(Image created with the assistance of ChatGPT)
The Brownfield Effect: Why OHV Clubs Need to Pay Attention: A Perspective for AARA Member Clubs and Recreation Stakeholders
Most OHV riders would rather ride than read a 500-page environmental document. But major energy, transmission, mining, and infrastructure projects are increasingly proposed in and around the places where we ride. Understanding how these projects can affect access and recreation is increasingly important.
Part of this issue is the Brownfield Effect: “previously disturbed” does not necessarily mean “recreationally insignificant.” Developers understandably look for existing roads, utility corridors, mine sites and other disturbed areas as potential project locations. Using those areas can reduce new environmental disturbance. The problem is that the same roads and corridors may have become important OHV access routes, connectors, staging areas or dispersed recreation infrastructure.
A project planner may see an existing road. An OHV rider may see the road that leads to the riding area. Both are looking at the same piece of ground.
The issue is becoming evident in several California projects, including the Coyote Creek Solar Project, the White Rock Mine proposal near Prairie City SVRA, the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink in the Anza-Borrego landscape and the Ironwood Transmission Line Project in the BLM’s Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Although these projects differ, they raise a common question: what happens when industrial development moves into or around an established recreation landscape?
The Ironwood project is a good example. The proposed approximately 86-mile, 500-kV transmission line would cross about eight miles of the BLM Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area and about 1.55 miles of Heber Dunes SVRA. The project would also require temporary and permanent access roads, staging areas and construction activities. The formal MIC, SVIA and ROHVA comments therefore request a route-by-route analysis of existing OHV routes, public access roads, connectors, staging and camping access, construction routes, and routes that could face future restrictions.
A recent Anza-Borrego Foundation report describes a related concept as an “Industrialization Cascade,” in which major infrastructure can make additional development easier, even though each project is reviewed separately. From an OHV perspective, this raises an important question: could today’s “previously disturbed” corridor become tomorrow’s justification for another industrial project? That is where the Industrialization Cascade and Brownfield Effect intersect.
This is why local OHV clubs matter. GIS maps and environmental databases are valuable, but they don’t always reflect how people actually use a landscape. Local riders know which routes connect riding areas, where people stage and camp, when peak use occurs, and which seemingly insignificant roads are important to the recreation network.
OHV clubs don’t need to become environmental lawyers. When a major project is proposed near your riding area, review the maps, identify the routes and connections, document seasonal and event use, and speak up while the project is still being designed. Once an environmental document is finalized, many fundamental project decisions may already be difficult to change.
This isn’t about opposing energy development. The OHV community needs reliable energy and responsible infrastructure. Previously disturbed lands are often suitable for new development. The point is simply that planners need to understand the existing public uses of those lands before assuming they are low-conflict locations.
For OHV clubs, the message is: know your ground, study the maps, get involved early, and help decision-makers understand how the recreation network actually works. The path of least resistance for a project isn’t necessarily the path of least impact on recreation.
Source note: This article incorporates key concerns regarding recreation access, connectivity, construction, visual impact, stakeholder engagement, and cumulative impact from the Sept. 16 MIC/SVIA/ROHVA Ironwood scoping comments.
Virginia Appoints First-Ever Director of Outdoor Recreation
Gov. Abigail Spanberger appointed Heather Barrar as Virginia’s first-ever director of Outdoor Recreation — a role focused on expanding the outdoor recreation economy, supporting tourism-dependent communities and driving economic development across the Commonwealth. The new position will build on those efforts and help sustain growth in outdoor recreation and tourism throughout Virginia.
Gov. Spanberger also signed Executive Directive 3 to establish a statewide process to ensure that Virginia’s outdoor recreation economy strategy reflects the needs and perspectives of local communities across the Commonwealth. This fall, Barrar will embark on a statewide listening tour to hear from outdoor communities across all 10 tourism regions.
“Virginia is for outdoor lovers. And outdoor recreation isn’t just important to our quality of life — it’s important to our economy,”said Gov. Spanberger. “Few industries offer the same opportunity to advance so many of Virginia’s priorities at once. Heather Barrar is the right person to lead this work, and I’m grateful she’s taking it on.”
Barrar will develop a statewide outdoor recreation economy strategy, informed by feedback from local leaders and communities, to grow and support the industry by integrating conservation, economic development, tourism and workforce development. State and local officials also say the new position could help attract businesses to Virginia by highlighting the state’s outdoor recreation opportunities.
Outdoor recreation is a significant and growing sector of Virginia’s economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation generated $14.4 billion in value added to the Commonwealth’s economy in 2024, supporting more than 126,000 jobs and strengthening small businesses and local economies across urban, suburban, and rural communities. Beyond its economic impact, outdoor recreation plays a critical role in advancing conservation, public health and community resilience.
BLM Issues a Call for Nominations to Fill Council Vacancies
The Bureau of Land Management invites adventurers, problem-solvers, public-lands enthusiasts, and community champions to join its Resource Advisory Councils. These engaging forums offer everyday people the opportunity to help shape decisions that keep America’s public lands healthy, accessible, and thriving. Council members collaborate, share ideas, and make a real difference in managing millions of acres of public land for current and future generations.
On Sept. 9, the BLM published a national call for nominations in the Federal Register to fill current and upcoming vacancies on 20 statewide and regional Resource Advisory Councils and two statutory councils. The nomination period is open for 45 days, until Oct. 26, and anyone may nominate themselves or another person. This is a unique opportunity to bring your perspective to the table, work alongside diverse voices and help guide the stewardship of public lands we all care about.
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act requires the councils, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act mandates balanced representation. Members meet virtually at least once a year to advise on initiatives, regulations, and policies affecting millions of acres.
“Resource Advisory Councils are a cornerstone of our mission to manage public lands for current and future generations,” said BLM Director Steve Pearce. “These councils bring local voices and expertise to the table, ensuring decisions consider the needs of the American public. If you’ve been seeking an opportunity to have a voice in how America’s public lands are managed, this is your chance.”