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SHAWNEE TRAIL CONSERVANCY
PO BOX 44, EDDYVILLE, IL 62928
SEPT. 2003
RECREATIONISTS FILE AN APPEAL
Following the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement [EIS] by forest supervisor Allen Nicholas in early June, concerning equestrian trails within 8 Natural Areas, the Shawnee Trail Conservancy, along with the Blue Ribbon Coalition and Illinois Trail Riders have filed an appeal. This appeal was based on the following: 1. The need for more than 4 crossings across Lusk Creek. A crossing is needed below the popular Rock House, a crossing is needed south of the Eddyville Blacktop and another crossing is needed north of Secret Canyon. 2. There are no trails proposed in Bulge Hole or Little Grand Canyon Natural Areas. 3. We are opposed to the creation of the Jackson Falls Dispersed Recreation management classification which restricts equestrian trails in the very popular Jackson Falls area near the bluff because of alleged user conflicts between rock climbers and equestrians. (We know of no such conflicts.) Jackson Falls is NOT a Natural Area so it’s management should not be considered in the Natural Areas
EIS. 4. The Final EIS does not propose a 2/10 mile horse trail on an old road bed through the Garden of the Gods Natural area which goes to the horse hitching rails and the old trail to Indian Point
(aka Pharoah’s Point) Our comments on the Draft EIS had addressed these trail requests. 5. The failure of the Decision to provide satisfactory access to Natural Areas so that equestrians can view the Shawnee’s unique rock formations. This jeopardizes the Forest’s status as a premier equestrian destination. Without access to these quality scenic bluffs, rock outcrops and other features, a trip to the Shawnee becomes like a trip to any other forest. 6. The Forest does not adequately analyze the cumulative effects of the Decision on the recreational access to the Forest and surrounding lands. A proper analysis should look at the Decision’s impact on recreational opportunities on the entire forest. At a meeting of the STC board of directors and of the campground owners, a unanimous vote was delivered in support of the Appeal being filed. Attorney Paul Turcke of Boise, ID did an outstanding job preparing the Appeal which was filed in July. The Forest Service has 45 days to reply to our Appeal and to the other Appeals filed by environmentalists. If no changes are made, the supervisor may implement his Decision within 5 days thereafter. Environmentalists have publicly stated that they will file a lawsuit against the FS if horse trails are put into Natural Areas. Because only "interested parties" who have filed an Appeal may be a party to a lawsuit or an intervener in a lawsuit, STC , BRC and ITR had no choice but to appeal if we wanted to protect our interests when the environmentalists take the FS to court. Although we have differed with the FS on many issues, we have had to intervene and enjoin with the FS on three different occasions when the environmentalists sought to close trails, prevent organized trail rides and close the campgrounds because of the FS’s failure to issue outfitter-guide permits.
On August 18th, FS supervisor, Allen Nicholas called a meeting between those parties who had filed Appeals. Representing the equestrian community were Sue
Perina, Nancy & Darrell Perisho, Dick Manders, David Flanders, Linda
Granneman, and Joy Roy. ( STC vice president Bill Blackorby and I were trail riding in CO and WY.) Our attorneys, Paul Turcke and Claire Wilson, joined in via a
tele-conference call. Nicholas wanted to explore the possibility of concessions but none were made. He remained adamant about his Final EIS Decision on the Natural Areas but listened to everyone. Nicholas met with the environmentalists who had filed an Appeal the next day in hopes of working out a compromise. TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS
LUSK CREEK: Those of you who have ridden across the Lusk creek on the River to River trail this summer have certainly noticed how nice this crossing is now. This crossing was previously very steep, muddy and dangerous. Thanks to the efforts of over 60 volunteer members of the Back Country Horsemen of Illinois
(BCHI), STC and IL Trail Riders (ITR) plus several FS workers who labored on June 7th, this is now a wonderful crossing. Sorry, there are too many names to list. Gravel was packed out on horses and mules to harden the crossing which was mucked out and widened. Flat rocks formed the base and sides. Cedar logs were used as steps to keep the gravel in place. Tim
Pohlman, Recreation and Trails Manager on the Shawnee, supervised the " well-attended work day". Ron and Sharolyn Hill provided a hot lunch to the hungry workers. "This is a great way for the equestrian’s to show their unity and seriousness about wanting to keep the trails open and maintained in the Shawnee" stated Carolyn
Cushman, president of the BCH of Central Illinois. STC THANKS ALL THOSE WHO HELPED! That evening, country singer-song writer Johnny Williams of Fairfield, IL provided a free concert on the porch of the Little Lusk Trail Lodge. Johnny had also performed free concerts at Bear Branch campground and High Knob Ranch over the Memorial Day weekend. He and his wife are trail riders who love the Shawnee and want to do what they can to help keep the trails open. The Williams’s donate 10% of their profits from the sales of CD’s and T-shirts to the
STC. He wrote "Hush Your Mouth" about the Shawnee trails. His CD, which was recorded in Nashville, contains many wonderful country songs written and performed by Johnny. It sells for $15.
