2023 Public Comments to Preliminary Applications

I would like to comment on the Barstow BLM grant applications on behalf of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association. The restoration grant says "The project area includes 5 Congressionally designated Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Areas which are Rasor Road, Johnson Valley, Stoddard Valley and Dumont Dunes Areas." I only count four areas you list, even though you say in several places there are five open areas. If you work in this office, shouldn't you know how many open areas there are? The grant mainly asks for money for Archaeologists. Why are there no line items for biologists and hydrologists? I'm surprised restoration grants can be used to look for areas to restore. I thought they could only be used for restoring areas. The application says, "The project would involve the field survey, analysis and review of proposed and potential restoration sites in various areas throughout the Barstow Field Office area." Again, why are there no hydrologists or biologists involved with this survey? I didn't think archaeologists were qualified to survey aspects other than archaeology. The safety, ground operations and law enforcement applications all look good to manage these OHV areas we love so much. Ed Stovin CORVA director Ed Stovin - 4/24/2023

I would like to comment on the Barstow BLM grant applications on behalf of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association. The restoration grant says "The project area includes 5 Congressionally designated Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Areas which are Rasor Road, Johnson Valley, Stoddard Valley and Dumont Dunes Areas." I only count four areas you list, even though you say in several places there are five open areas. If you work in this office, shouldn't you know how many open areas are there? The restoration grant mainly asks for money for Archaeologists. Why are there no line items for biologists and hydrologists? I'm surprised restoration grants can be used to look for areas to restore. I thought they could only be used for restoring areas. The application says "The project would involve the field survey, analysis and review of proposed and potential restoration sites in various areas throughout the Barstow Field Office area." Again, why are there no hydrologists or biologists involved with this survey? I didn't think archaeologists were qualified to survey aspects other than archaeology. The safety, ground operations and law enforcement applications all look good to manage these OHV areas we love so much. Ed Stovin CORVA director Ed Stovin - 4/25/2023

California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Amargosa Conservancy, please accept our comments on Proposal 76-0252600 submitted by the Bureau of Land Management Barstow Field Office to the California State Parks OHMVR Grant Program. The Amargosa Conservancy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with over 1,600 members and supporters based in Shoshone, California and has been the leading voice for the conservation of the Amargosa Basin for almost two decades. The Amargosa Conservancy engages in advocacy, education, science, on-the-ground conservation, and land preservation in order to promote the long-term health of the Amargosa Basin watershed. The Amargosa Conservancy supports the deliverables outlined in BLM Barstow Field Office’s submitted proposal pertaining to proposed actions for Ground Operations, Law Enforcement, Restoration Planning, and Dumont Safety to be funded by this grant program. Signed, Mason Voehl, executive director Mason Voehl - 5/1/2023

Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional Districts have all changed due to re-districting. Margy - 4/5/2023

State Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional District information is all incorrect due to re-districting. Margy Marshall - 4/5/2023

This application should be funded, it encourages responsible use and preservation of our valuable natural resources and enhances our visitors experience. The Eastern Sierra has experienced a huge increase in the numbers of people who recreate in Inyo and Mono counties and that trend it is going to continue. Many of these visitors recreate with vehicles on public lands and some of them are clueless regarding OHV safety and responsibility. Proper staffing with the right type of employee for the visitor centers and the presence of OHV Rangers in the field can provide education to these folks that will enhance safety and their overall experience. The proper and efficient maintenance, service, repair and monitoring of recreational facilities is essential to the agency and helps provide a rewarding OHV experience for our visitors. Pat Woods - 4/29/2023

This request for funding should be approved. Bishop BLM area has experienced a huge increase in the numbers of people who recreate in Inyo and Mono counties and that trend it is going to continue. Most of these folks access the forest by vehicle. Public compliance with all forest laws and regulations ensures that we will have a beautiful and healthy forest to enjoy for years to come. Enforcement needs all the help it can get to properly patrol an area this size and this remote. The contacts I have had with their officers in the field have been great. Pat Woods - 4/29/2023

Given the the large number of available roads and the high visitation numbers in the Bishop BLM's working area, Friends of the Inyo supports the Bishop BLM's full request for funding. Additionally, Friends of the Inyo suggests increased funding for enforcement patrols in order to protect the diverse and critical natural resources found throughout the region. Off-highway vehicle use is increasing across the Eastern Sierra in multiple categories, given the popularity explosions of both dispersed camping and vehicles like ATVs, buggies, dirt bikes etc. Increased funding for personnel could help the BLM expand the work they are already doin to educate and manage conflicts for the continued enjoyment and health of the region and its off-highway roads. Allison Weber - 5/1/2023

Nice application to maintain oportunities for OHV users. In section 4 I see " Applicant owned UTVs used by volunteers" is listed in the grant section. I think it should be in the match section. Anyway, keep up the good work! Ed Stovin - 4/25/2023

I would like to comment on the El Centro BLM grants on behalf of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association. Looking the grants over, I find it odd that the match is higher than the request in ground operations and safety, even though applicants are only required to add 25% of the projects total in match. I see in GO, the match is comprised of two contracts, for trash removal and toilet pumping. I see those are kind of fixed. I would imagine you could ask for a lot more than you do, but you would have to find legitimate ways to spend it. Does any of your equipment need maintenance? I also noticed that in Law Enforcement there are no line items for equipment. Could they use some ice chests for patroling on hot days? Keep up the great work and thank you for being careful with our green sticker dollars, Ed Stovin Ed Stovin - 4/8/2023

I looked over your applications and they look good, as usual. What I find odd is that the safety and ground operations applications both have a much higher match than is needed. I wonder if you could rearrange so you could get more? Anyway, keep up the good work! Ed Stovin - 4/25/2023

On behalf of Tread Lightly!, I am writing in support of the Bureau of Land Management’s El Centro Field Office’s Ground Operations application to the CA Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation program to provide signage and trash collection activities. Tread Lightly! is a non-profit organization that leads a national initiative to promote responsible use of motorized vehicles when recreating outdoors. The goal is to balance the off-road and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users’ need for adventure with the need to conserve the places where they ride. The numerous off highway vehicle recreation opportunities provided in the El Centro Field Office serve approximately one million annual visitors who enjoy many types of motorized recreation. These areas and trails also provide access to non-motorized opportunities. Keeping these areas well-signed and clean is necessary to provide meaningful experiences for visitors. Tread Lightly! has worked collaboratively with the BLM El Centro Field Office to coordinate volunteer trash clean up events and volunteer sign maintenance projects. These joint projects are integral to keeping these areas open and in a usable state and promote increased trail conservation within the enthusiast groups that visit and enjoy these areas. As recreational users become more invested in these areas, the more likely they are to promote improved behavior to other visitors. Tread Lightly! believes that the area managed by the El Centro Field Office would benefit greatly from an increase in signage funding. Trailhead Kiosks and multi-panel signage installations provide a vital educational touch-point for the many varied recreationists who utilize the El Centro Area. Regulations, recreational tips, warnings, map information, and seasonal closure information are but a few of the vital pieces of knowledge that can be conveyed via trail signage. In our experience designing, producing, and installing signage for National Forests, State Parks, and other areas managed by the BLM nationwide, the $5,000.00 allocated for signage in this grant is insufficient. A single, roofed multi-panel signage kiosk can easily run $2500.00. We believe that an increase in funding on line item 3, sub-item 2, from $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 would be well advised. Tread Lightly! supports the BLM El Centro Field Office’s efforts to provide the public high-quality OHV recreational experiences. Brandon Alvarez - 4/26/2023

My name is Noel Ragsdale. I am a resident of Sky Valley and a member of our Community Council. Sky Valley is an unincorporated community in Riverside County. We are bounded by Joshua Tree National Park to the east and the Indio Hills to the west. We have an ongoing problem with illegal OHV activity in our community. This activity is -- as we know -- not permitted on BLM-owned land in the Indio Hills – much of which is a protected Preserve. Riverside County Ordinance 529 also prohibits motor vehicle activity on private property unless the driver has signed authorization of the owner. Despite these prohibitions, illegal OHV activity is rampant. It destroys the desert plant and animal habitat as the desert patina is torn up. The presence of these vehicles is used to intimidate local residents. Our community and our Community Council are very concerned about this ongoing problem. We have reviewed with great interest several of the OHV-related grant proposals that have been submitted to the California Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. • BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM Needles Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM El Centro Field Office – Law Enforcement Application • Joshua Tree National Park - Restoration Application • Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority - Restoration Application • Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. - Restoration Application All of these grant applications highlight the same serious problem: the increase in illegal OHV activity in wilderness, preserve, other conservation and protected areas, as well as private property – and the extent to which these activities are damaging our natural resources. The principal reason that this illegal OHV continues -- and is increasing -- is that there is no effective law enforcement. And the OHV riders know this. The outreach and educational efforts that are included in the law enforcement applications sound good. But the truth is that most illegal OHV riders are well aware that their activity is illegal so the stepped-up law enforcement components of the BLM proposals are vital. These include more and stronger gates, increased barriers to access (fencing, boulders, etc.) and the ongoing presence of law enforcement officers on the ground. Without funding the staffing, equipment and working shift hours contained in the BLM law enforcement proposals we have no chance to curtain the destruction caused by illegal OHV activity. The restoration proposals of the other three organization are also very important to help repair the damage done by illegal OHV activity and heal our natural resources. Climate change is already posing serious threats to the environments needed to sustain our native plants, fungi, lichens, mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, insects, spiders – and our native and transplanted humans. We are the living entities that can actively fight back. We know how to protect our ecology from the man-made destruction of illegal OHVs. We must support every effort to eliminate this threat, and give vital life back to the ecology of our planet. Noel Ragsdale - 4/30/2023

My name is Noel Ragsdale. I am a resident of Sky Valley and a member of our Community Council. Sky Valley is an unincorporated community in Riverside County. We are bounded by Joshua Tree National Park to the east and the Indio Hills to the west. We have an ongoing problem with illegal OHV activity in our community. This activity is -- as we know -- not permitted on BLM-owned land in the Indio Hills – much of which is a protected Preserve. Riverside County Ordinance 529 also prohibits motor vehicle activity on private property unless the driver has signed authorization of the owner. Despite these prohibitions, illegal OHV activity is rampant. It destroys the desert plant and animal habitat as the desert patina is torn up. The presence of these vehicles is used to intimidate local residents. Our community and our Community Council are very concerned about this ongoing problem. We have reviewed with great interest several of the OHV-related grant proposals that have been submitted to the California Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. • BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM Needles Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM El Centro Field Office – Law Enforcement Application • Joshua Tree National Park - Restoration Application • Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority - Restoration Application • Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. - Restoration Application All of these grant applications highlight the same serious problem: the increase in illegal OHV activity in wilderness, preserve, other conservation and protected areas, as well as private property – and the extent to which these activities are damaging our natural resources. The principal reason that this illegal OHV continues -- and is increasing -- is that there is no effective law enforcement. And the OHV riders know this. The outreach and educational efforts that are included in the law enforcement applications sound good. But the truth is that most illegal OHV riders are well aware that their activity is illegal so the stepped-up law enforcement components of the BLM proposals are vital. These include more and stronger gates, increased barriers to access (fencing, boulders, etc.) and the ongoing presence of law enforcement officers on the ground. Without funding the staffing, equipment and working shift hours contained in the BLM law enforcement proposals we have no chance to curtain the destruction caused by illegal OHV activity. The restoration proposals of the other three organization are also very important to help repair the damage done by illegal OHV activity and heal our natural resources. Climate change is already posing serious threats to the environments needed to sustain our native plants, fungi, lichens, mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, insects, spiders – and our native and transplanted humans. We are the living entities that can actively fight back. We know how to protect our ecology from the man-made destruction of illegal OHVs. We must support every effort to eliminate this threat, and give vital life back to the ecology of our planet. Noel Ragsdale - 4/30/2023

