July 2026 - Monthly Meeting
Quick recap
This was the One Voice Communication monthly meeting, chaired by Marcus Trusty, where participants shared good news updates and discussed organizational developments. The meeting covered three main areas: good news reports from around the country including trail access improvements in Pennsylvania and California, updates on One Voice's website and communication tools including a new Forest Service Road Access Dashboard, and regional updates from Scott Jones on federal land management issues. Key discussions centered on the recent executive order 14408 withdrawing minimization criteria for wildlife, concerns about proper implementation across various forest plans, and the need for better visitation data under the EXPLORE Act. The group also addressed grant opportunities for bilingual signage and backcountry discovery route signage improvements, with specific requests for forest identification and volunteer partnerships. Additional topics included the use of One Voice's MOU with the Forest Service to facilitate partnerships and access improvements, and the organization's growing role in national land management discussions.
Next steps
Angie
Work with Ted to develop a grant proposal for bilingual signage in the Mendocino National Forest, including identifying specific needs and securing boots on the ground for installation.
Work with Chad (and others) to develop a grant proposal for signage along Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR), including securing permission to use the BDR name and identifying installation assistance.
Chad
Continue to push for a BLM MOU at the state level and provide feedback to Dan on challenges encountered.
Dan
Facilitate a meeting between One Voice and Secretary Burgum, potentially bringing up the topic of a BLM MOU.
Jeff
Present the proposal for adopting an Incident Command System structure to the One Voice board at the next meeting.
Craft an FAQ on the Fish and Wildlife Service's definition of harm to wildlife, using bullet points and resources provided by Scott.
Kerry
Keep Marcus and the group updated on the progress with the Doe Creek access issue and the Forest Service's response.
Marcus
Send out the meeting follow-up email with notes, links to the Forest Service Road Access Dashboard, and the Doe Creek proposal from Kerry.
Facilitate email introductions between Scott and others who want to discuss specific issues (e.g., PCT corridor).
Scott
Provide bullet points and resources to Jeff for the FAQ on harm to wildlife.
Summary
Blue Mountain Forest Plan Updates
Marcus opened the One Voice Communication monthly meeting and welcomed attendees, including James, Scott, Kerry, Steve, and others. Kerry mentioned that Forced Access for All had developed an AI tool for generating comments on the Blue Mountain Forest Plan, which would be released on Saturday. Scott discussed his recommendations on forest planning and mentioned that he had not received a response from Jackie regarding the plan.
Forest Access and Updates Meeting
The meeting began with participants sharing good news updates, including Brad's announcement about approved ATV access to Marionville through the Allegheny National Forest, and Chad's report on a successful motorcycle scavenger hunt event in Colorado that included trail maintenance activities. Rose shared that Sierra Nevada Forest received recognition for having the most certified sawyers and active sawyer crew in the state, while Ted announced progress on a mixed-use road project in Mendocino National Forest that will improve OHV access. Marcus then discussed the NDA process and confidentiality guidelines for One Voice meetings, explaining that while some information discussed may not be public yet, the organization is working to build a communication platform to share approved information with the public.
Committee Updates and New Initiatives
The meeting covered updates on three new committees: grants and funding, marketing and communications, and legal and operational protocols. Jeff reported significant progress on the website, including new features like an RSS feed to Rock Crawler and a stewardship section for showcasing projects. Marcus discussed the development of a Forest Service Road Access Dashboard, which provides data on forest road access and public use scores. The team also launched a beta email platform called "Trail Mail" for communicating updates and accurate information to subscribers.
Motorized Recreation Regulatory Updates
Scott announced his new role as Central States Representative for the American Motorcyclists Association and provided updates on regulatory changes affecting motorized recreation. He discussed the Fish and Wildlife Service's finalization of wildlife harm definitions and the withdrawal of minimization criteria through Executive Order 14408, noting concerns about inconsistent implementation across agencies. Scott also highlighted issues with visitation data collection under the EXPLORACT implementation, particularly regarding the Park Service's exclusion of motorized recreation data, and emphasized the need for updated travel and planning rules to address these changes effectively.
Executive Order Resource Management Impact
The group discussed the impact of a new executive order on resource management plans and travel management in forests. Scott emphasized the importance of creating good plans rather than rushing to update existing ones, noting that many current updates are driven by legal settlements. Fred shared that the chief prefers a slower approach to implementation and requested guidance on guidelines. Ted inquired about the effect on Pacific Crest Trail planning, and Scott explained that while the executive order could impact trail corridor planning, it should be applied accurately and balance various uses without elevating one over others.
Trail Corridor Management Discussion
The group discussed concerns about trail corridor management, particularly regarding the Pacific Crest Trail, where Scott emphasized the importance of proper standards in Resource Management Plans to prevent illegal non-motorized corridors. Fred mentioned his plans to challenge illegal orders in the Sequoia National Monument area. The discussion then shifted to a specific trail issue in the Custer Gallatin area where Kerry reported on negotiations with a private property owner regarding the Doe Creek trail, which has experienced trespass and vandalism issues. Kerry sought guidance on using the One Voice board to facilitate action from the Forest Service regarding a proposed new road and parking lot solution.
MOU Implementation and Impact Discussion
The group discussed the effectiveness of an MOU signed with the Forest Service Chief, which has helped address issues with volunteer agreements and coordination. Marcus and Kerry shared positive experiences with the MOU, noting its impact in moving the Forest Service in a more cooperative direction. Fred emphasized the importance of careful implementation and ensuring that appropriate representatives are involved in using the MOU. Dan shared a recent interaction with the Undersecretary and Secretary of Interior, who praised One Voice for bringing solutions to the table, highlighting the organization's positive reputation and role in addressing national issues.
Forest Service MOU Progress Update
Kerry reported significant progress with the Forest Service after presenting an MOU proposal, with the landowner offering to build a new 3-mile road at no cost to the Forest Service to address access and safety issues. Chris offered to connect Kerry with their government affairs division to help expedite the process, and Marcus agreed to share the proposal with the One Voice team. The group discussed potential future MOU opportunities with BLM, with Dan noting that Undersecretary Boren had expressed interest in setting up a meeting to discuss similar partnerships.
Forest Management and Litigation Planning
The group discussed several key topics including a planned meeting on August 10th about litigating over Nez Perce Forest management issues, and Chad shared challenges with BLM agreements in multiple states due to restrictions on trail maintenance activities. Jeff proposed implementing an incident command system structure for managing the national organization, suggesting Dell Albright as a potential expert consultant. Angie introduced herself as a former federal grants administrator and outlined her work on grant proposals for bilingual signage in national forests to address language barriers and reduce resource damage.
National Forest Signage Grant Opportunities
Angie discussed two grant opportunities for signage improvements in national forests. The first involves bilingual signs in specific forest areas, with Ted offering to help implement this in the Mendocino National Forest where his nonprofit has existing agreements with the Forest Service. The second opportunity focuses on signage for Back Country Discovery Routes (BDR) trails, with Marcus offering to connect with Inna Thorn from BDR to explore partnership possibilities. The grants can provide up to $250,000 each with potential multi-year funding, though matching funds are encouraged but not required.