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California Off-Road Vehicle Association
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Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update |
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Get Involved: We want to hear from you Presidents Day weekend and online!
California State Parks will be holding a mobile workshop on February 18th and February 19th as part of the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update. The purpose of these workshops is to share work that has already been completed for the General Plan Update and to collect your input on draft goals to be included in the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan. More Information
Saturday Morning: Ocotillo Wells SVRA Discovery Center
February 18th, 2012, 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
Saturday Evening: Truckhaven 4x4 Training Area
February 18th, 2012, 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Sunday Morning: North Marina Drive
February 19th, 2012, 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
Saturday Morning: Holmes Camp
February 19th, 2012, 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
New Video about Ocotillo Wells SVRA
What is a General Plan? What does it mean for Ocotillo Wells SVRA? Watch the short video to find out more about the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update.
www.PlanOcotilloWells.com/video
You Spoke, We Listened
Working Paper #1 provides a summary of the various public outreach activities over the past 2 years as part of the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update.
Starting February 22, you can participate online. Whether or not you participate in the mobile workshop, you can still provide input on the draft goals for the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan
Update. Starting February 22, 2012 you can visit:
www.PlanOcotilloWells.com
to provide your input using an online exercise that is similar to the mobile workshops. The online exercise will be available for you to provide input until March 21, 2012.
Go to: www.PlanOcotilloWells.com for more information on the General Plan and EIR process.
Project Contact:
Tina Robinson
General Plan Project Manager
(760) 767-1302 or (760) 315-2845
trobinson@parks.ca.gov
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2012 FAMILY FUN RUN - Saturday, March 24th |
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West Mojave Desert Routes Meetings |
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Public Meetings Scheduled to Address West Mojave Desert Routes of Travel Designations.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has scheduled eight public scoping meetings to gather public comments and recommendations on the preparation of environmental assessments for eight travel management areas within the West Mojave Planning Area. These eight travel management areas are identified on the attached map, and each one will be a focus of one of the eight meetings. This information will be used to compile travel management area information and develop preliminary route network alternatives for the West Mojave planning area.
Barstow meetings: Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311
Thursday, Jan. 26. TMA 3: Juniper, Rattlesnake, Morongo, Wonder Valley and Joshua Tree signing sub-regions
Thursday, Feb. 9. TMA 5: WEMO North Barstow Desert Wildlife Management Area signing sub-regions north of I-15 and SR 58
Tuesday, Feb. 14. TMA 6: El Mirage (including Edwards Bowl area), Fremont, and Iron Mountains signing sub-regions south of SR 58
Tuesday, Feb. 21. TMA 8: Lands adjacent to Stoddard and Johnson OHV Areas, and other signing sub-regions south of I-40 and north of SR 247 including east of Interstate I-15
Ridgecrest meetings: Kerr-McGee Bldg, 100 West California Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
Wednesday, Jan. 18. TMA 2: Sierras, Darwin, and North and South Searles signing sub-regions
Monday, Feb. 6. TMA 4: Jawbone, Middle Knob and Lancaster signing sub-regions
Thursday, Feb. 16. TMA 7: Ridgecrest, El Paso, Rands and Red Mtn signing sub-regions
All scoping meetings are from 4 to 7 p.m. and include a presentation and an open-house opportunity to review maps and provide route-specific and location-specific comments to the BLM. The public is encouraged to attend the travel management plan meetings to assure that comments are accurately captured, including location, route or site identification, specific issues, and rationale. You may also provide written comments.
The areas addressed in each of the eight travel management meetings are identified on the map here:
Maps of areas
Area residents and other public interested in the public lands and the area public lands route network are encouraged to attend. Public input relative to local area knowledge, issues and opportunities, including route access changes, are needed.
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Letter Sent to the Governor |
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On December 23rd CORVA along with other organizations and groups sent a letter to Governor Brown over his decision to terminate the appointment of Daphne Greene. Without Ms. Greene, we fear the Off-Highway Division of State Parks will be unable to maintain the existing, albeit limited, recreational opportunities relied upon by many middle class families.
Governor Jerry Brown's appointee has not yet been announced, but the decision could have long lasting negative effects for off road access, including the loss for family recreation throughout California at all the State Vehicle Recreation Areas (SVRA) located statewide.
Read the letter here:
Governor Brown letter
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Trouble in Sacramento! |
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Governor Brown has terminated the appointment of Daphne Greene, who has served as Deputy Director of the OHV Division of State Parks effective January 1, 2012. Governor Jerry Brown's appointee has not yet been announced, but the decision could have long lasting negative effects for off road access, including the loss for family recreation throughout California at all the State Vehicle Recreation Areas (SVRA) located statewide. The State's OHMVR trust fund has been in peril since the state siphoned $10 million received from the gas tax from its budget before it could reach the trust earlier this year, and plans for a continued removal of those funds will continue indefinitely.
