Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

D·37's workbook comments Below are some comments developed for AMA District 37 by a committee led by Jerry Counts. These, along with comments developed from the NOC map printed elsewhere, can be combined in your own words to provide an effective pro-multipleuse comments to the BLM's California Desert Plan draft. Each heading is as it appears in the BLM workbook, which may be obtained by calling 800/442· 4946. Hurry-comment deadline is May 15,1980. Multiple-use Class Guidelines (31:l3H 010:11 i.. ·0 Page 29, Motorized vehicles. Class L Delete "no competitive events allowed." Add: Organized competitive events on designated point to point routes will be allowed. Plan Alternatives Protection Altern_five NATIONAL OUTDOOR COALITION clo 1525 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington, C.C. 20036 Ifact The proposed allowed total open arealcombined) is the equlvalent of an area 14 miles by 14 miles. It is 6 times the size of Hungry Valley.) Comment The intensive overcrowding of such a small area is not acceptable. S.,.nced Alte,.".tlve - '. ~ - .: j h1'O~3lft10 S.1Ii3.1NOO lJ3arSNO~ t h'3.U'IO~trUil - - - SlH.l rt3dO :lSij31d .LN3WWO~ ~118nd J.NtfJ.IIOdIAlI 51 51HJ. :W 18 OJ. 131:l3H 010:11 IFact The belanced alternative will result in the loss of over half of the existing open area.) Comment The extensive over· crowding that is being experienced in the present open areas is not acceptable. This problem will be in· tensified if the Balenced Altemetive Plan is implemented. U.e Altern_five Ifact The use alternative doubles the open area from that provided under the current ICMP. This will bring us up to 11% of what we had prior to 1973 and the ICMP. It does not provide for race areas in Dove SpringlhJewbone. Cuddebeck. Shadow Mtn.• Olancha or Cadiz Valley. Further there are no guaranteed point to point corridors. The only significant incraese that would ben. fit racing is tha Cady Mountain! Bristol Mountain area.) , Comment Although there are increase in open areas, they are lnconvenient and uneconomical due to existing energy prices and availability. There has been a passing over of traditional racing areas which are more desirable for our needs. Energy Production and Utility Corridors BLM DESERT PLAN STAFF P.O. BOX 5555 RIVERSIDE, CA 92517 On Page 99 under other decision criteria add: Encourage the joint use of utility corridors for point to point ORVevents. Wildlife 16 According to BLM's data. Table EC 5, there are between a quarter and a half million tortoises in the Desert. After years of coexistence with ORV's the tortoise appears to be a viable species that is neither threatened nor endangered. There is no reason to restrict ORV use in area S11FremontiStoddard Valley). There have been raptor nests found in traditional ORV use areas; thera appears to be no conflict. Any specific issues should be considered on a case by case basis. Land Tenure Adjustment The Land Tenura Adjustment element in the Protection plen should be implemented using the criteria of resource use areas page 159. IUnder the Protection Altemetive the BLM would acquire the privata lends that checkerboard Cudd. back. Fremont Peak. Jawbone, Dove Springs. Johnson Valley, Cadiz, Shadow Mountain. Ord Mountains, Iron Mountains.) Recreation Neither Protection or BalanceCl Alternatives provide nearly enough ORV open area to setisfy public ! need. ORV open areas, in the Use Alternative would be adequate with the addition of the following manage· ment areas: (16) Olencha. (19) Red Rock Canyon!Blrd Springs. 120) Eest Portion EI Peso Mountains. (28) Cuddeback. (29) Fremont Peak. (31) Shadow Mountains. (38) Ord Mountains. 1791 Cadiz Valley and (81) Iron Mountains. The above areas ere more desirable then #63 Cady Mountain l Bristol Mountain. Also these areas would alow implementation of restrotation system. Wilderness The wilderness element of the balanced alternative is adequate with the exception of Golden Valley in WSA 170 88 racommended in the Draft California Desert Wilderness Inventory Worksheet submitted by AMA and District 37. Motorized Vehicle Access From the table on Page 93. it is obvious that none of the alternatives provide a true balanced plan as dictated by FLPMA. The plan recommended is ap proximately 15% C. 35% L. 35% M and 15%1.

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