Losing Barstow OHV area...

[ACME]

Last chance to get involved or we can most likely kiss it goodbye...

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showth ... a-OHV-Area

[PahlM]

Careful with this one. Post from DR from the person I race trucks with (Greg Sunds):

I think some of you are reading into this too much and jumping the gun and ASSuming the worst. I just got off the phone with Richard Rotte at the BLM office. Got his number from a letter I printed off of here, I think. The Right-of-way info letter. Anyway, he said they are just setting up 3 anemometers for now to see if the wind conditions meet their specifications. The BLM will not allow any projects that are not compatible with the OHV area. Meaning, they will not build fields of windmills like you see in the Palm Springs area. If they do go thru with the project, it will be in about 3-4 years and they will be scattered about the area. They will not put anything up and will not "close down" the OHV area. That's what he means by it has to be compatible with the OHV area. If it will affect OHV usage, they will not allow it.
They have plans that will allow commercial usage as long as it is compatible with the OHV area.

I actually called the Barstow BLM office to talk with them about it after I sent in a letter. My fiance actually does the environmental impact studies for projects like this and this is not yet a project that will close down anything. I agree getting involved is important, but right now there is not much we can do other than piss off BLM.

[ACME]

We/I have also spoken with the BLM and they are moving forward with the permits to allow the testing and could care less RE the comment period or our concerns as a community. This is the exact tactic that they used in NV; a simple test and once it proves succesful (and it will), they file for a permit and then there's security concerns and bingo: It's too late for any action. Just as in the case of Johnson Valley/Lucerne where the US Marines had already decided they wanted the multiple use area as it's easier to work with than the area to the N.E., and the meetings were nothing more than PR and marketing, but they told us: "We won't take anything away from the OHV community, besides we're your government and we have your best interests in mind"... If we don't present the position of being a strong opponent and address and attack these incursions immediatley, we will lose these areas and apathy and a wait and see attitude, will spell disaster. The simple fact that they had not let anyone know that these permits were filed or about the public comment period until Rocky 9 (on RDC) got the info through a mole, should be enough to let us know they are serious. The Marine/Lucerne deal was another issue which was found out by accident... 2 for 2 from the barstow office and both affecting our local OHV areas? That's too much coincidence for me and the; "yeah, the'll never do anything without asking us or taking our feelings into consideration" attitude is just what they are hoping we'll take... Remember: They are private industry and they have options. They are going after open multiple use areas (OHV areas) for cheap gov't leasehold land that will have little resistance. This has already happened in NV, now Barstow and Ocotill are undergoing the same process. Toss in Primm and the other areas under fire and how you can choose to take a wait and see attitude is beyond me when off roading in the entire soutwest is under fire.

[Ryan_P]

I have made this a "Global" post, which will keep it at the top of every forum on this board. Hopefully this will spark some interest!

[Solo Motorsports 1]

If you guys really want to know the "inside scoop" on Stoddard, Johnson, and Spangler OHV areas and issues surrounding these areas, call Patricia at MDR. She deals with these people every time a permit needs to be filed for a race and all the stips that go with it. Remember, these areas are set aside for the public's use. As far as Lucerne and the military, MDR never ran races east of Gallaway Lake or around Means Dry Lake -- just grazed the western most edge for a few miles. I don't know what clements does for the these areas, but Patricia fights for OUR rights to continuelly use these areas as well as down south at Plaster City...Call her....

[Fourstroker]

If you guys really want to know the "inside scoop" on Stoddard, Johnson, and Spangler OHV areas and issues surrounding these areas, call Patricia at MDR. She deals with these people every time a permit needs to be filed for a race and all the stips that go with it. Remember, these areas are set aside for the public's use. As far as Lucerne and the military, MDR never ran races east of Gallaway Lake or around Means Dry Lake -- just grazed the western most edge for a few miles. I don't know what clements does for the these areas, but Patricia fights for OUR rights to continuelly use these areas as well as down south at Plaster City...Call her....

In regards to Lucerne the Military's plan included much more land than you are mentioning. If it was approved riding/racing in that would be limited to anything west of Anderson Dry Lake. That would Soggy, Galway, Means and most of the Anderson Dry Lake area would be gone. This area would include all but about 2-3 miles of race course that is currently used by both orgs.

I will reserve my comments on who actually is doing that work for MDR.

[ACME]

Let's not turn this into a MDR/MORE thing, finish my TL up instead! I can tell you Jim and Ron have been working on both of these areas with the old and new BLM regimes and have abeen a constant source of help and information. Regardless: At this time the company involved in the windmill permit for test towers, is in the process of their impact studies and more than ever we need to make our feelings known. One comment that I got yesterday from Richard Rhotte of the Barstow BLM is they have a lot of comments that say: "I object to anything that takes the OHV area aways" and other very general statements. Please resend your letters and mention the Horizon and Airtricity wind project and your opposition to them and when mentioning the Marines suggest they go east into unused open are instead of west into the Johnson Valley OHV area. The comment need to be very specific in your requests/comments and spell out specifics. It would also help if you mentioned how much money you spend in the area, how many times a year you visit and how this will not only impact the local economy. When you're in these areas mention it to other riders, users when you have a chance and mention it to your fab shops and everyone you can. You may be surprised to find out that most are unaware, uninformed and uninvolved. I can tell you of the 3 fab shops that work on my stuff; only one showed at the Marine meetings (Lothringer) and the other 2 were cluseless on that and this issue...

[ACME]

9 rocky beat me to this on RDC but it looks worse than we initially thought...

http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty...1.1d3f22e.html

Thanks for the heads up Carrie!

[ChaseTruck754]

Bad link - doesn't go to a story...

[ACME]

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showth ... ost1097451

Take a look at 9Rockys 7:52 AM post for a working link...