"DISTURBANCE" AT BLM'S CHRISTMAS VALLEY SAND DUNES AREA IN S. OR

BLM'S CHRISTMAS VALLEY SAND DUNES AREA - LAKEVIEW FIELD OFFICE

Photo Credit - BLM RECREATION MAP

 

“DISTURBANCE” AT CHRISTMAS VALLEY SAND DUNES AREA

 

 

On June 7, the BLM in Southern Oregon posted the Draft Lakeview Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which started a 90-day public comment period ending on September 4, 2024.

 

BLM NEWS RELEASE

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-seeks-input-proposed-management-updates-southern-oregon

 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE

https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/114300/530

 

 I have just started to review the document for impacts to OHV.  The BLM has selected Alternative C as the preferred alternative that seeks to find a balance between conservation and multiple-uses including OHV. 

 

As many of you know, QWR is a strong supporter of managed OHV recreation on roads, trails, and areas.  That support includes a substantive commitment to conservation and restoration efforts that can include mitigations strategies such a limiting use to existing routes and areas and/or to future designation of those facilities when time and resources become available.  

 

However, this plan appears to promote a significant change from that approach by zeroing out cross-country travel on about 30K acres at popular sites such as the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes.  This dramatic proposal appears to be based on guidance from the BLM’s new Conservation and Landscape Health Rule that has identified OHV as a “disturbance.”

 

According to the BLM, the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes is an OHV Designated Area that is 9,821 acres in size.  And this area, located near Fort Rock in south-central Oregon, is the largest inland shifting sand dune system in the Pacific Northwest that is a popular destination site for OHV enthusiasts.

 

Eliminating cross-country travel on sand dunes to LIMITED to existing routes seems to ignore the fact that sand dunes often don’t have trails or routes since wind driving sand covers up tire tracks.

 

QWR plans on making a recon trip up there in the near future to see how the area to see the current travel management prescriptions and use patterns.

 

QWR is asking for OHVers who recreate at this site to email a pic or two of you riding on the dunes and any stories you have about your recreation experiences there.  Send info to – damador@quietwarriorracing.com