Death Valley National Park, National Park Service

I strongly urge OHV to fund this effort on the part of Death Valley National Park, as the damage caused by illegal off road vehicle use in the park is extensive, reprehensible and long lasting, yet the park does not possess the financial resources to try to mitigate damage and given the reluctance of the US congress and present administration to even address NPS' minimal financial needs, let along fund such mitigation measures, the OHV grant is one of the very few sources to which Death Valley NP can turn and so, again, please agree to the request for funding. Howard Whitaker - 3/7/17

I have lived and worked in Death Valley for 11 1/2 years. I've been very frustrated by tracks visible for years after someone drives off-road in the park, especially in places like Badwater Basin salt pan and the Racetrack. It seems like it's happening more frequently. The park has done some restoration, but I'd like to see more restoration happen. Abby Wines - 3/7/17

As a frequent visitor to death valley I would love to see Death valley getting whatever funding it needs to restore the off road damage done. Akshar Prabhu Desai - 3/7/17

I think it was a travesty this had happened to such a beautiful place. I hope you see fit to give this National Treasure what they need to repair the damage and hopefully help prevent this in the future. Chris Ovrid - 3/7/17

The repeat damage to Racetrack Playa from people driving on it is inexcusable and must be stopped. Please extend the fence posts around the south end of the playa so that people will stop driving around the current posts. Sean Goebel - 3/7/17

Death Valley is very fragile, any off road track lasts for decades. When nothing is done to clean up illegal off road damage, it sends a message that this type of behavior is tolerated. I support Death Valley getting as grant to clean this up. Rusty Austin - 3/7/17

Park needs damage repair. S B McC - 3/7/17

The sad affects of ignorant OHV users has led to damage that should be restored so as to maintain the natural beauty and ecosystem of the park. Heather Browning - 3/7/17

I support the efforts of Death Valley National Park, a gem in the national parks system. Susan L Harbaugh - 3/7/17

I support a grant to repair OHV tracks in Death Valley NP. Kat Talley-Jones - 3/7/17

Please fund this important project to restore the desert ecosystem in Death Valley and speed up the time it takes it to recover from off-road driving in fragile areas. Death Valley is a national treasure and this project will be important to plants and animals in impacted areas as well as future visitors. Elisa Davis - 3/7/17

DVNP is one of the crown jewels of the National Park System. Its harsh, stark environment contains an unrivaled natural environment. Unfortunately, due to the arid and dry climate, rains from Mother Nature aren't readily available to erase the damage caused by illegal offroad drivers, such as recent damage and tracks done at the "Racetrack" dry lake in Death Valley. a grant will help the DVNP Rangers give nature a hand in restoring these magical places. Kevin Balluff - 3/7/17

Please approve the grant request by Death Valley National park to restore areas damaged by off-road drivers. As an off-road driver it pains and angers me to see the harm inflicted by some of California's less ethical offroaders. This impacts the beauty of the unique desert environment and, more importantly, harms fragile ecosystems. Thanks for your consideration. Paul Ashby - 3/7/17

Death Valley is one of my favorite National Parks. The damage it has sustained via natural and man made issues requires federal grant monies to repair. I totally support this grant to assess, restore and protect Death Valley. MaryAnn Records - 3/7/17

Cannot stress enough the need to protect these irreplaceable assets. Protection and restoration now will reverse a trend that will only get worse in the future. This grant would be much appreciated by many many users. John Winquist - 3/7/17

This is one of the most amazing places on earth and it must be maintained from people who don't fully understand it's importance. It's our duty to protect out natural lands because it is us who are harming them. Carlos Mariscal - 3/7/17

I visited Death Valley for the first time this January and was enchanted. This is a rare jewel that needs to be preserved. Coming from Canada I know what off-road vehicles can do to the wilderness and although there is a place for off-roading I do not believe it belongs in Death Valley. The environment in the desert is just too fragile. Jo-Anne Villadsen - 3/7/17

Please YES to grant funding for this project! DVNP is a national t4eausre. I go annually from,out of state to spend $$ there and in Lone Pine. TY! Sue White - 3/7/17

DVNP attracts visitors worldwide and is one California's most treasured natural, cultural and historic assets. Recent incidents of destructive illegal OHV use is very alarming and disheartening to those of us who cherish DVNP. The impact of this destructive behavior will have a significant impact on future visitor's enjoyment of the park literally for generations to come. Significant steps must be taken to restore the damaged areas and protect them from further harm. Paul Ogden - 3/7/17

I am 100% in favor of taking steps to repair damage and protect the most precious areas of Death Valley National Park, especially the Racetrack where I saw some such damage last summer. I hope that some simple measures can be taken to reduce such impacts and enforce regulations against actions like driving on the playa, the salt flats, or the dunes. Any money spent on this is money well spent in my opinion. I do also hope that these efforts do not result in the further closure of any existing roads. There is a large and enthusiastic community of people who love the desert and love talking the old 4wd roads to remote areas and do so respectfully and carefully. The common perception when it comes to regulation of the wilderness areas that have 4wd roads is that the NPS loves to close them off forever no matter how long the have been accessible in the past. I hope that Death Valley National Park will seek to preserve the existing road systems as the NPS looks for ways to restore and protect areas. Kurt Lawson - 3/7/17

I visited Death Valley 3 weeks ago and saw first hand the damage caused by illegal off road driving. Some of the areas this took place will take many years to recover. More substantial barricades and/or fences could help protect sensitive areas from future damage. William Shanney - 3/7/17

