Tahoe National Forest – With the expected explosion of camping and recreational visitors expected in 2021, we were a little surprised at the Forest Service Order that was served in Tahoe National forest recently.
Beginning April of 2021 until April 2024 the Tahoe National forest now prohibits recreationalists from Dispersed camping in the Tahoe National Forest for more than 14 calendar days per year. Also Recreationalists are prohibited from camping in Campgrounds for more than 14 days per year, per ranger district.
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or
$10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Our Take
I find this order order offensive. Not as an individual that does not understand that the human race has taken advantage of the resource or as a recreationalists that there are many that do not care enough or have the decency to take care of the resources we have so others can enjoy. I find this order to be offensive because it takes away the vary rights to our public lands that this agency is assign to protect.
Telling the public they cant visit and stay on their public lands for more that 2 weeks a year, does nothing to save a resource as claimed in the FSO. Instead it limits opportunity for all to experience their public lands to their fullest.
As a child growing up in the Cascade mountain range I spent many a summer camping for the entire three month break from school. My dad was a logger and living closer to his work saved our family thousands in gas costs and allowed us to see our dad longer in the summer season.
Camping for weeks on end I was allowed to explore the world like few others get the opportunity to do. I saw Bald Eagle swoop in and fish all evening long as we cooked dinner by a lake. I traveled along hill sides all day with my sisters looking for dear, building forts out of limbs and downed trees. These forts and walks in the wilderness fostered creativity and story telling.
I can tell you that these summer camping season are some of my fondest memories in life. And I cant think of how we were destroying a resource. Campfires? Road wear and tear?
I know that people can still get great memories in 14 days, And I know that the forest Service is going to have a really hard time mandating such a strict policy. But why make the order in the first place? Is it to stop the idiots who trash local forests? they will do the same thing in 14 days? Is it to stop vagrants from camping all summer long for free and leaving a dump behind when they are forced to leave? Do you really have the man power to track them done anyhow?
No this is an offensive an order because it is all about giving power and structure to the system so that they can force their hand when they need to. In the mean time every good intentioned family is restricted and has their rights taken away from them. This is not sound practice and as Americans we need to stop making rules and structures for the masses that are only intended to stop the few idiots of the world.