Blog Archives for Adam Rissien

By Adam Rissien - March 12, 2010   Today Judge Haddon ruled in favor of motorized groups that challenged the Little Belt Travel Plan on the Lewis & Clark National Forest. While this may seem like a successful challenge by the ORVers, Judge Haddon got the facts wrong and ignored briefs from the defendants making it likely that even conservative judges on the 9th Circuit would overturn the decision.

By Adam Rissien - February 19, 2010    Today we joined with the Pryors Coalition in challenging the Custer National Forest's Beartooth Travel Plan. In the Pryor Mountains, the Forest Service designated 124 miles (99%) of roads and trails for motorized use, and less than one and a half miles (1%) for those who rely on a quiet setting to enjoy traditional Montana activities.  There are eight designated motorized routes up the south and west slopes of Big Pryor Mountain and no quiet trails.

By Adam Rissien - February 2, 2010    The Ravalli Republic ran a story about how a four wheeler drove around gates closing the Forest Service roads to motor vehicles in the Como Lake area on the Bitterroot National Forest.

By Adam Rissien - January 26, 2010    A few days ago I blogged about our friends at ORV Watch Kern Co. who sent us a couple of You Tube videos documenting illegal motorcycle use on the Pacific Crest Trail. Well it seems that the perpetrators didn't like being caught in the act so they complained to You Tube management about their images appearing online and changes had to be made "to protect THEM."

By Adam Rissien - January 15, 2010    Sentencing happened yesterday for a Livingston, MT man who illegally created an off-road vehicle route back in 2006: see Livingston man admits making illegal trail in forest. Francis Leroy McLain ,60, originally was indicted on a felony and faced a maximum one year in prison and $100,000 fine. After the ususal plea-bargaining his sentence was reduced to five months in federal prison, a $2,000 fine and $25,000 in restitution for damage.

By Adam Rissien - December 9, 2009    Wildlands CPR worked with Montanans for Quiet Recreation this past summer helping to coordinate off-road vehicle monitoring on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.  Overall, MQR conducted or received monitoring data on 28 trails and areas, and collected 322 pictures showing a variety of ORV impacts as well as signs, closure devices and scenic views. Some of the worst damage was found at trailheads leading into in the West Pioneer WSA, and from user-created routes in the East Pioneer IRA.

By Adam Rissien - November 19, 2009    Our friends with Kern Co. ORV Watch recently sent us their most recent monitoring results. They write:

By Adam Rissien - November 17, 2009    US District Judge Donald Molloy recently ruled against the Gallatin National Forest's proposal to allow snowmobiles into the Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area (read more here). The ruling centered around the agency's inability to prove that it was preserving wilderness character when it increased the area for snowmobile use inside the WSA.

By Adam Rissien - May 22, 2009   Wildlands CPR filed an appeal this week on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Revised Forest Plan, citing several flaws in the final decision and supporting analysis. Joining us in our appeal was the Winter Wildlands Alliance, Friends of the Bitterroot and Montanans for Quiet Recreation.  

By Adam Rissien - May 7, 2009   The Caspar Star-Tribune ran an article painting a picture of how inequitable snowmobile groups were treated by the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s designation of lynx habitat. No mention was given about the previous lynx decision that had to be revised. On Feb. 24th, the NY Times reported,