The California Motorized Recreation Council (CMRC), Ecologic Partners, and Tierra Del Sol Four Wheel Drive Club (TDS), have started formulating a unified effort to defend Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area.

On May 21, 2013 Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Desert Protective Council (DPC) filed a lawsuit to stop open riding in the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). The suit alleges that California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) is not enforcing various Public Resources Codes with respect to trail maintenance and environmental protection.

The Ocotillo Wells SVRA is a very special place to the Off-Road Community and people from all over the country. Not only has it been the location of the popular TDS Desert Safari, but also many of us have raised our families there.  This park was set aside specifically for open OHV recreation.

On May 21, 2013 Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Desert Protective Council (DPC) filed a lawsuit to stop open riding in the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). The suit alleges that California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) is not enforcing various Public Resources Codes with respect to trail maintenance and environmental protection.

Tierra Del Sol 4 Wheel Drive Club is currently consulting with our attorney on the best way to respond to this lawsuit. The Ocotillo Wells SVRA is a very special place to our members and people from all over the country. Not only has it been the location of our TDS Desert Safari, but many of us have raised our families there.  This park was set aside specifically for open OHV recreation.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — As Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx is being considered in Washington, D.C., to be the U.S. transportation secretary, the American Motorcyclist Association is reminding lawmakers that the secretary is responsible for the Recreational Trails Program.

The AMA’s concerns were raised at the nomination hearing by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). She asked Foxx: “If confirmed, will you work to ensure that this valuable program [RTP] continues to meet the needs of all trail users in Minnesota and across the nation?”

Foxx responded that he “looks forward to working with you [Klobuchar] on these issues.”

Those trails are very important for tourism and rural economies, are a way to explore the nation’s natural beauty and provide a way to enjoy physical activity, wrote Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, in a column that appeared in the Washington, D.C., newspaper The Hill on May 21.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has approved first quarter awards providing funding from its OHV Access Initiative, the industry leader in Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails (GRANTs), to deserving organizations across the country.

“Yamaha has approved new GRANTs to support organizations that span the country, from California to Vermont, serving the mission to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS marketing manager. “Yamaha’s reach through the OHV Access Initiative is national, but the heart of the program resides in the local communities that enjoy increased family fun and economic development through safe, responsible OHV access.”

ORBA Marketing Director Jeff Knoll traveled to Washington DC in April at the request of Congressman Paul Cook to testify before the House Natural Resources Committee in support of HR1676 The Johnson Valley Off-Highway vehicle Recreation Area Establishment Act.

The Bill was created based on a White Paper Knoll created as the Chairman of the California Motorized Recreation Council Save the Hammers Committee.
Read the full text of the Bill Here

ORBA is still in need of much needed funding for this special project. The CMRC Goal for June is $30,000. 100% of the funds for this project are spent on saving the Hammers.
If you can help get us to the finish line please contact the ORBA office. 661-323-1464

A recent press release from the BlueRibbon Coalition notes that the National Park Service (NPS) has announced the release of a Proposed Rule concerning winter use in Yellowstone National Park for public review and comment. The rulemaking process is in addition to, but separate from, the public review on the Final Winter Use Plan/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) which was released on February 22, 2013.  The Final SEIS did not have a comment period.  The Proposed Rule will have a comment period. BRC and our partners will be reviewing the Proposed Rule, and will have suggested comments soon.

The Proposed Rule, published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2013, will have a 60-day public comment period ending on June 17, 2013.

The proposed rule will more effectively manage access for snowmobiles and snow coaches in Yellowstone National Park, while minimizing impacts on visitors, air and sound quality, as well as wildlife. The proposed rule will guide management of winter use in the park and will implement the preferred alternative in the Final SEIS.

In conjunction with its new partnership with Jeep Jamboree USA, Falken Tire, the manufacturer of high performance on and off-road tires, has announced a special 2013 Jeep Wrangler giveaway that will run during the 2013 Jeep Jamboree USA series.

The brand new, specially modified Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon will be on display at selected events throughout the Jeep Jamboree USA season.

According to a recent press release, there’s a new group helping protect access for off-roaders in Nevada. The Nevada Four Wheel Drive Association is officially launched  alive and well, protecting access to Nevada’s Public Lands for 4×4 recreation and all of us.

Incorporated with the assistance of the Calif. Assoc. of 4Wheel Drive Clubs (CA4WDC), in close partnership, along with assistance from the BlueRibbon Coalition, N4WDA has a Board of Directors and President to get things going.

Larry Calkins is the founding President, a resident of Dayton, NV.  The Board consists of:

Carole Vance, of Dayton, NV, Vice President.
Don Spuhler, of Georgetown, CA, Secretary.
Phil Bender, of Reno, NV, Treasurer.
Mark Cave, of Visalia, CA, Board Member at Large

Earlier in the month, we posted a news item about the BlueRibbon Coalition working to raise funds through the sale of an Easter Jeep Safari-themed t-shirt that would be sold in the Moad Diner. The shirt, designed by RCH Designs, would generate money to help keep trails open to four-wheeling in Moab, Utah.

We at Off-Road.com try to stop in at least once to the Moab Diner for some of their famous green chili, and we were pleasantly surprised to see some off-road-themed tables throughout the joint during the 47th Easter Jeep Safari.

Moab, Utah - BFGoodrich Tires, in collaboration with Tread Lightly and United Four-Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA), announced in Moab yesterday the recipients of the 2013 Outstanding Trails program. Nominated for uniqueness, terrain type and enthusiast following, the trails selected for this year’s program are:

- Dutch John Trail at the Uwharrie National Forest in Troy, North Carolina- Kansas Rocks Recreation Park in Mapleton, Kansas
- Truckhaven in Salton Sea, California