The State has a long history of borrowing millions from the OHMVR trust every year, monies that are needed for acquisitions and improvements. The California OHMVR program's annual budget of $85 million comes from primarily gas tax revenues with only about 20% coming from the Green/Red Sticker Program. With the loss of Daphne Greene - a longtime strong OHV ally - all the OHV programs - both the SVRA programs and the Grant Programs - stand to be eliminated. Jerry Brown has not been a supporter of any OHV programs and seeks to aide his ailing budget by closing the entire OHV program.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. Call, write or email your STATE Senator and Legislator immediately. Tell them how important the California Off Highway Vehicle programs are to you and your family. Mention the State facilities and areas that you use and how important they are to your family, or business if that applies.
2. Write, call or email Governor Jerry Brown with the same information. Express how Daphne Greene was a champion for the off road access community. (We will NOT change the fact that she has lost her job, but he may consider replacing her with someone who will look favorably on the OHV programs.)
3. Be prepared for CORVA to lead a legal challenge in case we have to force the State to abide by the law, and keep the OHV programs going.
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California Off-Road News and Updates |
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Sometime we just don't have the space here to list all those areas that our organization is currently working. Well Amy Granat, CORVA Managing Director, put together a 5 page report and would like you to read it.
October Report
This report covers the whole state, what is happening and how YOU can help. You can always help by making a donation to help keep us on the ground and running.
Do that by click here:
Donate to CORVA
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CORVA Needs Help With Legal Issues |
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| Calling all lawyers, paralegals, students in law school - CORVA needs help with legal issues that only you can provide. We have ongoing legal issues and new issues arising that we would like to pursue aggressively, but need your legal skills. Please contact Amy at: amy.granat@corva.org for more information.
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WE WANT YOUR OFF-ROADING PHOTOS! |
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Do you ride, drive, or snowmobile? Maybe you have buggy or sandrail? CORVA wants to celebrate off-roading by featuring your photos on our website and in our monthly newsletter, Off-Roaders In Action (ORIA).
Send us your photos (along with your name and permission to publish) to info@corva.org and the keep looking on our website and newsletter to see your photos on our pages.
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Help Stamp Out Bias Against Off-Road Recreationists |
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Attention: motorized recreation enthusiasts who enjoy recreating in the forests in California. The Forest Service wants to know about your experiences and contacts with Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers.
In an ongoing effort to address problems occurring in all California National Forests, please write down your experiences, both good and bad so everyone can make sure riding and driving in the California forests is a positive experience.
Documented issues that arise will be investigated and resolved. Please send all letters to:
*Law Enforcement Officer Task Force Lead. ENF, Patrol Captain Frank Aguilar at: faguilar@fs.fed.us
*cc; Amy Granat, Managing Director of CA Off-Road Vehicle Association at: amy.granat@corva.org
The contact’s are good for all of the National Forests in California (Region 5)
*and for Eldorado National Forest issues, Sheriff John D’Agostini would like to be advised also.
cc; John D'Agostini, El Dorado County Sheriff at: john.dagostini@edso.org
Please contact your local Sheriff with this information. As all county Sheriff’s need to be in the loop.
This is a step towards making your visit to the National Forests in California a very pleasant one, regardless of your choice of motorized or non-motorized recreation. Please pass this information along to all you friends, club members, and fellow off-roaders.
Thank you
Amy Granat – CORVA
Jerry Reffner - Friends of the Rubicon
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CORVA Puts Together Coalition |
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Joined by the Rubicon Trail Foundation, Sierra Access Coalition and Stewards of the Sequoia, CORVA has put together a coalition to hire Jesse Barton, Esq. to write professional comments on the new draft Forest Service Waiver issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Every club, group and organization is welcome to join our coalition, and every donation is welcome, no matter how big or how small. The important part is to submit the best comments possible, and empower every motorized recreation enthusiast. Together we can make a difference.
Download copies of the documents here:
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/nps/wqmp_forests.shtml
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CORVA Hires A Managing Director |
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At the annual meeting in May a proposal was offered, a motion was made, and we had our very first
official Managing Director. Amy Granat, our Northern Director for the past few years, will be
leading our organization into the future. Amy stated, “Advocating on behalf of off-road and
motorized recreational access has become a passion. I am dedicated to making a difference,
helping to turn the tide of massive road and trail closures and continuing the history of CORVA
as a strong political advocacy organization fighting for your OHV access. CORVA represents
everyone who uses and enjoys off-road access, whether off-roader, hunter, equestrian or
rockhounder, we support your right to enjoy public lands. My goal is to galvanize our CORVA members in a ongoing effort to combat closures through strong political advocacy, relationships with local land managers and education of the issues. CORVA, as the only statewide organization that represents all types of off-road recreation, asks that everyone join me and the
Board of Directors of CORVA as members, united as we fight for our motorized rights.”
Our organization is over 40 years old, and we felt it was time to take the next step, having someone to manage, monitor and guide the workings of our primarily volunteer organization. Amy will be assessing and monitoring the programs and functions that make our organization tick. As you know, volunteer time is just that, when you can find the time to help. Those of us that work and have family obligations to attend to, don’t always have the time needed to volunteer on a regular basis. We hope you can find a little time and join a committee, work at a show, in the booth, or at an event. Each member makes a difference as we continue to strive for equal access to our public lands. To contribute, contact Amy at: amy.granat@corva.org
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| Copyright © 1998-2012 California Off-Road Vehicle Association |
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