OHV/CONSERVATION COLLABORATION ON NOR CAL NATIONAL MONUMENT PROPOSAL

Current Entrance Sign to Walker Ridge 

BLM Indian Valley Management Area

 

OHV/CONSERVATION COLLABORATION ON NOR CAL NATIONAL MONUMENT PROPOSAL

 

*The article below is an overview of the recent FS/BLM public listening session and I have added a link to my testimony with links at the end of the article to the 2016 Monument dedication and some additional background on this expansion proposal for those who want more info.  

 

 

On December 13, the Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service hosted a public meeting in Woodland, Calif. to hear from the community about management of the region’s public lands, including a proposal to add the Walker Ridge area to the existing Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. 

Standing Room Only at FS/BLM Listening Meeting

 

As many OHVers already know, in the BLM’s Indian Valley Management Area there is currently a significant amount of unauthorized use of both street-legal and non-street legal within the proposed 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.

 

 All Historic OHV Routes Currently Closed

Numerous conservationists, OHV representatives, and other stakeholders mentioned the importance of bringing the proposed expansion lands into the existing Monument management umbrella so there could be a unified command structure that would aid in subsequent Monument and travel planning efforts.  

 

LINK TO DON AMADOR TESTIMONY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poNJmxSxcdk

 

Tribal leaders, officials from the CA Natural Resources Agency, and elected local and state representatives also stated their support for the proposal.

Del Albright                                    Allen Schrage

 

Having been on the front-line in many of the highly contentious 1990s-era land-use battles between multiple-use advocates and hard-core environmental groups, I much prefer the 10-year or longer collaborative relationship that exists between OHV and conservation groups regarding the original Berryessa Monument designation process and now in this proposed addition.

 

It was great to have Allen Schrage from the Mendo 4x4 Club and CAL4WD state his support and also remind the audience that OHV recreation is an important use and value. I want to commend Duffy Collin from the Oakland Motorcycle Club for attending and submitting their support letter.   And thanks also to the California Enduro Riders Association and the Marin County Motorcycle Association for allowing me to submit their support letters for the public record.

 

Del Albright, a 40-year long advocate for sustainable motorized recreation, stated his belief that National Monuments should be designated by Congress but highlighted the collaboration and outreach in this specific Monument proposal and the need for a unified command structure as the rationale for his support of this effort.

Duffy Collin

 

I want to commend Duffy Collin from the Oakland Motorcycle Club for attending and submitting their support letter.   And thanks also to the California Enduro Riders Association and the Marin County Motorcycle Association for allowing me to submit their support letters for the public record.

Bob Schneider - Conservation and Monument Lead

 

As the former Chair of the CA State Park Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, former OHV representative on the BLM’s Central CA Resource Advisory Council, and 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 OHV community together with a common goal of both protecting natural and cultural resources and providing a high-quality outdoor experience, I believe the robust attendance by those stakeholders at the FS/BLM public listening session held on December 13 in Woodland, CA highlights what can happen with diverse interest groups find common ground on land management issues.

 

One of the speakers said that in a world filled with chaos it is nice to be part of something positive.  I strongly agree.

 

LINK TO 2016 BERRYESSA MONUMENT DEDICATION

https://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2016/03/ohv-recreation-key-partner-in-national.html

 

LINK TO HISTORY OF WALKER RIDGE ADDITION PROCESS

https://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2023/09/qwr-news-release-monumental-decision-in.html

 

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Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years. 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. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.