Backcountry Horsemen of California:
Antelope Valley Unit

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC LANDS AND TRAIL PROJECTS.
Marcy Watton -- 270-0333

Many thanks to the following people who worked on February 19th on the PCT west of Hughes Canyon Road: Ian & Pat Coster; Pat & Eric Gordon; Mike McKelvey; Jerry Stone; Bill Moore; Vance Kirkpatrick; Mary Timmer; Don & Sue Stanley; Kay Brickner; Greg Shnell.

ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK GENERAL PLAN:

A public meeting is being held in San Diego on June 20 regarding the General Plan of Anza Borrego State Park. Equestrians need to attend, write, and/or call to maintain the right to ride and camp in the park. Another meeting will be held in Los Angeles later in June.

Some of the issues raised so far by equestrians included:
1. Horses should be allowed on all trails, primitive roads and in washes, unless otherwise posted.
2. Park rangers should not be allowed to close trails, roads or washes to horses without justifiable cause.
3. Develop a procedure which includes sound science and public input prior to area/trail closure.
4. Establish volunteer equestrian patrols that encourage users to respect park rules and educate gentle use principles.
5. Maintain and manage wild horses in Coyote Canyon; do not eliminate them.
6. Encourage and support volunteer equestrian service projects for trail maintenance and construction.
7. Provide funding and maintenance for the PCT, the Juan Bautista De Anza National Trail, and CA Riding and Hiking Trail within the park.
8. Maintain the existing ?open camping? policy.
9. Provide an email address for public input on the General Plan. and
10. Provide a website for information and progress concerning the General Plan.
    

Send your comments to:
Mr. Clay Phillips
Senior Parks and Recreation Manager
CA State Parks Southern Service Center
8885 Rio San Diego Drive #270
San Diego, CA 92108-1626
619/220-5300

WEED SEED FREE FORAGE:

As reported by Toby & Katie Horst, San Joaquin Sierra Unit, some of the particulars of the program are:
Any feed for recreational stock while riding or pasturing in Forest Service, BLM, and Park Service Land will be CWFF type. It is encouraged that recreational stock users feed CWFF to their equestrian animals at least 12 hours before entering Federal Lands. The CWFF Program will be phased in over three years in order to allow time for CWFF to become available and the growers to develop a market. The first year will be an education year; during the second year warnings will be issued; the third year will begin the compulsory compliance with possible fines if found not in compliance. Documentation of CWFF compliant feed will be certified by either tags or bailing twine identifying the feed, possibly both.

Recreational stock users are being asked to:
• brush and comb mane, tail and body and clean out hooves of stock to remove weed seeds before entering federal lands.
• wash trailers and trucks, with care given to inspect undercarriage, before leaving home.
• remove manure from trailhead sites.

ISSUES AFFECTING OUR PUBLIC (AND PRIVATE) LANDS: SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON GMP ?PRELIMINARY ALTERNATIVES?
?Plan A,? one of the alternatives being considered under a new General Management Plan (?GMP?) for Sequoia and Kings Canyon Park management, eliminates stock use in many areas of the parks. A draft environmental impact statement is being drafted now by Susan Spain, David Graber, Ralph Moore, and John Austin of the Park Service. After completion of the EIS (sometime next Winter), there will be a public comment period with public meetings. LET US NOT WAIT until the public comment period! Make your opinion known NOW while these four individuals are working on the EIS. At the very least, call to put your name on the mailing list and let them know you are a stock user! Mr. Tollefson told me that there are less than 8,500 people on the mailing list for information regarding the GMP; a small number considering the millions of people affected -- but this can work to our advantage. Get on the mailing list, write/call/email -- make your opinion count!

Michael Tollefson, Park Superintendent (559) 565-3101

David Graber,, Senior Scientist, GMP Coordinator Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9651
email: [email protected]
(559) 565-3173
(John Austin, Ralph Moore, Michael Tollefson, and David Graber are all in the California office.)

Susan Spain, DSC-PDS, GMP Team Captain
P. O. Box 25287
Denver Co, 80225-0287
email: [email protected]

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