BISHOP, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office and the Inyo National Forest want to hear the public’s ideas on how to ensure off-highway vehicle trails are secure and well maintained on public lands throughout the Eastern Sierra. The public is invited to provide input during a virtual public meeting planned for Thursday, Feb. 3 at 5 p.m.
This public meeting will provide off-highway vehicle users a chance to visit with the BLM and U.S. Forest Service staff to discuss changes or improvements that can help make everyone’s outdoor experience more enjoyable.
The BLM and Forest Service will use the public feedback to draft their grant applications for law enforcement, restoration, and ground operations and maintenance to be submitted to the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program.
The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program supports well- managed off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing more than $35 million annually collected from gas tax, entrance fees and OHV sticker registrations.
Cities, counties, districts, federal and state agencies, educational institutions, federally recognized Native American Tribes and non-profit entities can apply for funds to develop, maintain and restore trails; provide law enforcement; and offer safety and training for riders.
Preliminary applications must be submitted to Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division no later than March 7 and will be available on the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s website at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov/, for additional public review and comment from March 8 to May 2. The website will provide detailed instructions for accessing the preliminary applications and submitting comments.
Public comments should be submitted to both the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division and to the BLM Bishop Field Office or Inyo National Forest by May 2, 2022.
Please register to participate in the virtual public meeting at https://tinyurl.com/yckmwj5n. Registrants will receive a link and phone numbers to join the meeting. Please contact the BLM or USFS for reasonable accommodations to participate.
Comments may also be emailed to the BLM at [email protected] or to Jeremy DeCell at the Inyo National Forest at [email protected].
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
–BLM/USFS-
BLM Bishop Field Office/Inyo National Forest, 351 Pacu Lane, Bishop, CA 93514
Follow the BLM on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr @BLMCA and @BLMCalifornia
Follow the Inyo National Forest on Twitter, Facebook, @Inyo_NF, @inyonf
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Some of these off roaders can be quite reckless and dangerous and cause a lot of damage, all in areas where they’re not even supposed to be.
They speed past cyclists and walkers with dogs like they’re not even there then throw their hands up in the air if you’re not out of their way when they come screaming around a blind corner.
I’ve lost all hope anyone with any authority honestly gives a crap about this. They set up these meetings because they have to and because they like to hear each other and themselves talk.
There’s only one solution, more law enforcement in the field citing people being stupid and dangerous and impounding off road vehicles if they’re riding/driving where they’re not supposed to be.
Doubtful that’ll never happen because it’s too much work, but I hope they prove me wrong.
It’s as if we’re afraid to enforce laws because we’re afraid people won’t want to come to the eastern sierra and spend money.
Hmm, could that be it, the money?
Tinner
It’s ALL about the tourism $$$$….we all know that.
Sadly,some people up here,citizens of the OV don’t seem to care..
I can remember that yearly “Burning Man” event in Nevada,some of the people going there complaining about the speed enforcement laws and tickets they were getting ,not in Inyo County…of course, but in Mono County,Lee Vining-Bridgeport area,where the CHP actually issues citations,very few warnings,especially through town.
Many of those getting them,complaining and saying more or less it should be O.K. for them coming from L.A. to do as they please,since they’re spending their money driving HWY 395 getting to Nevada and make a fool out of themselves and/or throwing themselves into the Burning Man bonfires.
They also complained about confiscation of their drugs or DUI arrests some were getting,sitting in jail and unable to attend.
What surprised me was some of OUR residents agreeing with them,seeing speeding drugged-up SoCalers as an “income source” to our towns and business’.
,saying they’re our “life blood”.
More enforcement is what’s needed,but Don’t hold your breath on that.
Gladly,it seems more enforcement is taking place in the Alabama Hills recently to the numerous law-breakers they had up there the last couple Summers during COVID.
But many other places are in need of the same kind of enforcement for those that want to and think they can make their own rules when visiting the Eastern Sierra.
I think the issue at the time was that Mono Co LE was targeting Burners, which is discrimination.
FCB
And why not target them ?
