Friday, December 29, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Forest Service to take stock of facilities
Agency faces "tough decisions" to close some sites, add fees to others
By Patrick Hannigan
Beginning in April 2007, the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests will rank all of its 300-plus developed recreation sites spread out across the four-million acre forest.
"Maybe the bottom 10 percent of sites need to be closed," said Jim Archambeault, recreation planner for the forest.
The process, officially known as Recreation Site Facility Master Planning (RSFMP), was initiated by an administrative rule change within the Forest Service in 2002. The directive required that every one of the roughly 15,000 campgrounds, picnic areas, scenic overlooks and trailheads with bathrooms on the 193 million acres under the agency’s authority be evaluated.
Those sites that fail to meet certain criteria will either be upgraded to fee sites, be turned over to private concessionaires for management or be closed.
"The broad goal is to take a close look at what it costs to operate developed sites in the forest, and try to align the facilities with the budget," said Archambeault. "Those ones that fall out of the bottom, we’ll need to make some real tough decisions."
Archambeault said the RSFMP plan for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests would be completed by September 2007. He said outcomes of the plan might include closing lesser-used recreation sites, imposing new operating fees, or managing existing recreation sites differently.
Currently, the combined Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests have roughly 300 developed recreation sites that will be included in the RSFMP review. That includes campgrounds, trailheads, overlooks, picnic areas, boat launches and interpretive sites.
The closures and new fees will mainly affect simple, remote facilities, wrote Dick Artley. Before retiring from the Forest Service in 2003, Artley spent the last 12 years of his career as a forest planner at the Nez Perce National Forest in central Idaho.
"This seems totally illogical and absurd," wrote Artley in an open letter published on the Internet Sept. 30. "We all know these "simple", "remote" facilities: 1) have very few improvements and 2) are easy to maintain and are maintained at minimum cost."
Crystal Perrow of Winthrop expressed similar concerns.
"A lot of the sites they are going to close are the unimproved sites that are the favorites of locals," said Perrow. "When we’re out camping, we don’t need hot running water and flush toilets – that’s not what we’re about in the Methow."
Perrow said she believes the RSFMP inventory is being conducted so the Forest Service can close down recreation sites that don’t make money. She said it seems to her as if the process is being conducted "on the sly."
"When does the public get a chop on this? Are our comments even going to make a difference?" asked Perrow. "There’s just not much that’s known."
Archambeault said the public eventually would have an opportunity to comment on the process, but conceded that Forest Service had not developed specific plans for public feedback.
"We haven’t really thought about it yet in terms of how to involve the public, but there will be public involvement," said Archambeault. "It could involve some public meetings or an open house. I can’t say right now how we’re going to do that."
Other national forests have already completed their RSFMP plans and have begun implementation with little or no public notice, said Kitty Benzar, co-founder of the Western Slope No Fee Coalition, a Colorado-based group that opposes new user fees on public lands.
"They’ve offered no opportunity for meaningful public comment," said Benzar. "The end result is going to be the privatization of our national forests for operation as for-profit enterprises."
Since the RSFMP process for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests has not started, it unclear what specific implications the resulting plan will have for recreation opportunities in the national forest surrounding the Methow. Currently in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, 80 of the approximately 160 campgrounds charge fees, and 102 of roughly 140 (or 73 percent) of the major trailheads charge fees.
Isabelle Spohn of Twisp said she is concerned the RFSMP will result in more new fees and the closure of many free recreation sites that Methow locals have been visiting for decades.
"The irony is that a lot of people have stopped going to the national forests because of all the user fees, so now the Forest Service is going to close down these sites because people use them less," said Spohn. "It’s sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Methow Valley News
By Patrick Hannigan
Beginning in April 2007, the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests will rank all of its 300-plus developed recreation sites spread out across the four-million acre forest.
"Maybe the bottom 10 percent of sites need to be closed," said Jim Archambeault, recreation planner for the forest.
