I'm not an old pro at this or anything, just read a lot. Some of these fights are pretty interesting.
OK, so only 82,000 out of 670,000 was RWA. That's interesting. What's the forest names. Do you have the names of the areas? You search google for the forest name, and just say "forest plan". You'll probably find an active or old forest plan. If the forest plan is new. They will have a rating chart in there, that talks about different areas, and how they rated for Wilderness. Somewhere in there, there will be some info on why it scored low. You may also want to look for old "travel plan" for the forest. They sometimes talk about areas. Then you plead with someone at the Forest Service to spill the beans, why this area isn't valid. Hope you don't like the 82,000 acres, you may loose it.
Don't let these idiot scare you with names such as "Mickey Mouse Proposed Wilderness Area." Anyone can propose a wilderness area. So, it don't mean jack. RWA's count. Also WSA wilderness study areas. Roadless areas might also hold some clues. They have Primitive Roadless, which is a code word for we'll make it wilderness later. Might want to look up the roadless maps. But, they never defined which areaa where "primitive" and which were "semi-primitive motorized".
The fact that their jumping highways and such, detracts from the wilderness. There's wilderness's as small as 500 acres. But, there's a special reason they where allowed.
About the economy. You'll need snowmobile registration numbers, specially if by area. Then you'll need to read the boat load of wilderness studies. Wilderness's are dead areas, unless the wilderness happens to be in a national park. That's why they claim 12 million people visit wildernesses. National Parks account for most of it. Unless it happens to be close to a major city, wildernesses are generally dead man's land. The only real economic advantage is property values bordering a wilderness go up. Whoop ti do. I doubt that speaks to the majority of people.
This is why there are so many land use groups. No one is big enough to cover everyone. Now, once you get a handle on this thing. Email BRC, and tell them what's going on. They at least may be able to loan you some Lawyer time. He can look over your data and tell you where you stand. You never know, if it looks easy, and no one else is working it, BRC may take it on. They like to win.
I can also help run some of this past SAWS, and see if Dave can think of things to attack. Unfortunately, SAWS doesn't have very many members in Co. So, he could email a few people. I could help you write a SAWS alert, no problem, but we have to have something to talk about. Stupid question, where is the Colorado State Snowmobile Association, and why aren't they heading this up?
Wilderness is covered by the Wilderness Act, and if the area doesn't meet the requirements, then a judge can rule it out, even if Congress votes it in. But, that's a long shot. If it's iffy, there's lots of ways to derail a wilderness act, or just put it on the back burner for 30 years.
I suggest you start printing some bumper stickers. And handing out some flyers to the local shops. Nothing gets' peoples attention like seeing their favorite area with a big red X across it. Get a booth at the nearest snow show, and show people. Someone might sponsor you. Approach the chamber of commerce, they can call around and ask other chambers how much money wilderness costs a community. Propose to them, it might be in their interest to educate themselves. Usually, you'll find that the county has been promised something, to not fight the wilderness, and that something is always money in some form. Such as converting land from NF to city/county property. Or something.
Don't forget bicycles, even horse people, 4x4, heliski, hang gliders, hunters, snow kite, timber companys, miners, private land owners in the middle of it, and the usual motorized bunch. They all have a stake in that land. You might should be prepared to explain what wilderness doesn't allow, most people think snowmobilers ride in the wilderness.
Oh yha, I forgot, if you get active, remember, your being watched. Everything you say, is on google archives.