My name is Noel Ragsdale. I am a resident of Sky Valley and a member of our Community Council. Sky Valley is an unincorporated community in Riverside County. We are bounded by Joshua Tree National Park to the east and the Indio Hills to the west. We have an ongoing problem with illegal OHV activity in our community. This activity is -- as we know -- not permitted on BLM-owned land in the Indio Hills – much of which is a protected Preserve. Riverside County Ordinance 529 also prohibits motor vehicle activity on private property unless the driver has signed authorization of the owner. Despite these prohibitions, illegal OHV activity is rampant. It destroys the desert plant and animal habitat as the desert patina is torn up. The presence of these vehicles is used to intimidate local residents. Our community and our Community Council are very concerned about this ongoing problem. We have reviewed with great interest several of the OHV-related grant proposals that have been submitted to the California Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. • BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM Needles Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM El Centro Field Office – Law Enforcement Application • Joshua Tree National Park - Restoration Application • Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority - Restoration Application • Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. - Restoration Application All of these grant applications highlight the same serious problem: the increase in illegal OHV activity in wilderness, preserve, other conservation and protected areas, as well as private property – and the extent to which these activities are damaging our natural resources. The principal reason that this illegal OHV continues -- and is increasing -- is that there is no effective law enforcement. And the OHV riders know this. The outreach and educational efforts that are included in the law enforcement applications sound good. But the truth is that most illegal OHV riders are well aware that their activity is illegal so the stepped-up law enforcement components of the BLM proposals are vital. These include more and stronger gates, increased barriers to access (fencing, boulders, etc.) and the ongoing presence of law enforcement officers on the ground. Without funding the staffing, equipment and working shift hours contained in the BLM law enforcement proposals we have no chance to curtain the destruction caused by illegal OHV activity. The restoration proposals of the other three organization are also very important to help repair the damage done by illegal OHV activity and heal our natural resources. Climate change is already posing serious threats to the environments needed to sustain our native plants, fungi, lichens, mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, insects, spiders – and our native and transplanted humans. We are the living entities that can actively fight back. We know how to protect our ecology from the man-made destruction of illegal OHVs. We must support every effort to eliminate this threat, and give vital life back to the ecology of our planet. Noel Ragsdale - 4/30/2023

Nice group of applications making reasonable requests for worthwhile operations. On your education application, the outreach is nice, but I wonder why there are no provisions for rescue or medical activities? Maybe emergencies are rare out there? Anyway, keep up the good work. Ed Stovin - 4/25/2023

My name is Noel Ragsdale. I am a resident of Sky Valley and a member of our Community Council. Sky Valley is an unincorporated community in Riverside County. We are bounded by Joshua Tree National Park to the east and the Indio Hills to the west. We have an ongoing problem with illegal OHV activity in our community. This activity is -- as we know -- not permitted on BLM-owned land in the Indio Hills – much of which is a protected Preserve. Riverside County Ordinance 529 also prohibits motor vehicle activity on private property unless the driver has signed authorization of the owner. Despite these prohibitions, illegal OHV activity is rampant. It destroys the desert plant and animal habitat as the desert patina is torn up. The presence of these vehicles is used to intimidate local residents. Our community and our Community Council are very concerned about this ongoing problem. We have reviewed with great interest several of the OHV-related grant proposals that have been submitted to the California Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. • BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM Needles Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM El Centro Field Office – Law Enforcement Application • Joshua Tree National Park - Restoration Application • Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority - Restoration Application • Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. - Restoration Application All of these grant applications highlight the same serious problem: the increase in illegal OHV activity in wilderness, preserve, other conservation and protected areas, as well as private property – and the extent to which these activities are damaging our natural resources. The principal reason that this illegal OHV continues -- and is increasing -- is that there is no effective law enforcement. And the OHV riders know this. The outreach and educational efforts that are included in the law enforcement applications sound good. But the truth is that most illegal OHV riders are well aware that their activity is illegal so the stepped-up law enforcement components of the BLM proposals are vital. These include more and stronger gates, increased barriers to access (fencing, boulders, etc.) and the ongoing presence of law enforcement officers on the ground. Without funding the staffing, equipment and working shift hours contained in the BLM law enforcement proposals we have no chance to curtain the destruction caused by illegal OHV activity. The restoration proposals of the other three organization are also very important to help repair the damage done by illegal OHV activity and heal our natural resources. Climate change is already posing serious threats to the environments needed to sustain our native plants, fungi, lichens, mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, insects, spiders – and our native and transplanted humans. We are the living entities that can actively fight back. We know how to protect our ecology from the man-made destruction of illegal OHVs. We must support every effort to eliminate this threat, and give vital life back to the ecology of our planet. Noel Ragsdale - 4/30/2023

While looking at your LE application, I started to wonder how the open area project near Mecca is coming. I hope that project is moving and, as a reminder, I am at the ready to assist, along with the CORVA board of directors, should you need any help. I'm also wondering if there are any potential projects out in your desert such as adding staging areas or kiosks. I also wonder if you have heard anything related to Otay Mountain and the gate along Otay Lakes Road at Pio Pico Campground. I would love to open that gate again. Maybe we can write a joint letter? Ed Stovin President San Diego Off Road Coalition Director California Off Road Vehicle Association Ed Stovin - 4/25/2023

I am in support of OHV grants for the Angeles National Forest ! jonar rodrigo - 3/9/2023

I would like to comment on your grant applications on behalf of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association. This is a very reasonable application to manage a much loved OHV area. I am happy to see the volunteer hours that I was part of used for the match. What I would have also liked to see is a planning grant to make a four wheel drive trail from Pine Valley to Corral Canyon. There is currently a singletrack trail that I have recently used and enjoyed. Please start planning this 4x4 route and if you need any help, please reach out to me. I look forward to seeing you on May 6th for the trail work day. Ed Stovin - 4/30/2023

After reviewing the grant proposal I am in support of the spending and objectives. I do wish that more could get accomplished, particularly with the damage in the Elkins flat OHV area from the Caldor fire. As a 20 year volunteer in that area I look forward to moving forward to the open that area Bruce Hendrickson - 4/4/2023

The Eastern Sierra has experienced a huge increase in the numbers of people who recreate in Inyo and Mono counties and that trend it is going to continue. Many of these visitors recreate with vehicles on public lands. This proposal should be funded. The proper and efficient monitoring, maintenance, repair of level 2 roads on the forest is essential for better forest resource management and provides a rewarding OHV experience for our visitors. INF has had a huge amount of road damage because of the of record amount of snowfall we have received this past winter, and the damage is continuing due to massive snowmelt. They will need all the help they can get. As an individually has driven these forest roads for the last 30 years, I endorse the much-needed maintenance and repair work that will be done with this funding. Pat Woods - 4/29/2023

This request for funding should be approved. Inyo and Mono counties have experienced a huge increase in the numbers of people who recreate here and that trend it is going to continue. Most of these folks access the area by vehicle. Public compliance with all resource laws and regulations ensures that we will have a bountiful healthy area to enjoy for years to come. ICSO has had an effective OHV patrol for years, funded by these grants, and that should continue. Enforcement needs all the help it can get to properly patrol an area of this size and that is this remote. The contacts I have had with their officers in the field have been great. Pat Woods - 4/29/2023

Over the past three Grant Cycles the Inyo National Forest has requested $298,995 in CA OHV Grants and been awarded $328,199, that’s 110% over their request. They state in their Grant Application that they have 8 Areas of Off Road Concern, one being the Monache Meadow Area located in the South portion of their Forest. Yet in these years, and even several prior years, there have been little to no Inyo National Forest LEO’s or FPO’s presents in Monache. This “forgotten” part of their forest has become the unruly playground from OHVers coming into the area from the adjacent Sequoia National Forest. It is obvious that the Inyo National Forest is not spending their past Grants as submitted and approved by the Grant Administrators with respect this part of their Forest. IT IS REQUESTED that the Grant Administrator reduce this Grant Request by the amount designated for the South portion of their Forest and direct them to utilize the unspent approved funds from previous approve Grants. Furthermore, the reduction in funds should be distributed a more needy requestor. Dion Salfen, Monache Associates Beck/Monache Meadows Dion Salfen - 5/1/2023

This request is for the Inyo National Forest to revise their Grant Request to include and/or add an item not addressed in their current G23-02-05-G01 Grant Application. One of the major and popular areas of OHV opportunity in the South Zone of the Inyo National Forest is in Monache Meadows. This area is not only popular with the OHV community, but is visited by campers, fisherman, hunters and others using CA Green Sticker OHV vehicles. All of these activates are accessed through the Sequoia National Forest via the Monache Jeep Road, including the administrative duties of the Inyo NF required as part of their Monache Meadows management responsibilities. The Sequoia NF portion of the Monache Jeep Road (incorrectly identified by the SNF as 34E38) is 2.3 miles in length and becomes Inyo National Forest Road 20S03 at Snake Creek. The Sequoia NF portion of this road has no purpose other than to provide access into the Monache Meadow Area of the Inyo NF. The Management of the Sequoia National Forest, specifically the Kern River Ranger District, has taken it upon themselves not to maintain this traditional 4WD roadway into the Inyo National Forest. The Sequoia portion of the Monache Jeep Road can no longer support travel by USFS Type 3 Fire Engines (previously used by Sequoia, rescue, and Inyo, fire suppression) or other Emergency vehicles. It is requested that the Inyo National Forest revise this Grant Request (-G01), or add an additional Grant Request (-G02) to provide for the REPAIR and Maintenance of the SNF portion of the Monache Jeep Road. This request would be consistent with the Ground Operations, current and past, conducted by the Inyo NF on their portion of this essential motorway. Dion Salfen, Monache Associates Beck/Monache Meadows Dion Salfen - 5/1/2023

