Protect Paddling in the Southern Sierra

The Inyo, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests are revising their forest management plans - the document that outlines the guiding vision for how each forest will be managed for the next 20-30 years. The Forest Service recently published draft management plans for each of these Southern Sierra forests and they're looking for input from you, the public, on how to improve them.

Paddlers are teaming up with Outdoor Alliance and its partner groups to protect, promote, and enhance outdoor experiences in the southern Sierra. Lots of people have gotten in touch with us to let us know why they care about the Inyo, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests. We've listened to you, reviewed the draft plans, and come up with a few suggestions on what the Forest Service could do better. Now we need your help to get the message across.

You can help by letting the Forest Service know how and where you recreate in the Southern Sierra. We have a comment letter template ready for you to use below - it already contains some of the technical jargon and comments about how the plans can be improved but we need you to add your story. The Forest Service is most likely to read and take into consideration letters that are personalized, so please add, or delete, to your heart's content.

The deadline is August 25th. Please comment today!

Photo credit: Thomas O'Keefe

Learn more about Forest Planning in the Inyo, Sierra, and Sequoia, and read sample comments about other sports, including mountain biking, climbing, backcountry skiing, and general outdoor activities.

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Dear Planning Team,

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As an avid whitewater paddler, I value the time I spend on the Sierra, Sequoia, and Inyo National Forests and appreciate the opportunity to comment on the forest plan revision.

Many of the rivers on the three forests draw paddlers from across the globe, and their outstandingly remarkable whitewater recreation values should be recognized. It is disappointing to see that the Wild and Scenic Evaluation (Appendix C) in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement fails to do this. I request that the Forest Service:

Complete an inventory of Brush Creek, the Middle Fork Tule, Dry Meadow Creek, Granite Creek and the entire length of Dinkey Creek. These reaches are freely flowing and have outstandingly remarkable whitewater recreation values. 
    Consider the outstandingly remarkable whitewater recreation values of rivers that are listed as eligible in the DEIS, including Dinkey Creek, North Fork Kings, South Fork San Joaquin, Piute Creek, San Joaquin River, Big Creek (tributary to the SF Merced), Mono Creek, Bear Creek, Hot Creek and North Fork Willow Creek.

Information on these runs is available at www.americanwhitewater.org

In terms of recreation on the forest overall, I support that the Draft Plans emphasize sustainable recreation and adaptive management and encourage the Forest Service to do more to integrate sustainable recreation with other aspects of forest management. This integration is essential to managing recreation in a proactive and sustainable manner while protecting the unique natural resources and wild places that define these forests. The DEIS divides the forests into "Recreation Places." While this is a good place to start, I encourage the Forest Service to define particular Special Recreation Management Areas in areas that would benefit from more focused recreation management direction.

According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation in California generates over $85 billion in consumer spending and approximately 732,000 direct jobs. I appreciate that the draft EIS discusses the value of this recreation economy in the context of the Inyo, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests.  These forests provide important recreation opportunities which in turn help to drive local economies.  This positive feedback loop can only be maintained if the Forest Service manages and provides for sustainable recreation opportunities.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Sincerely, [Your information here]