NMOHVA File LAWSUIT on Santa Fe National Forest

[tweenerlj]

New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance Files Lawsuit on Santa Fe National Forest

The New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA) filed a lawsuit against the Santa Fe National Forest in federal district court on December 11th. Our lawsuit contests the Forest's Travel Management decision signed by Forest Supervisor Maria T. Garcia on June 12th and upheld by the Region 3 Appeal Deciding Officer on October 2nd.

"NMOHVA filed this lawsuit on the behalf of our members but it really is for everyone who uses a vehicle in the forest," said NMOHVA President Jim Tyldesley. "Most of the public has no idea that this decision closed 70% of the existing roads and trails, reduced vehicle camping nearly 95%, and virtually eliminated hunters being able to use a vehicle to retrieve game.

NMOHVA has posted a list of Frequently Asked Questions on our website at www.nmohva.org on both the lawsuit and the Travel Managment Decision. We will keep the site updated with all of the latest news and information concerning this action.

Go to the NMOHVA webpage and DONATE to the Access Defense Fund !! This fight belongs to ALL of us.

Lawsuits are very expensive and the final resort. We have been trying to work with the Santa Fe National Forest since 2005 and they have refused to listen or to obey federal laws. The place to make a stand is here. The time to fight is now! We call on all of our members and friends to stand with us and help us fight this decision.

tweenerlj--NMOHVA Board of Directors

[Sergeant_V]

Thanks for the post. As a frequent visitor to the Santa Fe National Forest I've watched my access eroded over the years. In recent memory the route to my favorite camp site in Twin Cabins Canyon was closed down. The recently enacted Travel Management Decision by the SFNF will shut down the remaining camp sites that I have enjoyed for decades. I've been enjoying responsible public land use and camping in the SFNF for forty years and unless the NMOHVA prevails with their lawsuit, not a single one of the sites I've enjoyed since my childhood will be accessible.

[tweenerlj]

Thanks for the post. As a frequent visitor to the Santa Fe National Forest I've watched my access eroded over the years. In recent memory the route to my favorite camp site in Twin Cabins Canyon was closed down. The recently enacted Travel Management Decision by the SFNF will shut down the remaining camp sites that I have enjoyed for decades. I've been enjoying responsible public land use and camping in the SFNF for forty years and unless the NMOHVA prevails with their lawsuit, not a single one of the sites I've enjoyed since my childhood will be accessible.

I am with you and have a very similar history of camping in the SFNF. There are 155 National Forests in the US. Most have had to do some form of Travel Management decision to comply with the Travel Management Rule. Of all those decisions, there has been only THREE challenged in court to date by the OHV community (our lawsuit is #3). This is about much more than the camping, roads and trails lost in the Santa Fe National Forest. It is about sending a clear message to the agency that we are smarter, stronger, and much more determined than we were in the past. Help us send that message!

[Sergeant_V]

I'm a member of NMOHVA and will also be donating to the Access Defense Fund. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.

[tweenerlj]

I'm a member of NMOHVA and will also be donating to the Access Defense Fund. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.

Help us spread the word. NMOHVA will need as much support as we can get. Tell your friends and neighbors.

A positive outcome in this fight could have a ripple effect across the nation in terms of public access. Help NMOHVA in keeping our public lands open to the public.

[tweenerlj]

We have been actively working on the Travel Management Rule in the Santa Fe National Forest since early 2006. During the past seven years, one of the issues that consistently plagued us was that "the general public" didn't have a clue what was about to happen! That situation hasn't changed one bit even after the Forest Service's final decision. The agency is getting ready to implement its decision (even while we challenge it in court) and "Joe Q Public" will be shocked when he finds his favorite camping site or trail closed next spring. It won't matter one bit that they have been enjoying the same spot for the last twenty years.

The same is true for the hunters who have historically enjoyed the Santa Fe National Forest. They are going to be stunned when they find out that they can no longer retrieve their downed big game with a vehicle unless it is next to a road. And don't forget, there will be over 5000 less miles of road to use in both the hunt and the retrieval. There are going to be a lot of really surprised and angry forest users.

Our big question to you is: "How can we effectively get the word out to the public?" How do we reach those campers and hunters and other forest users? We want your ideas and feedback. Contact the NMOHVA board at board@nmohva.org. Each of you can also help by talking to your family, friends, coworkers, etc. and letting them know what has happened. Most of them are still completely unaware that the decision to close 70% of the roads and trails in the Santa Fe has already been made. It is very important that they understand that the access has already been lost and the NMOHVA lawsuit is the only chance to get it back."

[1leglance]

Thanks for the post...
I think legal challenges like this will have to be more common in the future as it is such a successful method used by those who want to shut down motorized access.

I think the best this is to ask everyone to spread this message through whatever social media outlets they use. If you guys don't have a NMOHVA facebook page yet, please set one up so folks can share it.
Also info on how to donate will help for those of us in other states but like to visit New Mexico.

Lastly I know when I was growing up in the Texas Panhandle we often vacationed in New Mexico so if you can get Texans, Colorado folks and other surrounding states to add their voice it would help. Recreation dollars make a difference in decisions.

[Sergeant_V]

Lance,

Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/NMOHVA

Would a cross post or link in the Four Corners Region subforum be appropriate?

[tweenerlj]

Thanks for the post...
info on how to donate will help for those of us in other states but like to visit New Mexico.

Donations can be easily made by paypal here: http://nmohva.wildapricot.org/Defaul...pageId=1344243

I have posted this on Colorado4x4.org...How do we reach the Texans?