I would like to see at least a 66" or less trail going out of the Middle Creek campground for the side by side (SxS) riders. As it is now, there are two 50" or less trails going out of the Middle Creek campground connecting to the Lower Deer Valley road which connects you to the rest of the Mendocino National Forest. As it is now, the only place the SxS riders can camp and ride out of is the Deer Valley camp, which is several miles down a dirt dusty or muddy road. This is hard on vehicles and equipment. The 50" or less riders have 2 nice camps right off the paved road. Penny Pines and Middle Creek campground. The SxS riding has become more popular over time for aging (ex-bike riders) and other people. It would be nice if the MNFS could move with the times and open up one of the two 50" or less trails out of the Middle Creek campground.. Craig Van Housen - 4/8/2023

The Mendocino NF area above Upper Lake Ca. was devastated by wildfires during the last 6 years causing great damage to the roads, trails and camp sites. Major repairs are needed to clear fallen trees, slides and debris and to much for small volunteer group like PWORA (Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance). The safety of all that use the Mendocino NF should be the first concern for this grant. Thank you Bret Joyner Member American Motorcycle Association #42327 (lifetime) Marin County Motorcycle Association #38 (lifetime) PWORA Bret Joyner - 4/9/2023

more single track trails.& trail maintenance this is my money and that where i want it to go! damon beck - 4/11/2023

Over the past three Grant Cycles the Sequoia National Forest has requested $2,757,898 in CA OHV Grants and been awarded $2,716,871, that’s 98+% of their request for Ground Operations. We have serious concerns as to how the Kern River Ranger District (KRRD) has spent their portion of the CA OHV Grant moneys in the past and how they plan on spending their current Grant Request. It is difficult to determine how much of the request Grant will be spent/allocated to the Kern Plateau. Using a ratio of their stated OHV trails/roads on the KRRD to the total OHV trails/roads listed for the entire Forest it can be estimated that approximately 54% or $417,606 of the Ground Operations Grant Request is planned for the Kern River Ranger District. A significant portion of this will be used for the 4 person Trail Crew stationed at Blake Rock Ranger Station. An extremely popular, if not the most popular, OHV Road / Trail on the Kern Plateau within the KRRD is the Monache Jeep Road. The Monache 4x4 Jeep Road is a shared road between the Sequoia National Forest and the Inyo National Forest. Besides providing “Green Sticker” opportunities this road connects to the southern portion of the Inyo National to their recreational area on the South Fork of the Kern River in Monache Meadow. Additionally this road provides the sole access to numerous Private Inholdings and Range Permitee Operations. It has been more that 8 years since any concerted effort to maintain the Monache Jeep Road by the KRRD has occurred. The lack of annual maintenance on the part of the KRRD and the increased use by the OHV community (Jeep/ATV/Motorcycle/UTV) has made this important road nearly impassible in several areas. As a result, several “user created” bypasses have been established utilizing the historical route of the original Monache Jeep Road. For the past several years the Black Rock Trail Crew has spend many hours, and wasted considerable CA OHV funds, attempting to block these less demanding bypass routes rather than productively using the CA OHV Grant Funds to FIX the BASIC PROBLEM. Due to an administrative error on the part of the Cannell Meadow Ranger District (renamed the Kern River Ranger District) the Monache Jeep Road and a companion motorcycle trail where temporarily rerouted to accommodate logging operations in the 1970s -1980s. Upon completion of the logging activities the CMRD did not return the Monache Jeep Road to its’ original route and its’ “Road” designation but used the “Trail” designator of the former motorcycle trail. The Kern River Ranger District Management and Recreation Staff have taken the position that the Monache Jeep Road is a “Trail” and a “Road” had have refused to properly maintain or return its’ character to the pre-logging road way. It should be pointed out that the INF portion of the Monache Jeep Road is considered and correctly designated by the Inyo National Forest as a “Forest Road”. It is puzzling, if the Monache Jeep Road is a “TRAIL” then why isn’t the Black Rock Trail Crew maintaining it? It is requested that the OHV Grant Administrators direct the SNF to revise and update their Ground Operations Grant Request, prior to approval, to provide specific tasks/activities to correct and fix the nearly impassible sections of their portion of the Monache Jeep Road so that additional CA OHV Grant funds are not wasted on unnecessary alternate route blocking by the Kern River Ranger District personnel. Dion Salfen, Monache Associates Beck/Monache Meadows Dion Salfen - 5/1/2023

This is in regard the request for public comments via the Motherlode.com daily news in response to the grants for the forest. We use the forest alot, riding ATVs, Hunting, Fishing, Jeeping, hiking. We would like to suggest the following: The trails need to be better marked, also care needs to be taken for emergencies, Fire, getting lost etc...No cell service and no way to call anyone. There needs to be more staging areas for parking and unloading. There are no print outs of maps, you need a hard copy map of all the trails with you at all times. We use onX which is an app but we pay for that because the maps you have don't show private party or other important info. We need single track loops which have 50" or less wide trails. We need one way loops. There also needs to be a plan for the future of E bikes and E ATVs, a charging station where you have a code that you pay kind of like a Fast Track for getting across the bay bridge. Anyone who litters or simply just leaves their trash should be a triple fine and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Bring it in, pack it out!!! Also at some time we are sharing the forest with the hunters, like in Hull Creek the Hunters should have priority so that they can harvest a deer without the sounds of ATVs, Jeeps etc... and we the riders don't get shot. Any other questions you can contact us at the email address above or call me 415/537-0794 Shelly Keith Taxpayer and Lover of the Outdoors Shelly Keith - 3/26/2023

Need to take out transportation request for mileage and add in an amount for maintenance of equipment used during restoration. Casey Jardine - 3/27/2023

The Stanislaus NF needs to put in an amount for costs of maintenance of snowmobiles, UTV, ATV, Motorcycles. For annual maintenance, new tires, batteries etc. Casey Jardine - 3/27/2023

I am writing to express my support of the Stanislaus National Forest receiving grant funds from the state. They have done excellent work in the past using state grant funds and I look forward to the completion of future projects. The Stanislaus National Forest is a great place to ride OHVs and I look forward to recreating on their trails all summer long. Aaron James - 4/12/2023

I am writing to express my support of the Stanislaus National Forest receiving grant funds from the state. They have done excellent work in the past using state grant funds and I look forward to the completion of future projects. The Stanislaus National Forest is a great place to ride OHVs and I look forward to recreating on their trails all summer long. Aaron James - 4/12/2023

I am writing to express my support of the Stanislaus National Forest receiving grant funds from the state. They have done excellent work in the past using state grant funds and I look forward to the completion of future projects. The Stanislaus National Forest is a great place to ride OHVs and I look forward to recreating on their trails all summer long. Aaron James - 4/12/2023

I urge this grant be awarded. As a lifelong Stanislaus National Forest user I am very concerned by the virtual non-existence of road maintenance of these National Forest roads, especially with the increased use and degragdecion by non-highway-legal OHVs. Since these forest roads where opened to "green sticker" vehicles, many parts are have become all but impassable because of aggressive driving of purpose built OHVs. With the damage caused making it difficult for us in our high-clearance 4X4s to access our favorite remote locations and explore new ones. As sections of roads and trails degrade and parts become deeply rutted and eroded, users begin to drive around the bad spots further spoiling the road, the forest and making more work for a repair regimen (if any). I am appalled that the road from Hermit Valley towards Blue Lake is utterly destroyed, usable only by by a determined driver of a custom "rock crawler". Why is use of this scenic and unusual route being ceded to only a handful of hardcore off roaders? I have spoken with a number of forest service personnel about these problems many times over the past several years and their answer is always, they don't have the resources... I urge this grant be awarded and hope for more grant awards in the future, as the need for maintenance will be an ongoing issue. Stuart Littell - 5/1/2023

I urge this grant be awarded. Damage by OHV use is rampant throughout the Stanislaus National Forest and all of California. Very little is being done about it. Especially in proportion to the problem. Our family, as forest users, are impacted by OHV use; the damage to roadways, damage to ares where OHVs are driven off roads, our being forced off the road by speeding vehicles, noise and exhaust, all degrade our visits to SNF. I'd like to point to Line Item 2.3 on the project cost estimate where they want to restore up 20 areas to protect against OHV incursions, this is an on-going problem and as forest users we would like to see more being done. Again, I urge that this grant be awarded and would like to see a permanent annual grant to the Stanislaus National Forest to offset the damage caused by OHV use. Stuart Littell - 5/1/2023

Over the past three Grant Cycles the Inyo National Forest has requested $298,995 in CA OHV Grants and been awarded $328,199, that’s 110% over their request. They state in their Grant Application that they have 8 Areas of Off Road Concern, one being the Monache Meadow Area located in the South portion of their Forest. Yet in these years, and even several prior years, there have been little to no Inyo National Forest LEO’s or FPO’s presents in Monache. This “forgotten” part of their forest has become the unruly playground from OHVers coming into the area from the adjacent Sequoia National Forest. It is obvious that the Inyo National Forest is not spending their past Grants as submitted and approved by the Grant Administrators with respect this part of their Forest. IT IS REQUESTED that the Grant Administrator reduce this Grant Request by the amount designated for the South portion of their Forest and direct them to utilize the unspent approved funds from previous approve Grants. Furthermore, the reduction in funds should be distributed to a more needy requestor. Dion Salfen, Monache Associates Beck/Monache Meadows Dion Salfen - 5/1/2023

Over the past three Grant Cycles the Inyo National Forest has requested $298,995 in CA OHV Grants and been awarded $328,199, that’s 110% over their request. They state in their Grant Application that they have 8 Areas of Off Road Concern, one being the Monache Meadow Area located in the South portion of their Forest. Yet in these years, and even several prior years, there have been little to no Inyo National Forest LEO’s or FPO’s presents in Monache. This “forgotten” part of their forest has become the unruly playground from OHVers coming into the area from the adjacent Sequoia National Forest. It is obvious that the Inyo National Forest is not spending their past Grants as submitted and approved by the Grant Administrators with respect this part of their Forest. IT IS REQUESTED that the Grant Administrator reduce this Grant Request by the amount designated for the South portion of their Forest and direct them to utilize the unspent approved funds from previous approve Grants. Furthermore, the reduction in funds should be distributed to a more needy requestor. Dion Salfen, Monache Associates Beck/Monache Meadows Dion Salfen - 5/1/2023

I am writing to express my support of the Stanislaus National Forest receiving grant funds from the state. They have done excellent work in the past using state grant funds and I look forward to seeing folks out on the trail patrolling and maintaining public safety. The Stanislaus National Forest is a great place to ride OHVs and I look forward to recreating on their trails all summer long. I appreciate the work that the Forest Protection Officers and Law Enforcement Officers do to keep the public safe out on the trails. Aaron James - 4/12/2023

I am writing to express my support of the Stanislaus National Forest receiving grant funds from the state. They have done excellent work in the past using state grant funds and I look forward to seeing folks out on the trail patrolling and maintaining public safety. The Stanislaus National Forest is a great place to ride OHVs and I look forward to recreating on their trails all summer long. I appreciate the work that the Forest Protection Officers and Law Enforcement Officers do to keep the public safe out on the trails. Aaron James - 4/12/2023

