California Desert - help!

[Crowdog]

Copied from http://www.clorv.org/Letter_Writing_Campaigns/letter_writing_campaigns.htm

Off-Roader,
It has come to our attention that the California Desert District is in the process of generating new Management Plans for the various California Desert regions. They are essentially "Environmental Impact Statement."
As a result, recreation opportunities, particularly motorized recreation will be significantly reduced in the desert regions.
These "management plans" are in stark contrast to the commitment, made by BLM State Director Mike Pool, to balance protection between the environment, and off road recreationalists.
Please send a copy of this letter to your Congressman, as well as forwarding a copy to BLM State Director Mike Pool.
Thank you for your hard work and continued vigilance.

TO: (Your Congressman's name and address)

Dear Congressman_______________:

I am writing to you regarding a situation that is becoming totally intolerable to anyone who enjoys recreating on public lands. I am referring to the new land management plans being developed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the California Desert District and its five sub districts.

Although these documents are labeled "Management Plans" they are clearly Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). As such, they describe reasons and methods to close down recreation areas if the use of such areas can be shown to be impacting the environment. No provisions are made in any of these plans to protect recreation opportunities for the human beings who enjoy outdoor recreation of all kinds. It is clear that, if new BLM plans continue to only allow for the ongoing reduction of recreation opportunities, it is only a matter of time until public recreation on BLM Managed lands becomes extinct!

Please understand that I am in favor of environmental protection. The problem, as I see it, is that the Endangered Species Act has taken precedence over the United States Constitution! In the new desert plans/EIS's, species that are not even on the threatened or endangered lists are being given consideration without regard for the impact on recreation opportunities. The enviro-extremist organizations suggest that they want to preserve pristine areas for future generations to enjoy. The way things are going in the California Desert District, future generations will only be able to enjoy desert areas by viewing them on television.

Please support those citizens who enjoy recreation, including motorized recreation, on public lands by insisting that new BLM Management Plans be real management plans and not just Environmental Impact Statements! Help us make the BLM managers listen to our concerns just as they listen to the concerns of the enviro-extremist organizations! Surely, it is possible to develop management plans that are balanced and allow for public recreation on public lands while protecting significantly sensitive environmental areas.

Thank you for considering my plea. Outdoor recreationists of all types need your help!

With best regards,



(Your name and address)


cc: Mike Pool, State Director
Bureau of Land Management
California State Office
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W1834
Sacramento, CA 95825-1886

[Crowdog]

This could affect places like Johnson Valley. Plan to attend if you live in So. Cal.

Crowdog

From ExtremeBuggies.com:
Desert District Advisory Council (DAC) Meeting Saturday, June 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
There is strength in our numbers. Plan on attending if you can.

From: Roy Denner, SDORC Education Chairman and DAC Vice Chairman

Subject: Desert District Advisory Council (DAC) Meeting The Desert District Advisory Council will meet Saturday, June 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p. m. at the Kerr-McGee Center in Ridgecrest.

The meeting will be an important one for OHV interests. The agenda includes updates/briefings on BLM´s off-highway vehicle program, OHV management related issues, the OHV Grant Program, and a discussion of the "Off-Road to Ruin" publication.

It should be a very interesting session. Paul Spitler, the Executive Director of the California Wilderness Coalition - the organization that published "Off-Road to Ruin" - has been invited to attend and will have an opportunity to defend that report - if he shows up. Mr. Spitler also sits on the OHMVR Commission - the people that control our green Sticker funds.

I will have a report from a San Diego environmental analysis company that is dissecting the studies referred to in that report. I am hoping to have a representative from the environmental company in attendance as well. No fireworks allowed!!

We will also be discussing the draft of the first Desert Area Management Plan - the "Northern & Eastern Colorado Desert Coordinated Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)" - also known as NECO. This is NOT a Management Plan - it is purely an EIS. It starts out by closing five OHV areas - some because they are overused and some because they are underutilized. It goes on to provide reasons and methods to close any area that might have an impact on sensitive or possibly sensitive species and/or their habitat.

This so-called management plan is written in the shadow of the current lawsuits and attempts to satisfy the enviro-extremists to the point that they will never again have a reason to sue the BLM. What a joke!

If this plan is implemented the way it is drafted it will become the guideline document for BLM plans all over the country. I expect to have, at that meeting, a report on the NECO plan that is being prepared by a top-notch environmental attorney from San Diego. He is reviewing NECO in detail and commenting on the poor science and anecdotal information used to draw far-reaching conclusions.

We will not be caught short again like we were with the Glamis closures! So - if you can make the next DAC meeting you might find it interesting.

The meeting will be held in the Pinnacles Room (room probably will change due to number of attendees expected) at the Kerr McGee Center, located at 100 West California Avenue in Ridgecrest. To get to Ridgecrest, take the 395 exit off of FWY 15 and head north. To reach the Kerr McGee Center, go west on California Avenue from China Lake Boulevard and follow the road to the Center.

[Crowdog]

Below is a link to a thread on another site that discusses the meeting. Here is a quote from one person that attended:

"It’s outrageous that less than 5% of public lands are available for OHV use, yet 14% of Californians own OHV’s. These are figures heard at the meeting, not confirmed by me, but it’s crazy. Tim Salt announced many new closures, with pride. Not one area was opened, and the attitude was such that to expect such is fantasy.

Over 40% of the BLM’s budget is spent on land acquisition. BUYING PRIVATE LAND WITH OUR GREEN STICKER MONEY! This scares the hell out of me. My money is being used to buy land that I can’t access."

http://www.glamisonline.org/pilot/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1861&FORUM_ID=44&CAT_ID=1&Topic _Title=DAC+meeting+in+Ridgecrest+a+success%21&Foru m_Title=%95+Wide+Open+Sand

Get mad and do something!

Crowdog

[Crowdog]

http://www.news-ridgecrest.com/stories/1.html