Once again the Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club will host a exclusive event from our club property located in eastern San Benito County nestled in the heart of the Clear Creek Management area. This event is only open to 30 entries and will sell out fast. Please click here for registration info: SALINASRAMBLERS.EVENTBRITE.COM

07 December 2022 | California State Parks | Access Issues

Your assistance is needed! California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division is identifying the economic impacts resulting from visitations to off road areas within California, to include State Parks, federal lands (Bureau of Land Management and United States Forest Service), and private lands within California.

The Recreation Department at CSU Fresno is assisting OHMVR in this effort. Your answers and identity will be kept strictly confidential and used for statistical purposes only. There are no known risks associated with participating in this study. Your participation will involve taking this questionnaire which should take about 10 minutes. Your participation is voluntary, and you are free to withdraw at any time.

The findings of the study will allow OHMVR to better serve the public. In addition, the findings will be used to document the economic importance off roading and snowmobiling in California.

Please complete the survey here: OHV Economic Impact Study (arcgis.com).

If you have any questions or concerns about this study, please contact us at 559-278-2624, or email at RASA@mail.fresnostate.edu. Thank you very much for your assistance.

US HB9600  2021-2022 117^th Congress

Status:

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: Introduced on December 15 2022 – 25% progression
Action: 2022-12-15 – Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Pending: House Natural Resources Committee

Summary:

To designate the Range of Light National Monument in the State of California, and for other purposes.

HEADS UP ALL STEWARDS

This bill will encompass all of the Sierra National Forest 1.4 Million Acres from Yosemite National Park to Kings Canyon National Park and will close the forest to most recreation.  This is their 2^nd attempt to pass this thru Congress.

Tracking Information:

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Title:

To designate the Range of Light National Monument in the State of California, and for other purposes.

Sponsors:

History:

US Congress State Sources:

We are in dire need of a new motor/transmission for the Stewards side x side.  Our trail Rhino, has been our main workhorse for doing trail work and helping to keep trails open for us all to enjoy.  Since 2009, we have used the Rhino to haul equipment and tools, cleared downed trees, hauled rock and sign materials.  We need to get the Rhino up and running!

Our very own Suzanne Rice has created a go fund me account.  Please click on the link below.  We need to raise $5000 to get up and running again.  Please click on the link below and donate!!! If just 200 Stewards donated just $20 we could get back on the trail and do what we do best….

Trail Clearing Equipment, organized by Suzanne Rice

Once there, you can donate directly from the page.  Also from the page, please also hit share and share the link on your personal social media or via e mail. Let’s get this out and make this important fund raiser a big success!!!!!

Thank You in Advance

Steve Cowdrey

Stewards of the Sierra National Forest

Attention all of you Adventure Bike and Dual Sport riders. Are you ready for some great news? The Washburn and Oak fires are out, the forest has been opened back up for the public to use and we have gotten a LOT OF RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS this week makin for some outstanding riding conditions. Our 11th Annual Event is moving forward and we still need you to get registered ASAP so we can give the Kiwanis Club a good head count for the outstanding meals they will be serving. We still have room left for you to get your riding buddies together and get registered to come out and support the work the Stewards do to keep your roads and trails open.

Mike

Temporary Restraining Order Halts 130 Acres of Dust Control Measures

On February 17, dust control measures were placed on hold at the Oceano Dunes after the San Luis Obispo Superior Court temporarily prohibited them. The court ordered in favor of the Friends of Oceano Dunes’ legal efforts with a temporary restraining order on Oceano Dunes SVRA closures and informed the California Department of Parks and Recreation that it has no authority to proceed with further limiting access as had been planned.

Friends of Oceano Dunes argued the California Coastal Commission and State Parks and Recreation Department did not receive the required approval from the county to move forward with the project and, as a result, is keeping more than 130 acres of dust control measures from being installed at the State Park. The Court set a hearing date of March 30, 2022 and ordered the Commission and Parks to “show cause” why a preliminary injunction should not be issued banning the new dust control while the case is being litigated.

At a recent Commission meeting, commissioners called for a review of the research presented by the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) in preparation for the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) meeting scheduled for March 23, 2022. Although the SAG and APCD support reducing access, the commission stated that based upon recent findings from Scripps and other studies, the science behind the stipulated order of abatement (SOA) is in question and needs to be revisited. Some of the commissioners expressed the desire to withdraw from the SOA.

