RE: Keep an eye on your desert.
Enhances recreational opportunities, while ensuring that the training needs of the military have been met.
The bill would designate four existing OHV areas in the California desert as permanent, providing off-highway groups some certainty that these uses will be protected as much as conservation areas. With regard to the Johnson Valley OHV area, the Marines have agreed to consider an option for base expansion that would allow for an exclusive military use area, an exclusive OHV area, and a joint use area.
Looks like the 4 OHV areas to be made permanent are Spangler, Stoddard, Rasor, and El Mirage. The big question mark is Johnson Valley.
RE: Keep an eye on your desert.
here is a better overview map.
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=14d49cae-7398-4d7e-8693-40ed19b44299
RE: Keep an eye on your desert.
Not sure what this bill will do for us or to us.
Feinstein 1,500 square mile desert bill.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/miles-16324-square-bill.html
Without even reading it, if Feinstein is involved, it won't be good.
RE: Carnegie SVRA ordered close
AstroRig, you need to lighten up. The point is this is just another B******T reason to close down yet another of our riding areas by this extremely liberal state and we're tired of it.
Carnegie SVRA ordered close
December 15th, 2009
Contacts:
Don Amador, BRC Western Representative
Phone: (925) 625-6287
Fax: (925) 625-5309
Email: brdon@sharetrails.org
Webpage: http://www.sharetrails.org/staff/#DonA
Dave Pickett, AMA Dist. 36
Phone: (209) 295-1207
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Entrance Sign at Carnegie SVRA Photo by: Don Amador
Click image to enlarge. LIVERMORE, CA (December 15) — In a recent court action, a judge in Alameda County has ordered a closure of one of California's State Parks. Last week, Judge Frank Roesch ordered the closure of Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) based on his own interpretation of the appropriate application of water quality standards.
Despite years of working with regulatory agencies to address issues surrounding water quality in the Corral Hollow Watershed, Judge Roesch ordered the park, located in the hills east of Livermore, closed until State Parks files and receives approval of, or a waiver for, a report of waste discharge from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. This approval process could take months.
The order stems from a complaint filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. The group's complaint alleged OHV activities at Carnegie SVRA are causing discharge to enter Corral Hollow Creek, which flows through the park. The creek only runs 4 to 6 weeks a year, and after leaving the park eventually runs out into an agriculture field and disappears into the ground.
"If regulatory agencies are satisfied with what the park has been doing, why does this judge in Alameda think he knows better than the environmental professionals?" asked Dave Pickett, President of American Motorcyclist Association District 36 and member of the Carnegie OHV Taskforce. "This is an attempt by special interests groups to highjack lasting collaborative solutions, and deny family recreation enjoyed by over a 100,000 visitors to this park annually. This is just flat wrong!"
For years, staff from Carnegie has been working with the Regional Water Board and nearby property owners to address water quality issues in Corral Hollow Creek, which runs through the State Park. In 2004, State Parks initiated a watershed assessment, paid for with OHV user fees, to diagnose potential issues in the watershed and design fixes. Regulatory agencies together with State Parks are identifying solutions to address problems.
"We have been working with the park to address the hill climbs in Carnegie, which have been problematic, as well as making sure the vehicles are out of the creek. But we have no control over Hetch Hetchy, who illegally performed work in the creek bed, or the munitions testing facility," said Pickett, referring to the activities of neighbors of the park. "It is troubling when the OHV community wants to work within the system and is now taking all the blame."
According to Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition and fellow member of the Carnegie Taskforce, "If the park is forced to close, more than 100,000 park visitors will be displaced. The closure will impact other OHV recreation areas, causing overcrowding and unanticipated effects from the overload. The closure will not hasten better water quality, but is just another example of the Plaintiffs grandstanding and misusing environmental law to enact a political agenda that is anti-recreation and anti-park."
"Californians would be better served if PEER extended the hand of partnership to legitimately address the issue, rather than using the court system to close a park at a time when residents have been fighting so hard to keep State Parks open. This court decision is deeply troubling on any number of levels," Amador concludes.
DC
Source: http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=671
Friends of Oceano Dunes talks settlement
AMPLE SAND?
Depending on which side wins in court, a portion of the Oceano Dunes could continue to serve as an off-road playground or ecological buffer. Or the county could just settle before the decision comes down.
http://www.dunechasers.com/galleries/oceano_dunes_2009/standard/Pismo-(16).jpg
You could put it this way: “There’s plenty of litigation to go around,” said Deputy County Counsel Tim McNulty.