AUG 23rd FS WORK DAY: More gravel was hauled out on pack animals on the River to River trail into Lusk Creek Wilderness. Our new dump trailer, donated to STC by Roy and Trish Smith, was used to haul gravel from the trail head out to the edge of the wilderness. It worked superbly! The following is a list of those who worked on this work day. Volunteers included Don Roy, Dick
Manders, Tom Kuczynski, Dave & Sue Sanders, John Ehman, Dwight Prey, Roger Bailey, Sharon O’Dell, Don Cloud,
D.W. & Ruth Jones, Ray & Jackie Maxson, Ed Hubert, and Charlie Stilley, plus Tim Pohlman and Kelly Pearson of the forest service. THANK ALL OF YOU!
YO-SAM TRAIL: Work has recently been completed on the old road between Bear Branch and Hayes Canyon campgrounds. This trail had become quite muddy due to all the spring rains and because of poor drainage. Due to the generosity of Sammy Brown of Dickson, NC, who regularly camps at Bear Branch, STC hired a backhoe to ditch this old road-trail. Sixteen loads of gravel were hauled and spread on this trail which is now known as the
Yo-Sam Trail (short for Yosemite Sam which Sammy is known by) Thanks to the VERY GENEROUS donation that Sammy has made to STC for trail maintenance, more work will be done on other projects in the future. If you see Sammy, be sure to THANK him. This is the second time that Sammy has given us a large donation for trail work. We deeply appreciate it, Sammy! Those helping out on this trail project included: Don Roy, Tony
Giuffre, Dick Manders, Bill Barnett, Denny Maxson, Don Marr and Bill Blackorby. These guys used their own tractors for the grading work and the Smith’s dump trailer. Don Roy alone logged in 44 hrs on the job with 20 hours of tractor work. That’s dedication! Part of this project included installing a culvert on the west side of the Eddyville blacktop near Hayes Canyon campground and topping it off with a load of gravel. This makes for a much safer crossing for riders. THANKS GUYS, FOR A GREAT JOB! THE
YO-SAM TRAIL IS BEAUTIFUL! A sign has been placed on the trail in Sammy’s honor.
TRAIL BETWEEN BEAR BRANCH AND CIRCLE B: The north trail, which is approximately 1 ½ miles long, will be rebuilt and graveled. STC volunteers Tony
Giuffre, Dick Manders, Don Roy and Bill Blackorby are using their own tractors and the STC dump trailer on this project which is in progress. This trail, which is part of the River to River trail, was graveled by the FS about 5 years ago but the water berms need to be rebuilt on the slopes to get water off the trail. The gravel is all but gone on the western portion of the trail. This trail receives a lot of horse traffic because of its proximity to 4 horse campgrounds. Call Bill Blackorby at 618-672-4768 if you’d like to help out. Don Marr, Denny Maxson and myself are also assisting on the ground. The FS plans to rebuild the River to River trail between Eddyville and Petticoat Junction then on to Cedar Grove Road later this fall or next spring with use of their new trail grooming machine. STC will be a part of this project. Lonnie Barger mowed trails at Coyote Club which tend to become overgrown in the summer. Thanks!
SEPT 20TH-NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY- WORK DAY IN LUSK CREEK WILDERNESS ON THE RIVER TO RIVER TRAIL. Pack animals are needed. Meet at trail head across from Circle B at 9 AM. Call Kelly Pearson at the Vienna Ranger Station for more info 618-658-2111 or Don Cloud 618-672-4672.
