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Steven Cohn
Hassayampa Field Office Manager
U. S. Bureau of Land Management
21605 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027
Re: Table Mesa Recreation Area Plan
Dear Mr. Cohn:
I am writing on behalf of the Arizona Chapter of the Public Lands
Foundation to compliment you and your staff for the good work that
the BLM is doing to prepare a Recreation Plan for the Table Mesa
Recreation Area north of Phoenix. Tom Allen, Glen Collins and I
have attended most of the public meetings and working group sessions
you have held, and you are doing a good job of involving the public
land users in the decision-making process.
We endorse the
concepts of plan that you have developed and the way that it
provides for continuation of all of the existing public uses in the
area. We like the way that the south half of the area is designated
for wildlife habitat, hunting and other less intensive public
enjoyment uses, while concentrating the more intensive recreational
activities in the north half of the area. We are pleased that BLM
is working hard to provide for recreational shooting, rather than
proposing to close the area to that use. It is appropriate to shut
down many of the small target shooting sites that have been created
in the area.
The “pocket
ranges” that are proposed will concentrate the target shooting in
places, and against backdrops, that will mitigate the public safety
concerns for the Black Canyon Trail and other recreational uses.
However, we hope that some places within the Table Mesa Recreation
Area can be designated as suitable for dispersed recreational
shooting to accommodate this historical use of the area. The Off
Road Vehicle users are typically the most aggressive and outspoken
user group in any land use planning meeting, and the Table Mesa
Recreation Area meetings have been no exception.
We are pleased
that BLM has effectively “represented” and protected the interests
of the public who wants to enjoy wildlife, vegetation, landscapes,
and in relatively undisturbed outdoor settings, but who are
reluctant to get involved in public discussions of the issues. Some
of the concerns which OHV users expressed during the workshop
meetings about proposed road closures appear to have merit, and it
is good that BLM is willing to reconsider and possibly expand the
opportunities for recreational travel in the Table Mesa Recreation
Area.
We understand
that several of BLM’s proposed road and trail closures in the Table
Mesa Recreation Area were based on the fact that part of the routes
crossed State Trust lands, and the State Land Department had
objected to BLM encouraging unauthorized motorized travel on State
Trust lands. However, recent State legislation, effective January
1, 2009, authorizes all-terrain vehicles, trail motorcycles and dirt
bikes, which have the State’s new OHV Decal, to travel on “open
areas” of State Trust lands. The OHV Decal is not for RV’s,
pickups, trailers, etc. This may provide the opportunity for BLM to
designate OHV-only trails in some areas. We suggest that you need
to re-valuate proposed route closures in the Table Mesa Recreation
Area in light of the new Arizona State OHV Decal legislation.
Finally we want to commend the BLM Phoenix District for putting a
name and boundaries on the “Table Mesa Recreation Area”.
You have given
an identity to what had been an anonymous block of public land. The
public now knows what it is, where it is, and, when your Recreation
Plan is in place, how it should be used. Names and boundaries on
BLM land areas are the key to BLM’s future as a federal land
management agency, and the Phoenix District should place distinctive
names and boundaries on the other blocks of BLM administered
lands. The Table Mesa Recreation Area is an important part of the
new National System of Public Lands.
The public will
want to know where the other National Public Lands are, and what
they are called.
Thanks again for giving
the Public Lands Foundation the opportunity to participate in this
land use planning process. As you know, PLF is a national
non-profit, all volunteer membership, conservation organization
dedicated to the ecological stability of the public lands
administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Our mission is to advocate and work for the retention of America's
Public Lands in public hands, professionally and sustainably managed
for responsible common use and enjoyment.
For your information, I am enclosing
copies of the PLF’s position papers on “Recreational Shooting on BLM
Public Lands” and “Public Enjoyment of the BLM Public Lands.” The
Phoenix District’s work on the Table Mesa Recreation Area is an
excellent example of what the PLF is advocating in these position
papers.
Sincerely,
/s/ Beau McClure
Arizona Chapter
Public Lands Foundation
Cc: Teri Raml,
BLM Phoenix District Manager
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