[GeoStL] Re: Geocaching and the Mark Twain National Forest

-
One must remember that this is the plan to manage recreation on the Mark
Twain for the next 10-15 years.  Yes the unwritten policy is pretty good
now.  A short time ago it was not good.  People like Freakes only stay on a
National Forest for a short time.  Unwritten polices are simple to change.
Getting it in the Forest Plan makes it much harder to change.  The risk is
we could get a bad policy in the plan.  But if we get a good one, it will be
much harder for the Forest Service to change it.

Jim Bensman
"Nature Bats Last" 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: geocaching-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:geocaching-
> bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mike Griffin
> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 8:33 PM
> To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [GeoStL] Re: Geocaching and the Mark Twain National Forest
> 
> -
> I agree with Dan... Let sleeping dogs lie until we have food to feed
> them...
> I think that as the popularity of the hobby grows, the land managers will
> be
> more acceptable..
> 
> Mike Griffin
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan Henke" <thunder_monk@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 7:52 PM
> Subject: [GeoStL] Re: Geocaching and the Mark Twain National Forest
> 
> 
> > -
> > Jim and all,
> >
> > IMHO I think we should leave it be....I am in constant touch with Nancy
> > Feakes here in Rolla and the policy that is unwritten and yet is used at
> > least by me is to email Nancy when I place a cache in the MTNF with a
> > description of kind of container,,,,how it is hidden....assurances that
> it
> > is not placed in a sensitive or harmful spot and the coords and a link
> to
> > the cache page for verification. I also mention the MTNF by name and
> post
> > any restrictions etc. in the cache descriptions. I also ask people who
> > find the cache to report abuse and destruction directly to their main
> > office. She and the rangers have been very appreciative and have
> > recommended to the city here in Rolla that they should investigate and
> > implement geocaching in town.
> > It is my opinion that some agencies just do NOT want to deal with
> policies
> > etc and would rather have a "Yea I know there are caches there and they
> > are hurting nothing but we have no policy for them" Kind of don't ask
> > don;t tell......I have been in serious touch here with the City of Rolla
> > Parks System and we have exchanged a number of emails on geocaching....I
> > have asked them for some kind of policy regarding the hobby and they
> have
> > said they would look into it....this was almost a year ago...they still
> > have no policy and I still have all my caches out....they know they are
> > there but I think they are dealing with it by NOT dealing with it.
> Instead
> > of saying Hey we think Geocaching is good or bad for our park system
> they
> > just let them be and wait for problems. And I have stopped asking....I
> > don't want them to think of me as being pushy and then post some
> > regulations that are very restrictive because of it. I have an inside
> > track in the park's department and I will hear if anyt
> > hing
> > changes
> >
> > This of course is just my opinion but sometimes I think that restrictive
> > policies are brought about by our putting too much pressure on the
> agency
> > involved to put those policies in place.
> >
> > Dan (Thunder)
> >
> > Jim Bensman <jbensman1@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > -
> > As some may remember at one time the Mark Twain National Forest did not
> > allow caching in Wilderness Areas. They finally backed down and are now
> > allowing it in the National Forest without any rules at this time.
> >
> > Today, the Forest Service released a draft of a new management plan for
> > the
> > Mark Twain National Forest. It is on line at:
> >
> > http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/marktwain/managment/planning/DEIS/index.htm
> >
> > It will guide the management of the Forest, including recreation such as
> > geocaching, for the next 10-15 years.
> >
> > They are talking public comment on it for the next 3 months and there is
> > an
> > open house at Powder Valley from 5-8 on the 8th.
> >
> > I searched the Draft Plan and geocaching is not mentioned. That may or
> may
> > not be a good thing.
> >
> > The question that needs to be thought about is if we want the final
> > Management Plan to have standards and guidelines for geocaching.
> >
> > It could backfire and we could get some bad rules.
> >
> > Or it could work out well and we get some good rules that would stop the
> > Forest Service from doing bad things some time in the future.
> >
> > My initial reaction is we should try to get them to include some good
> > standards and guidelines with our help. Perhaps they would have some
> > meetings with us and develop the rules.
> >
> > What do people think?
> >
> > Perhaps some should come to the open house and explore the possibilities
> > with them.
> >
> > Jim Bensman
> > "Nature Bats Last"
> >
> >
> >
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