In December 2021, the California Coastal Commission, without deliberation, voted to shut down more than 100 acres of riding and driving area. Commissioner Salazar will represent the OHMVR Commission and present a letter the commission is drafting for the upcoming APCD Board hearing.

“The decision by the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge is another decisive win for the Friends of Oceano Dunes,” said Fred Wiley, President/CEO, Off-Road Business Association. “Rejecting a motion to dismiss by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) shows why the legal system plays a key role in controlling the actions of the CCC. There has to be a place to seek a fair review and state your case when the facts fall on deaf ears. The Friends of Oceano does a great job defending all forms of public use at Ocean Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area (ODSVRA). Were it not for their persistent efforts, the ODSVRA would have been lost a long time ago.”

In early 2021, ARRA was one of 17 organizations representing businesses, associations, and enthusiast groups in opposing banning OHV activity and severely curtailing 4X4 access and camping at ODSVRA. ARRA and other members of the outdoor recreation community continue to actively participate in OHMVR Commission meetings by providing written comments and public comment periods.

I just wanted to take a minute and say Merry Christmas and Happy new Year to all of our members and the people we meet out in the forest. This has been a very eventful year filled with a whole lot of joy and a tremendous amount of accomplishments all made possible by you our members. We are forever committed to keeping your public access open for all to use and hope to see many new faces in the coming year to lend a hand in keeping our public lands open.

Now more than ever the Forest Service is relying on volunteerism to complete the many critical task to keep public access open. I hope that everyone will have very joyous holiday season and enjoy the much needed time to reflect with family and friends. I am looking forward to seeing all of you who have contributed to our success and many new faces this coming year to celebrate good times and fun here in our Sierra National Forest.

Mike Wubbels

Executive Director

SOTSNF

These are your Public Lands Please help to keep them Open and in Shape. If you do not, the next time you go to the forest it might just be closed and you will be standing there wondering what happened.

To better provide public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing California wildfire crisis, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing a temporary closure of all National Forests in California. This closure will be in effect from Aug. 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. through September 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. This order does not affect the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which is not in the Pacific Southwest Region.

“We do not take this decision lightly but this is the best choice for public safety,” said Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien. “It is especially hard with the approaching Labor Day weekend, when so many people enjoy our national forests.”

Factors that led to this decision include:

1. By temporarily reducing the numbers of people on national forests, we hope to minimize the likelihood that visitors could become entrapped on National Forest System lands during emergency circumstances.

2. The closure order will also decrease the potential for new fire starts at a time of extremely limited firefighting resources, and enhance firefighter and community safety by limiting exposure that occurs in public evacuation situations, especially as COVID-19 continues to impact human health and strain hospital resources.

3. Due to state-wide conditions, any new fire starts have the potential for large and rapid fire growth with a high risk to life and property. The Forest Service and our partners are absolutely doing all we can to fight these fires and will continue to do so, but the conditions dictate the need for this region-wide closure order.

4. Forecasts show that conditions this season are trending the same or worse as we move into late summer and fall.

5. Although the potential for large fires and risk to life and property is not new, what is different is that we are facing: (a) record level fuel and fire conditions; (b) fire behavior that is beyond the norm of our experience and models such as large, quick runs in the night; (c) significantly limited initial attack resources, suppression resources, and Incident Command Teams to combat new fire starts and new large fires; and (d) no predicted weather relief for an extended period of time into the late fall.

The following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

3. Persons with a Forest Service special use authorization for an electric transmission line, an oil or gas pipeline, communications site, or any other non-recreation special use.

4. Commercial recreational special-use permit holders and their customers are not exempt from this Order. However, commercial recreational special-use permit holders, under the terms and conditions of their permit, may access their permit areas to conduct administrative functions and to protect property and related assets. Recreation residence permit holders are not exempt from this Order.

5. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock.

6. Owners or lessees of land, and residents of such private landholdings, to the extent necessary to access their land.

7. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent necessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation.

More than 6,800 wildfires have burned 1.7 million acres across all jurisdictions in California, and the National Wildfire Preparedness Level (PL) has been at PL5 since July 14, 2021, only the third time in the past 20 years that the nation has reached PL 5 by mid-July – indicating the highest level of wildland fire activity.

The Forest Service thanks our partners and the public for their cooperation and understanding of this extreme public safety and fire threat. Citizens with specific questions within their area should consult their local forest website or social media pages for more information. Public Inquiries: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r5/about-region/offices Regional Hotline: 707-562-9113 SM.FS.R5inquiries@usda.gov Media Contact: SM.FS.MediaDeskR5@usda.gov