Natural Resources Agency
The 30x30 Initiative has a new Deputy Secretary of Biodiversity and Habitat who is tasked by the Secretary of Natural Resources with following through on the administration's goals for 30x30. Her name is Meghan Hertel, and previously she has held positions in different environmental groups including Audubon California. One of the first press releases as she starts her position is the announcement of conservation easements being obtained for a large cattle-ranching operation on the Central Coast: https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/california-central-coast-preserved-ranchland-18680819.php. This isn't an acquisition, nor will it change the operations of the ranch. Essentially, the owners of the ranch have sold their rights to develop or subdivide the land in perpetuity. There is a webinar to introduce Meghan Hertel on March 4th, from 2:00pm to 3:00pm. For registration for this Zoom meeting go to: https://www.californianature.ca.gov/. I've had a meeting with Devin O'Dea, policy director for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, after an introduction by the ORVLC lobbyist Mark Smith. Devin is now a member of the 30x30 Partnership Coordinating Committee, and also works with Mark Smith. He understands the nexus between access for hunters and anglers and the work CORVA does to keep access open "For the People, and not From the People". Devin will keep us informed about what is going on behind the scenes, and if any of the actions coming from the Natural Resources Agency may negatively affect off-road recreation.
The Natural Resources Agency is supporting the expansion of 3 National Monuments, and the creation of new National Monuments. I see these efforts as one of the biggest threats against off-road recreational and street legal access throughout the state. There are a number of proposals that have already been introduced through federal legislation in the House of Representatives. Considering the current political climate, these bills are unlikely to pass. This article in the LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-12-24/editorial-expand-californias-national-monuments-its-mountains-and-deserts-are-important-resources discusses the active proposals and suggests that President Biden use the 1906 Antiquities Act to proclaim all the new monument proposals and expansions. Earlier this month, Ed Stovin invited me to participate in a Zoom meeting with a number of proponents of the Chuckwalla National Monument proposal. Ed has asked for the proposed boundaries of the monument to be altered to allow for the expansion of the Chuckwalla - Meccacopia OHV Area, which has been proposed for an expansion by the BLM: https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/media-public-room-california-chuckwalla-meccacopia-main-ohv-routes.pdf. As I've reported previously, republicans in Congress have asked the Supreme Court to review the use of the 1906 Antiquities Act: https://www.eenews.net/articles/republicans-ask-supreme-court-to-review-antiquities-act/.
State Parks
A week after the last Board of Directors Zoom meeting, the OHMVR Division held the OHMVR Commission Tour at King of the Hammers and the following day the OHMVR Commission Meeting in Hesperia. Thanks to Mike Mc and board members who attended KOH and gave rides to Director Quintero, Chief Deputy McGuirk and a number of the members of commission. A number of people mentioned how much they enjoyed their rides! I participated in the OHMVR Commission meeting by Zoom. Roger Salazar was elected Chair of the Commission, and Ed Patrovsky, currently the longest serving commissioner, was elected vice-chair. As usual, Oceano Dunes issues dominated the public comments. The next OHMVR Commission tour/meeting will be held on May 15/16 at Carnegie SVRA, where the OHMVR Commission will be asked to vote on the General Plan, which is of the commission's primary purposes. The subsequent OHMVR Commission meeting and tour is scheduled for July 31/August 1 and is rumored to be planned for Oceano Dunes, although that is still highly speculative.
Mike McGarity, Vinnie and I participated in a meeting with State Parks personnel and engaged in a frank and honest conversation about the difficulties this year in obtaining the permit for the Truckhaven Challenge. Enrique Arroyo, the District Superintendent and Greg Martin, the new Desert District Chief and Acting Coastal District Chief, which means Greg is responsible for the operations of 4 SVRA's, including Heber Dunes, Onyx Ranch, Ocotillo Wells and Hungry Valley. It is good we made this introduction now, because management of these SVRA's is critical. What this points out is how much the management of the SVRA's has been taken away from the OHMVR Division and instead lies within State Parks. There will be follow up meetings.
Attached please find the comments I filed on behalf of CORVA for the Prairie City Road and Trails Management Plan. The Carnegie Draft General Plan comments are due later this week. and can be found: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30807. I participated in a meeting with Carnegie personnel last week where we discussed various aspects of the plan. There's nothing controversial about this plan, and overall it expands access, moves Motormart, a CORVA Gold Level Business Sponsor, to a better location and adds additional camping areas.
Grants update: When the May Revise of the Governor's proposed budget is released, we hope to see $29 million restored to the OHV Grants Program. The grants are moving ahead with the understanding that those funds will be restored. Preliminary grant applications are due by March 4th, and public comment will start the following day. The OHV Grants will be open for public comment on March 5th, and be accepted until May 6th.
SVRA's: Carnegie: Tesla Road is closed to travel, and the only access to the park is through Corral Hollow Road. Hollister Hills: Clay Soil areas, including the Hudner Ranch and the Renz property are closed due to wet weather. HUngry Valley: Quail Canyon Special Event Area and Track continues to be closed due to the well failure, but money has been allocated through capital outlay for repairs, which will take a number of years to complete.
Forest Service
Please find attached the comments on the Northwest Forest Plan Revision Amendment Proposal that was filed earlier this month on behalf of CORVA. This includes 6 forests in Northern California. The next meeting for the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force is scheduled for April 4th and 5th in Southern California. I will monitor the meeting on April 4th by Zoom. Please find the latest Governor's update here: https://wildfiretaskforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WFR_February2024_GovUpdateRev.pdf. The Forest Service has awarded millions of dollars to a few forest landscapes around California for wildfire prevention, including the Stanislaus National Forest and the Plumas National Forest. The Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Collaborative has resumed operations, and I am on the Steering Committee. This collaborative addresses issues facing all the forests in California, please let me know any critical issues that may be occuring in our forests, and I will bring the issues up during a meeting. Most of the Northern California forests are still within their seasonal closure periods. Please check the websites or call the district ranger's office to determine access to your favorite roads and trails. I attended the public grants meeting for the Tahoe National Forest last week, to hear about the proposed grant requests.
BLM
The Central District of the BLM is holding a Resource Advisory Council Meeting on February 29th: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-central-california-district-host-resource-advisory-council-meeting-1. For those concerned about the reopening of the Clear Creek Management Area, that issue can be brought up during open public comment at 1:00pm. All the meetings for the different advisory councils in California can be found here: https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/rac/california/california-desert-district
Legislation
With the help of ORVLC lobbyist Mark Smith, we are monitoring new legislation that has been introduced to determine whether any bills that have been introduced by the due date of February 16th will affect OHV recreation. The BOD receives the update from the lobbyist every Monday. There are a number of e-bike bills that we are watching because there is still consideration in State Parks for redefining a number of e-bikes as motor vehicles.
SB 708: Competition M/C Bill is still alive. Brian Jones and MIC discuss their support for the bill: https://www.cyclenews.com/2024/01/article/senator-aims-to-fix-red-sticker-ohv-regs/
Important dates:
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