This grant would be very helpful to restore the park from off road vehicle use. Irene Flebbe - 3/7/17

Please help restore damage to Death Valley National Park. Of all the places I can go to enjoy the natural world, I always choose Death Valley. The Racetrack is my happiest place in the whole world and it just breaks my heart when I think of the damage that has been done there. Please award this grant to Death Valley National Park. Thank you! Sherri Carattini - 3/7/17

My AmeriCorps NCCC team served with Death Valley National Park Rangers and volunteers in early 2015 to restore and preserve parts of the park (including areas that had impacted by off-roading). Death Valley is so unique and beautiful! It deserves to stay that way. I encourage you to grant Death Valley the funds to complete this restoration work and prevent this from happening in the future. It will not only help to preserve the delicate ecosystem in the park, it will impact the over 1 million visitors the park has each year. Laura Jenkins - 3/7/17

Please fund this program to inventory damage and restore this amazing National Park. Thank you! Eric Hamilton - 3/7/17

As a local who lives just north of Death Valley National Park, I have repeatedly seen the detrimental effects of illegal off-roading on the park's resources. The potential threat to endemic species at Eureka Dunes, the closest part of the park to my home, is especially heartbreaking. Death Valley is a huge and greatly underfunded park, and this grant would go a long way towards improving its situation. Sincerely, Andrew J. Frishman - 3/7/17

As a recent visitor to Death Valley National Park, and one who plans to return, I was impressed with the vast landscapes of the backcountry--and saddened to see the marks of illegal off-road vehicle use marring some of the most majestic areas. Please give DVNP a grant to help restore these areas. Thank you for your consideration. Rebecca Stefoff - 3/7/17

Death Valley National Park is a beautiful place and Race Track Playa is one of our national treasures. Please approve Death Valley National Park for this grant funding to restore the areas damaged by selfish and careless acts. Lauren Wegener - 3/7/17

Death Valley National Park protects some of the most vulnerable natural resources in California. Endangered pupfish, endemic plant life, and geologic wonders. All of these resources are threatened and have been damaged recently due to illegal off road vehicle travel. The sheer size of Death Valley makes protection and restoration of its unique resources particularly difficult. This grant would do the most good for the State of California if awarded to Death Valley National Park. Alexander Jones - 3/7/17

Please give Death Valley NP the funding it needs! This grant would help to restore some of the most beautiful areas of the park so that they may be fully enjoyed by the public. It would also serve as a message. Land that is strewn with tire treads gives off the appearance that the government doesn't care about maintaining the parks, and as a result the public will not try to to take good care of it either (e.g., more unauthorized off roading). Kelsey Juddo - 3/7/17

I support funding for this very important project. Thank you Kimberly Nisenshal - 3/8/17

My husband and I love Death Valley. We have been going there for years. It is a totally unique landscape and needs to be preserved for our children and grandchildren. It is imperitive for the character of this park that the damage done by illegal off-roading be mitigated. Please give them this grant to fix this problem. Thank you. D 3/8/17

As a long-time (since 1998) and now disabled visitor to the park, I have learned from many rangers known personally just how delicate the landscape of DV is. I am continually horrified by the rampant and illegal destruction of this unique ecosystem. The average visitor who goes off a boardwalk or designated trail to explore (ie- Salt Creek) has NO idea of the impact of this activity and I am writing to support the funding of the NPS projects to both restore and repair damage. Most importantly, this should include educational programs across a variety of media to promote respect for the natural; landscape that is unique to the Death Valley area. I am an access pass holder, and I strongly oppose federal cuts to the NPS budget. I can be contacted at the email listed above. Thank you. Brian Nooney - 3/8/17

I understand the desire of people with off-road vehicles to venture into challenging terrain. Not everyone follows the law and the damage to protected land and features needs to be assessed and rectified. I hope that funds that can be used in this effort will be employed. David Flack - 3/8/17

In order to keep our lands beauty, we need the funding to restore the offroad damage done by irresponsible people. I Bjorn ope that the correct decision is made to fund the future of our parks. Mark Drake - 3/8/17

Support Death Valley National Park's restoration of damage from illegal OHV use. Benjamin Swanson - 3/8/17

My wife and I are frequent visitors to Death Valley National Park (DVNP) . Beginning in 1971 I have visited DVNP at least once every year; 47 consecutive years. We have witnessed the damage that has been done to the sensitive landscapes within the Park by vehicles driving off roads, and it is very discouraging to see. It only takes one tire tracking on the fragile ground to thoroughly alter the beautiful views in DVNP. The Park needs to be able to repair all of the damaged areas within DVNP and restore them for future visitors to enjoy. DVNP is a truly beautiful area and deserves to remain so. Tom Swire - 3/8/17

Please consider granting this funding request. This world has an ever shrinking number of places not marred by our ubiquitous vehicles. Let's try to preserve the few we have left. Chris Trounson - 3/8/17

I visit Death Valley nearly every year with my geology students. Please do everything possible to provide money to repair the senseless damage caused by ORV. People have no idea how fragile this rugged landscape really is, and what a loss this damage is to our national heritage. My students do everything they can to return to Death Valley on their own because they are so impressed with it. Please award all monies possible to restore this national treasure. Thank you. Alison Lathrop - 3/8/17