The process, officially known as Recreation Site Facility Master Planning (RSFMP), was initiated by an administrative rule change within the Forest Service in 2002. The directive required that every one of the roughly 15,000 campgrounds, picnic areas, scenic overlooks and trailheads with bathrooms on the 193 million acres under the agency’s authority be evaluated.
Those sites that fail to meet certain criteria will either be upgraded to fee sites, be turned over to private concessionaires for management or be closed.
"The broad goal is to take a close look at what it costs to operate developed sites in the forest, and try to align the facilities with the budget," said Archambeault. "Those ones that fall out of the bottom, we’ll need to make some real tough decisions."
Archambeault said the RSFMP plan for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests would be completed by September 2007. He said outcomes of the plan might include closing lesser-used recreation sites, imposing new operating fees, or managing existing recreation sites differently.
Currently, the combined Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests have roughly 300 developed recreation sites that will be included in the RSFMP review. That includes campgrounds, trailheads, overlooks, picnic areas, boat launches and interpretive sites.
The closures and new fees will mainly affect simple, remote facilities, wrote Dick Artley. Before retiring from the Forest Service in 2003, Artley spent the last 12 years of his career as a forest planner at the Nez Perce National Forest in central Idaho.
"This seems totally illogical and absurd," wrote Artley in an open letter published on the Internet Sept. 30. "We all know these "simple", "remote" facilities: 1) have very few improvements and 2) are easy to maintain and are maintained at minimum cost."
Crystal Perrow of Winthrop expressed similar concerns.
"A lot of the sites they are going to close are the unimproved sites that are the favorites of locals," said Perrow. "When we’re out camping, we don’t need hot running water and flush toilets – that’s not what we’re about in the Methow."
Perrow said she believes the RSFMP inventory is being conducted so the Forest Service can close down recreation sites that don’t make money. She said it seems to her as if the process is being conducted "on the sly."
"When does the public get a chop on this? Are our comments even going to make a difference?" asked Perrow. "There’s just not much that’s known."
Archambeault said the public eventually would have an opportunity to comment on the process, but conceded that Forest Service had not developed specific plans for public feedback.
"We haven’t really thought about it yet in terms of how to involve the public, but there will be public involvement," said Archambeault. "It could involve some public meetings or an open house. I can’t say right now how we’re going to do that."
Other national forests have already completed their RSFMP plans and have begun implementation with little or no public notice, said Kitty Benzar, co-founder of the Western Slope No Fee Coalition, a Colorado-based group that opposes new user fees on public lands.
"They’ve offered no opportunity for meaningful public comment," said Benzar. "The end result is going to be the privatization of our national forests for operation as for-profit enterprises."
Since the RSFMP process for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests has not started, it unclear what specific implications the resulting plan will have for recreation opportunities in the national forest surrounding the Methow. Currently in the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, 80 of the approximately 160 campgrounds charge fees, and 102 of roughly 140 (or 73 percent) of the major trailheads charge fees.
Isabelle Spohn of Twisp said she is concerned the RFSMP will result in more new fees and the closure of many free recreation sites that Methow locals have been visiting for decades.
"The irony is that a lot of people have stopped going to the national forests because of all the user fees, so now the Forest Service is going to close down these sites because people use them less," said Spohn. "It’s sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Methow Valley News
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Herpesvirus-Exposed Horses Located in 10 States
Herpesvirus-Exposed Horses Located in 10 States from “The Horse”
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
December 19 2006 Article # 8463
The 14 horses imported and quarantined with the animal believed responsible for the outbreak of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) in Wellington, Fla., have been located, according to Jim Rogers, media coordinator for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Rogers said the state veterinarians of Massachusetts, New Hamphsire, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina have been notified that horses exposed to EHV-1 were shipped to their states. There have been three deaths in Florida and one in California, all of which can be traced back to contact with horses on this shipment.