Much needed and I am in support of this for our county. I am a volunteer on the Alpine County Search and Rescue and see the need for this greater and greater every year. More people want to enjoy our beautiful and remote county but end up going out un prepared and needing help. Staffing and tools are important to keeping people safe and allows the deputies to get to them much quicker which is necessary in a bad situation. Angela Franklin - 5/1/2023

Much needed and I am in support of this for our county. I am a volunteer on the Alpine County Search and Rescue and see the need for this greater and greater every year. More people want to enjoy our beautiful and remote county but end up going out un prepared and needing help. Staffing and tools are important to keeping people safe and allows the deputies to get to them much quicker which is necessary in a bad situation. Angela Franklin - 5/1/2023

Dear California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, On behalf of the non-profit Friends of the Dunes and our more than 1,000 members and supporters who care deeply for the Humboldt County community and environment, I am writing to express strong support for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office's (HCSO) 2023 application to your grant program. As a coastal dune landowner and conservation partner, Friends of the Dunes works to ensure appropriate public access to the coastal dunes of the Humboldt Bay region and provide free educational programs to the community, including to thousands of K-12 students every year. The HCSO, since it has been funded by this grant, has been an instrumental partner in ensuring safe and appropriate access to Humboldt's beaches and dunes for literally thousands of people, including every single K-12 student who visits the dunes on an educational field trip. Under this grant, the HCSO runs a comprehensive, community-based program that engages all stakeholders, educates the community, and provides clear direction about which areas OHVs are allowed and are not allowed (we have both kinds of areas here in Humboldt Bay). The OHV Patrol Deputy for HCSO whose position is supported by this grant does an outstanding job of working with private and public landowners of the coastal dunes-- and with recreationists of all backgrounds-- to solve problems, avoid disputes, build a safe and inclusive community, enforce laws when necessary, and ensure safe and appropriate access for everyone, all while protecting the natural and cultural resources of this remarkable place. We deeply appreciate the investment you have made so far in Humboldt County through this grant program, and we urge you to fully fund the 2023 HCSO grant application to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. Thank you for your consideration of these comments, and thank you for your thoughtful consideration of full funding for the 2023 HCSO grant application. Sincerely, Mike Cipra Executive Director Friends of the Dunes Mike Cipra - 3/7/2023

I feel that the ohv patrol has been detrimental to samoa and the Peninsula, the fire district has worked hand and hand with the deputies in many occasions including removing abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping and illegal burns on the beaches, I feel that if this program were to go away things would go back to the way they were and that's unacceptable. The presence of law enforcement also deters any that want to commit crime. I hope that this helps in your decision. Troy smith - 3/8/2023

Greetings, I'm a fifth generation Humboldt Resident, My family is the oldest family still living and working on the Samoa Peninsula. I am on the Board of the Samoa Peninsula Service District that operates the Samoa Peninsula Fire District. We respond to all beach, wildland fires, accidents, OHV accidents, environmental issues, trespassing, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, search and recuse issues. We work closely, and very much appreciate and NEED, the Humboldt County Sheriff Department's OHV program. The work they do on education, enforcement, and their patrols have made a significant improvement to our peninsula. We all are working on saving the protected dunes for our abundant wildlife, water rising, tsunami protection and keeping the area safe and clean for all to enjoy. The amount of recreational use we are getting on the peninsula is increasing each year and with the large proposed industrial development coming we need OHV program. I fully support and encourage this grant. Leroy Zerlang Samoa Peninsula Community Service District, Board Member Humboldt Harbor Safety Committee, Chairman Business owner, Resident Samoa Peninsula Leroy Zerlang - 3/8/2023

As a business owner and resident of Humboldt County, on the Samoa peninsula specifically, I am submitting this comment in favor of G23-03-11-L01. It is an unfortunate fact of life in these times that many individuals have little or no respect for public property. In this case, it would be the beaches and wooded areas of the Samoa peninsula. Hardly a day goes by when there is not a pile of trash, abandoned vehicle or RV somewhere along New navy Base Road. This occurs in spite of signage, k-rails blocking access and volunteer fire department and citizen patrols monitoring public areas. Approval of the requested grant, would maintain the presence of an HCSO deputy assigned to patrol and respond to incidents on the peninsula, which is absolutely necessary to keep the situation well in hand. Otherwise, we will end up with squatters, trash, abandoned vehicles, and increased crime and vandalism, which is partially attributed to a low income housing project out here that was recently completed. With spring upon us, the transient RV community will be taking station on the beaches here, soon. Approval of this grant will help alleviate the situation with a law enforcement presence. Unless one actually views it, the amount of trash generated by these humans is unbelievable; especially in the short amount of time it takes to accumulate. This is not only an eyesore, but the cost to remove it and abandoned vehicles becomes significant; and for the most part should not have to happen. Please consider approving this grant. Those of us who live and work on the Samoa Peninsula will be grateful for this. Thank you for taking the time to read this comment. Luke Lucariello Alpha Diving Industries Finnetown, California Luke Lucariello - 3/10/2023

My name is Lynda Stockton. I am the Stranding Co-Ordinator for the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center. We cover the coastline from the Oregon border to Shelter Cove. I have been the coordinator for over 15 years. During that time I have seen our beaches go from great, when we had what I call the "Beach Sheriff ", (Charlie Lamb) to the wild, wild west with no patrol. During the wild, wild west, I feared for myself, the volunteers with our organization and the marine mammals we responded to for rescue. I would sometimes get harassed by 4x4 people, fishermen, or just beach goers in general. We now have the "Beach Sheriff" (Raleigh Willoughby) and it has been a life savor, not only for our well being, but the well being for all other beach goers, their families and the marine mammals alike. There have been times where I utilize the Sheriff's service to help rescue very sick and endangered seals and sea lions, cutting the rescue time in half, saving their lives. I know what it's like to not have them out there. Please keep this going as I feel it is a vital part of keeping the beauty, people, and marine mammals safe in Humboldt county. Lynda Stockton Stranding Co-Ordinator Northcoast Marine Mammal Center 707-951-4722 Lynda Stockton - 3/12/2023

Please continue to fund OHV Patrol Deputy and his associated program. They are integral on responding to issues on local beaches and keeping the public safe especially on long stretches of beach where access is limited. If there was a medical emergency, I do not know how else emergency personnel would be able to reach them without this program. I have also seen many high speed OHV violations on several of our local beaches, endangering public users and wildlife. Continuing to fund this program will help enforce these violators and hopefully make our beaches safer to recreate in the future. David - 3/16/2023

As the Deputy Refuge Manager for Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, please consider the following comments in support of continued OHV grant funding for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge consists of several management units, including our Lanphere and Ma-le’l dunes units. These are remote coastal habitats, supporting federally endangered plant species unique to this area. These rare habitats, and their associated species, are sensitive to disturbance, especially human trampling and OHV use. Due to budgetary constraints, the Refuge does not have on-site law enforcement presence. We therefore rely upon important partnerships with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Land Management, and private conservation originations. Recently, trespass ORV use occurred on both our Lanphere and Ma-le’l dunes units. Extensive tire tracks were documented through habitat for the critically endangered Humboldt Bay Wallflower. In this case, visitors observed individuals illegally driving on the Refuge and portions of the adjacent beach closed to ORV use. The incident was reported to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Raleigh Willoughby happened to be in the area and promptly responded, citing the offending individuals. Due to the remoteness of this area, it is very challenging to catch individuals trespassing on the Refuge and adjacent lands. Without the support of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, there is little doubt that the offending individuals would have gotten away, with likely trespass occurrences in the future. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge and our adjacent partnering land management organizations and agencies are tremendously grateful for the support of Deputy Raleigh Willoughby and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office! Continued OHV grant funding is an important component of habitat protection and public safety in Humboldt County. Jason Storlie - 3/16/2023

I am a resident of Fairhaven, Ca. It’s only a few minutes drive from Samoa OHV and recreation area. I use this resource multiple times a week to fish, surf, walk dogs, and OHV my quad runner. It is very important to have enforcement and a law presence in this area. It keeps people in check and the safety up. I’ve only had good experiences with the law enforcement out here. Please keep the funding for this area, we have very little resources and enforcement already and it would be a tragedy. John Nicolini - 3/18/2023

My name is Suzie Fortner & I am the Programs & Operations Director at Friends of the Dunes, a non-profit organization in Humboldt County. I am writing to express my full support of this grant and the work it funds. A law enforcement officer dedicated to OHV use is necessary & essential in Humboldt County. We need more than one, but one is better than none. OHV use in Humboldt County, especially in our coastal dune systems, had gone unenforced for too long and as a result OHV users developed a sense of lawlessness while riding in the dunes. Off-road vehicles often wander from designated areas into sensitive dunes environments & hiking areas. Not only is this incredibly unsafe for hikers & equestrians, it also destroys habitat that is essential for multiple threatened & endangered species including the Western snowy plover, Menzies wallflower, beach layia, & dark-eyed gilia. Due to development and encroachment of invasive plants, these federally protected species have very limited areas of restored dune habitat where they can thrive. This is why we have areas that are designated for riding & other that are designated for conservation & restoration. Having they Sherriff's office assist with OHV patrol is essential both for the safety of community members recreating in the dunes & for the protection of sensitive habitat & species. Suzie Fortner - 3/26/2023

California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division 1725 23rd St, Suite 200 Sacramento, California 95816-7100 Subject: Humboldt County Sheriff Office patrols to benefit the western snowy plover To Whom It May Concern: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supports the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office grant request for their Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) patrol unit. Not only will the increased patrol frequency by the sheriff and deputies better protect local public and private lands from recreators that are not adhering to regulations, but the patrols will also better help protect the federally threatened western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus). Western snowy plovers (plovers) have been listed as federally threatened since 1993. As such, there is an ongoing recovery effort for the species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its many partners. Within Humboldt County, plovers are found year-round on sand spits, dune-backed and open beaches, and at creek and river mouths. Plovers nest on the ground in these places, with very inconspicuous nests that may not be noticed by the general public. Activities such as beach fires, camping, and disturbance of breeding plovers by both pedestrians and motorized vehicles are listed as primary drivers of species decline in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Plan finalized in 2007. Motorized vehicles, including OHVs, are particularly dangerous to plovers because entire nests can be run over. OHV use can also cause adult birds to abandon active nests due to stress. Designated Critical Habitat, areas essential to conservation and recovery, can also be negatively impacted by the destruction of sensitive native dune vegetation caused by illegal OHV use in these areas. Humboldt County OHV trails and beaches cover hundreds of square miles and receive as many as 500,000 visitors in a single year. The current OHV patrol staff has been understaffed for some time. The funds from this grant will help reduce illegal OHV use within Humboldt County by providing additional funding for more deputies to help cover the vast OHV trail network, while also increasing the frequency of patrols. The funds for this grant will provision officers with additional Personal Protective Equipment and will allow two officers to patrol together, which is a critical safety standard for OHV patrollers in remote locations. Additionally, the increased OHV patrol frequency will provide coverage to help curb illegal activities being conducted in areas where plovers are present. The Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office supports the additional staff and safety equipment received through the funds from this grant. The new staff and increased patrols will have a direct, positive benefit to the federally threatened western snowy plover. Regular officer patrols will ensure OHV users and other recreators adhere to laws relevant to plover conservation. We will be available to support the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office with training for working in plover breeding habitat and information on conservation efforts. If you have any further questions, please contact Micah Ashford of my staff at micah_ashford@fws.gov. Sincerely, Greg Schrott Acting Field Supervisor Micah Ashford - 4/17/2023

