Sierra Coalition Access About Us

Sierra Access Coalition (SAC) is a non-profit public group,
consisting of local businesses, user groups, and individuals
working primarily on the Plumas NF, Lassen NF, and in other
areas in northeast California. SAC is concerned with the USFS
“Motorized Travel Management” process and is working to
protect forest access for the public. Off-Highway Vehicles
(OHVs) include pickups, cars, 4x4s, motorcycles, quads, and
other motorized vehicles.

In November 2010 the USFS designated which routes (roads
and trails) will be left open for public motorized use. All other
routes are closed to public use. The USFS released their plan
in November 2010. The final order restricts access to the
forest for woodcutters, hunters, campers, recreation, and
other uses. SAC filed an appeal to this decision, which was
denied by the USFS. We now are planning to litigate their
decision.

The number of roads that will remain open to public use can
be influenced by public opinion, particularly by organized
groups such as SAC. The Forest Service is listening to us and
we are making a change, such as convincing the USFS to drop
approx. 25 miles of proposed road closures from the Empire
Project. SAC plans to continue working with the USFS to keep
roads open for the public.

Working to Protect Access to Public Lands

In 2003 the USFS asked the public to submit “non-system”
roads and trails in the forest that they wanted to keep open
for public use. The public mapped and submitted over 1000
miles of roads and trails, but the USFS rejected 873 miles. At
the USFS public meetings, the public’s overwhelming opinion
was that the USFS proposal for the reduced mileage is not
acceptable.

SAC represents over 1200 members who access the forest
for woodcutting, hunting, fishing, hiking, recreation,
exploring, riding motorcycles, quads, and other uses. SAC is
working closely with the USFS in an effort to keep as many
routes as possible open for public use. We are planning to
litigate the decision.