SHAWNEE TRAIL CONSERVANCY 
PO BOX 44, EDDYVILLE, IL 62928

Dec. 2002

ENVIRONMENTALISTS FILE LAWSUIT TO CLOSE LUSK CREEK & SHUT DOWN CAMPGROUND OPERATIONS
Environmental extremists, John Wallace of Carbondale and Sam Stearns of Stonefort, Illinois filed a lawsuit on Nov. 8 in Federal court against the US Forest Service and the Shawnee Trail Conservancy seeking to have the Court enforce a previous Order of Feb. 22, 2000. The suit wants the Court to find the defendants, USFS in contempt for failing to expeditiously close the Lusk Creek Natural Area (the creek itself, bank to bank) and for refusing to actively stop unauthorized equestrian outfitters and guides operating on the Shawnee National Forest. It also seeks to find the defendant Shawnee Trail Conservancy's member outfitters and guides that have continued to operate commercial activities on the SNF without Special Use Permits, in contempt. Quoting from pg. 4 of the suit "some natural areas have been, posted, marked and closed, however, Lusk Creek itself, the natural area known as Lusk Creek Zoological Area, remains open to equestrian use, unposted, and heavily used by horseback riders." Pg. 5. "Since Management Prescription 8.2 prohibits user created trails and equestrian use except on designated trails, FS defendant is attempting to designate some of the illegal trail crossings in Lusk Creek before actually closing the natural area. By designating the trails before closing the natural area, recalcitrant FS defendant may allow equestrians undisrupted access to the natural area. FS defendants have been trying to accomplish this task by investing countless resources into the Natural Area Trails Project which proposed designating as many as four of the illegal, user created trails through Lusk Creek." This suit seeks "injunctive relief" for immediate action since Plaintiff's are personally suffering "irreparable harm" by the creek staying open to equestrian use and "from the negative impacts on the environment caused by large unregulated campgrounds in the Shawnee". The exhibits in the legal action display advertisements from most of the horse campgrounds which include brochures and web site promotional materials. Numerous pictures of trail erosion allegedly caused by horses, a video of trail riders crossing Lusk Creek and several inflammatory anti-horse declarations from other environmentalists are part of the exhibits presented. THIS LAWSUIT IS A CRISIS TO TRAIL RIDERS IN THE SHAWNEE! On Nov.24th, STC vice president, Bill Blackorby, convened a special meeting of officers, directors and campground owners to discuss the suit. The board voted unanimously to fight the lawsuit and secure an attorney. After much discussion, Christopher Lee of Kahn, Dees, Donovan,and Kahn, LLP of Evansville, IN, was hired. Mr Lee had represented STC when we intervened in the original suit in 1999 which was brought forth by environmentalist Joe Glissan against the FS seeking the natural area closures and the failure of campgrounds to secure an outfitting permit. As a result, the FS closed all the natural areas to equestrian use in Sept of 1999 but has not closed Lusk Creek pending it's completion of the Natural Areas Trails Environmental Impact Statement which will designate creek crossings. The FS has been working on this comprehensive assessment since the spring of 2000 and should have it completed sometime in 2003. Christopher Lee is working in cooperation with the FS's counsel, Liam Coonan, Assistant US Attorney and is consulting with attorneys Paul Turcke of Boise, ID, Steve Heine of Peoria, and Claire Wilson of Channahon, IL. Both Heine and Wilson are frequent trail riders in the Shawnee. At present, the only designated trail which crosses the 28 mile long Lusk Creek is the River to River trail. Four campgrounds lie within 1/4 mile to 2 miles west of Lusk Creek and most of their trails lie on the east side of the creek. Many of the campgrounds had applied for an outfitting-guide permit 2 years ago but the FS has not been able to issue permits because trails ridden by these campgrounds must be analyzed according to NEPA guidelines. The FS is currently analyzing many existing trails as part of the Trails Master Plan which will also be included in the outfitter-guide permitted trail system. The campground owners have formed a committee to work directly with our attorney since their businesses are at serious risk. Dick Manders is chairman of this committee. The Conservancy is standing the cost of this law suit since many of our members will be directly affected if the campgrounds have to cease operations and if Lusk Creek is closed! Trail riders who travel here from 48 states will not be able to enjoy the beauty of the Shawnee if they have no place to come camp at. WE CAN NOT LET THAT HAPPEN! We need everyone's help to fight this suit!! Please contribute to our legal defense fund!
Environmental sources relate that Shawnee is just one segment of a "'green" agenda across the entire country to rid public land of recreationists which includes motorized, bicycles and equestrian users. Environmentalists are slating several more million acres as Wilderness including 3 more such areas in the Shawnee which total over 9000 acres. Hunters are also being challenged by PETA and anti-gun groups. It is a constant fight so ALL users must unite, quit their selfish bickering and tunnel vison ideas. We ALL need to stick together and fight for each other or one group at a time will be shut out.