I would like to comment on your grant applications on behalf of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association. This is a good looking set of applications. I questioned the need for a $130,000 V8 sand car to some friends. One of them said that you need that to chase bad guys out in the dunes. Without a vehicle like that, many bad guys could simply run away from you. The amount you ask for for the truck seems excessive, but I don't know truck values or what modifications you do. I like the safety and education grants. On the education, would it be possible for you to travel to classrooms in the east side of San Diego, like El Cajon, Lakeside and Santee? That is where a lot of Imperial County visitors come from. On the safety application, I think you are leaving some money on the table. You mention using Silverado trucks for rescue. Did you know you can functionally "rent" the use of those to the state in the course of your work and use those rental fees as match for a larger application? Thanks for keeping us safe and orderly out there in the valley. Ed Stovin Ed Stovin - 4/30/2023

Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional Districting has all changed due to re-districting, and should be amended. AB 628 is referred to in both the Proposed Project and Project Coverage portions of the application. AB 628 expired on January 1, 2017, so the reference to that bill is outdated and inaccurate. The pilot project, which presently allows OHV traffic (combined use) on 7 Inyo County roads continues due to SB 402. The intention of AB 628 was to provide OHV linkage between private businesses and federal lands. That intention has been amended in SB 402 to evaluate if a combined use system is workable in Inyo County. To date, the pilot project has caused enough confusion among OHV riders, law enforcement, and the public that OHVs are regularly heard and seen on most county roads in Inyo County. The Inyo County Sheriff has their hands full with attempting to impact the illegal OHV traffic. I support their application for funding, and I hope they will use the money to enforce the California Vehicle Code throughout Inyo County--especially the OHV traffic in neighborhoods. Margy - 4/5/2023

This request for funding should be approved. Inyo and Mono counties have experienced a huge increase in the numbers of people who recreate here and that trend it is going to continue. Most of these folks access the area by vehicle. Public compliance with all resource laws and regulations ensures that we will have a bountiful healthy area to enjoy for years to come. ICSO has had an effective OHV patrol for years, funded by these grants, and that should continue. Enforcement needs all the help it can get to properly patrol an area of this size and that is this remote. The contacts I have had with their officers in the field have been great. Pat Woods - 4/29/2023

I Patrick J Buxton am a tax paying citizen of LA county. I know plenty of people including kids that ride/operate ohv vehicles on back roads, where it is in no way harming anything or anyone. I am against funding taxpayers money into ohv sheriffs dual sport motorcycles. If they were used to catch truly illegal activities I might support the grant although that is not the case. Seems that when a sheriff is on the same trail it is legal and when a kid enjoying a trail near their home is given a citation for doing so that is purely wrong? I believe that if the ohv vehicle is registered and not trespassing there should be no problem. Thank you for your time and consideration, -Patrick Buxton Patrick buxton - 3/6/2023

I Patrick J Buxton am a tax paying citizen of LA county. I know plenty of people including kids that ride/operate ohv vehicles on back roads, where it is in no way harming anything or anyone. I am against funding taxpayers money into ohv sheriffs dual sport motorcycles. If they were used to catch truly illegal activities I might support the grant although that is not the case. Seems that when a sheriff is on the same trail it is legal and when a kid enjoying a trail near their home is given a citation for doing so that is purely wrong? I believe that if the ohv vehicle is registered and not trespassing there should be no problem. Thank you for your time and consideration, -Patrick Buxton Patrick Buxton - 3/6/2023

I Patrick J Buxton am a tax paying citizen of LA county. I know plenty of people including kids that ride/operate ohv vehicles on back roads, where it is in no way harming anything or anyone. I am against funding taxpayers money into ohv sheriffs dual sport motorcycles. If they were used to catch truly illegal activities I might support the grant although that is not the case. Seems that when a sheriff is on the same trail it is legal and when a kid enjoying a trail near their home is given a citation for doing so that is purely wrong? I believe that if the ohv vehicle is registered and not trespassing there should be no problem. Thank you for your time and consideration, -Patrick Buxton Patrick Buxton - 3/6/2023

I strongly support this grant for resources to fund our OHV law enforcement. Our area (Acton CA) has inadequate resources to enforce illegal OHV trespassing on our private property and surrounding land. The illegal and dangerous actions of irresponsible and lawless OHV riders put our safety and property at risk. Thank You, Karen O’Reilly Karen O’Reilly - 3/6/2023

This letter is to support continued and increased grant funding of the Santa Clarita Sheriff's Department Off Road team. I have been extensively involved in our area (Haskell Canyon between Bouquet Canyon and Copper Hill) regarding prevention of trespassing on the LADWP land and private land near our 121 unit Condo development. These areas are largely unmonitored. Not too long ago a man was found deceased in the culvert behind Albertsons Market. Prior to that one of the owners in our development saw a light shining in the LADWP land (at night) went to investigate, and found a man who said he was sleeping there. The body found in the culvert may have been him. In addition, the last thing we need is a homeless person starting a fire to keep warm. The entire city will go up in flames. We had a group of competitive dirt bike riders rake out a track on the LADWP land and the Off Road team was instrumental in chasing down the offenders and speaking with their parents. In addition, on private land leading into the local SRA, trespassers have been getting into the brushy area through a fence that is in disrepair. Code enforcement is helping us work with the owner to replace the fence. We need increased monitoring of these areas near us to protect both life and property and to prevent a wildfire. We appeal to you to increase the number of Sheriff's assigned to this team and increase funding for appropriate off road vehicles. This is one of the best ways to utilize public monies I have heard of in many years and support them without reservation. Thank you very much for your consideration, Randye Kay PhD, MPA Randye Kay - 3/7/2023

Education programs are essential to informing the public of their rights, and allowing others to understand that people need access to the trails on their pubic lands. Les Roberts - 3/9/2023

The LA Sherriff Dept. task force has been so helpful in making the equestrian trails safe for horses and people like hikers, bike riders. Prior to contacting the Sherriff’s Dept. each day more than half a dozen dirt bike riders were speeding on the trails, making jumps, and traveling at speeds that made it imposible to avoid their presence. The team of deputies has been working with our barn, and others to keep the trails that are not for motorized vehicles safe for those of us who are allowed to use the trails. Since I called the Sherriff’s Dept., the deputies patrolling the area has decreased the number of vehicles. Their continued presence is the only thing maintaining the balance. Because of this program, I feel safer. My horse is safer. My friends are safer. Please continue to fund this important element of law enforcement. Ginger DeValue - 3/19/2023

I really appreciate the work that the sheriff department has been doing in patrolling the trails and hills around the San Francisquito Open Space. I hike and bike in the area and my wife and her friends ride horses on these trails. Thier patrols have made the trails much safer and allowed us to use them without worry of being pushed off of the trails by the motorized vehicles that are not permitted in the area. Michael DeValue - 3/19/2023

From my perspective as a long-term property owner on Devils Head County Road in the Knoxville Recreation Area, it is my opinion that the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team continues to do an excellent job of providing much needed law enforcement in the area. In reality, the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team is the only law enforcement presence in the Knoxville area. The Napa County Sheriff’s patrols have greatly reduced illegal OHV use and their presence has also significantly reduced accidents involving illegal OHV use on Devils Head County Road and other BLM roads, trespass onto private property, and minors riding and racing OHVs. The OHV team has also greatly improved an almost complete disregard by some OHV operators for the use of Devils Head County Road by local property owners and the general public. In this remote location, the patrolling by the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team also helps to significantly reduce other illegal activity including unlawful firearms discharge, trespassing on private property, illegal hunting and garbage dumping. With only limited cell phone service and no land lines, property owners and the general public are totally dependent on the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team in the event of a medical emergency, law enforcement issue, or violence of any type. We property owners highly value the law enforcement presence provided by the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team. We strongly support the Napa County Sheriff’s Office 2023 application for grant funds from the California Off Highway Motor Vehicle Division. James Erasmy Devils Head County Road James Erasmy - 4/18/2023

From my perspective as a long-term property owner on Devils Head County Road in the Knoxville Recreation Area, it is my opinion that the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team continues to do an excellent job of providing much needed law enforcement in the area. In reality, the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team is the only law enforcement presence in the Knoxville area. The Napa County Sheriff’s patrols have greatly reduced illegal OHV use and their presence has also significantly reduced accidents involving illegal OHV use on Devils Head County Road and other BLM roads, trespass onto private property, and minors riding and racing OHVs. The OHV team has also greatly improved an almost complete disregard by some OHV operators for the use of Devils Head County Road by local property owners and the general public. In this remote location, the patrolling by the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team also helps to significantly reduce other illegal activity including unlawful firearms discharge, trespassing on private property, illegal hunting and garbage dumping. With only limited cell phone service and no land lines, property owners and the general public are totally dependent on the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team in the event of a medical emergency, law enforcement issue, or violence of any type. We property owners highly value the law enforcement presence provided by the Napa County Sheriff’s Department OHV team. We strongly support the Napa County Sheriff’s Office 2023 application for grant funds from the California Off Highway Motor Vehicle Division. James Erasmy Devils Head County Road James Erasmy - 4/18/2023

I fully support the request by the NCSO for funding to patrol the Knoxville OHV recreation area (KRA), and to fix/maintain/provide equipment and uniforms. The presence of patrolling NCSO deputies in the KRA is a great deterrent to illegal activities. The fact that the team uses motorcycles and off-road worthy equipment is especially effective, as it enables team members to access all parts of the recreation area. There is a tendency for the KRA to attract people seeking remote but accessible areas to engage in activities that are damaging to the land, neighboring properties, and the recreating public. Without the NCSO patrol, these activities would escalate over time. Please provide the requested funds to the NCSO. The recreating public appreciates it, and it provides law enforcement and a sense of safety in an area that otherwise would not receive it, making the area safe for enjoyment by families and law abiding OHV recreators. Catherine Koehler - 4/22/2023

As a resident of Plumas County, I support the Plumas County Search and Rescue team financially with a small annual donation. I'm always especially grateful for their response to people who aren't prepared for our county's natural hazards, but they are equally important to us mountain residents. Being able to purchase two snowmobiles and a trailer will allow this group to continue saving lives and keeping Plumas County a great place to visit and to live. Please consider this grant application favorably! Thank you, Marty Walters Quincy, California Martha Walters - 3/7/2023

I support this grant because it creates recreation opportunities for visitors and locals, creates local employment, creates sustainable trail systems that require less maintenance and keeps trails open and safe while protecting watershed. It also brings local revenue to local rural communities in need. Stephen Scheer - 3/8/2023

