Tonto NF proposed OHV fees

[DixieFlyer]

The Tonto National Forest is proposing some fee changes for 5 OHV permit zones. One of the zones currently exists while the other 4 are new.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/re ... PRD1041897

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 041905.pdf

[CannondaleKid]

From the article:
"to use these funds locally to operate, maintain, and improve these sites. Ninety-five percent of OHV permit zone revenue would remain on the forest to operate, maintain and improve OHV opportunities within OHV Permit Zones."

So... even if I have to pay $100/year for what currently costs $6 every 6 months (Bulldog OHV Area-only) I'm fine with it... as long as the money generated ALSO pays for another FS LEO to enforce the permits.

In Bulldog, for years ATV's, 4x4's & rock crawlers have been traveling far off any of the designated routes, basically creating new routes while destroying vegetation, which in today's climate will not be regenerating any time soon.

Just today hiking in Bulldog we noted a number of freshly-created motorcycle trails running from Blue Point Gate to Usery Pass Gate... at least 5 miles of 'trail' where none existed a month or so ago.

[chumley]

@CannondaleKid There’s no enforcement now, and I doubt it will change. One LEO will be significantly outgunned in those areas.

[SpiderLegs]

@CannondaleKid There’s no enforcement now, and I doubt it will change. One LEO will be significantly outgunned in those areas.

When I was job hunting a few years ago my wife sent me some Federal job postings that she thought looked interesting. One was from the BLM to monitor OHV use and patrol those areas. It required 7 days of camping, 3 days off and you were not allowed to carry a sidearm. So for $750 a week you could wade into a sea of bros in jacked up trucks unarmed to dole out tickets. Wonder why they have a hard time filling that position?

[Alston_Neal]

a sea of Bud Light cans and bros in jacked up trucks

Fixed it for ya and I'm happy you didn't have to get that job.

[SpiderLegs]

@Alston_Neal - She didn't read the description. Just saw it was an outdoors gig that I met all the qualifications for. When I read it to my wife, she said no way was I going to apply to that one. lol

[Alston_Neal]

Years ago when the FJ Cruiser was relatively new, a group of us decided to have a Recovery Day out at The Rolls. Having never heard of it we met others out at the parking lot. From there we traveled to Saguaro Lake and set up vehicle recovery exercises. Deb and I having 4x4ed many areas in the San Juans were surprised how butt clenching some of this area was. By the time we left it had turned into a madhouse which explained the total environmental reverse version of Tread Lightly. We realized this was sacrificial land for these people to lay waste to. Oddly we've felt no desire to ever return.

[chumley]

@Alston_Neal I’m sorry that they’ve included bulldog canyon as part of their sacrifice. It doesn’t deserve that fate.

[CannondaleKid]

One LEO will be significantly outgunned in those areas.

Agreed.

However, if they added just one more LEO it would have some significance, as currently there is usually only one on-duty at a time for the WHOLE Mesa District, and a second LEO on-duty for weekends.
Covering from Canyon Lake, Western Supes, Bulldog, Lower Salt River, Saguaro Lake, The Rolls, Sycamore Creek, Bushnell Tanks, Mt Ord and on-and-on they are spread woefully thin. As such, adding ANY more staff would be welcomed.

[chumley]

For something that is slated to take effect in less than a month, there is scant data published on this topic, but what I have gleaned from my research is the following. ( @cannondalekid may have more info as I believe he chats with folks connected to this community far more often than I do).

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

1. An OHV permit will be required for ANY motorized vehicle within the five OHV permit zones on the Tonto NF (including your street-legal hiking vehicle just passing through or accessing a hike from within the zone — and also ebikes lol — that use any road / sometimes referred to as a motorized trail ).

2. The permits are available in three varieties:
3 days for $10
6 months for $60
one year for $80

3. Permits are required for each driver, and are not linked to the vehicle. So if I have a permit for myself, my hiking partner cannot drive my vehicle unless that partner has their own permit. But if I have a permit, I can drive YOUR vehicle, even if you don't have a permit.

4. In the Bulldog Canyon zone, the access gates currently in place will be removed. No more combination codes. You just need the valid OHV permit and you're good to go. (This seems like an absolute disaster of urban camping just waiting to happen IMO — though perhaps really no worse than it currently is?)

5. An exception in the Bulldog Canyon zone is that the Willow entrance will be permanently gated and FR 12 CLOSED to ALL motorized travel. It is unclear if this will be effective on January 1, or not until the broader implementation of the Tonto MVUM takes effect. (FR 12 was rife with abuse and in the absence of any enforcement is an example of the FS deciding to close access to a thing that they're simply unwilling to manage).

6. The five permit zones where an OHV permit will be required are:
Desert Vista (west of Bartlett Lake south of the Bartlett Dam Road)
St. Clair (west of Bartlett Lake north of the Bartlett Dam Road)
Bulldog (Goldfield Mountains)
The Rolls (north of Saguaro Lake to the Four Peaks Road east of SR87)
Lower Sycamore (Sugarloaf area west of SR87)
*Implementation of the Lower Sycamore zone will not take effect on January 1, 2025, and the exact date is not yet specified.


7. The OHV Pass has no alternative or discounts. No other existing pass (State of Arizona OHV decal, Tonto Pass, America the Beautiful, Red Rock, etc.) may be used in its place.

The best information currently available on the Tonto website can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/tonto/ ... 9&actid=93

A helpful FAQ was published in October and can be downloaded here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 209317.pdf

More than a dozen hikes south and west of Four Peaks will be affected by this new access fee.

In the Bulldog Canyon zone, many of the "interior" trails can be accessed on foot by hiking additional mileage from one of the staging areas outside of the fee area.

The other three zones have far fewer impacts on hikers access due to fewer desirable hiking destinations within their boundaries.

Thanks Tonto! Happy hiking!

[big_load]

If there's a new fee somewhere in the US, Tonto NF is always my first guess.

[CannondaleKid]

cannondalekid may have more info as I believe he chats with folks connected to this community far more often than I do

Unfortunately, the Mesa District office has been closed for something like a few months now and I have been unable to speak directly with any of the folks from that office so have no further information. Calling the office and leaving a message so far has not gotten any response.
And now the Tonto website link for the District Offices is a dead link, which, when I checked it a week ago it provided the open/closed status of the offices.

Supposedly the office has been closed due to bad water/pipes, but after this length of time I'm beginning to wonder if/when it will reopen.. which seems like it isn't getting anywhere?

[chumley]

@CannondaleKid
Maybe a few $80 permits will provide them the funding they need to staff the district! Lol.

update: corrected less accurate snark to be more accurate snark. Thanks ck!

[CannondaleKid]

Maybe a few $100 permits

Huh? Didn't read your own post? (one year for $80)

Although the FS HAS been doing a little more enforcement over the last few years to keep campers/squatters out of the first mile from each gate, I agree there will need to be more active enforcement if the gates will be removed. (which is what I said would be needed when I provided feedback)

As for Willow Gate? Rock crawlers drive all the way in from FR 2612/Cottonwood Spring on a pretty regular basis so closing the Willow gate won't stop that traffic.