THANK YOU’S
With each newsletter, we like to acknowledge those members and supporters who contribute $100 or more to STC for either our legal defense fund or the trail maintenance fund. Our successes would not be possible without the financial generosity of these organizations and individuals. The following are recent contributors: Debra Held and Evelyn
Duitsman, Terri Trykall, Westergard Builders, Big Hoss Productions (country recording artist Johnny Williams) and Roy & Trish Smith. In our June newsletter, I inadvertently left out the Medina Chapter of the Ohio Horsemen’s Council, who not only had made a generous donation, but were instrumental in convincing other Ohio HCI chapters to send STC donations. THANK YOU!! Their contribution came during the 3 day time span between the printing of the treasurer’s report and the writing of the June newsletter. I apologize for this error. Roger Bailey and Sharon O"Dell’s names were also omitted. They’d helped out at the STC booth at the Illinois Horse Fair. My information sources didn’t remember everyone. Sorry, Roger and Sharon. WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY OR HELP OUT IN ANY OTHER WAYS. STC’S SUCCESSES DEPEND ON
YOU!! POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
On Monday, August 11th, US Senator Peter Fitzgerald met with several representatives of STC at the Giant City State Park Lodge regarding horse issues in the Shawnee. Other organizations represented were the Back Country Horsemen of Illinois, the Illinois Trail Riders, the Farm Bureau, and the River to River Trail Society. Topics discussed with the senator by the attendees included 1. The existence of Natural Areas inside federal lands in the state of Illinois. 2. Trail maintenance or lack thereof, usage, and trail closures. 3. Cooperation with, and by, the forest service. 4. Seasonal trail closures in the state parks 5. Impact on the economy of Southern Illinois by equine tourism. Senator Fitzgerald listened, asked numerous questions and assigned two of his aides to work with us. One will address legal issues and one for general purpose problems. He also suggested that we have a lobbyist both on the state and federal levels. Since Senator Fitzgerald had never responded to equestrian concerns in the Shawnee in the past, we feel that this meeting was very positive.
On August 9th, US Senate Republican candidate, Jim Oberweis, of Aurora, came to Bear Branch where he and two of his aides rode horseback in the Shawnee Forest. He told a reporter for the Southern Illinoisan that he thought the forest was a valuable resource that is under-utilized. Oberweis is running for the senate seat that will be vacated by Fitzgerald, who is not seeking re-election. He attended the STC meeting in July where he spoke on his positions and answered a host of questions. Although Oberweis had ridden as a child, in later years he has been busy running the brokerage and investment firm that he founded, Oberweis Asset Management, along with being the chairman of the board of the Oberweis Dairy, a family business founded by his grandfather. He had a wonderful time trail riding and learning more about the Shawnee issues according to Sue Perina and Dick Manders Our thanks to Jack Taylor and Don Roy who supplied loaner horses for Jim Oberweis and his staff to ride.
***IMPORTANT UPCOMING STC TRAIL WORK DAYS AND MEETING DATES***
SEPT 18TH- STC MEETING AT DOLLY’S AT THE EAST EDGE OF VIENNA ON RTE 146- 7PM
SEPT 20TH- FS WORK DAY ON THE RIVER TO RIVER TRAIL. MEET AT 9AM AT THE LUSK CREEK TRAIL HEAD ACROSS FROM CIRCLE B. LET’S HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT!!
OCT 16TH- ANNUAL ELECTION OF STC OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS; 7PM AT DOLLY’S IN VIENNA, COME AT 6PM FOR SUPPER. DOOR PRIZES! PLEASE ATTEND!
NOV 20TH- STC MEETING AT DOLLY’S IN VIENNA AT 7 PM
If your e-mail address has changed, please notify membership secretary, Joy Roy at
ajroy@shawneelink.com
See you on the trail,
Cheryl Blackorby
STC director and newsletter editor, blackrby@shawneelink.com Ph.618-672-4768
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. Delinquent members are removed from our mailing list. Please stay informed through our quarterly newsletters about the Shawnee especially during the analysis of the Natural Areas and the formulation of the New Forest Plan, which sets the management policy for the Shawnee National Forest for the next 15 yrs. Responses from ALL users are very important in the direction that the FS takes regarding trails, area closures, and management policies. Dues and donations are tax deductible!!
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SHAWNEE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, PO BOX 44, EDDYVILLE, IL 62928
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