FOREST PLAN REVISION MEETINGS
Four meetings were held during the month of November to develop alternatives and explain what the FS wants to include in the New Forest Plan. Most of the officers, directors and several local STC members have been faithfully attending these meetings which will direct the management of the Shawnee for the next 10-15 years. 1. One of the proposed actions will establish water shed as a criteria for the location of trails. This criteria may be used to determine if trails can run along the side of a stream or cross it. It will include ALL streams which are either perennial or intermittent. (dry part of the time) A riparian filter strip of 200 ft. along a perennial stream and 100 ft strip along an intermittent stream and 25 ft along an ephemeral (small) stream were proposed which is very troubling since it MAY eliminate trails. The FS was very vague about what effect that these filter strips will have on trails and did not give a straight answer when questioned. 2. Another cause for concern is the classification of 6 streams in the Shawnee as Wild and Scenic Rivers. These include Bay Creek, Big Creek, Lusk Creek, Grand Pierre Creek, Big Muddy River and Hutchins Creek. The FS again DID NOT KNOW if these new classifications would affect trails or not! If the FS professionals don't know, how are we supposed to know! THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE REALLY IN FAVOR OF BOTH THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS AND THE NEW WATER SHED CRITERIA SO WE KNOW IT'S BAD FOR TRAIL USERS!! 3. The third major cause for concern stems from the FS's proposal to allow equestrian traffic ONLY ON DESIGNATED TRAILS. They have told us that not every existing trail will become a designated trail and those people riding on non-designated trails will be subject to a fine. Some of the trails near the campgrounds will become designated, however, those residents who own property which adjoins SNF may not be able to ride off their property into the forest unless they live near a designated trail. They will then have to purchase an annual Special Use Permit for perhaps $30 to use a private trail out to the designated trail or will be forced to load up and drive to a trail head to access the trail system. Two more meetings will be conducted by the FS in January. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SHAWNEE ATTEND THESE MEETINGS OR COMMENT VIA E-MAIL OR LETTER.
WED. , JANUARY 22, 2003, 6-9PM, at the Executive Inn (formerly Holiday Inn, Marion Convention Center), 2600 DeYoung, Marion, IL. This will be a workshop on RECREATION, WILDERNESS, WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS.
TUES. JANUARY 28, 2003, 6-9 PM, Davis McCann Township Hall, 15 N. 14th St. off Rte 149, Murphysboro, IL., REVIEW OF PLAN REVISION ALTERNATIVES RESULTING FROM WORKSHOPS 
For more information contact the Shawnee National Forest, 50 Hwy 145 South, Harrisburg, IL 62946 or or call 800-699-6637, fax 618-253-1060. The Forest Planner is Steve Hupe.

