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
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
I feel you should do a study on how many visit the dunes per year and then maybe limit the access
ReplyDeleteI feel it should Left the way it is. I’ve been out on the dunes numerous times and never seen any damage from OHV vehicles that isn’t erased within a day or two.
ReplyDeleteShould just leave it alone us people in the town oc Christmas Valley enjoy the revenue the dunes create we also enjoy going out there ourselves, this isn't California and and all us residents strongly disagree with the liberal politics trying to be imposed on our Conservative town
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when college educated idiots and environmentlists get into the agency. A long standing problem in Oregon is environmentalists and fer left folks would love to turn Oregon into the world's largest park.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the dunes should be left the way they are in CV. It brings great revenue and us locals also go out there year round. People purchase land which the taxes help our town. Why do people-GOVT always have to ruin a good thing. Let people live and have a good time. Go somewhere else and evaluate that area, please leave our dunes alone.
ReplyDeleteWith the new chevron ruling by scotus we can now stop the over reach of this draconian agency and their armed henchmen we need to save the sand
ReplyDeletedunes for our children so I believe
My group go to CV a few times a year we enjoy the solitude of this ohv site we love the town and the people there. Ohv riders help keep small towns going by purchasing fuel and other supplies if you want to kill these towns keep shutting down recreational sites
ReplyDeleteLeave it alone!
ReplyDelete