Would love to see this go through. It is astonishing to see the large number of people who come from all across the USA, and even internationally, to experience Death Valley. My little town (Trona) loves meeting people coming through. We keep maps stocked, share our own personal experiences, and keep people safe with information as we help them stock up and prepare for family adventure. Whether the family of four who drove here from New Jersey, to the bus loads of tourists from Germany and Japan, we are delighted to meet them. This grant would sure go a long way to preserving a very popular National Park! Jeanne Cook - 3/8/17

I fully support Death Valley National Park's grant application to restore landscapes harmed by off-road vehicle use. Christine Sculati - 3/8/17

Please help restore this damage and protect this park. Samantha Stevens - 3/9/17

I support Death Valley National Park in their efforts secure funding to inventory, assess, and protect damage from OHV use. This grant would be used to help protect the beauty and the sanctity of this park, and help preserve it for the enjoyment of future generations. Thank you for your time. Daniel Kinka - 3/9/17

I am a resident of Los Angeles. Please support this project and help repair the damage done to these iconic locations in Death Valley National Park. Sean Hueber - 3/9/17

I wholeheartedly endorse the restoration project. I've spent a lot of time exploring Death Valley by Jeep, and have a deep respect for its natural beauty. I don't want to see illegal OHV use result in restricted access to those of us who stay on marked roads. I would encourage creating a tip line that people can call if they see illegal activity in the park. Although I understand the enormity of the park if someone was able to report a license plate or OHV registration that may be helpful even if it is after the fact. The damage to the Racetrack Playa is unconscionable, and mitigation should be a priority. Thank you for your consideration. Maureen Saccomani - 3/9/17

I feel Death Valley National Park needs this grant to restore damage from off road vehicles. Such a fragile ecosystem would take years to heal on its own. Jeff Jones - 3/10/17

I fully support this necessary and valuable program to repair the damage done to this beautiful park. Please support this grant for Death Valley National Park. It is a wonderful area, amazing park, and immense asset to the state. Tom Burke - 3/10/17

This is needed in Death Valley. There's not enough rainfall in a normal season (or sometimes in 40 normal seasons) to soften or erase off-road vehicle damage to the ground surface and salt mineral formations. Randall Brynsvold - 3/10/17

Death Valley is such a beautiful treasure, and it is so sad to see the destruction of this vital natural resource by careless, reckless, and thoughtless people. I want you to know that I personally support this grant proposal to fund the cleanup of the destruction of Death Valley. I visit the park several times a year. Thank you. David Rosenthal - 3/10/17

The proposed work to inventory, assess, restore and protect against damage from OHV use in Death Valley National Park is essential to preserving this very special place, both for its own sake and for its tourist industry value which is valuable to the local economy. Lori Skulski - 3/10/17

I believe this is an appropriate use of funds. The restoration of public lands damaged due to public misuse is critical for maintaining those lands for future generations. Peter Morris - 3/10/17

I support the National Park Service effort in this matter. David Kveene - 3/10/17

Help save our park. This grant will help keep DVNP safe for future generations! Mitchell A Patel - 3/10/17

Death Valley needs support in providing education and restoration on delicate surfaces such as the salt pans. Without this, damage by unaware park visitors may last for generations prompting others to disregard the delicate environments. Rick Landry - 3/10/17

Please approve Death Valley's request for 3 year grant to fund restoration of damage done by vehicles driving off road. On March 9, 2017 another vehicle went off road and damaged 1/2 mile of Badwater Salt Flats. Gwen Waksman - 3/10/17

My family and I were able to visit this amazing park last spring. Since then, I have been made aware of damage done to fragile natural areas of the park by vehicles driven off paved roads. I support a grant to help restore damage from these vehicles in Death Valley National Park. Kathleen Rehder - 3/10/17

I love visiting Death Valley and enjoying its Beauty. I support this grant to allow Death Valley to restore damage and protect from OHV use. Thank you. Sheralin Lafferty - 3/10/17

DVNP is an absolutely one-of-a-kind national park and one of the most impressive I've ever been lucky enough to visit. Please consider their grant application as I believe it extremely important to try and repair damage created by not-very-intelligent humans. Our world is important and preserving it for future generations matters a lot to many of us. Thank you. Beth Stolpman - 3/10/17

I am writing in support of this application. Death Valley National Park is an example of a pristine wild place that is being terribly damaged by irresponsible visitors from off-road travel. Seeing tire racks on places like the Racetrack, along Badwater Basin Road, and along West Side Road only encourages others to follow suit and cause more damage. Being able to restore these areas will help restore the wild characteristics of the park and also discourage people from thinking that driving off-road is acceptable. Thank you for considering this comment. Sarah Marino - 3/10/17

I believe that restoring the damage done by park visitors through ignorance is critical so that those who travel to see this beautiful landscape have the opportunity to do so in all of its beauty. Many people only travel here once, so having it as pristine as can be is very important. Greg Jelin - 3/10/17

I have read the reference material G16-05-04-R01 and the associated General Application Requirements. I strongly believe that a grant from the California Sate Parks to the Death Valley National Park (DVNP) would be advantageous both to the health of Death Valley and also improving it's value to the citizens of California. I urge you to consider and ultimately approve this request for funding. Thank you. Joseph P. Coffey - 3/10/17

I support this grant request for funding to repair damage done by unauthorized off road vehicle use. My wife and I went to Death Valley NP for the first time in January and were amazed at how beautiful the desert, salt flat, and mountain landscapes are. It is our hope that they can be preserved and their beauty kept for many more to see unspoiled. Sincerely, Andy Henderson - 3/10/17

