2009 was a busy year for CET&LC. Once again dealing with many access issues,
again, proved that the equine community is not going to sit back and watch
other user groups take away the safety of equine and hiking trails. We will
not allow their bogus science to keep equine and hikers off of our Public
Lands.
Here is break down of the issues CET&LC addressed in 2009:
1) Member of CET&LC attended a meeting at Harris Ranch, to listen and
talk about equine issues with members of the California Horse Council.
2) CET&LC worked with member of BCHC in sending a letter (via Bruce DeMott)
to the Forest Service Chief in Washington D.C which concerned the “Purity
Doctrine” which if enacted could be devastating to equine use in our
National Forests.
3) Sent a letter to Deb Ballet: CEO of ELCR expressing our belief concerning
our position equine access on trails in California.
4) Lynn Brown, ETI National Trails Chair, and Southern California V.P of CET&LC;
is now representing equine users on the L.A City Equine Advisory Committee.
This newly formed, important Committee is a direct voice for equestrian issues
in speaking to L.A City Council
5) Janet Peterson: ACE president and CET&LC Northern California V.P of
CET&LC continues to sit on a panel concerning the Folsom General Plan.
6) Connie Berto a member of CET&LC through the Marin Horse Council. They
have been working through CET&LC to block unsafe entry by mountain bikes
on historic equine/hiking trails in Marin County. Letters from CET&LC
to the Recreation Board of Marin County have been sent, One of the areas of
concern is “Bill’s Trail”. At this time there is a reprieve
from mountain bikes on some historical equine trails.
7) Letters from CET&LC have been sent to the panel discussing the Emigrant
Trail in the Lake Tahoe area.
8) Letters were sent from CET&LC to the Orange County Register on behalf
of keeping the “Great Park in Orange County open for equine use. As
it now stands our Governor would prefer to sell the property.
9) CET&LC member (BCHC-Sequoia Unit) is now on a panel and committee discussing
the future of the Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Sequoia National
Forest area.
10) CET&LC has sent letters to various Forest Service agencies concerning
the “Forest Management Plan” which potentially can be detrimental
to access on our National Forests. BCHC is taking the lead on this challenge
by the equine community.
11) CET&LC is work with Cuyamaca Campground issue. CEA (Cuyamaca Equestrian
Association, a member of CET&LC) is protesting the removal of a equestrian
campground, without any valid scientific basis, CEA continues to offer great
resistance to this unjustified and forceful removal of a campground that been
used for decades.
12) Ruth Gerson. BCHC Public Lands Co-Chair is very busy is fighting for safety
on the Tapia Spur and working on the Ronald Reagan Horse Camp in the Santa
Monica mountains.
13) Mary Benson is still busy with issues in LA County and is working with
Lynn Brown on many committees concerning access for equestrians in LA County.
Mary Benson has recently taken the position as Supervisor for L.A Councilman
Krekorian in his Field Office. Mary is very knowledge and will be helpful
in supporting equestrian issues.
14) Ron Jenkins is working very hard to organize a new group in Southern California
the California Horsemen’s Association, Inc
15) CET&LC has been working with the Coastside Horse Council in Half Moon
Bay to keep access to a beach on a trail that has been in use for decades.
So far the horses are allowed to remain on the trail.16) CET&LC is still
working with other Stakeholder organizations on: CaliforniaTrails.Org; concerning
multiuse ideas and having safe trails in our State Park.
Thank you to everyone for such a positive year.
John Keyes
Chairman:CET&LC