The California Motorized Recreation Council (CMRC), an
umbrella group of the eight largest OHV access groups in California, has agreed
to contract terms with the Livingston Group, LLC in Washington, DC to help
stave off the expansion of the 29 Palms Marine Base. The move comes on the
heels of the expected April 27, 2012 release of a Final Environmental Impact
Study (FEIS) by the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps wishes to annex
approximately 160,000 acres of the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle area,
which is the largest open OHV area in the United
States and contributes more than $70 million dollars into
the economy of the surrounding High
Desert communities
annually.
The Marine Corps proposal would limit motorized recreation
to less than one percent of the entire California Desert, a move in which the
Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) contends will cripple the already battered
off-road manufacturing industry and increase the likelihood of resource damage
and safety concerns at the remaining OHV areas.
"Our industry has continued to grow at steady pace
since the late 1970s, while in that same time period we have lost 48 percent of
the recreational opportunities in the California Desert," Fred Wiley,
president of the Off-Road Business Association, said. "While we support
the training needs of our military, it is a bitter pill to swallow losing such
a massive piece of our public lands, considering the limited time the Marine
Corps plans to utilize this portion of the desert."
According to a draft EIS, the Marine Corps only plans to
hold training exercises 24 days each year in Johnson Valley.
While the expected proposal does allow for a limited shared use of a portion of
the OHV area, event promoter Dave Cole, who produces a large off road race in Johnson Valley, believes, "The current
shared use alternative has no language for securing the perimeter of the
expansion and that's a set up for a dangerous situation for the public. They
don't currently secure the base line now and most of the public has no idea
they are wandering on to the base. It will be 10 times worse if they
expand."
"Our primary objective was to figure out a way in which
everyone could get what they needed," Jerry Grabow, American Motorcyclists
Association District 37 Off-Road President, said. "Rather than draw a line in
the sand, we are proposing the Marine Corps work with us to meet those needs.
To accomplish our goals, we had to pass our message to professionals in DC and
that's where the Livingston Group comes in. It's a departure from our normal
way of dealing with the loss of OHV recreation opportunities."
Unifying a diverse group of OHV enthusiasts from across the
state, CMRC delegates voted overwhelmingly to support the contract with the
Livingston Group. The move supports a re-enforced position by off-roaders who
are willing to go all the way to Washington, DC to maintain motorized recreation in Johnson Valley.
A strategy that hopefully provides for future generations to experience the
last great expanse of desert that OHV users may enjoy.
There are a number of issues that will need to be addressed
if the Marines wish to push forward with their expansion into Johnson Valley,
among them the demonstration of need. With tremendous budget cuts looming for
our armed forces, there remains a question of weather the Marine Corps can even
afford to assemble the troops they hope to train in the new expansion area, and
then there is the changing mission of the Marine Corps that appears to be a
return to their amphibious roots. The 29 Palms Marine base currently claims
title of the second largest military base in the world, and presently resembles
the sheer size of three-quarters the state of Rhode Island. Only the neighboring Fort
Irwin Army base is larger, which is located only miles away.
The California Motorized Recreation Council (CMRC) is a
non-profit association comprised of the leadership of the largest off-highway
vehicle recreation organizations in California. CMRC
membership includes, the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), California Association
of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs (Cal4Wheel), California Off-Highway Vehicle Association
(CORVA), American Motorcyclists Association National (AMA), American Sand
Association (ASA), California-Nevada Snowmobile Association (CNSA), AMA
District 36 and AMA District 37 Off-Road.
