Email From Forest Service 2/3/12

Trail User Conflict Collaborative Planning 2/3/12 - Email from Forest Service

Hello everyone- I wanted to send each of you an email regarding some future listening sessions the Forest will be hosting via Udall Foundation's U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (U.S. Institute).

The Prescott National Forest (PNF)is currently working to assess and refine collaborative efforts with community members in order to develop strategies to reduce and minimize trail-use conflict in the PNF.  As most of you are aware, we had a few accidents on the forest between mountain bikers and horseback riders over the last year.  Many of you have been very involved in helping us with new signs, educational clinics, and assessing trail conditions.  Much work has been done, and I really want to thank each of you for hard work!  Now, I need to assess what more can the PNF do to reduce and minimize trail-use conflicts on the Prescott.

With this in mind, the PNF has engaged the U.S. Institute to provide neutral services on this initiative.  The U.S. Institute is an impartial, independent federal agency, and their mission is to help parties, including public, private, and non-profit individuals and organizations, improve collaboration and resolve conflicts involving environmental, natural resource, and public lands issues.  The U.S. Institute will staff professional mediators to work with the PNF and community members to help design a process to address and minimize trail-use conflicts in a collaborative forum.

As a first step, the U.S. Institute will hold several listening sessions with trail users.  The purpose of the listening sessions is to identify the range of interests, issues, and concerns related to the various trail user groups.  Listening sessions will be held in confidential, small-group settings with selected trail users and U.S. Institute staff.   Information gathered at these sessions will be summarized in a manner that is non-attributable to participants.  This information will help inform the PNF how community members would like to engage in a collaborative process to discuss and address trail-use challenges.

The listening sessions are tentatively scheduled for February, and the final schedule for the sessions will be developed with input from the participants.

As a key community partner, the U.S. Institute would like to contact you directly to get your input on identifying potential participants for the listening sessions, and to answer any questions that you may have about these sessions.  Please anticipate being contacted by one of the U.S. Institute staff working on this initiative (Brian Manwaring, Program Manager, manwaring@ecr.gov <mailto:manwaring@ecr.gov>  and Lindsey Sexton, Program Associate, sexton@ecr.gov <mailto:sexton@ecr.gov> ) in the coming weeks. If you have any questions for the U.S. Institute staff prior to their call, feel free to contact them directly.
Thank you for all the hard work on the PNF and I look forward to solving our challenges together.  Betty

To Do List

Activity Description Responsibility Due Date Notes Complete Signage  Design Unique PNF signage to place at trail heads  ALL Involved   September 30, 2011   On Going we have a design that FS has approved just waiting for final approval Identify problem spots  on ground review of trail 347 / give feedback on how to fix  ALL Involved   September 30, 2011   10/15/11 Trail Re-design & Equestrian by pass routes   Design and complete appropriate modifications on #347  ALL Involved   November 30, 2011   Due to weather and other items we are still working on this. Identify Problem spots on trails  Identify and prioritize other trails for review   ALL Involved   October 31, 2011   Spots have been identified by both groups  12/31/11 Brushing Video  Design and post a brushing video for people to watch on how to brush correctly  PMBA / USFS  December 31, 2011   IMBA has a program just waiting to see what the forest service say  Joint Trail head talks  Horse and bike talks at Wonderschlautt at each trail head   PMBA/BCHAZ/PSC  October 15, 2011   On going   We have had several meetings that were well received  Discourage Earphone use by bikers  Include information on website, facebook, & communicate at group rides  PMBA  On going   Joint Trail maintenance days  Horse/ Bike trail maintenance days 3 per year Spring, summer & fall   ALL Involved   Schedule to be determined   Horse safety Clinic  Get horses used to bikes, animals, people so as not to spook easily on trails  BCHAZ / PSC   Schedule to be determined by Tom Norris   Horse Confidence training / Discussion  Informing Equestrians on how to handle their horse and make it more confident on the trail   BCHAZ / PSC   Schedule to be determined - Denny Murray point of contact  Bells & Whistles for trail users  Investigate designs for bike bells & recommend to group. Recommend whistles for Equestrian rider leaders   PMBA/BCHAZ/PSC  October 15, 2011   Bikers have started using the bells. Equestrians rider leaders are carrying whistles.   On Going - each group is assessing these new items.  Bikers like the idea and have started using them . Equestrians like it as well.  Their horses alert sooner.  Trail Ambassadors  Riders & Hikers on trails to talk about user safety. Review similar programs in other regions   ALL Involved   December 31, 2011  Pilot program in field by 4/15/12  Joint statement formed  Need a joint statement we can give to reporters invited out at events  ALL Involved   September 15, 2011  We will use parts from the last stmt from Brad and & Diana  September 17, 2011  Showing 13 items

Spots on 347

posted Oct 19, 2009 

Jason and others went out on 347 after our first sit down meeting.  There were some spots identified. The ride for Sept 9th was canceled due to things coming up for Jason.  If Jason or Denny could post what and where the spots are on 347 so the PMBA trail master can go take a look and give his opinion on what would work.  We should be able to have a plan in place and able to get this project marked as COMPLETED.

(Edit post)

We're on target...

posted Oct 19, 2009 

Trail 347 which is one of our first deadlines looks like we will be able to complete it on time. One other deadline coming up is the joint statement. I really liked the last post to the editor by Brad and Diana.  I say we use it as the guide line as to what to say to reporters we have at events.  Any other suggestions??

(Edit post)

Comments sent by Jason on 9/6/11

posted Oct 19, 2009 

I did a quick review.  One thing I would start thinking about would be turning this into a larger document that  speaks to the trail community as a whole not just bikes and equestrians. some other ideas I have are: 1.  list all the trails that have had conflicts or could - 347, 396, 326, 307 etc most of you know them. 2. We need to start tracking negative trail encounters/accidents between users to help us understand where  design is a factor and where user behavior is a factor 3. Vision statement for the "Prescott Trail Safety Coalition" name????? 4. Goals 5.  Action Plan - which is mostly developed

(Edit post) | 1 comment

Sign Template we are working with

posted Oct 19, 2009 

This was submitted by Denise and Diana made some changes.. is there any other changes that need to be added or deleted or something else that needs to be posted on it.. like the no ipods sign?

Project Definition

Introduction For all user groups to enjoy our Prescott Trails safely.  We work on educating the public through signs, local press, websites and club communications. The Purpose (Mission) Make Trails Safer for all who use them Education the users on trail courtesy Create relationships with all trail user groups These are the targets we want to meet Signage at trails heads that get users attention Trail Head talks with bikers and equestrians Horse safety clinics Joint bike/ horse trail maintenance days  This is how our organization will gain. Positive feed back in the community for both groups working together More respect for each user group More trails brushed during the season Safer trails for everyone Objectives The Back Country Horsemen of  Central Arizona Board of Directors has mandated that this  chapter take an  active role in the newly formed multi-use, non-motorized trail safety coalition.  Through this action we want to send the community, our elected officials, government agencies,  and our membership, clarification of our position concerning trail safety and our wilderness to  work toward a  solution. We are partnering with the Prescott National Forest, Prescott    Mountain Bike Alliance, Prescott Saddle Club, Yavapai Trails Association,  Granite Mountain  Riders, and all other trail users to promote safety and  strive for community cooperation and  courtesy from all users on our trails.   Measurable Objectives: Identify problem spots on the trails Brushing trails  Trail Re-design to control bike speeds  Equestrian Bypass routes for around dangerous spots