CORVA update, mo than just Pismo:
Oceano Dunes SVRA:
As of November 3rd, 2022 there is also new Acting Superintendent for Oceano Dunes - Ronnie Glick. Ronnie has worked at the park for many years in environmental positions, and there is every expectation that this appointment will be made permanent after the first of the year. Oceano Dunes spent many years without a Superintendent with the head Ranger, Kevin Pearce acting in that capacity while overseeing law enforcement at the park. Many enthusiasts have been calling for a Superintendent to be appointed for a long time.
In October, the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control (APCD) Hearing Board agreed to an adjustment in the Stipulated Order of Abatement (SOA), the first change agreed to since the order was signed. The Science Advisory Group, convened as part of the SOA, had released a report a few months ago determining that the actual contribution from OHV use in the dunes to elevated PM 10 levels is closer to 40% above baseline, rather than the 50% stated in the SOA. State Parks asked the APCD Hearing Board to consider an amendment to the SOA to change the target reduction level to 40.7% to align with the report by the Science Advisory Group. The APCD Hearing Board agreed to the change. Due to the the numerous closures that have already taken place in the dunes, the reduction in PM 10 levels have been measured in the area of 30%, meaning the target goal of 40.7% is within reach.
Enthusiasts disagree with the calculation of being used by the Science Advisory Group. Dr Lynn Russell with the Scripps Institute for Oceanographic Studies has previously presented reports to the OHMVR Commission that stated the increase in PM 10 levels due to OHV use in the dunes is merely 14+% over baseline. This means that closures in the dunes have already compensated more than necessary. The Science Advisory Group does not accept the data from the Scripps Institute and Dr Russell. The state is very happy the APCD Hearing Board agreed to lower the reduction to 40.7%.
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From: Amy Granat
Date: Sun, Oct 23, 2022, 8:48 PM
Subject: Managing Director's Report, October 2022
To: CORVA BOD
California Natural Resources Agency
This month I attended two events sponsored by the California Natural Resources Agency. This first was the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force meeting in Grass Valley in early October. Click on this link for a recap of the meeting and to access the webinar:
https://wildfiretaskforce.org/sierra-nevada-regional-meeting-of-the-task-force/ . Around 500 people attended the meeting in person, with another 400 on Zoom, but there was really no substitute for being there in person. The last presentation of the day was the 'Recreation Strategy Update', which included Jim Bacon, the Director of Public Services for USFS Region 5. Jim gave a presentation to the board of CORVA and other attendees at the CORVA Annual Meeting at Prairie City SVRA and is heading up the committee tasked with determining recreation management strategy when faced with wildfires on forested land. As it was pointed out during the presentation, the very fact that recreation is being considered an integral part of fire strategy is a big change that points to the importance the federal agencies are giving to recreation and the impact on rural communities. Motorized recreation is considered an integral part of recreation management, but contrary to travel planning, is not being separated from other forms of recreation. At first glance, this may seem odd, but it is actually a win for motorized recreation as it is being considered on a par with non-motorized forms of recreation. As we find out during the Mosquito Fire, closure of the Rubicon Trail when other forms of recreation were left open is not a good management strategy.
The recreation strategy will be voted on at the next meeting in Sacramento, at the Natural Resources Bldg on November 21st. I will be attending in person but Zoom registration is available:
https://wildfiretaskforce.org/meetings/.
The other meeting I attended was the 30x30 Partnership Coordinating Committee kickoff at the Natural Resources Building. Many of the same people who attended the Task Force meeting were also in attendance at this meeting as well, including the Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot. The Director of STate Parks, Armando Quintero sat in front of me! But other than that, no motorized advocates attended this very important meeting. So far, the calculations still show that just over 24 millions acres, or 23.7% of the landmass in California is conserved. It is possible for the public to submit reports on areas they believe were mistakenly excluded from the calculation. I did converse with the data experts for the California Dept of FIsh and Wildlife, who are putting together the data, who explained that much of the information given is still being ground-truthed, and not everything submitted as conserved has been entered in the database. So the public can make a big difference by submitting reports:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/8397283d95a34a4fad138b752ca0f7ba.
One of my critical purposes for attending the meeting was to insure, through my contacts, that motorized recreational interests would be represented on the Partnership Coordinating Committee. I succeeded in my contact with the person representing hunting interests, and we agreed that we all share the same roads and trails on public land that deserve to be protected.
