Big issues in California are: (bold=newly noted)

1) Closing of 42 Eldorado NF trails by the Forest Service for all of 2012 and into 2013, due to a lawsuit from the Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Some sections of trails re-opened in July. Continue to write Eldo NF and federal legislators.

2) Voting of Calif. Senate & Assembly to take $10-$31 Million from Calif OHV Trust Fund. Gov Brown partial vetoed, only approved $7M, and limited grants to $10M for next fiscal year. After all this mess, another debacle is where another $54M state park funds were found: $21M from state parks entrance fees, and $33M from the OHV Trust Fund collections. Surprisingly, I heard Senator Simitian (D-Palo Alto) stated the $33M from OHV sources should go directly back into OHV, not state park general funds.

3) Johnson Valley – 29 Palms Marine Base Expansion. Would be sad to see this area permanently closed. Write your national Assembly & Senate members. June 14, 2012: My federal Rep. Pete Stark (Demo, very liberal) wrote me back in an email stating “…I will be sure  to keep your thoughts in mind if future provisions regarding the Johnson Valley Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Area comes before the House.” Sept 9: Senator Feinstein finally wrote back to me in what appears to be a form letter directed to OHV and pro-access folk. Letter was just forwarded letter to everyone. It also talked about her new Desert Protection bill, S138.

4) OTHERS:

a. Inyo NF wants to open new some routes and keep most existing routes but the antis have already begun suing the NF. Was just there! Lot of trails.

b. Plumas NF wants to close nearly all of the routes they have; the local counties now suing Plumas NF.

c. Cal4Wheel, BRC, and a Forest (logging) group recently filed a “friend of the court” appeal to the US Supreme Court that states the Roadless Rule (that Clinton signed just days before he left office) is unconstitutional. This has been going on for years. The supreme court just decided it will not hear the appeal, the Clinton era Roadless Rule will stand as law, at least for many years. Greenie’s are gloating. Halloween costume idea: “Gloating Greenie”.

d. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit – Travel Management final planning underway now – something going here, not sure of details, info on NF web is poor. Anyone know about this? We’ve all run many routes around Lake Tahoe -great family runs & views. Last year one of my favorite routes near Oneida Rd. was closed, but this year it was open! hurray! In the 2012-13 LTBMU annual public newspaper “4-Wheeling” is actually noted with a photo & caption, as a legitimate public recreation activity along with fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, camping, wildlife viewing, etc., at Lake Tahoe.

e. Pacific Legal Foundation has just sued Tahoe NF for cutting forest routes by two-thirds (2400 to 800 miles).  BRC and Cal4Wheel supporting the lawsuit. What a shame all this bs & $$ has to be spent on this mess.

f. East Bay Regional Park Dostrict in Alameda & and Contra Costa is attempting to influence how OHV Trust Fund-purchased land, next to Carneg ire SVRA for OHV future expansion, will be developed. Just like Hollister SVRA expansion – many threats of litigation from NIMBYs & anti’s. Many OHV interests have strongly encouraged EBRPD to “stay away”. Much has been happening last few weeks regarding public comment; see Cal4 & BRC websites, & http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/.

g. Contact me (Paul E) if you are interested in the political realities of why Little Sluice Box was ‘filled-in’.

h. Dan Lungren is a friend of OHV recreation. Consider supporting him  now for re-election, in this hotly contested race.

There are several previous emails on these issues which contain additional action items & contacts.

Paul E

There are ultra-detailed maps of this at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/home/?cid=STELPRDB5362046, bottom of the page, for each district.

BTW, the official winter seasonal closures recently ended for all other routes in Eldo NF. presume Stanislaus NF opened up April 15.

Paul E

Wednesday, April 4, 2012: The California Off-Road Vehicle Association, CORVA, along with representatives from the Rubicon Trail Foundation and Friends of the Rubicon, met with the Forest Supervisor and personnel from the Eldorado National Forest in an attempt to ascertain details related to the probable closure of 42+ OHV routes, pending further environmental review.

Currently, the routes in question are to remain closed due to a ruling in a lawsuit brought against the Eldorado by the Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation and the Center for Biological Diversity. Regardless of seasonal closure status, the routes are ordered to remain closed, and the Forest Service is preparing the public for the most likely scenario of route closures, pending a new court order. The Eldorado has issued a press release found at:http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5362068

In the meeting, Forest Service personnel stated; “…there is a high likelihood that these routes, or portions of these routes may be administratively closed for an interim period”. It was clear that the intent of the Forest Service is to do the necessary environmental analysis as quickly but comprehensively as possible as needed, in order to reopen these routes to motorized travel, a time frame between 1 and 2 years.

CORVA encourages the 4WD community to continue working with the Eldorado on adopt-a-trail maintenance programs, and actively engage in the NEPA analysis that is planned for the meadow crossings on these 42+ routes. CORVA will support all the 4WD clubs with NEPA education through the Comments Project to insure that the comments made by our community will lead to the reopening of these trails to motorized travel.

We also encourage the community to work together, plan events outside of the closed routes, and CORVA looks forward to working with all the affected communities. Hunting enthusiasts, miners and rockhounders will all be affected by the likelihood of these closures, and it is our goals to bring these communities closer together to combat those entities bent on removing multiple use from our national forests.

Amy Granat