November 15, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact Jim Arbogast or Wayne Todd at 800-422-6782 x502 & 510

Anza Borrego Desert State Park - Coyote Canyon Road History & Tour

CORVA Board members Jim Arbogast and Wayne Todd conducted a comprehensive 

hike and history tour of the Upper & Middle Willows of Coyote Canyon in the Anza Borrego Desert 

State Park (ABDSP) for Daphne Greene, Deputy Director of the OHMVR Division of California State 

Parks Sunday November 7, 2004.

On March 9, 2004 Senator Bill Morrow requested an opinion from the State Legislature's 

Legislative Council on Parks' 1995 actions, which closed a 3.1-mile section of Coyote 

Canyon Road to vehicular travel with their controversial Coyote Canyon Public Use 

Plan (CCPUP).

The April 20, 2004 opinion stated that Coyote Canyon Road, as part of the nationally 

recognized historic D'Anza Trail, is likely entitled to RS 2477 protection and that Parks did 

not have the legal authority to close public roads, including and especially RS 2477 

roads. And, if Parks had the authority to close public roads, such closures cannot be made to 

promote environmental protection.

Riverside, Imperial and San Diego County Boards of Supervisors have made RS 2477 

Right-Of-Way assertions. None of these counties have abandoned their routes that are

within the ABDSP. Imperial and San Diego Counties passed resolutions in opposition to 

the 1995 CCPUP.

The Hemet Jeep Club, Tierra Del Sol & Geared for Fun were the principal supporters of the 

tour.