Ocotillo Wells SVRA: The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Desert Protective Council (DPC) filed a lawsuit against Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. The lawsuit seeks severe restrictions on use of the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (Ocotillo SVRA).  If successful, the lawsuit could effectively shut down the popular desert OHV recreation site.

Eldorado Travel Management: A Draft Supplemental EIS concerning 42 high-elevation routes in the Eldorado NF has been released for public comment. Initial information from the Forest Service indicated that a minor modification of standards and guidelines would clear a majority of the routes for re-opening. However, the public meetings indicate that extensive mitigation work will be required before routes can be opened.

There are three pieces of legislation (2 federal and 1 state) that will be of benefit to OHV recreation.  Two of the bills have passed their first hurdle - they have received a committee hearing and been reported out favorable.  There are still a number of obstacles that could derail these bills.

For a little review, a bill becomes law when it is reviewed and passed by the House and Senate and sent to the president for signature (or veto).  For example, look at H.R. 1676, To designate the Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area.

Eastern Kern County OHMVR Acquisition: The OHMVR Division proposes purchasing 59 ReNu parcels totaling 28,275 acres using Southern California Opportunity Purchase Funds approved by the California State Legislature and Governor in the 2010/2011 Fiscal Year Budget Act. The California Public Works Board is responsible for approving the acquisition. The Acquisition and Development Division of CDPR would process the land transfer documents after Public Works Board approval. This proposed acquisition will consolidate a mix of public and private lands into all public lands.

A letter in support of the acquisition has been submitted.