I support this grant because it creates recreation opportunities for visitors and locals, creates local employment, creates sustainable trail systems that require less maintenance and keeps trails open and safe while protecting watershed. It also brings local revenue to local rural communities in need. Stephen Scheer - 3/8/2023

I've recently moved back to California from the East Coast and I must say the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is one of those organizations I'm proud to support. From creating some of the best trails in northern California, helping mountain communities thrive, and creating trails that are sustainably managed. They truly are making a difference. I first learned about the trails they've create back in the early 2000s when I was a college student at Chico State. To this day, I still frequent the trails on various bicycles and motorcycles. Having access to both makes these trails special and magical. Please! Please! Please, think of the SBTS and leverage their abilities to better California's trails. They are a huge resource! Kyle Edwards - 3/8/2023

I support this grant as a moto, mt biker and hiker. This is good for our families and is a needed recreational program. Alan Walls - 3/8/2023

The trails are a critical resource for Californians that enjoy recreating in the forest. As someone who sits behind a desk all day in the suburbs, I daydream of the fresh air and time with my friends as a way to enjoy adventure and experience what CA has to offer. These small communities rely on visitors to come and experience and experience what the area has to offer as help support the local small businesses and employment for locals. One thing I specifically admire about the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship/Plumas County is their mission to create sustainable trails that offer a wonderful experience but also help maintain a healthy forest. The trail system and the people that support it are all looking out for the best interest in having a resource that will last for generations. I highly encourage these grants to be approved as we really look forward to coming back, making memories and enjoying a meal and spending my personal funds to support these small communities. Thank you, Keith Collins Keith Collins - 3/8/2023

Please approve these very reasonable costs in order to help maintain the Preserve! Thank you, Marty Reed marty reed - 3/8/2023

Please approve this grant! Thank you, Marty Reed marty reed - 3/8/2023

This program must be funded, as single track trails open for motorized use are critical, as the stewards of these trails do great work in maintaining them and people like myself enjoy the opportunity to ride the trails safely. This program serves everyone, and there must be trails where motorized vehicles can have access, or else, we have dangerous crowding where it isn't necessary. Les Roberts - 3/9/2023

Please support the OHV grant for Plumas county for Ground Operations. This grant will help keep our trails in top notch shape for our ever-growing number of visiting recreators, as well as our locals that use the trails consistently. Maintaining the trails continually will keep a sustainable trail system, employ local citizens, and protect our watersheds. Our trails are the future of our region, and we need this support. I love these trails personally, and they are so important to my lifestyle, health, and my family. Kyle Stone - 3/9/2023

As an active outdoors person in Plumas County, I fully support the Plumas County Search and Rescue Team purchasing two new snowmobiles and a trailer for the local team to utilize. This will allow the SAR Team to expand their Winter Patrols in high-use areas, and improve their response times and SAR capabilities. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. -Cynthia Lusk Cynthia Lusk - 3/9/2023

I am in support of Plumas County’s annual Ground Operations grant Kevin C Sevier - 3/9/2023

I'm writing as a supporter of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship's (SBTS) partnership with the Plumas National Forest to maintain over 70 miles of motorized and multi-use trails in Plumas County. Quincy and Downieville are my family's favorite destination for dirt bike recreation. We have been coming to the area for over 10 years and it's truly a special area for us. The SBTS does a remarkable job keeping the trails maintained, safe in an environmentally responsible manner. There are clear tactics they use to lessen the environmental impact from and protect watersheds. Please consider this as one of many voices in favor of supporting the SBTS and Plumas National Forest as a recipient of OHV grants. Thank you! Lars Pave - 3/13/2023

I'd like to show my strong support for this grant request. Plumas County, The Plumas National Forest, and the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship have long demonstrated a successful partnership that has benefited trail users. The work done do date is nothing short of spectacular and this Ground Operations Grant will go a long ways towards maintaining the trail network. I look forward to volunteering on Trail Days to support this grant investment. Thank You Ron Heard - 3/29/2023

I fully support Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship receiving the Plumas County Grant for trail maintenance in the Plumas National Forest. The trails are important for recreation, employment, and economic impact in the area. SBTS has done a great job creating sustainable trail systems and the proposed maintenance activities are necessary to keep these trails in good condition, especially considering the historic winter we've just had and the impact the Dixie Fire has had on the project areas. A strong, solid base of well managed trails is a great step toward the larger Connected Communities vision. I strongly encourage CA-OHV to support the Plumas County grant request for the benefit of the environment, local communities, and outdoor enthusiasts. Cory Maier - 3/29/2023

Plumas County has been especially hard hit by wildfires in recent years, affecting tourism in the small towns that depend on visitors for financial support. It has also created an adverse impact on erosion and deadfall. The multi-use trails throughout the area are at risk without preventive maintenance to prevent washouts and trail re-routes that will cause further resource damage. Erik Forberg - 4/6/2023

I am long-time resident of northern California (resident of SF for past 35 years) and a frequent visitor (along with my wife, son and daughter) to Plumas County and the Plumas National Forest surrounding Quincy. I wanted to express my strong support for this grant proposal. Approving this grant proposal is vital to enabling the continuation (and completion) of the trail maintenance efforts that have been undertaken by the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship organization in Collaboration with Plumas National Forest and Plumas County. I offer my support, first, as a frequent visitor who is excited at the prospect of enjoying the improvements that are under way; Second as a huge believer in the work that the SBTS organization has undertaken on this project and similar projects in the Lakes Basin/Downieville area to enable and promote responsible and environmentally sound motorized and non-motorized two wheel recreation; and third, as a California citizen who believes strongly in the value that off-road recreation can bring from an economic growth perspective to the Quincy area. Like so many projects, this one is not immune to the challenges associated with keeping pace with the inflation we are seeing throughout our economy these days. However, by approving this grant proposal, you will help see through to completion a project that promises huge returns in the form of recreational enjoyment for thousands, environmental stability for a large area of public land and economic stimulus for a region much in need of it. Fred Benz - 4/7/2023

I cannot express enough through my words how incredible the work the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship has been doing is and the great benefits it has brought to the community. The community more than ever needs revenue streams more than ever especially following tragic events like the Dixie fire. The trails have attracted so many people who would never get to experience the beauty of Plumas County otherwise. This traffic also brings revenue to local restaurants and hotels that I am sure all local business owners can attest to. The greatest part of these trails is the beauty that can be experienced and the joy they bring to my friends and I. I love being able to bring new people out to show them all the county has to offer and it constantly leaves wanting to return. More trails in the county only benefit everyone. The mental health benefits of being out in nature are much needed in a stressful world. The trails also bring so many incredible economic benefits that are desperately needed in these times. Please vote yes for this grant for the people of the lost Sierra and a local economy that desperately needs it. Mason James - 4/26/2023

We own a house in Johnsville and pay property taxes in Plumas County. We spend a considerable amount of time there. We are regular users of the trails in Plumas county - we both hike and I mountain bike and ride OHV vehicles. We recreate in both the Lakes Basin/Downieville area and the Quincy area (Mt Hough). My opinion is that the trail system maintained by SBTS is one of the highlights of the area. There are numerous trails in remote areas that make the beautiful countryside accessible. And the economic contribution is obvious - just pull into a an outdoor brewery or restaurant and count the mountain bikes and motor bikes on vehicles. Or try and get an OHV services in Summer and see how busy the local stores are. I am also impressed with SBTS's efficiency - there have been some brutal storms over the past few years and a week or two after the snow melts trails miles away from anywhere are open and clear. All in all we believe SBTS makes an important and significant contribution to Plumas County. David Johnson - 4/27/2023

This maintenance program is essential to keeping access to our public lands, and I am disabled and use an OHV. Without proper trail maintenance, many of us are locked out of our forests; please keep this funded! Les Roberts - 4/27/2023

My name is Jacob Jones and I support this grant. I live in Reno and frequently ride these trails on both my mountain bike and motorcycle. These trails support the local economy, provide recreation opportunities to northern California and Nevada residents, and are sustainable. jacob jones - 4/27/2023

As a Tahoe local, an avid Dirt Bike and Mountain Bike rider, the work SBTS does is fantastic. They build and maintain many miles of trails and singletrack. The area is a go to spot for me for riding. Please award them a grant to keep up the great work they do. Peter Spencer - 4/29/2023

whatever we use this 2023 grant monies for we for sure need to put some checks & balances in place as to not allow the forest service to randomly COMPLETELY close the San Bernardino National Forest roads & trails for long periods of time 'for our safety'... I understand the 1st 2 week closure this year due to heavy snow but... the latest closure (one day after the last one expired) is now in effect through June 30th 20233... June due to snow! by June 30th it will be 100 degrees in Big Bear, this is complete overstepping of the rules to close every FS road and trail until June due to snow I have lived in Riverside county for 30+ years and travel to the Mammoth area a few times a year to snowmobile, we finally get enough snow in the San Bernardino mountains to safely snowmobile and the trails/roads are all closed until June due to too much snow!! jack szanto - 3/20/2023

whatever we use this 2023 grant monies for we for sure need to put some checks & balances in place as to not allow the forest service to randomly COMPLETELY close the San Bernardino National Forest roads & trails for long periods of time 'for our safety'... I understand the 1st 2 week closure this year due to heavy snow but... the latest closure (one day after the last one expired) is now in effect through June 30th 20233... June due to snow! by June 30th it will be 100 degrees in Big Bear, this is complete overstepping of the rules to close every FS road and trail until June due to snow I have lived in Riverside county for 30+ years and travel to the Mammoth area a few times a year to snowmobile, we finally get enough snow in the San Bernardino mountains to safely snowmobile and the trails/roads are all closed until June due to too much snow!! jack szanto - 3/20/2023

I would like to comment on your grant applications on behalf of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association. This is a worthwhile grant application, especially considering how large the county is combined with how much legal OHV it contains. I have never heard of heavy handed enforcement out there, so keep up the good work. Ed Stovin Ed Stovin - 4/30/2023

Nice modest application to keep peace in San Diego County. I see you mention Lark Canyon and Corral Canyon in both legal places to off road as well as areas you patrol where unlawful activity occurs. Are you finding unlawful activity in Lark and Corral Canyons? I run the San Diego Off Road Coalition and we have meetings the first Tuesday of the month at Ranch House Restaurant on Woodside Ave at 7 pm. We would love to have someone from you group come speak to tell us about your work. Ed Stovin Ed Stovin - 4/30/2023

Beautiful grant application that is just what the grant program was designed for. All costs are for medical supplies and vehicle maintenance. Good luck and I hope I never need your services. Ed Ed Stovin - 4/26/2023

Please approve this grant! Thank you, Marty Reed marty reed - 3/8/2023

Please approve these very reasonable costs in order to help maintain the Preserve! Thank you, Marty Reed marty reed - 3/8/2023