Please provide the additional funding to prevent ignorant people from destroying our national parks so that future generations can fully enjoy their beauty. Death Valley National Park and all of our parks deserve funding to prevent destruction. Thank you for considering my comments. Michael Putallaz - 3/10/17

I am writing in support of Death Valley National Park's application. When we visited last summer, in several areas we noticed significant damage to the landscape that seriously detracted from the hostile beauty of the Park. Just as we make an effort to pick up any litter we see in National Parks, it would be nice if Death Valley had the resources needed to fix more serious problems, like off-road vehicle tracks. I am not a California resident, but Death Valley and other California National Parks are an important part of California's tourism industry. Unfortunately, the federal government is unlikely to properly fund this, but I hope the sales taxes we pay on our visits can help keep Death Valley at its most spectacular. Thank you for your consideration. Topher Kersting - 3/10/17

The off-road trails in Death Valley offer some of the richest experience for people who travel on them. There is no better way to experience and learn from the landscape and its history than following it's curves into the abyss. Approve funding for Death Valley to maintain and restore OHV areas so future visitors can continue to explore the vast open areas that has so much to offer. John Spooner - 3/10/17

Death Valley is an vital component to our national park system, preserving both historical treasures and natural wonders. Vandals often drive vehicles into restricted areas, causing a great deal of damage. Please fund the restoration of this beautiful place for generations to enjoy. Philip Schuler - 3/10/17

This is a phenomenal national park that must be preserved for future generations. Damage caused by irresponsible tourism must not only be punished but need to be corrected. Vicky Li - 3/10/17

I deplore criminal off-road driving in Death Valley NP. Please provide this grant for remediation. Jim Doolittle - 3/11/17

As a Californian and frequent visitor to Death Valley National Park, I strongly support the effort to restore and protect offroad areas from damage caused by vehicles. I'm especially concerned about damage that has occurred at Racetrack Playa and Badwater. As a parent, it is important to be able to show my children that there is an appropriate reaction from park officials in response to the bad deeds done by other visitors in terms of long-term damage to the park caused by carelessness. This grant achieves that goal because it seeks to restore damaged areas, as well as add barriers and signage in order to prevent future damage. This grant provides a unique and important opportunity for Death Valley National Park. Bill Maxfield - 3/11/17

This is a request to include Death Valley National Park in your OHMVR restoration grants. OHV travel in the Park is prohibited. Recent violations in iconic locations have focused attention on overall illegal OHV activity. A grant would help the Park to systematically address this problem, instead of responding to incidents as they are discovered. The Park needs to develop and support tools and methods for control. Among them: • Create an OHV management plan; update the General Management Plan with respect to OHV activity. • Inventory OHV trespass locations. • Provide or update signage or physical control at Park boundaries where OHV trespass occurs. Spillage into the Park may be unintentional at these locations. • Sign/remove/disguise trespass routes when discovered, to prevent them from becoming established. • Prioritize allocation of resources spent on OHV control. An OHV grant could help with collecting data needed to efficiently determine priorities. • Enhance Park-sponsored volunteering for OHV restoration. I have volunteered in many projects, with both the Park and BLM, and have seen beneficial effects of the work done and of public participation. I am certainly willing to continue volunteering for restoration-related projects. Sincerely, Tom Budlong - 3/11/17

As an avid outdoor adventurist and a 4 wheel drive owner who has frequented all these sites with in DVNP following the park regulations and authorized roads, the preservation and restoration of Death Valley damage must be addressed. While those that have violated this environment should also be accountable to the highest extent of the law and monitary restitution , the OHV should also be made to protect these valuable natural landmarks. please ensure this grant is approved to preserve and protect DV National Park from these acts of distruction. We want to enjoy theses remote places for years to come. Alison Wincheski - 3/11/17

I adore our wilderness and everything the government does to protect the future of environment. There is nothing like the serenity and peace of the backcountry in Death Valley. Please help restore and protect the environment from off-road damage in Death Valley. Beth - 3/12/17

Death Valley is a priceless treasure here in America and I believe that it's important to preserve the land for years to come. Teresa Payne - 3/12/17

Death Valley National Park is a treasure that needs to be protect. Unfortunately, it seems to be subject to frequent damage from ill informed or directly negligent visitors. The Park needs the grant to restore and protect its natural wonders. Kathryn Juliano - 3/12/17

I am fully in support of this proposed program. The full requested amount should be awarded to the park. I spent several years working in Death Valley under a special permit for research related collecting of rock specimens, and took great care to leave all our camping areas as pristine as possible, and never took our vehicles off designated roads or mapped two-track trails. During the course of my research work, I saw the evidence of off-road disturbance done by vehicles, and could clearly see the high impact of those tracks, in stark opposition to our footprints. Death Valley is a singular place, astonishingly beautiful and a living laboratory for scientists and naturalists of all kinds. Reckless OHV use in the park (where it is strictly banned) destroys habitat, ruins rock formations, and leaves visible evidence that encourages additional damaging OHV use. As a taxpayer and as a national park visitor, I urge you to award the park the money they seek, to continue to fight against OHV use in the park and repair the damage already done. Erika Amir-Lin - 3/12/17

