lilredgypsy

I just wanted to thank everyone for giving me their thoughts regarding this issue. Its turning out to be an interesting research project. Thanks again.

In response to builder206: 1. I think the titles of conservationist and recreationalists are understandably vague and an individual could be both. In general I think a conservationist is someone who advocates for the protection of natural resources, possibly through planned management. A recreationalist could be defined as an individual who spends time in the nature world, such as a hiker, backpacker, climber, etc. These definitions are not definitive, but simply my explanation. 2. Some generalizations must be made. I recognize that not all land managers want all roads decommissioned. However, if the goal is habitat restoration and watershed health decommissioning of problem roads would move us closer to these goals. 3. This is not a philosophical paper. This is a current issue in our area. I'm still working to compile a list of roads that will be decommissioned, or have been proposed be decommissioned. A few roads in the Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and NOCA NP that have been decommissioned or are slotted to be: FS road 6200 near Proctor Creek, Finney Roads road system 1700, FS road 7020 and 7021 at Slide Creek Crossing, and the Upper Stehekin Valley Road from Car Wash Falls to Cottonwood. 4. You can call it a difference of opinions, an issue, or say that the parties involved are hoping for different outcomes. The point is there are different opinions on the matter and I choose to label it as a conflict, call it what you will. 5. There is no information about my research project available as of yet, as I'm still working on it. The end product will be a short paper accompanied by a quick presentation, nothing formal to present to the public. Here are a few links for more information regarding the issue: Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative http://www.wawatersheds.blogspot.com/ Wildlands CPR http://www.wildlandscpr.org/legacy-roads-funding-fy08 Conservation Northwest http://www.conservationnw.org/wildlife-habitat/legacy-roads-act/?searchterm=legacy%20roads

I'm a grad student at Huxley and I'm doing a research project regarding road decommissioning, focusing on the conflict between conservationists and land managers who want to close the roads and recreationalists who want to keep them open. I'm posting here because I want to get as many perspectives as possible regarding the issue. A few questions to start off with or folks can just skip that and tell me what they think. 1- What is your stance on road decommissioning? 2- What are your environmental and access concerns regarding road decommissioning? 3- How would road decommissioning limit access to recreational areas? What would that mean to you? Thanks