According to Rogers, no clinical cases of EHV have been reported other than those in Florida and California. As EHV is not considered a reportable disease it is up to state veterinarians---not the USDA--to monitor and control any outbreaks.
The imported horses arrived at the USDA New York Animal Import Center (NYAIC) in Newburgh, N.Y., from Germany on Nov. 24 and left Nov. 27. Rogers said that one horse had a fever while in quarantine, but the horse improved and was not showing any clinical signs at the time it was released.
"The horses were released based on no clinical evidence of disease at the time of release," Rogers said. "They did not have fevers and all appeared healthy."
According to Rogers, no changes to the quarantine procedures at the NYAIC are expected in the wake of this outbreak. The facility remains open.
"Each shipment is quarantined by itself in one barn," Rogers explained. "There were 15 horses in this shipment, and these horses did not come into contact with any other horses. In NYAIC there are multiple barns, and only one shipment of horses goes into a barn at a time. Once the shipment is released, the barn is cleaned and disinfected before the next shipment is placed in that space."
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
December 19 2006 Article # 8463
The 14 horses imported and quarantined with the animal believed responsible for the outbreak of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) in Wellington, Fla., have been located, according to Jim Rogers, media coordinator for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Rogers said the state veterinarians of Massachusetts, New Hamphsire, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina have been notified that horses exposed to EHV-1 were shipped to their states. There have been three deaths in Florida and one in California, all of which can be traced back to contact with horses on this shipment.
According to Rogers, no clinical cases of EHV have been reported other than those in Florida and California. As EHV is not considered a reportable disease it is up to state veterinarians---not the USDA--to monitor and control any outbreaks.
The imported horses arrived at the USDA New York Animal Import Center (NYAIC) in Newburgh, N.Y., from Germany on Nov. 24 and left Nov. 27. Rogers said that one horse had a fever while in quarantine, but the horse improved and was not showing any clinical signs at the time it was released.
"The horses were released based on no clinical evidence of disease at the time of release," Rogers said. "They did not have fevers and all appeared healthy."
According to Rogers, no changes to the quarantine procedures at the NYAIC are expected in the wake of this outbreak. The facility remains open.
"Each shipment is quarantined by itself in one barn," Rogers explained. "There were 15 horses in this shipment, and these horses did not come into contact with any other horses. In NYAIC there are multiple barns, and only one shipment of horses goes into a barn at a time. Once the shipment is released, the barn is cleaned and disinfected before the next shipment is placed in that space."
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
The Twelve Days of Basecamp
On the Twelfth Day of Basecamp, my true love gave to me:
Twelve Port-a-Potties,
Eleven Pipes a-Freezin',
Ten Horses Leaping,
Nine Ladies Dancing, (the pee-pee dance)
Eight Oversleepers,
Seven Generators,
Six LD's Racing,
Five Horses LOOOOOOSE!
Four Falling Turds,
Three trashed pens,
Two Purple Gloves,
I Won't Ride 'Til I Have My Coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
submitted by Bruce Weary
Twelve Port-a-Potties,
Eleven Pipes a-Freezin',
Ten Horses Leaping,
Nine Ladies Dancing, (the pee-pee dance)
Eight Oversleepers,
Seven Generators,
Six LD's Racing,
Five Horses LOOOOOOSE!
Four Falling Turds,
Three trashed pens,
Two Purple Gloves,
I Won't Ride 'Til I Have My Coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
submitted by Bruce Weary
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
FEI ENDURANCE QUESTIONNAIRE – 2006
By Leonard Liesens
Endurance-Belgium.com
[Leonard: In preparation for the FEI Endurance Forum that will take place in Paris in march, the FEI drafted a questionnaire. FEI asks every rider to fill this questionnaire. It seems nevertheless that the action is not completely 'innocent' as the FEI seems to want to dilute strong opinions in the mass. Is the intention of the FEI to cancel the decisions made when the Toulouse Group put a lot of pressure on the FEI? The Toulouse group led by Pierre Cazes and Suzanne Dollinger spontaneously gathered to fight against some bending of the FEI regulations. The 160km distance as the Championship distance was the warhorse of the Group. And now, the question comes again in the spotlights. It is great time for the defenders of the 160Kms to come out of the shade..
