(Photo credit: Don Amador)
CA SB 708 (Jones) Headed to the Governor’s Office
CA SB 708 recently passed the California State Assembly and Senate and will be sent to Governor Newsom for his signature.
As ARRA members know, this new permit program is needed because CARB ended the Red Sticker Program in 2021 with no subsequent identification process in place for the newer models. That lack of a vehicle identification decal has caused chaos and confusion with numerous state and federal land management agencies when trying to identify those vehicles at sanctioned competition events held on public lands.
CA SB 708 also restores fee monies once collected that were lost when the Red Sticker Program ended in 2021. Those funds will once again help riders pay for event-related costs such as trail maintenance, conservation, and law enforcement.
This new permit option would mirror current permits offered by California State Parks, including the OHV Non-Resident and Snowpark permits. It would make the purchase of out-of-state OHV Non-Resident Permits unnecessary for CA residents trying to find a replacement for the obsolete Red Sticker decal.
The State Legislature had until August 31 to pass bills, and the governor has until September 30 to sign or veto passed bills. Proponents of CA SB 708 expect Governor Newsom to sign the bill since it generates a positive revenue stream into the OHV Trust Fund. Many land agencies, OHV competition stakeholders, and law enforcement are hopeful this bill will be passed and become law on January 1, 2025.
Thank you to the ARRA members in California who submitted SB 708 letters of support to Governor Newsom.
Addressing National Monuments a Top Priority for ARRA Members
The Antiquities Act of 1906 was created to grant the President executive powers to designate and protect important cultural and resource sites such as historic battlefields, pioneer homes, and discrete lands with unique scenic values, such as Devil’s Postpile in California or Effigy Mounds in Iowa. Historically, National Monument designations were never intended as a substitute for Congressionally approved wilderness or other land-use classifications, including areas identified for OHV recreation.
However, those comprehensive congressional land bills or national monument proposals stopped moving through Congress about 15-20 years ago. When those bills are stalled, Monument advocates petition the President to bypass Congress and create a National Monument via Presidential Proclamation. Given this new paradigm, local user groups have only one viable option: get involved and collaborate with conservation and other partners to ensure that responsible OHV use is chartered in any National Monument proclamation.
To this end, in partnership with its members, ARRA is developing a template and strategy to be used by members as a guidepost and to act swiftly when national monuments and special designations are proposed. When such designations are proposed, the template can leverage mutual constituencies with state and federal officials and agencies. Ultimately, ARRA and its members want to work collaboratively with stakeholders and be considered the primary resource for advocating such designations. The template is currently undergoing internal review and will be shared with the members upon completion.
Department of Interior Invests $325M to Increase Access to the Outdoors
The U.S. Department of the Interior recently announced the distribution of $325 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Stateside Assistance Program to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Investments from the LWCF are helping support the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative by funding locally led outdoor recreation and conservation projects that protect and enhance access to America’s great outdoors.
“The Biden-Harris administration is deeply committed to ensuring that all Americans, no matter where they live or how much money they earn, can enjoy the outdoors,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis. “The Land and Water Conservation Fund is helping us deliver on that commitment through locally-led and community-driven projects that are creating greener neighborhoods, more recreational opportunities, and improved access to nature.”
The LWCF, administered by the National Park Service (NPS), supports increased public access to and protection for federal public lands and waters — including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and recreation areas — and provides matching grants to Tribal, state, and local governments to support the acquisition and development of land for public parks and other outdoor recreation sites at no cost to taxpayers. Allocations within the LWCF Stateside Assistance Program for each state and territory are determined through a formula set in the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and are largely population-based. States and Territories further allocate these funds to local projects.
In 2020, Congress permanently funded the LWCF at $900 million per year with broad bipartisan support through the Great American Outdoors Act, signed four years ago. This year’s investment from the LWCF is the largest in 45 years. California ($27.3M), Texas ($19.6M), Florida ($15.7M), New York ($14.6M), and Illinois ($10M) are the top five in apportionments. You can find the apportionments for other states here.
Recent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Activity
- Kremmling, Colorado—The BLM Kremmling Field Office implemented stage 2 fire restrictions on BLM lands in Larimer and Grand Counties effective August 7 until further notice.
- Marsing, Idaho – The BLM Owyhee Field Office temporarily closed some BLM-managed public lands in Owyhee County due to the risk of the nearby Jump Fire. The closure is essential to ensure public and firefighter safety and to allow firefighting crews to respond effectively. This closure will remain in effect until the risk of wildland fire subsides.
- Safford, Arizona – The BLM Safford Field Office conducted necessary maintenance on the two natural hot tubs in the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, approximately 26 miles southeast of Safford. The work required a four-day closure of the hot tubs from August 19 through August 22. Public access to other areas within the recreation area was available.
- Bakersfield, California – The BLM Bakersfield Office has lifted the emergency closure of the Creek Campground, a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, and Canebrake Road in Tulare County. The closures were in place for public and firefighter safety concerning the SQF Lightning Complex Fire management and are no longer necessary due to the lack of fire progression. The closures have been lifted as of Tuesday, August 13. Long Valley Campground and Long Valley Loop Road remain closed.
- El Dorado Hills, California – The BLM Mother Lode Field Office is temporarily closing motorized vehicle access to the Hunter Valley Mountain Access Road in Mariposa County, where it crosses onto BLM lands, approximately one mile from the junction of Hunter Valley Mountain Access Road with Bear Valley Road. The closure became effective on August 15 and will be in effect until fire restrictions are lifted for the season. The closure of the Hunter Valley Mountain Access Road is not to be confused with the Hunter Valley Road, which remains open. The Hunter Valley Road is approximately two miles east of the Hunter Valley Mountain Access Road along Bear Valley Road. The temporary closure ordercan be found on the BLM website.
- Bakersfield, California—The BLM Bakersfield Field Office issued an emergency closure of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area in Tulare County due to the wildland fire danger from the nearby Coffee Pot Fire. This temporary closure is in effect until further notice.
- Barstow, California – The BLM will implement a five-day temporary closure of all public use from October 2 – 6 for all 40,000 acres of public lands within the Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area in San Bernardino County. The temporary closure is necessary to ensure competitor and spectator safety during the annual California 300 off-road race and to protect natural and cultural resources. Johnson Valley Off-Highway Recreation Area and nearby trails in limited-use areas will remain open to the public for recreation.