Desert Tortoise Council/Comments/DTPC Letter of Support OHV Restoration & Education Grant.4-29-2023 1 DESERT TORTOISE COUNCIL 3807 Sierra Highway #6-4514 Acton, CA 93510 www.deserttortoise.org eac@deserttortoise.org Via OHMVR Grants Online Submission Page and email to Sixto.Fernandez@parks.ca.gov April 29, 2023 Sixto Fernandez, Grants Manager California State Parks, OHMVR Division P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 942296 Sixto.Fernandez@parks.ca.gov RE: Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee Pre-Application Grant Proposal for Restoration, Monitoring, and Education, Kern County, California (G23-04-10-R01) Dear Mr. Fernandez, The Desert Tortoise Council (Council) is a non-profit organization comprised of hundreds of professionals and laypersons who share a common concern for wild desert tortoises and a commitment to advancing the public’s understanding of desert tortoise species. Established in 1975 to promote conservation of tortoises in the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico, the Council routinely provides information and other forms of assistance to individuals, organizations, and regulatory agencies on matters potentially affecting desert tortoises within their geographic ranges. The Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is among the top 50 species on the list of the world’s most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission, Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, now considers the Mojave desert tortoise to be Critically Endangered (Berry et al. 2021), “… based on population reduction (decreasing density), habit loss of over 80% over three generations (90 years), including past reductions and predicted future declines, as well as the effects of disease (upper respiratory tract disease/mycoplasmosis). Gopherus agassizii (sensu stricto) comprises tortoises in the most well-studied 30% of the larger range; this portion of the original range has seen the most human impacts and is where the largest past population losses had been documented. A recent rigorous rangewide population reassessment of G. agassizii (sensu stricto) has demonstrated continued adult population and density declines of about 90% over three generations (two in the past and one ongoing) in four of the five G. agassizii recovery units and inadequate recruitment with decreasing percentages of juveniles in all five recovery units.” It is one of three turtle and tortoise species in the United States to be critically endangered. This status, in part, prompted the Council to join Defenders of Wildlife and Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. (Desert Tortoise Council 2020) to petition the California Fish and Game Commission in March 2020 to elevate the listing of the Mojave desert tortoise from threatened to endangered in California. We are pleased to provide a Letter of Support for the Preliminary Grant Application submitted by the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. for habitat restoration, monitoring its success, and education. Funding this request would enable the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc., which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, to implement the following activities at the Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area (DTRNA) and Expansion Area: • monitor and repair fence breaks to the perimeter fencing of conservation lands; • monitor and remove invasive plant species that proliferate along OHV routes and trails adjacent to the DTRNA and Expansion Area perimeter fencing and within the protected conservation land boundaries. This includes Cache Creek, a major streambed, that runs south to north from the southern and western parts of the project area to Koehn Dry Lake; • restore habitat for the desert tortoise and other sensitive species through vertical and horizontal mulching and trash clean up; • install signs educating the public to minimize illegal trespass and use of illegal trails and routes; • provide maps with alternative routes for OHV users around the DTRNA and Expansion Areas; and • provide interpretive and public education presentations and visitation opportunities at the DTRNA Interpretive Center and Nature Trails. These actions are needed to effectively manage the DTRNA and Expansion Area for the conservation of the tortoise, other sensitive species, and their habitats. The site-specific actions would occur in/around 5,400 acres in the DTRNA with landscape surveys occurring on greater than 25,000 acres in the DTRNA. The DTRNA has some of the highest densities of Mojave desert tortoises in California. This accomplishment is attributed to the excellent management of the DTRNA by the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. Tortoise densities inside the fenced area of the DTRNA were roughly 2.5 times higher than outside (Berry et al. 2014, 2020). In contrast, all eight populations of Mojave desert tortoise occurring on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in California declined from 2004 to 2014 (Allison and McLuckie 2018) and many continued declining after 2014 (USFWS 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022a, 2022b). Seven of these populations have densities below population viability (USFWS 1994, Allison and McLuckie 2018). Thus, it is imperative that the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. continue its management of the DTRNA and maintain/increase the higher densities of tortoises by minimizing impacts to the tortoise and tortoise habitat. This includes impacts from OHV use. Unfortunately, OHVs cause “significant social and environmental impacts” in arid lands (Switalski 2018), many of which extend beyond the locations of OHV tire tracks. From the perspective of the tortoise and other wildlife species, impacts from OHV use to habitat include soil compaction; decreased infiltration of water and inhibition of the growth of roots; soil erosion; burying seeds too deep for successful emergence; disrupting biological soil crusts that reduces the amount of nitrogen available to plants and reduces plant growth; reducing photosynthetic activity in native plants from dust deposition and causing radiative heating in the leaves and other adverse physiological effects; air pollution; crushing native vegetation; spreading nonnative invasive plant species resulting in reduced diversity and abundance of native plants; and increasing the risk of wildfire (Ouren et al. 2007, Switalski 2018). The result is a reduction in native plant density, abundance, and diversity. These impacts are compounded by climate change which is predicted to increase the frequency of fire and create environments more conducive to invasion by non-native plant species (Switalski 2018). Impacts to wildlife species including the tortoise are numerous, too. They include direct mortality, injury, crushing burrows, avoiding areas with OHV use thereby reducing population connectivity, reduction in quality of habitat, loss of habitat, reduced quantity and quality of food sources, and reduced body weight (Ouren et al. 2007, Switalski 2018). The Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. is requesting funds to mitigate the impacts of OHV recreationists' riding along fence lines causing invasive weed proliferation (starting along linear pathways and then spreading into the DTRNA), fence breaks into the DTRNA (thus the need for more signs, the OHV trail maps), potential for injuring or killing wildlife, and soil erosion and disturbance. While the DTRNA was initially established as a research natural area for the tortoise, it provides habitat for numerous other species of native fauna and flora. The tortoise is considered in the conservation biology community to be a keystone species – a species having impacts on many others, often far beyond what might have been expected from a consideration of their biomass or abundance (Simberloff 1998), and an umbrella species – a species that covers sufficient home ranges of individuals of other species so that these too will have viable populations (Caro 2010). Keystone species are regarded as species that are ecologically necessary to the healthy functioning of a given ecosystem (Mills et al. 1993). Thus, implementing restoration actions at the DTRNA for the tortoise and educating the public would benefit numerous other species of desert flora and fauna in addition to the tortoise. These include the state-threatened Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) and special status species including western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) and American badger (Taxidea taxus), among others. On October 7, 2020, Governor Newsom issued an executive order (N-82-20) to combat the biodiversity crisis and climate change crisis. The Governor directed the Natural Resources Agency, which includes California State Parks, to “prioritize investments in cooperative, high priority actions that promote biodiversity protection, habitat restoration, wildfire-resistant, sustainably managed landscapes and other conservation outcomes,” and “implement actions to increase the pace and scale of environmental restoration…” Funding this grant proposal would show support for the Governor’s Executive Order on combating the biodiversity and climate change crisis by funding efforts to restore habitats for the tortoise and other wildlife species, removing invasive plant species that compete with native plants for resources thereby assisting biodiversity, and helping to combat the effects of climate change by reducing the presence of nonnative invasive plant species and potential for wildfires. For these reasons, we believe the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc.’s proposal should be fully funded. We appreciate this opportunity to express support for this proposal. Should you have any questions regarding our reasons for supporting the award of this grant to the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc., please contact us at the email address in our letterhead (eac@deserttortoise.org). Respectfully, Edward L. LaRue, Jr., M.S. Desert Tortoise Council, Ecosystems Advisory Committee, Chairperson Literature Cited Berry, K.H., L.M. Lyren, J.L. Yee, and T.Y. Bailey. 2014. Protection benefits desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) abundance: The influence of three management strategies on a threatened species. Herpetological Monographs 28: 66–92 . Berry, K.H. J.L. Yee, 2020. T.A. Shields, and L. Stockton. 2020. The Catastrophic Decline of Tortoises at a Fenced Natural Area. Wildlife Monographs 205:1–53. Berry, K.H., L.J. Allison, A.M. McLuckie, M. Vaughn, and R.W. Murphy. 2021. Gopherus agassizii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T97246272A3150871. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T97246272A3150871.en Caro, T., and S. Girling. 2010. Conservation by proxy: Indicator, umbrella, keystone, flagship, and other surrogate species. Washington DC: Island Press, Washington, D.C. Desert Tortoise Council. 2020. A Petition to the State of California Fish and Game Commission to change the status of Gopherus agassizii from Threatened to Endangered. Formal petition submitted on 11 March 2020. Mills, S. L., M.E. Soulè, and D.F. Doak. 1993. The keystone-species concept in ecology and conservation. Bioscience 43(4): 219–224. Ouren, D.S., C. Haas, C.P. Melcher, S.C. Stewart, P.D. Ponds, N.R. Sexton, L. Burris, T. Fancher, and Z.H. Bowen. 2007. Environmental effects of off-highway vehicles on Bureau of Land Management lands: A literature synthesis, annotated bibliographies, extensive bibliographies, and internet resources: U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 2007-1353, 225 p. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Phadrea-Ponds/publication/242537198_Environmental_Effects_of_Off-Highway_Vehicles_on_Bureau_of_Land_Management_Lands_A_Literature_Synthesis_Annotated_Bibliographies_Extensive_Bibliographies_and_Internet_Resources/links/56095c5708ae576ce63e1e98/Environmental-Effects-of-Off-Highway-Vehicles-on-Bureau-of-Land-Management-Lands-A-Literature-Synthesis-Annotated-Bibliographies-Extensive-Bibliographies-and-Internet-Resources.pdf Simberloff, D. 1998. Flagships, umbrellas and keystones: is single species management passe´ in the landscape era? Biol. Conservation 83:247–25. Switalski, A. 2018. Off-highway vehicle recreation in drylands: A literature review and recommendations for best management practices. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism 21 (March 2018): 87-96. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-outdoor-recreation-and-tourism [USFWS] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2016. Range-wide Monitoring of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): 2015 and 2016 Annual Reporting. Report by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USFWS.2016%20report.%20Rangewide%20monitoring%20report%202015-16.pdf [USFWS] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2018. Range-wide Monitoring of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): 2017 Annual Reporting. Report by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USFWS.2018%20report.%20Rangewide%20monitoring%20report%202017.pdf [USFWS] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2019. Range-wide Monitoring of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): 2018 Annual Reporting. Report by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USFWS.2019%20report.%20Rangewide%20monitoring%20report%202018.pdf [USFWS] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2020. Range-wide Monitoring of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): 2019 Annual Reporting. Report by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada. 42 pages. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2019_Rangewide%20Mojave%20Desert%20Tortoise%20Monitoring.pdf [USFWS] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2022a. Range-wide Monitoring of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): 2020 Annual Reporting. Report by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USFWS.2022%20report.%20Rangewide%20monitoring%20report%202020.pdf [USFWS] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2022b. Range-wide Monitoring of the Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): 2021 Annual Reporting. Report by the Desert Tortoise Recovery Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno, Nevada. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USFWS.2022%20report.%20Rangewide%20monitoring%20report%202021.pdf Ed LaRue - 4/29/2023

