BlueRibbon Coalition says BLM’s West Mojave Route Network Project manages over three million acres of public land.
The following is an information release from the BlueRibbon Coalition:
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the Draft Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the West Mojave Route Network Project, providing guidance and management direction for over three million acres of public lands in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.
The release of the draft plan delivers a proposed solution for adaptive and responsible travel management planning and off-highway vehicle use within the WEMO planning area while protecting important resources and maximizing public accessibility in the desert. The plan also outlines conservation provisions for important wildlife species such as the desert tortoise, taking an active role in protection and recovery of their habitat.
The BLM, in coordination with the public, has developed the most accurate and comprehensive route inventory of the planning area to date, including the cataloging of over 15,000 miles of travel routes. These efforts provide a new baseline for BLM management of recreational use within the planning area. The public and stakeholders assisted the BLM in identifying key land use issues within the planning area through a formal scoping process and a series of public meetings held in 2011 and 2012.
The CDCA plan amendment would replace and clarify elements of the plan related to travel management networks and off-highway vehicle access, livestock grazing and recreation within the West Mojave (WEMO) planning area managed by the BLM’s Barstow, Ridgecrest, Needles and Palm Springs Field Offices. The Draft SEIS analyzed the environmental impacts of travel management routes on special status species, cultural resources, recreation and other important resources.
The plan does allow for the designation of routes in washes and it identifies additional trail mileage available for OHV use. There are proposed land closures in the draft plan and users should review how these closures will impact future OHV use in the project area.
The draft plan, recently published in the Federal Register, marks the beginning of a 90-day comment period, ending June 4, 2015. Four public meetings have been scheduled to brief the public and gather public comments on the draft. All meetings will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will include a presentation, open house and an opportunity to provide written comments. The BLM will review input received through the public comment period when making a decision on the final plan. Meetings will be held as follows:
Tuesday, March 31: Kerr-McGee Center, Pinnacles Room, 100 W California Ave., Ridgecrest California
Thursday, April 2: Hilton Garden Inn, 12603 Mariposa Rd., Victorville, California
Tuesday, April 7: Lone Pine Community Center, Stratham Hall, 138 Jackson St., Lone Pine, California
Wednesday, April 15: Yucca Valley Community Center Complex, Yucca Room, 57090 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca, California
Any additional meetings will be announced on the BLM Website at least 15 days in advance.
For further information about the Draft SEIS, or for a copy of the document, please visit the BLM Website. Hard copies are available upon request from the California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 or from the BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W 1834, Sacramento, CA 95825.
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