These days, we are often asked one or both of the following questions, 1) "What is going on with the Tellico [Colorado] lawsuit?" and 2) Why bother with the fight there when the trails are being obliterated before the courts can decide anything?"

For those who aren't familiar with the issues surrounding Tellico, it's appropriate to start with a brief history.  Mind you, there is more to it than what we share here—much more—but that is an emotionally charged discussion for another time.  

For all intent and purpose, the Forest Service, under outside pressure of a threatened lawsuit, began the process of closing the trail system in Tellico in late 2007.  It began with an emergency closure order. Following that, and arguably as a result of pressure from a legal action of our own, the Forest Service conducted formal planning that predictably resulted in a decision to permanently close the system and "rehabilitate" most of the trails.

Anti-access groups filed suit on August 12, 2010 against the Stanislaus National Forest regarding their Record of Decision (ROD) on their Motorized Travel Management Plan. The groups contend that the plans will cause environmental damage, including wildlife, habitat, soils, and vegetation.

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On July 30, 2010, the Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation and the Center for Biological Diversity today filed suit to protect struggling species, including the rare California red-legged frog, from off-road vehicles and construction in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The groups are challenging a California Off-Highway Vehicle Division decision to approve funding for nearly nine miles of new ORV trails and construction of three new bridges in the Rock Creek Recreation Trails Area of the Eldorado National Forest. The work would include blasting of rock outcroppings, excavation, construction of retaining walls and other “improvements” designed to increase ORV use in the Rock Creek area.

The groups are challenging the decision because the agency failed to adequately review impacts to soil, water and air quality, riparian habitats and imperiled species such as the California red-legged frog, western pond turtle and Eldorado manzanita. The state’s OHV division refused to prepare an environmental impact report for the work and instead chose to rely on an inadequate review that lacked important mitigation measures for any damage.

Important Alert! Please call to oppose the passage of the Land and Water Conservation Bill that would enhance and enlarge the Endangered Species Act and also grant the government monies to buy and control private lands to the tune of $900 million dollars. This has the potential to be a massive intrusion into private property rights, and strengthen the ability of land managers to prohibit entry to public lands. This bill has already passed the House by a few votes, and is supported by Senator Harry Reid and will come up very soon for a vote in the house.

Please call your State Senators, and the following Senators to tell them that you don't support the provisions in this bill: Senators Mike Crapo, Rom Coburn and James Risch at 202-224-3121.