NEWS RELEASE
The field trip occurred on September 24 and also included
a roundtable discussion between local stakeholders and Biden Administration
officials about why this proposed expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National
Monument is so important to the Tribe, conservation groups, and the recreation
community.
The plan would recognize and protect important cultural
resources that are sacred to the Tribe and improve access to managed recreation
opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized outdoor activities.
Currently there is a significant amount of illegal and
unauthorized use of non-street legal “Green Sticker” OHVs within the expansion
area and adjacent federal and private lands since the BLM did not undertake
travel planning in that area during the 2006 Resource Management Planning
effort due to lack of agency resources.
I believe the expansion is critical to helping restart
the stalled 2021 BLM Travel Management Planning Process for the Berryessa Snow
Mountain National Monument since it will help bring said lands under one
management umbrella. A designated system
of legal roads and trails will help reduce impacts from illegal activities to
important cultural and natural resources as well as making the routes eligible
for CA State Park “Green Sticker” grant funds that can be used for trail
planning/construction, restoration of damaged areas, and law enforcement.
LINK TO TULEYOME NEWS RELEASE ON TOUR WITH DOI AND BLM
LEADS *Amador and other quotes
As an OHV leader who has a long-term commitment to the
collaborative process that brings land agency leaders, Tribes, conservation
groups, local government, other stakeholders, and the trail-based recreation
community together with a common goal of both protecting natural and cultural resources
and providing a high-quality outdoor experience, I believe this proposal highlights
what can happen with diverse interest groups find common ground on land
management issues.
Just as many OHV interests attended the 2016 dedication
of the Berryessa National Monument because of the outreach and partnership
between the conservation and OHV community on that effort, I think this
addition merits that same level of support by trail riders, dual sport/ADV
enthusiasts, and 4WD clubs.
# # #
Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation
management profession for over 33 years. Don writes from his home in
Cottonwood, CA. Don is President of
Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting. Don is Past President/CEO and current board
member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor
to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the
California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He
has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road
Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as
the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from
2019 – 2023. Don is a Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino. Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine.
