Friends Groups -- saving trails together -- How to.

I get asked often about saving trails with a "friends" type group (or coalition).  It's easy to do and very powerful.  Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) is the most famous friends group in the country and the largest coalition ever formed to save just one trail -- the Rubicon Trail.  Here's why friends groups work so well.

Friends groups set aside club issues and bring everyone together under one banner.


Friends groups are usually multiple use (wheeling, dirt bikes, hunting, fishing, atv's, etc. and access in general).

Friends groups become the central point of contact for agency folks (USFS; BLM). It makes it easier for all of us to work together.

Friends groups become powerful proponents of public lands (quickly), recognized by the agencies as the folks to deal with!  Let alone that friends groups are the ones that get the work done.

Go here to learn more and see how (step by step) to start a friends group (or coalition) for your trail or riding area: http://www.delalbright.com/Articles/coalitions.htm

Del

Volunteer of the Year -- Friends of High Lakes

Friends of The High lakes received the Volunteer of the Year award for work in The High Lakes OHV area, for Region 5, California.


Friends of The High Lakes ( FOTHL ) has been organized since July 2007 as a 501(c)3 Public Benefit Corporation, to assist Lassen National Forest, Almanor Ranger District with the OHV area known as The High Lakes. The area holds 16 lakes, and more than 50 miles of trails, including over 40 camp sites. The web site is:

http://www.friendsofthehighlakes.com/

In that effort, an Adopt-a-Trail Program, A Trail Patrol, and various Educational materials, including a map of the area were created and put into effect under written agreement for a 5 year period with USFS.

The main efforts have been in mitigation and repair of many areas that were in need of a lot of rock ( over 100 tons ) to prevent tire to mud contact, better signage, elimination of instances of leaving the trail, installing fire rings, with major help from and work being done by members of 9 local clubs.

The focus of FOTHL is to ensure the area remains a viable OHV area for use by all genre of motorized and non-motorized users, and offers terrain suitable for most vehicle types, with mild to very minor wild challenges. In doing so, the emphasis has been on Management, Maintenance, and Education.

The Ranger District saw fit to nominate FOTHL for the National Volunteer of the Year award.

While the national award went to another group in the US, FOTHL was honored to receive the Volunteer of the Year award for Region 5, which includes all of California, and the off-shore islands.

This award will be presented to the crew that is instrumental in ensuring the success of FOTHL at the semi-annual work party / clean up, on Saturday, September 26, at 9:00 AM at Spring Valley Lake, in conjunction with the third participation in National Public Lands Day.

The award will be presented by District Ranger, Al Vazquez; Resources Officer, Jane Goodwin; Recreation Officer, Michelle Ahern, and several other staff from the District.

FOTHL is extremely proud to have been selected for this honor, and 100% of the credit goes to each individual, and each club that has done an awesome job in making it happen.

After a briefing, and awards ceremony the entire crews will head out to take care of each of their individual pieces of the area. They will return to Spring Valley Lake at 4:30 for a raffle, and dinner provided by two more clubs and yet more outstanding volunteers.

All are very welcome to join us for the all-day event.
For further information contact Chairman, Ken Knull at (530) 873-2430 or ken@friendsofthehighlakes.com

Build a coalition; save a trail

Friends groups or coalitions are a significantly solid way to save your trail or riding area – especially where you need mixed uses working together. For example, if your riding area is used by dirt bikes, atv's and 4x4's, a Friends group (or coalition) is the way to go. This will save your trail in the long run. Folks have got to work together and find ways to cooperate in order to keep the anti-access crowd from shutting you down. I started Friends of the Rubicon 8 years ago and we've been saving the Rubicon ever since. We had to ban together for several reasons, but most importantly we also had to set aside club and organizational issues so we were all on the same team.

When you work under a Friends group banner, it's easy to set aside turf battles or disagreements, and get the job done together.

There are literally dozens of new Friends groups formed up all over the country recently. They are saving trails and winning land use battles. Some examples include Friends of Eldorado, Friends of Fordyce, Friends of Greenhorn, Friends of High Lakes, and many more. It WORKS! You become a much more powerful group when you include other groups, clubs and recreationists. Give it a shot. I'll be happy to help you get started.

Read more about the process on my web site right here: http://www.delalbright.com/Articles/coalitions.htm

Del