Your thoughts?]
For completion by FEI Endurance Registered Riders
The FEI requests the assistance of all FEI Registered Endurance riders by completing this questionnaire. The information provided will give a more complete picture of what is happening within the sport at this time and, further, what is considered important for the development of FEI Endurance in the years to come.
The statistics produced from the questionnaire will be published on the FEI web site and tabled at the 2007 World Endurance Forum in Paris in March.
The FEI would like to thank you for taking the time to complete the document and for returning it by email to : Emilie Leyvraz at e.leyvraz@horsesport.org
Original Endurance-Belgium Report
View The Questionnaire
Endurance-Belgium.com
[Leonard: In preparation for the FEI Endurance Forum that will take place in Paris in march, the FEI drafted a questionnaire. FEI asks every rider to fill this questionnaire. It seems nevertheless that the action is not completely 'innocent' as the FEI seems to want to dilute strong opinions in the mass. Is the intention of the FEI to cancel the decisions made when the Toulouse Group put a lot of pressure on the FEI? The Toulouse group led by Pierre Cazes and Suzanne Dollinger spontaneously gathered to fight against some bending of the FEI regulations. The 160km distance as the Championship distance was the warhorse of the Group. And now, the question comes again in the spotlights. It is great time for the defenders of the 160Kms to come out of the shade..Your thoughts?]
For completion by FEI Endurance Registered Riders
The FEI requests the assistance of all FEI Registered Endurance riders by completing this questionnaire. The information provided will give a more complete picture of what is happening within the sport at this time and, further, what is considered important for the development of FEI Endurance in the years to come.
The statistics produced from the questionnaire will be published on the FEI web site and tabled at the 2007 World Endurance Forum in Paris in March.
The FEI would like to thank you for taking the time to complete the document and for returning it by email to : Emilie Leyvraz at e.leyvraz@horsesport.org
Original Endurance-Belgium Report
View The Questionnaire
Treating Metabolic Problems at Endurance Rides
By Langdon Fielding, DVM, and Gary Magdesian, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM, DACVP (clinical pharmacology)
The following article describes an approach to the treatment of horses presenting for veterinary medical care at an endurance ride. This outline is based on our experiences from the Western States 100 mile trail ride (Tevis Cup) for the 2005 and 2006 year as well as horses referred to our respective hospitals over the last five to 10 years from rides in the northern California area. We have been fortunate to work with a number of experienced veterinarians in this sport who have shared their insight and experience and we offer this article as a collective summary of this knowledge.
Endurance horses are pulled from rides and present for medical treatment for a variety of causes, but they are typically categorized as a metabolic or lameness problem. This article will focus on horses with metabolic problems. It describes a general approach to all of these horses and then adds specific notes for some of the more common conditions.
The treatment of endurance horses with metabolic problems can be summarized: To identify those horses with inadequate perfusion (oxygen delivery to muscle, intestine, etc.) and to restore it as quickly as possible.
[More: AERC Vet Newsletter #2]
The following article describes an approach to the treatment of horses presenting for veterinary medical care at an endurance ride. This outline is based on our experiences from the Western States 100 mile trail ride (Tevis Cup) for the 2005 and 2006 year as well as horses referred to our respective hospitals over the last five to 10 years from rides in the northern California area. We have been fortunate to work with a number of experienced veterinarians in this sport who have shared their insight and experience and we offer this article as a collective summary of this knowledge.
Endurance horses are pulled from rides and present for medical treatment for a variety of causes, but they are typically categorized as a metabolic or lameness problem. This article will focus on horses with metabolic problems. It describes a general approach to all of these horses and then adds specific notes for some of the more common conditions.