MANY THANK YOU'S
As a result of all the maintenance projects that STC volunteers have completed this year, appreciative people are stepping forward with their checkbooks and making donations for future projects. One such couple is Roy and Trish Smith, caring trail riders and owners of Associated Packaging of Gallatin, TN who heard us mention that we needed a dump trailer for graveling trails. Because they are very generous people and wanted to help out however they could, they gave us a check to buy a new 4 ft wide x 8 ft long heavy duty trailer with hydraulic hoist that can haul 2 ton of gravel. The trailer arrived on Dec. 18th. Thank you, Roy and Trish! STC has recently received donations from Jim and Jan Warner of Lee, IL, Carla Bradley of Raleigh, IL, and David and Ellen Kuchar of Muskegon, MI. Also members of the Dusty Trails Saddle Club of Southern Indiana sent a nice donation in memory of the late Harry Payne who frequently rode in the Shawnee. Mr. Payne's friends and family sold T-shirts to raise money for his memorial. I do not have room to list those who donate less than $100 but all donations are most welcome!. After the lawsuit was filed in November, Richard Beggs, owner of the Shawnee Restaurant & Lounge in Eddyville, made the first donation toward our legal expenses as a deeply concerned businessman who relies on the horse tourism trade for the success of his business. Our sincere appreciation to those listed above and the many others who send in extra dollars! STC's dedicated officers and 14 directors do an outstanding job of fighting for trails and access issues here in the Shawnee. They make many personal sacrifices to attend meetings, meet with politicians, meet with forestry officials, work on trails, spend hours on the phone, do research, read documents, answer correspondence, write articles and a host of other things. I know Bill and I each devote at least 5 to 30 hours each week on Shawnee related issues ( much more time recently). We sure didn't realize when we helped start the Conservancy in 1994 that it would become a job! Clyde Schmidt, Sue Perina, Nancy Perisho and Joy Roy also put in a tremendous amount of time as do their spouses. None of us receive pay but appreciate kind words and a little praise once in a while!

YEAR END TOTALS FOR TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS
No other local organization has put as many VOLUNTEER hours and money into trail maintenance as the Shawnee Trail Conservancy has this year. STC has spent $4390 for gravel and equipment use on 8+ miles of old public road-trails and trails on private property. Matching dollar amounts were donated by campgrounds and individuals and over 650 hours of volunteer labor were logged in on organized trail maintenance projects. Many others do trail work each time they ride in the SNF by removing deadfall, trimming branches and briars off the trails. If everyone does their part, it's easy and rewarding! Our thanks to all those who help out! If the FS allows us to do more work on the forest trails next year, we'll need more volunteers. Our maintenance crew leaders, Don Cloud, Don Roy, Bill Blackorby, Bill Barnett and Dick Manders are anxious to tackle new projects and try out their new gravel trailer!

NEWLY PROPOSED FOREST PLANNING RULES
On Dec 10th, a letter was released by FS Chief Dale Bosworth to all forest employees commenting on the newly proposed change regarding forest planning. These changes have stirred quite a flurry among environmental groups who are screaming to the media. Many of you were e-mailed Bosworth's comment so I will extract excerpts for those of you who don't know what the new proposal entails. "These are not logging rules. Instead it's about everything we do in managing the national forests and grasslands. Meaningful public involvement, sustainability, use of science and monitoring and evaluation are the key components of the proposed rule as well. But the 2000 rule had some practical problems with implementability. Our new rule resolves some of those problems by providing more flexibility, and reducing the time and cost of planning. Indications are that this proposed rule would save about $300 million in the next decade. With that extra money we can get more things done on the ground. The planning process we have now is so complex, with time frames so long, that almost the only people who can afford to engage in substantive ways are people who work for organizations with paid staff. The proposed rule will be simpler to understand and requires that planning decisions be based on the best available science. FS scientists have told us that in different situations you need to use different ways of getting the best science. The new rule incorporates that insight, giving us more flexibility to base our decisions on. We will continue to protect wildlife, and we are searching for better ways to do that drawing our experience over the past two decades with the current rule and on the best thinking of our scientists. This issue is so important to us that the rule actually includes two different possible approaches for protecting wildlife. We intend to actively engage the public to get their views on these two approaches and other ways of protecting wildlife in the rule. Today, the issue is no longer logging vs. wildlife, wildlife vs jobs. These simplistic tradeoffs simply do not reflect what is happening on the national forests and grasslands, with our focus on sustainability and long term ecosystem health. The battles of the past are over. It's a new day and a new time. We as an agency have moved beyond the arguments of the past. We demonstrate that every day through our actions on the ground. I think it's time we as a nation did the same. We can no longer afford to do otherwise if we truly wish to leave healthy, resilient national forests and grasslands to future generations." Under the proposed rule, citizens who object to a forest plan could not appeal the decision-although they could file an objection before a decision was announced and meet with forest officials to air their complaints. Gone would be the requirement that a full blown environmental impact statement must accompany forest plan revisions. Scientists would be asked to help the agency decide whether it should continue a requirement that the nation's forests provide the habitat needed to maintain healthy populations of rare plant and animal species or should merely contribute to species conservation. "We want to turn the planning process inside out" said Sally Collins, the FS's associate chief. It should not take 10 years to write a 15 year plan on the 155 forests across the nation. "What we're trying to do is take the planning process back to ordinary people," said Bosworth. " I've been doing planning for 30 years, with the FS for 20 years. I am very deeply frustrated with it: it's become so technical and complicated and convoluted and drawn out. That doesn't serve the average person any longer," he stated. The process should only take 2-3 years. Bosworth said, " the National Environmental Policy Act provides for considerable flexibility, as long as foresters do a top-notch job of evaluating their actions and mitigating the impacts. I think we're going beyond what NEPA requires."
This new rule will streamline the "analysis paralysis" that has plagued the Forest Service for the last 15-20 years. The FS has had their hands tied up in red tape, comprehensive environmental studies, and numerous lawsuits. Chief Bosworth wants to turn the forest service around. We wish him our best!