I do NOT agree that OHV funds should be used for this project in a National Park where no OHV use of any kind is permitted. While it is unfortunate that there is damage being done in Death Valley National Park, the damage is not being done by green or red sticker vehicles - the source of revenue for the OHV fund. Thank you. Pamela Mathers - 3/12/17

Within the past two years I have personally seen off road vehicle tracks absolutely EXPLODE in Death Valley National Park. It is sad. I strongly support this grant as it will give park staff an opportunity to educate the public about appropriate use in national parks and clean up some of the hundreds of miles of new tracks! Mike Reynolds - 3/12/17

Please grant Death Valley National Park OHV funds to protect the park. It's important to make the public aware of where they can and can't ride their machines. It's also important to clean up any illegal trails as they occur. Lisa Jaeger - 3/13/17

I went to Death Valley for first time this past summer and fell in love. Such a unique landscape, environment. I absolutely would like to see this program get approved. Once we lose or damage these special places, they are gone forever (or take many years to recover). I understand it's hard to monitor activity in such a large, open space. However, we must be able to attempt to restore what couldn't be protected. Tina Keesee - 3/13/17

I support the grant request from Death Valley National Park to restore no vehicle areas in the park damaged or harmed by vehicles that drove in to these areas. Michael Lafleur - 3/13/17

Is this a joke? The suggestion is ludicrous. DVNP doesn't allow OHVs. They don't deserve one dime from the OHV funds. The damage is being made by street legal vehicles, not OHVs! Theft of funds. NO! Lee Phillippi - 3/13/17

Death Valley National Park does not permit red or green sticker vehicles and should not, then, be permitted to divert funds meant for OHV use to take care of vandalism in the park. I agree very much that the damage done by people using vehicles where they should not be must be repaired and I would be happy to give money to that end and support funding it through other means, but this is not an issue of off highway vehicle use, it's an issue of vandalism. Whether people perpetrate vandalism with spray paint or their car, it's the same thing. It doesn't make it okay to randomly take money meant to support OHV parks to clean up the mess. Sybil Robertson - 3/13/17

Please provide a Grant to fund restoration of habitat in Death Valley National Park caused by illegal off road driving. This is extremely important due to the fact that this damage could take decades to heal..if ever..on its own. Regards, David Moore - 3/12/17

On a trip to Death Valley National Park in February 2017, we witnessed firsthand the damage (vandalism, really) to multiple areas of the park covered in this grant proposal. In particular, the damage to the area of Racetrack Playa near the Grandstand was appalling. Now we've seen news reports of damage done to Badwater Basin. But we also witnessed park visitors camping with their vehicles well beyond the wilderness boundary on sections of park roads off-limits to camping. Increased signage and monitoring are absolutely necessary. And the funds to restore damaged areas could not be put to better use. Our group of three park visitors included two tourists from out of state (Chicago) and one San Diego resident and homeowner who is also an active member of the military. We enjoyed exploring the park's rugged roads with a Jeep and engaging in the solitude of backcountry camping. But we studiously avoided breaking park rules and federal or state statutes, always erring on the side of caution when in doubt. We had a marvelous time in the park while following the rules. There's no reason they should ever be broken. Brandon Hayes - 3/12/17

I am in opposition to this grant. When this area was being discussed for designation as a National Park, proponents, including National Park Service, claimed that they had adequate funding to manage all aspects of this park, They knew well ahead that the National Park designation would increase visitor usage, yet they have failed to take proper steps to accommodate the basic public access into this vast area which is motorized use. Now the Park Service is trying to raid the California motorized recreational users funds to make up for their mismanagement of the area. Let the Park Service use federal funds to designate the recreational motorized routes in this area and when that is completed, come back to us for consideration of funding the maintenance of those routes. John Elliott - 3/13/17

While a well intended grant request, I have two major issues with this grant, number one being that the entire Park is a no-OHV area and any damage being attributed to OHV users, could entirely be Plated street legal vehicles. The second part of this grant that concerns me is the "High profile" incidents used in the grant for examples have been non OHV, not even off road vehicles but street legal vehicles with practically no off road capacity. This grant is using dedicated funds for OHV to solve problems created by street legal vehicles. Perhaps a Law Enforcement grant to look at OHV vs Street legal non OHV vehicles would be a better use of OHV funds. Thank you. Robert Schell - 3/13/17

Death Valley National Park should NOT be granted any OHV funds asOHVs are not even allowed within the park. Those funds are payed by people to maintain off road and off highway areas ONLY. There is no reason they should be used to pay for damage NOT caused by their users. Charles Nichols - 3/13/17

This damage is not done by the OHV community. You have no reason to request funds from the green and red sticker funds. This damage was done by street legal vehicles. This is misappropriation. Mark Ogaz - 3/13/17

OHVs are not allowed in the DVNP for the most part. Even the picture you use on your Facebook does not show an OHV but rather a Street Legal Van that does not pay into the OHV fund. Therefore I do not agree with the use of funds that are for OHV use to be allocated to this. Paul Townsend - 3/14/17

Hello, I would like to urge the OHMVR Division to award a grant to Death Valley National Park to help assess and repair the damage caused by OHV users within the park. It is a reprehensible situation when off-roaders drive off of established roads and destroy our natural resources. The park needs better signage, better public education, and the financial resources to fix the damage that jerks on OHVs cause. It is a huge problem throughout or deserts, but it should definitely not be such a problem within DVNP. Thank you. Stephen Ingram - 3/14/17

