Tahoe Sierra Snowmobile Club
Club Meeting
1-12-12
Lakeside Casino and Inn
Board members/officers in attendance: Wayne Fischer –Forest Service Liaison & email
Moderator (ran meeting in Doug’s absence)
Gary Taylor - Treasurer
James McCray – Board Member
Hanna Bernard – Media Relations &Web Master
Wendi McCray – Secretary
Presenters: Jeff Marsolais, Deputy Forest Supervisor and Cheva Heck, Public Affairs Officer – Tahoe Basin Forest Service Update.
Thank you Jeff and Cheva for presenting and being part of our meeting.
Forest Service is currently working on the Forest Plan (working on for last 4-5 years) – finally narrowing items for plan.
- Not make big changes to management areas.
- Fair distribution of riding areas
- Subpart C (travel rule)
- snowmobile use
- site specific direction to make it work
- No reallocations of land at this time.
- GOAL – quality recreation opportunities for everyone
- within 4 months of releasing Forest Plan Draft (there will be a public comment period in July)
- WHAT MATTERS TO US (snowmobile users) – Let Jeff know!
- What is off the table – opening up or closing off areas
- Winter Collaborative – pros and cons of snowmobiling – Mt Rose has been picked as “project” area due to its multiple recreational uses and issues.
- points brought up at last Collaborative: better signage; open and close dates depending on snow; noise control
- Patrol – added feature – being able to hire two more gun carrying law enforcement officers
Also discussed briefly was the Santini-Burton Act (NFS land) – Jeff was going to get the Act available to us.
TAHOE FACT: 80% of land base in Tahoe is under NFS
Next Collaborative meeting: January 29th – Old Station Room in Incline Village (more info once available).
Other meeting notes:
Treasurer’s report – membership down from last year (as of 1-12-12, 24 paid members – 2 of those are comp memberships due to buying a sled from one of our supporting dealers.
Briefly discussed the decision to cancel the Clinics and refunds. Discussed that Clinics will take place in the future but organized through Alpine Assassins instead of the Club (but Club will promote event).
Other Forest Service news:
-Little Truckee Summit got grooming money (Sierra County)
-Humboldt/Toiyabe still going forward with having 3 snow rangers
-Blue Lake now has overnight parking through the CA parks. Stay up to 3 nights but vehicle must be occupied each night – no fires and no overflow parking.
-Wayne will get info re: Sonora Pass
CA lawsuit:
Complaints by those against snowmobilers include: noise, disturbing animals, their (non-snowmobilers) experience more important than ours (snowmobilers); land availability
Wayne will send out copy of lawsuit for those who want to read it.
NEXT MEETING: February 9, 2012 – 6 p.m. at Red’s 395 in Carson City