4x4Wire

The Ashton/Island Park Ranger District is interested in hearing any comments, concerns, ideas, or issues you may have regarding their Island Park Off Highway Vehicle Trails project/proposal.

The purpose of this proposal is to revise management of areas open to cross-country OHV travel and designate OHV trails that connect to the Forest Transportation System. This action is needed to provide a safe and sustainable travel system that reduce resource impacts, improve public safety, improve access, and improve the ability to enforce travel restrictions.

This proposal will:
1. Designate approximately 33 miles of trail. Of the proposed 33 miles of trail:
• Approximately 11 miles of National Forest System Roads currently closed to public motor vehicle use will convert to National Forest System Trails.
• Approximately 19 miles of user-created routes will convert to National Forest System Trails which will require reconstruction.
• Approximately 3 miles of trail will require new construction.

Take Action to Protect 4WD Access

Johnson Valley, a popular OHV area in California, is at risk. The Marine Corps is trying to expand the 29 Palms facility and take over most of the OHV area for training exercises. The Marines would only need the extra space(147,000 acres) for less than 30 days a year. They plan to use the area for live-fire training, as a result, the area will be forever closed to OHV recreation.

An amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that passed the full House would require the Marines to identify the impact closing the area would have on OHV recreation and the local economy. The amendment requires the Marines to examine using the Johnson Valley area in ways that would not permanently lock out OHV access, and the potential of using other nearby public lands instead of Johnson Valley. This amendment only asks the Marines to consider other options.

The US Senate is poised to act on the Defense Authorization bill. Contact your 2 US Senators urging them to support the Johnson Valley amendment in the Senate bill.