The DVNP grant request misrepresents the facts by trying to place blame on OHV users. The overwhelming majority of damage is committed by street legal vehicles that don't pay into the OHV fund. DVNP doesn't even permit OHVs therefore the opportunity for OHVs to cause damage is extremely minimal. 100% of the damage is caused by park visitors. Therefore, they should increase visitor fees if they need money to repair damage created by park visitors. OHVs aren't to blame. Park visitors are to blame. MVNP is dishonestly misleading the public into supporting this grant by posting photos of a street legal van damaging the park. Their Facebook feed proves my point. The damage isn't being caused by OHVs. Don't penalize and scapegoat off-roaders for the actions of park visitors. John Jessop - 3/14/17

The Death Valley National Park grant request is out-of-bounds for the use of OHV fees collected from Off Road Vehicle users. The request is made to spent money in areas off limits to OHV use. In efforts to garner support for this money grab NPS has used examples of damage caused by visitors to the park using street registered cars, not off highway vehicles. The NPS has avenues to collect fines and reclamation fees from park users who violate its "no off pavement driving" regulation. The NPS must use its own resources for NPS operations and enforcement. NPS has no claim or right to OHV funds and this Grant Request should be denied as an unwarranted money grab. Daniel Seagondollar - 3/14/17

Death Valley has been suffering from increasing vandalism and destruction, especially by people driving vehicles off marked roadways. These fragile desert ecosystems need to be protected and, when harmed, need our assistance to restore them. Not only will such restoration speed the recovery, it discourages other knuckleheads from copying this behavior by removing the evidence of the last violator. Please, please, please help Death Valley restore the salt flats, the dunes, the racetrack, etc. Darin Hayton - 3/15/17

It is important to fix and maintain the assets of Death Valley National Park. The intentional damage done by off-road vehicles is akin to the damage done by graffiti marks on public buildings. If we don't allow that type of graffiti to remain on buildings, we also should not allow this type of vehicle graffiti to mar the beauty of Death Valley National Park. While some people might say it is just desert land, it is so much more. Even if the thugs doing this damage can be found and prosecuted, it will take a lot of time and money to erase their damage. The park needs this grant to take care of this problem so we can all enjoy the beauty of Death Valley National Park - graffiti-free. Kathleen Nylen - 3/15/17

I have always been dismayed by the damage done in particular to the RaceTrack Playa by thoughtless folks that drive on it or even walk on it when it's wet. I certainly applaud your efforts to restore these sensitive areas and to do whatever you can to mitigate current damage and also to prevent future damage. Bob Durst - 3/16/17

I am writing in support of Death Valley National Park's grant application for OHV funds. I know the park well, having visited recreationally dozens of times and working as a commercial permittee leading natural history tours for nearly thirty years. Death Valley's open lands are particularly vulnerable to OHV trespass and damage due to the size of the park, lack of enforcement capabilities given the size, and ease of access. Places like the Racetrack have been notoriously damaged by OHVs in the recent past. Ibex dunes too have been damaged by unscrupulous visitors. Even Badwater, one of the most visited areas in the park, adjacent to a paved road, has been recently vandalized by motorized use. Areas like Saline and Eureka Valleys are quite popular with motorized users and yet are so vast and accessible they need extra attention and protection. Due to the popularity with OHVs in these areas (street legal only) I think use of OHV funds to help address OHV damage is totally appropriate. The Park needs help restoring these and other areas and in helping prevent future damage. I think the grant is well written, with an impressive degree of specificity; the proposed work makes sense, is logical and needs to be done. Thank you, Todd Vogel - 3/17/17

We would like to take the opportunity to comment on the Grants and Cooperative March 15, 2017 California State Parks OHMVR Division 1725 23rd Street Sacramento, CA 95816 Attention: Grants Manager Re: Parkwide Program to Inventory, Assess, Restore, and Protect Damage from OHV Use Agreements program and voice our support for funding Death Valley National Park’s Inventory, Assess and Restore and Protect Damage from OHV Use program (14-0001849). Friends of the Inyo is a locally-based nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the stewardship, exploration and preservation of the Eastern Sierra’s public lands and wildlife, including Death Valley National Park. Over our 30 year history, Friends of the Inyo has become an active partner with the National Park Service and other public lands agencies. Friends of the Inyo’s comments represent a local and regional membership of over 700 and thousands of supporters and volunteers who care about the landscapes and values of the Eastern Sierra and the California Desert. We are deeply concerned about the illegal trespass of vehicles in Death Valley National Park this year, especially the Racetrack Playa, Badwater Basin, Devils Cornfield and Ibex Dunes. We know the NPS is unable to fund the restoration work and associated follow up themselves with ongoing reductions to their budget. We ask that California State Parks please approve this three-year grant to restore damage done by off-road drivers throughout the park. This is the first year that Death Valley National Park has submitted a grant request and the need is dire. The park saw a record number of users in 2016 and visitation is projected to increase further. Our desert ecosystems are quite fragile and impacts such as tire tracks will last forever without proper restoration. The park has several endangered and endemic species, including desert tortoise and Eureka Dunes evening primrose, which are both found in areas previously damaged by OHV use. Education is another key piece to this grant. Often visitors do not know they have entered the National Park due to its size, remote nature and number of backcounty access points. This grant emphasizes signage and barricades where incursions are occurring regularly. In years past Friends of the Inyo has provided group stewardship projects and volunteer hours to Death Valley National Park and we are interested in doing so again if this grant is funded. The stewardship and protection of the park is very important to us. We urge you to fund this grant so that vehicle damage can be repaired and hopefully prevented in the future. Thank you for considering our comments. Sincerely, /s/ Jora Fogg Preservation Manager - 3/21/17

