West Mojave Route Network Project (WMRNP) - BLM

[Russ Chung]

Background

The area affected by the West Mojave Route Network Project consists of BLM managed land generally bounded by the Angeles National Forest and San Bernardino National Forest on the south, Los Angeles County and the Sierra Nevada mountain range on the west, Death Valley National Park on the north, Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park on the east.



In 2006, the BLM adopted the Western Mojave Management Plan, which included designation of authorized OHV routes. Our “friends” at the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed suit and in 2009 the court found that the BLM violated the National Environment Protection Act (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLMPA) because the method used to designate OHV routes was “flawed”. In 2011, the court ordered BLM to prepare a revised OHV route network.

The original schedule for the OHV route network revisions called for the plan to be finalized by 2014. However the court has extended the deadline; BLM must now issue the final decision by October 2019.

[Russ Chung]

Current Status

Current Status:

The BLM has (as of March 16, 2018) issued a Draft Supplemental Environment Impact Statement (DSEIS) and draft transportation management plans (TMP). The public has 90 days to submit comments on the DSEIS and draft TMP.

Link to press release: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/bl...t-mojave-route

Link to DSEIS: https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-...umentId=137935

Link to TMP: https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-..._Plans_508.pdf

I have found that the maps in the TMP are hard to read; instead, I have found that the online, interactive map is a better way to see which trails are due to remain open or closed. By selecting alternative 1, 2, 3 or 4 and then zooming in, you can see which trails would remain open (green) or closed (red).
https://blm-egis.maps.arcgis.com/app...265cc32752e3f8

Public open houses will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm on the following dates at the following locations:
• April 17 - Victorville - Hilton Garden Inn, 12603 Mariposa Rd, Victorville, CA 92395
• April 18 - Ridgecrest - Kerr McGee Center, 100 W. California Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555
• April 24 - Lone Pine - Statham Hall (Lone Pine Senior Center), 138 N. Jackson St., Lone Pine, CA 93545
• April 25 - Joshua Tree - Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst St, Joshua Tree, CA 92252

[Russ Chung]

My concerns:

Although I have not had time to review all of the trails that are covered by the plan, I have noticed that three popular trails in the Calico area are threatened under alternatives 1, 2 & 4.

a. Kramer Arch
b. Route between Bismarck mine and Wall Street Canyon
c. Route between Doran Canyon and West Phillips (also known as the “connector”)

Go to the interactive map (see link in post #2, above). Zoom in to the Calico area. Put a check mark in the "Layers" for alternative 1, 2, 3 or 4. If the trail is in green, it will remain open. If the trail is red, it is proposed to be closed under that alternative. Whether it is red or green, you can click on the trail, and that will open a comment form for you to state why you want it to be open (or closed).

[Russ Chung]

To help the Southern California OHV Community review and prepare comments for the West Mojave Route Network Project (WMRNP), Cal4Wheel South District will conduct a National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) Workshop on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Savvy Off Road, 1680 Railroad Street, Corona, CA 92880. The workshop will consist of an orientation on the NEPA process, with emphasis on preparation and submission of comments to respond to the Bureau of Land Management's West Mojave Travel Management Plan.

There is no charge for this workshop. Space in this workshop is limited; to register, please send your contact information to russ.chung@earthlink.net. I will send you a confirmation.

Link to WMRNP: https://www.blm.gov/programs/plannin...-route-network

[sarah]

West Mojave Route Network Project (WMRNP) - BLM

Thanks for all of this info Russ. I remember when this first went into effect. It used to be that everything in the Mojave was open unless marked closed, and then suddenly one night that was flipped. Please, everyone, take 10 minutes to look at this and comment!