Shawnee Trail Conservancy December 2001 Newsletter

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SHAWNEE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
PO BOX 44, EDDYVILLE, IL. 62928

DEC. 31, 2001

FOREST SERVICE ISSUES FINAL DRAFT ON NATURAL AREA TRAILS

Finally, some 2 1/2 years following the closure of all of the natural areas to equestrian use, the FS has completed the Draft EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) on proposed equestrian trails in 7 natural areas (NA’s). Public comment is allowed on the 4 Alternative Proposals which are defined in a 250 page highly complex document which we received right before Christmas. The FS told us that the cost of printing and mailing prevented it from being mailed to everyone who is on the FS mailing list. We think it was done so that people do not have the chance to analyze the alternatives and find out how injurious it is to equestrians. Copies are available at the Vienna, Jonesboro, and Elizabethtown Ranger District offices and at their main office in Harrisburg. It can also be viewed at 13 different public libraries in S. Illinois. Hard copies and CD’s can be obtained at the Vienna Ranger office or viewed on the FS web site at: www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee. Written comment must be received by the end of February to Monica Ross, Vienna Ranger Dist. Box 37, Vienna, IL. 62995 or call Dick Johnson, EIS Team Leader at the Vienna office at 618-658-2111. After reviewing this document and discussing it with local riders, campground owners and STC directors, I have prepared a form comment letter that we encourage you to sign and mail to Monica Ross before Feb. 28th. STC is requesting that the FS extend this date another 30 days but we have no guarantee that this will happen at this point. Alternative #3 which is the preferred alternative of the FS is very restrictive and is the ABSOLUTE WORST FOR EQUESTRIANS! IT PROPOSES THE CLOSURE OF THE JACKSON FALLS AREA (172 ACRES) NEAR BAY CREEK PLUS THE CLOSURE OF 70 ACRES WHICH LIES NORTH OF THE JACKSON HOLLOW NA TO EQUESTRIANS. These two areas are not natural areas and are some of the most beautiful riding areas in all of Shawnee. It also proposes the CLOSURE to equestrians of an 11 acre tract on the west side of Lusk Creek which lies north of the River to River Trail to beyond Salt Peter Cave. It proposes only 5 crossings of Lusk Creek on its entire 30 mile length- none north of the crossing west of the old New Liberty Church near Coyote Club or south of where Little Bear Creek joins Lusk Creek near the Bowed Tree. No creek crossings are proposed at the Rock House or south of the Eddyville-Golconda Blacktop. This alternative also will NOT allow the existing user trails to become designated other than the ones which are proposed in this alternative because it will limit the trail density in the 4466 acre Lusk Creek Wilderness to 1.3 mile of trail per 1 sq. mile of Wilderness. Trails along Little Bear Creek, Secret Canyon and numerous other popular trails WILL NOT BE ALLOWED in this alternative. The present equestrian trail near the Garden of the Gods known to horsemen as the Ferrell Point trail (known to the FS as Indian Point trail) is slated to be a HIKER ONLY TRAIL.

Alternative #3 is PREFERRED BY THE FS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS-NOT EQUESTRIANS! This is not only an environmental impact statement. IT IS A BACKDOOR CLOSURE ORDER! IF YOU VALUE TRAIL RIDING IN THE SHAWNEE, I URGE YOU TO MAKE COPIES OF THIS COMMENT LETTER AND HAVE YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, SADDLE CLUBS AND OTHER INTERESTED PEOPLE SIGN AND MAIL IT! ALL CAMPGROUNDS SHOULD SEND IT TO THEIR CAMPERS. A personal comment letter would even be better if you have the time to analyze the alternatives and trail maps. YOUR RESPONSE IS ESSENTIAL! The FS has to review all comments and make their Final Decision in the months ahead.. After the FS issues its Final Decision, we will have 45 days in which to file an Appeal if we do not agree with it.

None of the proposed alternatives offer great solutions in the Jackson Falls area, which is not a natural area and should not even be addressed in this EIS. We have chosen the best of the worst of choices. The same is true of our choices for Lusk Creek Zoological since the creek itself is a natural area. Only a very short segment of trail near the Bowed tree is proposed as the trail through the Lusk Creek Ecological NA. No trail is to be in the canyon.

NATURAL AREAS INCREASE IN SIZE

We received a response from Forest Supervisor Skip Starkey regarding the sizes of 4 natural areas that we had requested a legal description of and actual size of as calculated by either a survey or GPS under a FOIA Request. The results are as follows: Burke Branch- 335 acres actual (330 ac in the Forest Plan); Double Branch Hole- 100 acres actual (85 acres in the Forest Plan); Jackson Hollow-280acres actual (289 acres in Forest Plan; Jackson Hole 160 acres actual (116 acres in Forest Plan. It is very disturbing to us that 3 out of the 4 are larger than they are supposed to be. Jackson Hole is 44 acres larger! The Forest Plan states that NA’s can not increase in size except through Plan Revision. Are we to assume that 75% of the 80 natural areas are larger also? This is wrong!

TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

STC volunteers Don and Joy Roy, Don Marr, Joe Perina, Bill and Cheryl Blackorby, Bill Barnett, Dick Manders, Trish Smith, Vickie Henegar, Frank and Mickey Malson and Ray and Jackie Maxson spent the day on Oct 27th rebuilding and graveling water bars, draining mud puddles and working on about 1 ½ mile of the River to River trail west of Eddyville toward Petticoat Junction. Three FS trail maintenance men also helped out. This 3 mile section of trail has been adopted by STC under the Forest Service’s Adopt-A-Trail program. It needed quite a bit of work! Two loads of red creek gravel were donated by Ken Wiseman. The West Paducah Appaloosa Club paid for the gravel to be hauled. STC paid for one load of gravel. OUR THANKS to all those who donated materials, equipment and labor for this project. It looks great!

In November, Don Roy, Ovid Barnes, Bill Blackorby and I (Cheryl) worked on Mr. Barnes property which is NE of Eddyville and often ridden by riders from the local horse camps. This trail was in pretty bad shape. Bill used his tractor to reshape the trail, haul gravel and install earthen water bars which divert water off the trail. Don donated a culvert and we built an arched old English-style stone bridge which was then covered with gravel. We appreciate Mr. Barnes’ generosity of allowing equestrians to ride on his property. More work will be done on this trail at a later date. Don Roy has also removed the high lines in Lusk Creek Wilderness for the winter as requested by the FS. They will be put back up in the spring to prevent tree damage. THANKS DON!

OUR THANKS TO STEVE AND KAREN HEINE

Recently, STC received a sizable donation from the Heine’s who frequently ride in the Shawnee, although they live near Peoria. They had given a nice donation in the spring but this fall they really showed their support and generosity. Our heartfelt thanks- Steve and Karen!

UPCOMING STC MEETING DATES

3rd Thursday of the month

STC MEETINGS IN JAN, FEB AND MARCH WILL ALL BE AT DOLLY’S RESTAURANT IN VIENNA.

JAN 18TH...FEB 21ST...MAR 21ST... Time 7pm. Come early for dinner- at 6pm PLEASE ATTEND!

MASTER TRAILS MEETINGS