General approach
The treatment of endurance horses with metabolic problems can be summarized: To identify those horses with inadequate perfusion (oxygen delivery to muscle, intestine, etc.) and to restore it as quickly as possible.
[More: AERC Vet Newsletter #2]
Statisics on the Use of the CRI at the Tevis Cup
The Western States Trail Ride veterinary staff, led by Greg Fellers, DVM, collected cardiac recovery index (CRI) data on horses at the 2005 Tevis. The data was collected on horses during an exit exam at the first one hour hold at mile 36. The pulse criteria at this check point was 60 bpm. The data was collected in order to determine if an exit CRI was a useful indicator for performance of the horse later in the ride. Following are the results:
These figures point out the positive correlation between a passing CRI and the probability that the horse will complete the ride. This suggests riders and veterinarians should watch horses more closely with a questionable CRI as the statistical odds of completing decreases with a CRI that does not return to resting heart rate.
(Editor's note: It should be noted though the CRI is a very valuable tool in assessing a horse's ability to continue, it should be just one of our tools that we use as part of the whole picture to evaluate the horse's ability to continue and not used solely on its own.)
Source: AERC Vet Newsletter #2
a>
| Total # CRIs performed | 146 | Completion rate - HR up by 4 bpm over resting HR | 58% (33) |
| Total # horses out of check point | 147 | Completion rate - HR up by 8 bpm over resting HR | 43% (23) |
| Overall completion rate | 59% | Completion rate - recovery HR 48 bpm or less | 62% (74) |
| Completion rate - no change in CRI | 63% (90) | Completion rate - recovery HR 60 bpm or greater | 44% (25) |
These figures point out the positive correlation between a passing CRI and the probability that the horse will complete the ride. This suggests riders and veterinarians should watch horses more closely with a questionable CRI as the statistical odds of completing decreases with a CRI that does not return to resting heart rate.
(Editor's note: It should be noted though the CRI is a very valuable tool in assessing a horse's ability to continue, it should be just one of our tools that we use as part of the whole picture to evaluate the horse's ability to continue and not used solely on its own.)
Source: AERC Vet Newsletter #2
a>
Monday, December 11, 2006
FEI Athlete Doping Control Stations
To: Show management, secretaries and organizers of FEI level shows
From: Sara Ike, USADA/WADA liaison
Date: December 11, 2006
Re: Athlete Doping Control Stations
Please be advised that as per the FEI General Regulations Article 145.5, any International competitor may be tested for prohibited substances according to the World Anti-Doping Code in competition with no advance notice.
Therefore it is possible that Doping Control Officers (DCOs) may arrive at your show with no advance notice and you will be asked to provide a venue for athlete drug testing.
Guidelines for a suitable doping control station are:
· reserved solely for doping control
· handicap accessible
· restricted access by authorized personnel only
· secure enough to store drug testing equipment
· private
· ideally comprised of a waiting room, processing room, and male/female bathrooms
· at least two tables for processing
· chairs
· a trash can
· appropriate lighting
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 908-326-1164 or via email sara.ike@usef.org
Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Sara Ike
From: Sara Ike, USADA/WADA liaison
Date: December 11, 2006
Re: Athlete Doping Control Stations
Please be advised that as per the FEI General Regulations Article 145.5, any International competitor may be tested for prohibited substances according to the World Anti-Doping Code in competition with no advance notice.
Therefore it is possible that Doping Control Officers (DCOs) may arrive at your show with no advance notice and you will be asked to provide a venue for athlete drug testing.
Guidelines for a suitable doping control station are:
· reserved solely for doping control
· handicap accessible
· restricted access by authorized personnel only
· secure enough to store drug testing equipment
· private
· ideally comprised of a waiting room, processing room, and male/female bathrooms
· at least two tables for processing
· chairs
· a trash can
· appropriate lighting
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 908-326-1164 or via email sara.ike@usef.org
Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Sara Ike
Friday, December 08, 2006
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