On April 17, 2013, in the Opinions page of the Trinity Journal and in a Letters to the Editor in the Two Rivers Tribune a Mr. Jens Sund and then on the internet a Mr. Charlie Bean, wrote a scathing letter/post about the US Forest Service closing off road access to the Sandy Bar and Todd Ranch Low Water Bridge areas on the South Fork of the Trinity River. They forgot to do proper research about “Private Property” roads in the Six Rivers Forest. These accesses are NOT CLOSED by any means! I have been working with the Lower Trinity River Assistant Ranger, Orleans District Ranger and the Assistant Forest Supervisor on these accesses since late February trying to get some repair work done on these accesses and was told that work can only be done on Forest Service property Not on private property. The problem is that the new forest road maps that show the new road closures for Six Rivers Forest do not show private property roads and this looks like the road is closed to passage with a fine of up to $5,000.00 if caught on these roads. Sure people would be upset at the possibility of a $5,000 fine, who wouldn’t be. True I believe there could be a better review process for Forest Service Road Closures, but the problem is that when the Forest Service does hold a scoping review for these types of closures very few people show up to them for input. It is our responsibility to show up and protest or make changes but it is the Forest Service’s responsibility to make proper notices of these hearings also!

Because of the sequester there is NO FUNDS available at this time for repairs and the Sandy Bar access of the South Fork is in dire need of repairs or replacement. Believe me as a river guide I continue to fight for viable river access for all recreation whether it be fishermen, rafters or just sunbathers. One thing I have learned over the years is that you have to get ALL of the facts before you attack someone in the public sector. To publish misstatements or half truths only succeeds in creating problems that are very hard to repair. I can honestly state that these two river accesses are NOT going to be closed without a public hearing. The problem is that some or part of these accesses are on or through private property and have to be negotiated for access. I say contact your congressman and request that he help find funds to make this happen!