Orosco Ridge Cleanup cancelled

[Twinkies]

Do we ignore people who is shooting there or tell them to leave while we are cleaning up??

Palomar's automated system says the range will be closed on Saturday
for cleanup... Id love to join you guys.. I was actually planning on it,
but they had to pick one of the few saturdays Im working.

For you guys that need directions... from the 78 take a left on
Main St (67). Go a mile or two, take a left on Magnolia (you will see a big yellow sign letting you know its coming up), go a mile or so, Left on Pile,
go till it ends into Pamo, take a right. You'll pass the dump, go another
half mile or so, and see a thick steel white gate to the left where you
enter. There is currently no lock on it...
Watch out for cattle at the bottom, finish your coffee at this point, and proceed up to the top of the windey dirt road while railing some sweet *** berms.
I'd recommend driving your truck, or parking at the bottom after you enter the gate and getting a ride from there. You can make it in a stock height car if youre careful, but some of the dips are a little rough.

[rumblebee]

I know we're trying to get a clean up here....but, posting directions is only going to get more unwanted visitors (who don't clean up after themselves) up there. You don't have to be a CG member, to view these directions.. just a thought

[L4D]

What time exactly will the clean up be starting?

edit: nevermind, saw it.


0900

[Twinkies]

I know we're trying to get a clean up here....but, posting directions is only going to get more unwanted visitors (who don't clean up after themselves) up there. You don't have to be a CG member, to view these directions.. just a thought

I posted directions because there are a couple people interested in helping that have never been to Orosco Ridge and were asking for directions...
The place is pretty trashed already.. and its really no secret.. anybody
can find a basic map for it or call the Palomar office...
Youre right.. you dont need to be a CG member to get my directions or any other directions there... but if theres CG members here that might be interested in going, and they make the drive and cant find it, or are turned away by some rough terrain because they took their 350Z, Id rather them be prepared.

Much thanks to whoever is part of the cleanup effort!

[Getoffthecomputer]

I just saw this about the cleanup being cancelled.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/recreation/shooting/index.shtml

Just thought I would report what I found. Not that the forest service was going to be that involved, but I don't know if that means the area will be closed off on Saturday. I have been wanting to check this place out, and I would love to attend a cleanup, but I work weekends. Regardless, I was going to bring a trash bin and a few bags when I get out there.

If someone sets up a monday, or wednesday cleanup you can count me in.

[CmpsdNoMore]

Huh, I wonder what the "health and safety concerns" are.

I was planning on going there to shoot next week sometime between Wednesday or Friday. The day depends on when my new Tech Sight get delivered.

If anyone wants to meet then for a little shoot and then clean up, I'd be down for that.

[Johnny?]

So is there still going be a clean up??? maybe the "health and safety concern" is for people that is not going there for the clean up??

[Jk4Three]

Today I had a 10 minute conversation with Joan Friedlander, the Ranger in charge of the Orosco area. She forwarded me the notice of cancelation:

It is with great regret that today I have to cancel the Orosco Ridge Target Shooting Area cleanup that is scheduled for this upcoming Saturday, November 7, 2009.
I will do my best to explain what led to my decision today to cancel this event that so many of you have invested your valuable time.
The concerns that lead to the need to cancel the event revolve around the type of protective equipment that must be worn when working in areas that have hazardous materials such as lead and/or antimony. These can be absorbed through handling and/or or through breathing dust in areas where these metals are concentrated. Unfortunately, we cannot simply provide masks to mitigate exposure as this would be a violation of OSHA requirements.
I am not comfortable in placing either you or my employees in a situation where the health risks from exposure are “uncertain” and necessary protective equipment cannot be used.
We will do every thing we can to get information about the cancellation to volunteers. We have changed our voice message at the office and have changed the Forest web site to get the word out. I ask all of you to help us inform others that this weekend’s cleanup is cancelled. I have my staff assisting with calling back any volunteers that we have phone numbers for to ensure they do not show up on Saturday. Further, we will be at Orosco Ridge this Saturday to meet any volunteers who did not get the word on the cancellation. I sincerely apologize to the San Diego County Gun Rights and Cal Guns--that I put in terrible positions of having worked so hard on this event only for me to cancel it at the last minute.
So what does this mean for the future? Orosco will be open for shooting this Saturday. As many of you know, the District is undertaking a management review of Orosco Ridge Target Shooting Area as we do feel that it needs to be better managed. We will likely kick off this effort in January. Immediate safety concerns revolve around areas where the lead has landed, not where the brass has landed. Further, I want you all to know that the Forest Service goes into this management review with no bias towards or against the use of the area for shooting. We do believe it needs to be managed differently than it is today and will work closely with interested parties to develop a management plan that best serves the public, while providing for the care of the natural ecosystem.
Again, please accept my sincere apologies for the late notification of our canceling this cleanup.
If you need further information, please call us. Debbie Hobbs and I are in the best position to address your concerns or answer questions. I can be reached at 760-788-0250 (ext 3324) or by e-mail at jfriedlander@fs.fed.us and Debbie can be reached at 760-788-0250 (ext. 3327), or by dshobbs@fs.fed.us.
Sincerely,
Joan Friedlander
District Ranger, Palomar Ranger District, Cleveland National Forest

[CmpsdNoMore]

Good to know.

[Glock21sfsd]

So the it will be open for shooting on Saturday?

[CmpsdNoMore]

According to the letter JK4three quoted:

"Orosco will be open for shooting this Saturday."

[loather]

I can see where this one is going. Thanks to all the inconsiderate people who left their trash out there, we'll very likely lose one of the last public shooting areas in san diego now.

This makes it all the more important for those of us who *do* go out there on even an infrequent basis to bring home more trash than we came with. The inconsiderate asshats will always be there, but the more responsible of us need to pick up the slack trash for those who are too lazy to do so.

As an added bonus, you drive *right past* the Ramona landfill on the way in/out. Convenient, innit? Consider the $30 you spend to dump a load of shooting range waste a usage fee for the area. Even if everyone with a truck did this *once* per season, it'd be a whole lot better off.

And for all you who leave your trash out there (and you know who you are):

CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVES, YOU SLOBS.

</rant>

*sigh*

[rumblebee]

Yeah....this is the line that's going to kill this place-

Further, I want you all to know that the Forest Service goes into this management review with no bias towards or against the use of the area for shooting.

You know damn well, it's going to play a part in the outcome..

[littlejohn97]

Maybe it's not so bad...

Based on the Ranger's verbiage, it sounds as if she has a good feeling about us taking on the cleanup. She's in the ol' Government bind. If she lets us go out there and someone (remember, this is Kalifornia) decides to sue over the OSHA violation, her head and position on the ladder of success may suffer. I wouldn't tell her to do something with such repercussions.

But it does sound like she isn't against us. And, in the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to haul something out every time we go in.

John

[Jk4Three]

Littlejohn -

I had a conversation with the Ranger and I posted her cancelation notice. I think her action to cancel the cleanup was unwarrented. There have been many successful cleanups, including Orosco in the past, and she alone decided to cancel with less than a week to go. She said she could have issued a warning and had us sign a waver, but decided against this. So, we as adults, were not given the option.

Additionally she said Orosco will be reviewed, likely in January, for an expensive contracted cleanup (her words) including bringing in topsoil to cover the existing soil and maybe a pay to shoot set up like San Bernadino. To me this more likely means closure.

Bottom line, we could have made a difference, yet we were not give the chance, by one persons decision (Kalifornia style). Read any motive here? Anyone want to debate the chance of lead poisoning from a one day cleanup - damn near zero for an adult.

Call, write and complain.