July 26, 2011
Dear Fellow Trail Rider,
Below this note you will find a press release announcing the public release of a draft of The 2011 Recommendations Report of The Equine Trailways Subcommittee (ETS). The report has been provided to the Michigan Snowmobile and Trails Advisory Council (MSTAC), as required by Public Acts 45 and 46, sometimes referred to as “Right to Ride”. As you can see, there are 60 days of open comment period, after which time the Report will be finalized.
Please send any comments you might have to the link listed in the press release (DNR-RTS@michigan.gov). MSTAC has a year to respond to the ETS Report and to advise the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Governor on the creation, development, operation, and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized trails for multiple users throughout the state. Two ETS members are on the MSTAC (Mike Foote and Sandra Batie).
As you can see by the length and contents of the report, the ETS has been hard at work since it had its first meeting on September 23, 2010. You can see all the 46 recommendations in one place in the Executive Summary of Recommendations on pages 7-14. I would like to draw your attention to what the ETS hopes is a clear statement of the implications of the use of fish and game funds for the management of equine uses of state-owned lands—found on pages 28 -30. Another section of the report that you may find particularly informative is that of the proposed DNR Equine Access Plan for the Pigeon River Country State Forest , found on pages 30-32. The Equine Trail Survey—that many of you completed—results are found in Appendix B.
I want to add my thanks to that of the ETS to all of you who have assisted and been supportive of our efforts. We could not have completed this Report without you! The ETS looks forward to collaborating with equine riding, packing, and carriage driving associations, equine trail riders, and other recreational trail stakeholders throughout the next year.
Sincerely,
Sandra S. Batie, Chair
Equine Trailways Subcommittee
cc: ETS members
Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2011
Contacts: James Radabaugh 517-373-1276 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
DNR Seeks Public Input on 2011 Recommendations Report of Equine Trailways Subcommittee
The
Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on recommendations to develop a statewide network of pack and saddle trailways contained in the 2011 Recommendations Report of the Equine Trailways Subcommittee.
The Equine Trailways Subcommittee (ETS) draft report contains 46 recommendations that were developed after substantial input from the equine riding community.
The ETS was created under a 2010 state law and was charged with preparing and submitting a plan for a statewide network of pack and saddle trailways within one year of their appointment.
The draft report is available for public review and comment at DNR – Equine Trailways Subcommittee. On the left side of the DNR homepage found atwww.michigan.gov/dnr, click on Commissions, Boards and Committees, then click on Michigan Snowmobile and Trails Advisory Council, followed by Equine Trailways Subcommittee.
Public comment on the Draft Report will be accepted until Sept. 30, 2011. Comments may be submitted electronically to DNR-RTS@michigan.gov. Written comments can also be sent to DNR-Forest Management Division, P.O. Box Lansing, Michigan 48909-7952, Attn: James Radabaugh, State Trails Coordinator.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