There’s so much litigation, the abundance may have soured a floundering $4.8 million deal between the county and the state over a swath of land in the Oceano Dunes. The property has been at the center of years of heated arguments about whether it should be preserved as an ecological buffer zone or remain as playroom for off-road vehicles.
But now, with a court decision looming, members of the off-roaders’ group Friends of Oceano Dunes have asked county officials for a speedy settlement.
Babak Naficy is representing the Santa Lucia chapter of the Sierra Club in one of two lawsuits over the dunes that have since been combined.
“Friends of Oceano Dunes want to settle now because they want to stop the judge from ruling against them,” he said.
Both lawsuits are based on whether the county’s Local Coastal Plan designates the area as a 584-acre buffer, which could negate the sale and continued use for off roading. Back in 2007, SLO County supervisors decided on an appeal by the Friends of Oceano Dunes that a sale to the state would conflict with the coastal plan and county General Plan, but they decided to sell it anyway. The Friends still sued, arguing there was no conflict and, in fact, state laws override the county’s policies.
On Dec. 11, Superior Court Judge Barry LaBarbera heard arguments from both sides and indicated he would rule before Dec. 31, after which he’s going on to a new court assignment. Within days, attorneys for the Friends contacted the county about the possibility of a settlement, McNulty said. The item was discussed in closed session during the board of supervisors Dec. 15 meeting, but there was no report.
Friends of Oceano Dunes President Jim Suty said in an e-mail response, “We have no comment at this time. Any comment of our legal actions will be handled through our attorney at the appropriate time.”
http://www.dunechasers.com/galleries/oceano_dunes_2006/standard/80_IMG_0604.JPG
No matter who wins the case, the sale remains uncertain. The board that leaned in favor of selling to the state has since shuffled, and there’s no indication as to what the new board’s position will be. State officials are also grappling with a smoking hole of a budget, and any land purchases would be battling an estimated $21 million state deficit.
Source: http://www.newtimesslo.com/news/3729/friends-of-oceano-dunes-talks-settlement/
RE: Pismo sand is now considered "polution"
Seriously though, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to read between the lines. Now that the Snowy Plover population is recovering Read: Snowy Plovers at 20 year high the so called Eco-nuts have found another cause to rally behind.
I let this one slide when I first read it but it's so ludicrous and irrelevant to the topic at hand I have to point it out.
Blah, blah, blah. This is extremely relevant. Fact remains that the Plover is recovering and they moved on to another issue because they know they cant win that one.
Now heres another possible reason for the black soot in Nipomo. How come Cononco/Philips hasnt been mentioned? Look in the photo below. You can draw a straight line from Pismo through this refinery and hit Nipomo on the other side.
http://www.dunechasers.com/nipomo.jpg width=800
Earlier this year, the South County Advisory Council approved their request to increase production by 10%. This is now pending an EPA study but its likely to be approved.
Now, they have stockpiles of coke at this plant(Not the white ilegal kind dummy, the black sooty kind used to make steel and apparently crude oil) Could the black sooty grit some residents complain about be from this plant? I'm no expert here but why is it when the tribune ran this story there were only two comments posted? None were against the increase and not one from Murph or Dr Nell made so famous from the particulate story.
I want to know why this was so easily approved with little fanfare? I'll tell you why, Big Oil, like the Plover, is a war these guys cant win and they know it!
I'm telling all you naysayers, Nell and company want to get rid of OHV's to boost real estate values! period, end of story.
Sources
http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PL/referrals/south+county/DRC2008-00146+CONOCO+PHILLIPS/DRC2008-00146+CONOCO+PHILLIPS.pdf
http://scac.ca.gov/m/2009-07-27_scacm.pdf
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/949762.html
RE: Pismo sand is now considered "polution"
Thats right Pat, it's two totally different lifestyles; east and west. They dont understand us and we dont understand them. Probably never will. The only way Bumpy will ever understand is to spend a weekend at the dunes. I'm confident he would be converted as I've personally converted many like him before.
Btw, you know you have the same type of pressure in The Oregon dunes dont you?
RE: Pismo sand is now considered "polution"
I don't even know where to begin on this one but I'll take a stab at it ..
Let's cut to the chase here shall we? I think this is all about "NIMBY". Why do I think this? Because the pseudo Enviro wackos always seem to have a "reason of the day" to close the dunes. Oceano OHV park consists of approximately 1/2 of 1% of Cal's coastline. Is closing a comparatively miniscule area like that thus taking away a recreation area enjoyed by millions a year so that MAYBE a handful of people can "enjoy it" without vehicular traffic really the right thing to do? There are hundreds of miles of coastline in Cal you can walk on, but this tiny stretch of beach is the only one we can ride on.