Is it a “rights” violation to openly talk of and admit your going to be traveling HWY395 drunk and high,speeding through the towns,then complaining on facebook and other web-sites about being pulled over and maybe arrested ?.
Ask the residents living in Lee Vining and Bridgeport if it bothered them when they saw painted-up vehicles with people hanging out the windows screaming and yelling,and probably speeding through town,ask THEM if it was bothersome to see them pulled over and ticketed and argueing with Mono County LE about being “profiled” and cited.
I kind’ve have to think that’s the exception not the rule. And to get through Lee Vining and Bridgeport they would’ve traveled through every other town along 395. I have NEVER seen burners drive through our Inyo towns hanging out of cars or screaming. That seems like a reason to cite them. If they were reckless, sure – go ahead and pull them over. But it’s not a crime to drive a dusty car with fuzzy bikes on them. Sounds like it bothered you, but you are not the arbitrator of morality for everyone. Sorry dude.
FCB
Problem is,or so it seems,just about every other town,especially the lower Inyo County towns south of Bishop, very little enforcement of speeding and other laws of the highway,
Sitting on a park bench waiting for my clothes to dry in the laundromat,I’ve seen it all,believe me.
And can remember a few years back while washing big orange tow trucks on a hot August morning,a nearby area for them to park and party,which made my day of washing big orange tow trucks also including picking up beer cans and trash blowing around the parking lot.
If you can’t control it then shut it down, when I’m out and about my outdoor experience is destroyed by motorcycles going where there not supposed to be, get it forest service , but
“If you can’t control it then shut it down,” – This is how I feel about the Southern border. I’ve found many OHV’ers who are generally good folks are just unaware the long term damage that’s done from riding off approved trails. Money would be better spent on education then enforcement.
Fat White Bob
Common sense should outweigh “educating ” many of them,don’t you think ?
You trying to tell me the snowmobile “riders ” need educated not to race around “no snowmobiling ” signs and areas,sometimes chasing wildlife,way past the designated areas they have ?
Or the OHV “enthusiasts ” tearing up the”no off roading ” signs,moving barriers and doing and going as they please ?
Do they need “education” not to leave their trash and beer cans to blow around the landscape and for others to pick up ?
The last couple Summers in the Alabama Hills,when it was over-ridden with tourists and campers,the posted signs saying “no camping ,no campfires” in certain areas “no off road use”would “education” have kept them from tearing the signs down and doing and going where they please, flying their trump flags and saying it was “their land,their rights and freedom” doing so and refusing to leave ?
Or would it and did it take strict enforcement,and hopefully more to come, to stop many of them from doing it ?
As far as the political part of your post,why just the “Southern border” you mention ?
What about the others from OTHER Countries coming into the U.S. of A. looking for a better life and without the THOUSANDS of dollars and a years long long waiting list and expensive American lawyers to pay BEFORE they arrive in order to do it “legally” and to please about 28 % of America’s citizens now ?
Ignorance is more common then good sense. I feel the root of the problem is lack of good parenting. We are three generations deep into the problems poor parenting creates. The pristine environment of the Eastern Sierra will continue to decline as population increases. Change my mind…..
Fat White Bob
100 % agree with you on most of that,and especially with the last sentence.
If not for the early 1900’s LADWP land-grab,it would’ve already happened.
The land grab,instead would’ve turned out to be rich people, high-rise buildings,numerous business’,a huge population of citizens,probably an airport or two….big cities up here.
And by now,the 2000’s,a big drug,gang and crime problem that tag-along with big cities.
The Owens Valley would’ve turned out to be an L.A. if not for that.
We’d all be vacationing in the A.V.-Lancaster area and San Fernando Valley looking for peace and quiet away from the crowds and crime up here.
100% straight tongue.
I would support shutting down OHV use in Inyo & Mono County. The Eastern Sierra can’t handle the pressure from OHV tourism.
Input..what difference does it make….these “off roaders” will do as they please,where and when they want,just like most other off roaders do,with little or no caring or concern for the environment and wildlife here in the Owens Valley and Mono County.
And,of course,with many living here,fine with them and that,as long as they bring and spend their tourist $$ with them ..
Never throw a entire group under the bus. It discredits the validity of your comment