[GeoStL] Re: Geocaching and the Mark Twain National Forest
- From: Dan Henke <thunder_monk@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 17:52:16 -0800 (PST)
-
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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