ALLEN NICHOLAS APPOINTED SUPERVISOR OF THE SHAWNEE
It was learned last week that Acting Forest Service Supervisor, Allen Nicholas, who hails from Georgia has landed the job permanently. Allen has been on this forest for the last 2 months and has attended all of the forest planning meetings where we've had the chance to talk with him and express our concerns. Some big decisions will face him in the near future. It is his job to select one of the four alternatives offered on each of the "natural area" equestrian trail locations under consideration and crossings for Lusk Creek. He and his team will also decide on which of the existing trails will become designated and which trails will be closed or rerouted during the Trail Master Plan. The new Forest Planning process presently underway and the lawsuit filed by Stearns and Wallace will also be determined under Nicholas's watch. Talk about stepping into a major headache! He seems determined to get trails on the ground and to resolve some of the issues which have festered in the Shawnee for many years.

TAKE BACK ILLINOIS
Several of us attended a meeting on Dec 7 in Salem, IL and listened to Norman Davis who heads up the strong conservative group called Take Back Kentucky from Clarkson, KY. This assemblage of many different organizations heard of his successes regarding legislation and how 69 different organizations in Kentucky have united for a stronger voice in Kentucky government. Dr. Henry Lamb of Tennessee was one of the featured speakers. Dr. Lamb and his son, Dr. Mark Lamb head up the "Environmental Conservation Organization" which explores the funding of all of the major national environmental organization such as the Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Federation, Green Peace and the Wilderness Society. Their website www.worldnetdaily.com is very informative. Back in 1983, Congress tried to get a handle on how much taxpayer money was being handed out and to whom so they created the Federal Assistance Awards Data System(FAADS). Dr. Mark Lamb wrote a computer program available to his organizations members to find any grant to any organization and for what purpose that has been reported through FAADS. The information is staggering! For example since 1996, 4500 grants have been reported for "environmental purposes", totaling more than $1billion to environmental organizations. Another $138 million have been reported for forests. Looking more specifically between 1997 and 2001, FAADS reported $82 million given to the Nature Conservancy. This sizeable amount for taxpayers to subsidize an environmental organization that has more assets and income than many third-world countries. But FAADS data is not complete. Not all grants are reported! The Office of Management and Budget has another program that audits grants to a single recipient in excess of $300,000 in a single year. A review of the audits for the same period reveals that The Nature Conservancy actually received $146.6 million instead of the $82 million it reported on the FAADS data. During the same time period, U.S. taxpayers subsidized the World Wildlife Fund to the tune of $92.6 million and the Environmental Careers Organization and pays interns to work in various government agencies, organizations, and the private sector and go to school. U.S. taxpayers also subsidize international environmental organizations. The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives received subsides totaling $5.6 million and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies received $4.6 million. ICLEI is a powerful voice at all U.N. meetings relating to the environment. It claims to represent local "authority", but what it actually represents are the local environmental organizations. There is absolutely no justification for the U.S. taxpayer to subsidize these organizations to advance their agendas. Grants to environmental organizations exploded during the Clinton-Gore years, and agency officials feathered the nests from which they came-and to which many returned. Congress will not likely move to stop this waste and abuse of tax dollars unless there is a riotous demand from the voters. Voters, it's time to demand an end to subsidies for the "greens"! The above information is part of Dr. Henry Lambs article on the Nov 30th World Net Daily.