I support the 3-year grant to fund restoration of damage done by vehicles driving off road in DVNP! Cherilyn diMond - 3/21/17

I am in favor of money being used to restore and then protect Death Valley. I would like to see a wider area around the part where OHV use is illegal. You can't keep OHV riders from being irresponsible. Lois Alexander - 3/22/17

I cannot support this application by DVNP for funds from the CA OHV grant program. Visitors to the park come from all over the world. The damage DVNP seeks to repair is caused by visitors to the park traveling off trail. Visitors that pay to enter the park and that come from all over the world, DVNP, by their own statement in the Prahump Valley Times is seeking a new demographic to the park. "National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis said the rise in visitors took place during a time that they have been looking for a new demographic to check out its parks as they celebrate its centennial year. "The increasing popularity of our national parks comes as we are actively reaching out to new audiences and inviting them to explore the depth and breadth of the national park system," Jarvis said. "The 409 parks we care for preserve natural, cultural and historic landscapes across 84 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, and they tell stories that reflect the great diversity of our nation." Increased visitation tests the capacity of Death Valley National Park to continue to provide a great experience for visitors. "We're adjusting to make sure engaging ranger programs are provided and staff are available to answer visitor questions and to keep restrooms, campgrounds and other facilities clean," the park service said in a statement. Congress recently provided more funding for national parks for 2016, and that's going to help the National Park Service keep up with the increased demand. In addition, Congress is considering separate National Park Service Centennial legislation, which would further improve the national parks by encouraging philanthropy and volunteerism, while also allowing improved visitor services and connections with a new generation of national park visitors" Clearly the park has failed to property educate it's visitors and/or has not kept up with the increased demand on park personnel and resources to avoid the damaged caused by it's visitors. It should not be up to California OHV users to foot the bill for damage caused by visitors to the park. Paul Hobbs - 3/27/17

I have several reservations about this request: 1. Considerable damage is done by non off highway vehicles, as demonstrated by the recent van at Badwater. It appears that this money will be used for other than OHV activities. Quit blaming everything on the OHVs. 2. The Park claims the it does not allow OHV activities in the Park and yet they rent Jeeps at Furnace Creek. The Parks needs to understand the difference between street legal OHVs, green sticker vehicles etc. 3. As a typical government agency they will spend more time assessing, analyzing, documenting and studying the problem then actually fixing the problem. On a positive note, I like the idea of a quick response vehicle to remove tracks quickly and thereby possibly avoid additional traffic in an illegal area. Mike Johnston - 3/28/17

Why are you giving money Death Valley? You might as well sell of the power grid. That money is for off road. Tom Sperry - 3/11/07

This project should be funded. Cataloging OHV problem areas, developing strategies to inform and educate visitors about use of backcountry roads, providing increased enforcement of rules and repairing current backcountry damage are all important to keeping DVNP the national asset it is for all of us. John Shepherd - 3/28/17

I have enjoyed OHV recreation for many years. In 2015 I had the opportunity to travel many back-country routes within Death Valley NP. A most beautiful desolation. I always travel only where it is legal to do so on public lands. This grant application should be approved as the plans to mitigate OHV damage is a worthy cause. Best Regards, Robert Norton - 3/29/17

I strongly support the granting of funds to facilitate Death Valley National Park research and repair the damages caused by illegal OHV use - particularly given the recent damage caused to the racetrack by people driving across the playa, creating ruts that will negatively impact the movement of the sites iconic boulders. Our national parks are our nations treasures and deserve protection from damage on every front. Parks staff are dedicated public servants who deserve all of the support they can get - particularly in the face of ever-diminishing funding provided by the US congress. Thank you. Rebecca Lowry - 3/31/17

I believe CA OHV Grant, G16-05-04-R01, as requested by the Death Valley NP, should be rejected/declined in its’ entirety. I commend the NPS for trying to assess and repair damage caused by illegal vehicle incursions into Death Valley National Park. However, it is my understanding that the majority of the illegal vehicle trespass is caused by “non-OHV” (i.e. non-Green/Red Sticker vehicles) such as 4x4 Visitors, Rockhounders, Miners, etc. Although incursions by “CA OHV Green/Red Sticker” vehicles do exist, it is relatively minor in nature. I strongly believe that the use of “green sticker” OHV Grant funds is inappropriate for the Study and Planning as requested by the NPS. The Park Service should conduct this study/analysis using funding that exists within the NPS Budget. After the Study is complete, the Death Valley NP should then request CA OHV Grant funds to repair/restore documented damage attributable to CA OHV “Green/Red Sticker” vehicles. At that time, I would fully support a Restoration Grant request appropriate to illegal incursion/damage caused by Green Sticker Vehicles. Dion Salfen - 4/1/17

This is a highly meritorious effort--I strongly support this grant application. Irresponsible and harmful OHV use in DVNP is very disturbing, a real shame. State OHV funds should very appropriately be used to mitigate and prevent damage to the National Park. Tom Boo - 4/2/17