Nell Langford who seems to spearhead many of the beach closure assaults has rental property that she rents to mostly Off Roaders .. now is that not the pinnacle of hypocrisy? I would never rent from her .. maybe I am just more principled than she is.
So let's take a look at some of the popular reasons for closing the dunes..
Deaths on the dunes.. Well this year there were approximately 8 times as many deaths in Yosemite park in a much shorter season there were at Oceano.
Destroying vegetation .. For starters not all the vegetation found there is native. Most if not all areas of vegetation are fenced off and inaccessable.
Crowded unsafe conditions .. Well, the enviros managed to close the majority of the riding area, maybe it should be reopened? btw, how many nature lovers actually go enjoy the area that they took from the OHV community?
Off road vehicles break down the sand particles .. Give me a break.
Off road vehicles destroy the "natural crust of the sand" .. Next time the wind comes up out there come show me this crust you speak of.
Snowy Plovers .. I find it odd that this bird can only breed and nest between Pole 6 and Pole 8 in the prime vacation months. I find it odder still that it takes 4 State employees to monitor these birds inside their fenced area. I was told by one "don't worry, the money to monitor the Plovers comes from a grant" And grants come from where???
Off Roaders destroy various backwater endangered bugs in the creek. The creek is dry most of the time. I wonder where the bugs go?
Off Roaders dump sewage on the beach .. Pure folly. Although Nell does have a video of a guy dumping his fresh water tank as he was leaving .. she even called 911 on that one.
Oh, here's a good one .. Off Roaders go to Oceano OHV park because it's a cheap vacation .. now let's see .. $45K for a truck, $40K for a Toyhauler, $12K for a SxS, throw in another $10K for a couple of quads .. yep, off roading is the cheap way to recreate.
The list goes on, but do you get the idea?
Reopen the riding area closed back in the 80s, put in a backdoor and the town of Pismo will never see me again.
That about sums it up!
RE: Pismo sand is now considered "polution"
My comment;
OK, OK, OK, let's compromise and make a deal! Open up the other 85% of the dunes that were closed in 1982 and create a back door through Guadalupe. By splitting the traffic in two and spreading the campers and riders out you should eliminate this "so-called" dust issue, right?
Oh, I guess that will get in your way of building those high rise condos you all want. Although a side benefit will be boosting Guadalupe's economy!, albiet at Oceano & Pismo's expense.!!
Oh well, cant win em all.
Seriously though, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to read between the lines. Now that the Snowy Plover population is recovering Read: Snowy Plovers at 20 year high the so called Eco-nuts have found another cause to rally behind.
These guys are NOT environmentalists! Us duners are more environmentaly conscious then they pretend to be. These guys want nothing more than to boost real estate values in their area.
Thats it!
RE: New Years
Jax 3rd annual Dumont/Spangler, funforall
At this point Jax are out for New Years, we had a mishap with the trailer.
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp61/JennyJax250/kentucky%20fried%20trailer/
why cant I get links to post :M
Damn Mark what Happened?
btw, fixed your link
RE: Pismo Thanksgiving
New to Toy Hauler and the good life...but where is this Pismo??? Is that some BLM ground?? Thanks...Johnny and Ruthie Lane Colorado
Pismo is what the locals call the Oceano Dunes SVRA in California. Oceano is one of a handfull of State Vehicular Recreation Areas in California.
PISMO FAQ/TIPS
RE: Furnace
Check the flexible ducting that travel through the storage compartments for any cuts or pinches. Next, trace them back to the furnace and disconnect them there. If I am not mistaken they have an adjustable baffle that controls the air flow inside the furnace.
RE: Thanksgiving
Be sure to go over to the AMA District 37 website/message board/Photos and look at the "mineshaft incident" pics.
Some of our club members were out on a ride Saturday morning and one got swallowed up by an unmarked shaft on fairly flat ground right next to a heavily used trail.
Bee carefull around Red Mountain/Spangler area, this could have been much worse, thankfully the young man is well on the road to recovery.
He does have a new nickname, "Shaft"
Bob, can you post the GPS coord's of that mine? Might be good info to post. I remember a google earth overlay of all the pit mines in the area and wonder if its on it. I will do a search.
Class A Medical Questionaire Renewal (Calif)
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