Access Groups Claim Legal Victory on
Eldorado Forest Lawsuit
SACRAMENTO, CA (May 9)
- A national trail-based recreation group and
state off-highway vehicle organizations claim huge access victory in
today's legal ruling. Over 2,000 miles of recreational roads and trails
will remain open on the Eldorado National Forest. The anti-access
advocates had asked the court to close the entire National Forest to
motorized users.
Senior U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton
issued a tentative
ruling today that directs Forest Service attorneys to prepare an order
authorizing vehicular travel on approximately 2,245 miles of
recreational system roads and trails. The judge had issued an earlier
ruling that found the 1990 Travel Management Plan and 1999 Rock
Creek
Trail Plan to be out of compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act.
Groups praising the ruling today include the
California Enduro Riders
Association, the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs,
District 36 of the American Motorcyclist Association, the California
Off-Road Vehicle Association, and the BlueRibbon Coalition.
According to Paul Turcke, lead counsel for the
recreation groups, "I
think Judge Karlton looked at all the issues and decided to try and
find some middle ground. This ruling also directs the agency to further
analyze travel management on a forest-wide basis and orders them to
follow their 1999 Rock Creek Trail Plan."
Don Amador, western representative for the
BlueRibbon Coalition,
states, "I think this is a huge victory for those of us who champion
responsible use of our forest lands. The anti-access groups had wanted
to close the entire forest to the public but they were wrong. I think
the judge looked at the various partnerships that exist between the
agency and user groups and that had a positive affect."
The case is entitled Center for Sierra Nevada
Conservation v. Berry,
Case No. CV-03-325.
