Unconfirmed by me, but this is a cut and paste from the NAXJA board:

Just found out that the US Forest Service could be closing down 80% of the roads and trails in the Sitgreavess National Forest (near Heber/Overguard ). Please read the attachments and take appropriate actions Sorry about the form being up-side down, but print it out, fill it out, and send it to: APACHE SITGREAVES NATIONAL FOREST, SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE, P.O. BOX 640, SPRINGERVILLE, AZ 85938

The Forest Service are trying to push this through quietly. You are about to loose your right to public land!!

Here are the basics behind the Travel Management Rule (TMR) which is being used to close all of our national forests to the public:

1. Closing 80 to 90 percent of all existing roads and trails through the forest to all motorized vehicles.

2 Camping will be limited to designated campsites within 300 feet from the center of an open road. No more open camping at your favorite spot. You will be forced to camp with strangers and eat RV exhaust being pumped into your tent from the next door camping slot. And, you will have to pay $6 to $12.50 a night to have the privilege to do it.

3 Fire wood gathering will be limited to within 300 feet of an open road. Have you ever been able to find a piece of wood to burn at a designated camp site? Good bye campfires, smores, and Tinfoil dinners.

4 Downed animal retrieval using a motorized vehicle will be limited to 300 feet of an open road. Good luck trying to retrieve that trophy bull elk you shot a half mile away from the road. This will eventually effect AZ Game and Fish's funds, and they will be forced to hike the hunting and fishing licenses, and permits. Thus the end of the sports for the lower income.

What can you do about it? Open the form, print it out, and write on it in big bold letters “Do not limit our access to our public lands, or we will hold the appropriate Senator and Congressman responsible next time they come up for elections!” Mail it to: SITGREAVES NATIONAL FOREST, SUPERVISORS OFFICE, P.O. BOX 640, SPRINGERVILLE, AZ 85938. Attn: TRAVEL MANAGEMENT OFFICE.

We need to make it known the politicians can and will be fired! And , they need to heed the will of the people!

I AM ALL FOR FOREST CONSERVATION, BUT CLOSING THEM DOWN IS NOT THE ANSWER. MANAGEMENT AND “SERVICE” IS THE ANSWER. PUNISH THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE EXISTING RULES--NOT EVERYONE. THAT IS WHY WE CALL THEM “FOREST SERVICE” NOT FOREST GUESTOPO, (OR DO WE NEED A NAME CHANGE). Enforce the rules and regulations we have, we need any more new rules and regulations! But, we need our forests!

CUT AND PASTE THIS OR THE ATTACHMENTS, AND E-MAIL THEM TO EVERY OUTDOORS PERSON, EVERY OFF-ROAD FORUM YOU CAN THINK OF, NOT JUST ARIZONAN'S. OUR WHOLE NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM IS AT JEPORDY, AND THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP, IF IT PASSES. LET'S STOP IT HERE AND NOW!

I know this is a little late, and the meetings have already passed, but we still have until Friday Mar. 14 to send in the forms. I'm sure once these roads are closed, it's for good. I know this one requires a little more action than just signing an online petition, but isn't it worth it if we keep the land open?

Sorry, I don't have enough posts to attatch stuff (or I'm just stupid), but I can give you the links. The first link shows the first half of the flyer. The second link shows the second half of the flyer, and the thrid link is the form. Simply click the links below, click the image (this will make it full sized), right click it and go to "Save Picture As..." and save it. Now you have a copy you can print off. Thanks Everyone!!!

First half of Flyer:http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...ent=forest.jpg

Second half of Flyer:http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...nt=forest1.jpg
Form:http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z...nt=forest2.jpg