State Parks
There were a number of important State Parks meetings, but none as important as the State Parks and Recreation Commission tour at Red Rock State Park. This tour unveiled the Draft Red Rock State Park General PLand and Draft Environmental Impact Report:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25064 . There is a link in the middle of the page to download the analysis. Thanks very much to Bruce Whitcher, CORVA VP of Land Use and Public Policy for meeting me at Red Rock with his Land Cruiser. Bruce and I have a long history with planning at that park, and I was involved when Nightmare Gulch was closed with a 'temporary' closure that is now proposed to become permanent. After the closure in 2013, no volunteers were allowed to come into the park and work on repairs to the well-loved and well-used trail. This was done in a very determined manner to keep 4WD traffic off the trail with the goal of eventually changing it to non-motorized. Red Rock, even before it became a state park, welcomed OHV recreation and 4WD travel. Now the analysis plans to restrict the travel to the bare minimum.
Thanks to Randy Banis, Doug Varner, Shelly and the staff of Friends of Jawbone for also coming to the tour. And great appreciation to Jeremy Rowell, Bakersfield Trailblazers for coming to the tour and riding with us as well. Randy and Jeremy both made excellent contributions during the tour.
I also had a conversation with Rue Mapp, Chair of the State Parks and Recreation Commission. She was so excited about showing me the pictures and video from her first time off-roading! When we can get people having fun off-roading we start overcoming the obstacles to acceptance of OHV recreation. The State Parks and Recreation Commission will be voting to approve the Red Rock General Plan.
The Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission will be given a review of the plan at the next OHMVR Commission meeting on November 4th, the location TBD. Sarah Miggins and new commissioner Nick Mueller also attended the Red Rock tour, along with State Director Armando Quintero, and Chief of Natural Resources for State Parks Jay Chamberlin.
The Department of Parks and Recreation has announced new fees for SNO-Park permits:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/NewsReleas...ate Parks' Off-Highway,permit from $25 to $40. These were announced at the last OHMVR Commission meeting, and signal a change to more active management by the division of the OSV program. THe program has been operating at a deficit, and this is part of the effort to restore finances to the program.
But the big news of the day has to be the announcement by State Parks Director Armando Quintero that the state wants to add a new 10th SVRA! He did not give any further information, but that is big news that is long overdue.
Forest Service
The forests that have been affected by the Mosquito Fire are undergoing the burn area assessment. I have been working with the Cleveland Caretakers and participated in a meeting with the Forest Supervisor to try and get Indian Truck Trail reopened to motorized recreation since it was closed due to a fire over 4 years ago! There has been a new assessment done, and the amount of work that needs to be undertaken to make the trail sound has been agreed upon, and volunteers have signed on with the Forest Service to assist. This is going in the right direction.
Thanks to CORVA Northern Board member Kevin Bazar for heading up the ongoing Inyo National Forest Subpart C analysis team, and thanks as well to CORVA member Michael Lueders for also taking part. This is at times a thankless task.
BLM
The BLM will hold the Central California Resource Advisory Council meeting on November 2nd:
https://www.blm.gov/press-release/b...esource-advisory-council-virtual-meeting-2022 . Click the link to find the registration information in the middle of the page.
The BLM will also hold Northern California 'listening sessions' with NOHVCC - the National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council:
https://nohvcc.org/engagement/attend-a-nohvcc-event/ . Please attend your local session. The Southern California meetings will start in the Spring of 2023. NOHVCC is funded in large part by the Motorcycle Industry Council, and per the Program Director, this listening session is primarily geared to green-sticker vehicles, although 4WD travel will also be considered. To review any of the other state plans that have been completed, please go to:
https://nohvcc.org/nohvcc-initiatives/blm/ . There has been no information given why California needs this new assessment/analysis.
Northern Jamboree
I was very pleased to assist with the 2022 CORVA Northern Jamboree! It was a great opportunity to visit with old friends and meet new ones as well. I was especially pleased to be a judge for the children's costume contest. It was the 50th Anniversary of the event, which has been around almost as long as CORVA has been an organization. Thanks to the integral role CORVA Board Members play at the event, including Pam Houser, Diana Mead and Mitch Creegan.
Nevada Offroad Association Summit
Thanks to Kevin Bazar for coming to Minden to co-present at the Nevada Offroad Association Summit. It was a very comprehensive event including educational information. California shares a very long border with Nevada, and much recreation from the the Eastern Sierra to the Northern Sierras encompass opportunities from both states.
October 26: Sierra Nevada Sustainable Recreation Partnership
November 2: BLM Central California Resource Advisory Council Meeting
November 3: OHMVR Commission Tour
November 4: OHMVR Commission Meeting
November 7: Eastern Sierra Sustainable Recreation Partnership
November 21: California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, Sacramento
November 21: NOHVCC/BLM Listening Session, Sacramento
Friends of the Oceano Dunes 
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