RQ speaks truth!
Again, I am not bashing the FS, I am simply stating facts! I talked with Ranger Walker and RS Terry Savery. There was miscommunication between the contractor and the FS on exactly how much "maintenance" was to be done at Kodak according to the FS. He was beginning the process of "fixing" the rocky area. The FS assured me that while some work is going to be done there, they are not going to "fill it in". The ledge before Kodak is on the chopping block though!
According to the FS, the grade stakes do indeed mean that there is going to be grading and maintenance done by heavy equipment on all of the trails during the upcoming winter closure. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is that the FS could do a much better job of communication with interested forest enthusiasts and prevent a lot of speculation.
My talks with FS personnel revealed that, yes, there were supposed to be silt traps installed at the bridge construction sites. A FS inspector had hit them with that last week and they should be in place by this weekends workday.
Probably what set me off, and what I told the FS, is that it pissed me off that their poor communication and planning is counter productive to achieving FS goals for the forest. Case in point is work done by NC4x4 volunteers this spring on Falls Dam. On one of the workdays we rented a Bobcat with auger to install guardrail on Falls Dam. During the recent "maintenance" quite a few of these sections were removed or damaged. We need better communication between the FS, volunteers and "maintenance" workers to prevent double work and better use our volunteer money and manpower!
What this all means is that we must go forward with our volunteer efforts with eyes wide open. Read again RQs post above. All of us, not just Eli, need to be cultivating relationships with FS personnel, staying in communication with them on our part, reading ALL FS memoranda and releases and staying in touch with OUR forest and its happenings!
As RQ said, once something is done, its done and they move on, we need to do continuing education and relationship building to be in position to help effect the changes we as OHV enthusiasts would like to see in our forest!
