On July 30, 2010, the Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation and the Center for Biological Diversity today filed suit to protect struggling species, including the rare California red-legged frog, from off-road vehicles and construction in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The groups are challenging a California Off-Highway Vehicle Division decision to approve funding for nearly nine miles of new ORV trails and construction of three new bridges in the Rock Creek Recreation Trails Area of the Eldorado National Forest. The work would include blasting of rock outcroppings, excavation, construction of retaining walls and other “improvements” designed to increase ORV use in the Rock Creek area.

The groups are challenging the decision because the agency failed to adequately review impacts to soil, water and air quality, riparian habitats and imperiled species such as the California red-legged frog, western pond turtle and Eldorado manzanita. The state’s OHV division refused to prepare an environmental impact report for the work and instead chose to rely on an inadequate review that lacked important mitigation measures for any damage.

The headlines say it all: "The Shasta County board of supervisors voted today in closed session to sue the Shasta-Trinity National Forest over its controversial roads plan."

Please read the story published in the Redding Record on July 27th. Shasta County has voted to sue the Shasta-Trinity National Forest over its recently completed forest plan, and the lack of consideration for any of the county's concerns. Siskiyou County is not far behind, and has planned a meeting next week to determine whether to join Shasta County in the lawsuit. It is expected that both counties will file together. Congratulations to Friends of Shasta-Trinity National Forest for all their hard work and efforts that helped bring the problems with the forest plan to the attention of the Boards of Supervisors and have helped result in this commendable action. Let's all support Friends of Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and both Shasta and Siskiyou Counties for their willingness to stand up for their counties' best interests.

http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jul/27/shasta-county-sue-forest-over-roads-plan/

Shasta-Trinity National Forests to study possibility of new trail opportunities

This invitation to help out is not limited to those that live in the Shasta County Area. All CAL 4 members, CORVA, and anyone else that may want to help out are invited as well. The payoff here is the possibility of a NEW OHV AREA to recreate in. Anyone interested in helping the cause can contact Jim Williams at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Sylvia Miligan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Last Thursday, Alameda Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch denied a motion for a new suit filed last month by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the California Sportsfishing Alliance alleging that off-road use was polluting Corral Hollow Creek.

This is the second time these groups tried to sue the state over off-road use at the park, the first suit alleged the park was being operated without a necessary water discharge permit. That case was decided against the two groups as well, and the state is working with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board to determine if a permit is needed.