ROADLESS RULE UPHELD
On Dec 12th, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals over turned one aspect of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and remanded it back to U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge. This ruling was in response to a lawsuit brought by Boise Cascade, the Kootenai Tribe, Blue Ribbon Coalition and the state of Idaho challenging the Roadless Initiative which initiated by former President Clinton but put "on hold" by the Bush administration pending the court ruling. This ruling will affect 58 million acres of forest lands regarding timbering, eliminating and maintaining roads in the nations forests. This will affect not only the timber industry but recreationist and sportsmen also since some roads will be closed going to trailheads and interior hunting areas, lakes and streams on large blocks of land which are millions of acres in size. Fire control will be more difficult if roads are eliminated and wild fires like those we've experienced in the last few years will burn millions more acres of our nations forests and the communities which adjoin them. The Wilderness Society and Earthjustice were instrumental in fighting for this ruling. However, more than half a dozen other suits challenging the Rule still remain, some of which assert that the Rule violates NEPA or it's a back door way to declare wilderness without congressional consent. It's a long way from over!!

MEETING WITH U.S. CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS
Approximately 25 STC members met on Dec 17th with newly elected John Shimkus (R) of Collinsville who narrowly won the hotly contested 19th Congressional District over incumbent David Phelps. Shimkus stated that "he is for access to public lands and is for private property rights." When questioned about the FS's lack of funding for recreation and trail maintenance, he told us "that all the supervisor had to do was give him a call to request more funding. We can't allocate more funding if we don't have a know that there's a need. I'll do my best." He has established 5 offices in his district including one in Harrisburg in the lower level of City Hall which will be staffed by Jed Nelson and Holly Linder. The Springfield office will be staffed by Bill Olson of, who had been the congressman's aide in Washington D.C. Olson rode horseback with Shimkus when he viewed trails on our ranch and on the Forest Service in Aug. He can be reached at 217-492-5090. His whole staff enjoyed their trail ride according to Shimkus. The website of Congressman Shimkus in Washington D.C. is . 

PLEASE HELP US IN OUR FIGHT TO KEEP TRAILS AND CAMPGROUNDS OPEN
LEGAL EXPENSES ARE VERY COSTLY( our last fight cost $20,000) 
ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX EXEMPT- WE ARE A 501C3 TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION

IMPORTANT UPCOMING MEETING DATES
All STC meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at Dolly's Restaurant, which is located on Rte 146 at the east edge of Vienna. Meeting - 7PM; Come at 6 PM for dinner (off the menu)
JANUARY 16th - FEBRUARY 20th -- MARCH 20th -APRIL 17th 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!

Cheryl Blackorby, STC director and newsletter editor

It is very important that we have your continued membership and financial support so please send in your renewal today if your newsletter is marked with a renewal notice. A number of delinquent members have been removed from our newsletter mailing list. Please stay informed through our quarterly newsletters about the Shawnee especially during the analysis of the Natural Areas trails and the formulation of the New Forest Plan, which sets the management policy for Shawnee National Forest for the next 15 years. Responses from all users are very important in the direction that the FS takes regarding trails, area closures and management policies. PLEASE SEND IN YOUR RENEWAL TODAY!! THANKS!! DUES AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE!! ------ ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: SHAWNEE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, PO BOX 44, EDDYVILLE, IL 62928