLIEN TAKES OVER LEAD ROLE IN USFS REGION 5

QWR would like to extend a warm welcome to Jennifer Eberlien as the new Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region (R5).   She is replacing Randy Moore who was recently selected to be the new Chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

 

Don Amador, President of QWR and Government Affairs lead for AMA District 36, states, “I am glad to see Jennifer get the nod to replace Randy Moore as the new R5 Regional Forester.   Over the years, I have had the privilege to work with Jennifer on numerous recreation, access, and resource management issues.  We wish her all the best and look forward to working with her on future projects and collaborative efforts.”

 

LINK TO FS NEWS RELEASE

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD933882

 

Washington, D.C., July 22, 2021— Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen today announced Jennifer Eberlien as regional forester for the Pacific Southwest Region. Eberlien replaces incoming Chief Randy Moore who has served as regional forester in the Pacific Southwest Region since 2007.

 

Eberlien will oversee 18 national forests in California, which include 20 million acres covering the North Coast, Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges and from Big Sur to the Mexican border in the South Coast range. Additionally, she will oversee state and private forestry programs in Hawaii and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands.

 

An agency veteran with nearly 30 years of land management experience, Eberlien is currently stationed in Washington, D.C., where she has served as associate deputy chief for the national forest system since October 2020.

 

“Jennifer’s experience and proven leadership throughout the agency, particularly in the Pacific Southwest Region, makes her the perfect choice to become the next Regional Forester”, said Chief Christiansen, “She will bring care and strength to this critical position on the frontlines of the nation’s wildfire crisis.”

 

Incoming Chief of the Forest Service Randy Moore, who assumes the title of Chief on 26 July, is leaving the Pacific Southwest Region Regional Forester position that Eberlien will start immediately. “Jennifer Eberlien knows this region and is ideally suited for it, having served as Deputy Regional Forester here during her sterling career. She will be the first female Regional Forester in the Pacific Southwest Region and I look forward to continuing to serve with her.”

 

Eberlien started her career with the Forest Service in 1992 on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Park Falls, Wisconsin. She has since served as Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in southwest Oregon, Forest Supervisor of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Everett, Washington, and Deputy Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region in Vallejo, California. Prior to her current post in Washington, D.C., Eberlien served a year as acting regional forester for the Rocky Mountain Region headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

 

Eberlien is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. She also holds a master’s degree in anthropology from Northern Arizona University.

Eberlien assumes her new duties immediately.

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