Please award this grant to Death Valley! I just lead a field trip over spring break of 22 geology undergraduates and graduates from Brown University to Death Valley and it was a life-changing experience. Over and over again we were astounded with the textbook geology we saw, from fault breccia in Titus Canyon, to ripple marks on rocks in Gower Gultch, everywhere we went was something new. This park is a treasure trove for geologists and any other nature-enthusiasts. Everyone deserves to visit the park and witness the pristine environment - that is why we have national parks! From Dante's View you can really see the ugly brown scar where the truck drove into the salt pan, and at the Racetrack you can see tire marks from other careless drivers. These human influences mar the landscape and ruin the experience for other visitors. Several of the students on our trip decided to pursue a major in geology from this visit to Death Valley and other national parks. Let's keep the parks safe and restore these damages so generations of other students can learn and enjoy what precious few environments such as this that we have left. Thank you. Grace Molino - 4/2/17

Death Valley certainly deserves public funds and support in maintaining the sites within Death Valley. The repairs of damage within the park also would benefit from this grant. Patrick Heng - 4/2/17

Having just visited Death Valley and seen the devastating damage done to the Racetrack, I think it is of utmost priority that the tracks are covered up in order to restore this national treasure. Ashley Bang - 4/2/17

While in Death Valley last week as part of the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences with Brown University, I experienced firsthand the careless destruction caused by visitors to the park. I saw the ugly scars of tire tracks on iconic locations such as Badwater Basin while looking down from Dante's View, as well as those now abundant at the Racetrack. I believe that funding to better protect these unique places is essential to protecting our American identity, our great outdoors for future generations, and our ideas about conservation and preservation for tomorrow's America. Please consider Death Valley worthy for funding, as I consider Death Valley worthy for that and so much more. This national park has truly impacted my life and my perspective on the necessity for culturally and geologically significant locations within the United States. Thank you for your time. All the best, Hunter Quintal - 4/2/17

Death Valley is a very unique area both ecologically and geologically. I would like to see this park preserved and protected so that other people, and, more importantly, the wildlife can continue to enjoy this area in the future. Nora Richter - 4/2/17

The damage that has been done by a few individuals on the Badwater Basin and Racetrack Playas is a tragedy to one of our nation's greatest national parks. It is imperative the National Park Service receive the funding they need to ameliorate this damage so future visitors can appreciate the full beauty of Death Valley. Nicholas O'Mara - 4/2/17

I visited badwater basin in Death Valley National Park this past week and it saddens me that such an amazing landmark was defaced by a reckless driver. I hope that this grant will go to this worthwhile cause to repair and prevent this from occurring again. Micah Jaffe - 4/2/17

Things change slowly in the desert, and I want people to be able to have the experience that I did there. Liam Carpenter-Urquhart - 4/2/17

I am a geology student at Brown University, and I just spent my Spring Break with other Brown geology students in Death Valley. I saw the damage firsthand, and it was extremely disheartening—Death Valley is an extremely geologically unique place, not to mention the breathtaking landscapes that speak to us on a human level. I completely support a grant to help restore the landscape to its former state. Jasper Miura - 4/2/17

This is to support approval of the Death Valley National Park, National Park Service application: Parkwide Program to Inventory, Assess, Restore and Protect Damage from OHV Use. Population explosion, the use of the internet and GPS type devices have put many of our public lands at risk. The use of OHVs has exploded and unfortunately there are many occurrences of illegal riding and significant damage to public resources. At the same time, Congress has chosen to provide public land management agencies with budgets so small that it has become impossible for them to provide the level of land management that is needed and that the public desires. Death Valley because of its large size is a difficult challenge for management and with surrounding communities encouraging OHV use, illegal use with resulting damage to resources is on the increase. All that needs to be mentioned is the damage that occurred late last year at the Death Valley Racetrack. Help is needed. This grant is a step in the right direction as it provides all of the elements necessary to effectively manage the problem - problem identification, planning, restoration, law enforcement protection and rapid response to new incursions. It would be difficult to find a project more worthy of the use of OHV fees than the Death Valley request because it is a national treasure that is at risk. Please approve the Death Valley, National Park Service’s request for grant funds. William Mitchel - 4/2/17

Tire tracks were visible from Dante's view and covering the racetrack; these scars will remain in the park years before natural processes can restore them. Catherine Miranda - 4/3/17

Death Valley National Park and the areas around the park are a very unique and beautiful, yet very fragile ecosystem. It's not only one of of the most important national treasures that should be protected and stewarded it's also an important economic vehicle for the local communities. Las Vegas is only 90 miles away and has a population over 2.5 million people. In addition Dumont Dunes, an ORV open area adjacent to DVNP, often has over 40,000 ORV riders on a holiday weekend. As a result DVNP and the surrounding areas are very much impacted by ORV trespasses in very sensitive areas.This grant would be a huge boon to restoring and protecting these important area. Susan Sorrells - 4/3/17

This past week, I visited Death Valley with several peers from my university. The views were absolutely breathtaking and the geology was quite complex and beautiful. However, we also had first-hand experience with the careless damages other park-goers had inflicted at several of the park's sites (including destroyed salt flats at Badwater Basin and car/bike tracks on Racetrack playa). As a geologist, it saddens me to see these complicated and unique geologic forms to be destroyed. But as a park-goer, it deeply saddens me to see fellow park-goers engage in such reckless acts that destroy our environment especially during a time where we should be protecting it most. I think now, more than ever, it is important to educate the public about how important it is to protect these natural phenomena and work together as a community to restore and preserve our environments by leaving no trace. Gabriela Usabal - 4/3/17