USFS to Implement Strategy

February 17th, 2009

  • The USFS to implement strategy (to be determined) by Oct. 2009
  • The NEPA process will be initiated, including: Proposed actions, Possible climbing management plan and required documents. An E.A. (Environmental Assessment) is what we are hoping will be the required document. This is currently what FoWR / AF preferred vs. an E.I.S. (Environmental Impact Study).
  • The USFS is currently evaluating nearby recreation issues, which at the core may be unassociated with the use of the Rock. These are being analyzed to determine which can be unlinked from the Williamson Rock issue. These will hopefully be separately ‘categorically excluded’ under NEPA, in an attempt to lessen the perceived ‘cumulative effect’ to the biological resources.
  • The USFS is currently evaluating the approach trails used to access Williamson Rock. There is the possibility that one of the proposed actions may include exclusive use of ‘the Long Trail’ as a climbers trail. The USFS currently thinks that alternative would be best to avoid the MYLF habitat all together.
  • FoWR will learn more by April, when the ‘best alternatives’ are further defined. We will provide more details as they become available.

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Williamson Rock Access and Conservation Project Document

February 11th, 2009

The following document was prepared by FoWR (with help from several science professionals) to provide mitigation measures as well as other requisite information. A copy of the Williamson Rock Access and Conservation Project document can be found here (4.6MB PDF).

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Williamson Latest News, $85k in funding.

February 6th, 2009

Thank you to everyone for writing letters to your congressional representatives and influencing others to write as well.

A big thanks for Jason (and everyone) at the Access Fund, Jason’s Washington D.C. trip and your letters have been instrumental in getting this response from the USFS. We’ve got a long way to go still, but we hope that this is the tipping point.

It is definitely a huge step forward it terms of the USFS allocation of time, monies and personnel to the Williamson Rock issue.

Now the big news…

As a result of our recent meeting with the USFS and USFWS, there has been significant progress:

  • The ANF / USFS has secured $85k for the current fiscal year (Oct – Oct) that will be allocated to the Williamson Rock issue, earmarked for (what we hope will be) an E.A. (Environmental Assessment).
  • The Williamson Rock issue has been elevated from the regional office in Santa Clarita to the supervisors office in Arcadia, Ca.
  • A new I.D. (Inter Disciplinary) Team has been formed, including specialists from the supervisors office.
  • Darrell Vance is being assigned as Team Leader for the Williamson Rock project.
  • Lisa Northrop, Forest Resources Staff Officer will be the lead staff officer to support Darrell and the team. Lisa supervises all resource specialists.

The USFS thanked FoWR / AF for our patience:

“I appreciate how frustrating the situation has been (for all of us).
We need our partners to help to figure out what is the best and right thing to do out there.
Our goal is to find a way to protect the resources while allowing recreation uses to continue.”

The Omnibus Public Lands Bill (#22) has passed the Senate and is in the House.
In the the bill the Forest Service asked for a larger exclusion area for Williamson
Rock from designated wilderness. Which is what FoWR had requested.

On behalf of FoWR, I have spoken with congressman David Drier’s office in support of this bill.

Thanks again for your effort and patience, we will keep you posted as news becomes available.

Troy

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