My name is Noel Ragsdale. I am a resident of Sky Valley and a member of our Community Council. Sky Valley is an unincorporated community in Riverside County. We are bounded by Joshua Tree National Park to the east and the Indio Hills to the west. We have an ongoing problem with illegal OHV activity in our community. This activity is -- as we know -- not permitted on BLM-owned land in the Indio Hills – much of which is a protected Preserve. Riverside County Ordinance 529 also prohibits motor vehicle activity on private property unless the driver has signed authorization of the owner. Despite these prohibitions, illegal OHV activity is rampant. It destroys the desert plant and animal habitat as the desert patina is torn up. The presence of these vehicles is used to intimidate local residents. Our community and our Community Council are very concerned about this ongoing problem. We have reviewed with great interest several of the OHV-related grant proposals that have been submitted to the California Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. • BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM Needles Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM El Centro Field Office – Law Enforcement Application • Joshua Tree National Park - Restoration Application • Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority - Restoration Application • Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. - Restoration Application All of these grant applications highlight the same serious problem: the increase in illegal OHV activity in wilderness, preserve, other conservation and protected areas, as well as private property – and the extent to which these activities are damaging our natural resources. The principal reason that this illegal OHV continues -- and is increasing -- is that there is no effective law enforcement. And the OHV riders know this. The outreach and educational efforts that are included in the law enforcement applications sound good. But the truth is that most illegal OHV riders are well aware that their activity is illegal so the stepped-up law enforcement components of the BLM proposals are vital. These include more and stronger gates, increased barriers to access (fencing, boulders, etc.) and the ongoing presence of law enforcement officers on the ground. Without funding the staffing, equipment and working shift hours contained in the BLM law enforcement proposals we have no chance to curtain the destruction caused by illegal OHV activity. The restoration proposals of the other three organization are also very important to help repair the damage done by illegal OHV activity and heal our natural resources. Climate change is already posing serious threats to the environments needed to sustain our native plants, fungi, lichens, mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, insects, spiders – and our native and transplanted humans. We are the living entities that can actively fight back. We know how to protect our ecology from the man-made destruction of illegal OHVs. We must support every effort to eliminate this threat, and give vital life back to the ecology of our planet. Noel Ragsdale - 4/30/2023

DTPC Letter of Support OHV Restoration Education Grant.4-30-2023 Ed LaRue - 4/29/2023

ESAC needs more resources and getting this grant helps with that! It would be super helpful for them to have access to snowmobiles as well if that's possible. The lead forecaster was able to help SCE by using one of our personal ones today at the Poole Plant. Thanks! Molly Massena - 3/8/2023

I am writing in support of this grant. Winter OHV users in the area benefit greatly from local, reliable avalanche information. Please fund this grant as a priority for public safety in the Eastern Sierra. Aaron Storey - 3/10/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is one of the biggest most influential resources for backcountry users here in the Eastern Sierra. Increasing their funding will directly benefit the community here as well as help grow and educate new users to the area. Specifically users of mechanized snow machines. The OHV user group will and has been growing over the last several years and educating this group via the ESAC presence will greatly increase the value this user group brings to the area. It's safe to say that if ESAC receives more funding from the OHV, it will direcly benefit the OHV user group. Thanks for your time to read this comment. Michael O'Connor - 3/12/2023

As a member of the east side snowmobile community, I would like to extend a recommendation for Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center to receive funding. ESAC does well approaching the ski and snowboard community, but could use more funding to reach the snowmobile community. There is plenty of terrain for both communities on the east side of the Sierra and I hope ESAC can go a long way to provide services for both. Thank you, Geoff Unger Geoff Unger - 3/12/2023

I encourage support of the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center. ESAC plays a critical role in avalanche monitoring, awareness and education--all vital for the safety of those pursuing OHV and other forms of outdoor recreation in the mountains. ESAC staffing, equipment, and ability to fulfill its mission depend on financial support. Trish Mace - 3/13/2023

ESAC provides a crucial service to those of us who recreate in the Eastern Sierra. I review the forecasts daily to plan my outings. The detailed reports allow me to safely travel in avalanche terrain and mitigate hazards. I have also attended the educational outreach sessions, which have provided valuable information about this unusually high snowfall year. The ESAC director and lead forecaster Steve Mace is taking the center in a great direction and I enthusiastically support the continued funding of this public good. Lauren Peritz - 3/13/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is a huge benefit to the Eastside communities in terms of information and education for all user groups, but especially the OHV user group that is growing every year. Please continue their funding. Thank you. Trish Matheny - 3/13/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is one of the biggest most influential resources for backcountry users here in the Eastern Sierra. Increasing their funding will directly benefit the community here as well as help grow and educate new users in the area. Specifically users of mechanized snow machines. The OHV user group will and has been growing over the last several years and educating this group via the ESAC presence will greatly increase the value this user group brings to the area. It's safe to say that if ESAC receives more funding from the OHV, it will directly benefit the OHV user group. Thanks for taking the time to read this comment Astrid Thomas - 3/13/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is one of the largest and most influential resources for backcountry users in the Eastern Sierra. In my backcountry experiences near Mammoth and Bishop, the ESAC forecasts were essential for ensuring a safely planned outing. Increasing ESAC' funding will directly benefit the Eastern Sierra community as well as help grow and educate new users in area, including snowmobilers. The OHV user group has been growing over the last several years and are expected to continue to do so, and therefore educating this group via the ESAC presence will greatly increase the safety and experiences for all backcountry users. Thank you for taking the time to consider this comment and for supporting.the funding for Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center. Rebecca Hall - 3/13/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is the most important and utilized resource for backcountry wilderness snow users on the Eastern Slope. With Snowpocalypse 2023 upon us, this resource has shown its usefulness more than ever before, with daily reporting, information sharing, and prevention of countless accidents through dispersal of important forecast information. Increasing ESAC funding will directly benefit the community and educate new recreation users in the area. This is especially important as the number of users continues to grow; especially users of mechanized snow machines. The OHV user group has been growing and will continue to grow and educating this group via the ESAC presence will greatly increase the value this user group brings to the area. This grant will save lives and help keep users out of trouble by keeping them informed of life saving information. Without the support of this grant, many resources will be wasted rescuing hapless snow users who have made bad decisions without proper information. Please support this grant for ESAC. Thank you! Jonathan Blum - 3/13/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is one of the biggest most influential resources for backcountry users here in the Eastern Sierra. Increasing their funding will directly benefit the community here as well as help grow and educate new users in the area. Specifically users of mechanized snow machines. The OHV user group will and has been growing over the last several years and educating this group via the ESAC presence will greatly increase the value this user group brings to the area. It's safe to say that if ESAC receives more funding from the OHV, it will directly benefit the OHV user group. Thanks for taking the time to read this comment. Danny Ozment - 3/13/2023

Hello, I would like to voice my support of ESAC receiving a grant through the CA OHV program. ESAC provides invaluable services to the backcountry skiing as well as snowmobiling and OHV communities. This grant would further help ESAC provide outreach and education to a broad range of users, and to continue to provide products that help recreation users make safe and informed decisions. Ryan Huetter Ryan Huetter - 3/13/2023

ESAC provides valuable information for backcountry travel that I consult everyday to make decisions to stay safe while using our public lands. They have very detailed forecasts that can help make decisions on safe terrain choices for backcountry travel via OHV. With their valuable outreach, they are helping to educate the population to keep them safe and make safe decisions that help keep our first responders free for other emergencies and more importantly. help everyone get home safe after their recreation activities. I think it would be of great value to keep funding their operations as winter backcountry recreation continues to increase in popularity. George Baker - 3/14/2023

as an avid backcountry user I am writing in strong support of this grant proposal for all the reasons so well stated in the application. User numbers are increasing faster than the awareness of the hazards. Continuous monitoring is essential due to the continually fluctuating avalanche hazard. There is a dedicated staff in place that just needs more resources, especially funding, to increase it's ability to serve the community and save lives. Thank you. -cm Charles E Mace - 3/15/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center provides services and education — daily avalanche forecasting, avalanche education events, community outreach — that make a huge difference not only for the safety of backcountry skiers and riders, but also for the general public. Especially during historically large snow years like 2022-23, the general public in the huge forecasting zone for ESAC utilize these forecasts and education events not only for recreation, but for day to day safety. The small team at ESAC works tirelessly to provide these services and also puts in work on the ground trying to fundraise as much for themselves as they can. This grant is vital not only to the operation of the center, but to the many rural communities of the Eastern Sierra that ESAC serves. Brooke Maushund - 3/19/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is a critical resource in protecting the lives and property of residents and visitors alike, and their value has been demonstrated abundantly this year. They need additional funding to do their job--it's as simple as that. Not having sufficient funding can be catastrophic, not to mention lead to legal jeopardy that would cost substantially more than an increase in finding, Further, the economy of the area depends on services such as these. Jennifer Wolcott Jennifer Wolcott - 3/20/2023

A diverse community of citizens access the winter backcountry for a variety of recreational pursuits and includes those professionals which guide and work in the regions diverse terrain. Contributing significantly to local economies and imparting a vibrant cultural spirit uniquely benefiting the California identity, safely navigating the complex and often hazardous environments impacted by avalanches is an imperative. The ESAC is the definitive source of vital forecasts that are used to inform safe decision making and users have come to rely upon their deep knowledgebase and clear assessment of avalanche problems to direct route planning options. ESAC provides a number of outreach initiatives that greatly benefits a rapidly growing community of winter sport enthusiasts that view the backcountry as an inexhaustible source of enjoyment. Continued funding with a clear need for expanding their capabilities through grants and cooperative agreements will greatly benefit the backcountry community which in turn enriches the State of CA as a whole. Brandt Newcomer - 3/29/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is one of the biggest most influential resources for backcountry users here in the Eastern Sierra. Increasing their funding will directly benefit the community here as well as help grow and educate new users in the area. Specifically users of mechanized snow machines. Their region is quite large so snow machines would be vital for them to accurately forecast the region. I appreciate you reviewing this comment. Alex Iturreria - 3/29/2023

Greetings, the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center plays a vital role in providing key information about avalanche conditions and snow safety to the general public, local mountain guide services and to Caltrans. The ESAC forecasters are all highly trained avalanche professionals. The information they gather in the field and publish every day provides crucial information to anyone traveling in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Tourism to these mountains is a major part of the economy for our communities here in the Eastern Sierra. As a professional mountain guide, I rely on the work of ESAC every day and can highly recommend this avalanche center. They provide an indispensable, high quality source of information. Their work as avalanche educators to our community and to visitors alike is invaluable. Barbara Wanner - 3/29/2023

ESAC provides critical forecast information for the backcountry community throughout the Eastern Sierra. Their work is important and saves lives! Please continue to fund their efforts and ensure this resource continues to be provided. Thank you, Chris Kalima Christopher Kalima - 4/3/2023

ESAC has been a major contributor in our community when it comes to Winter backcountry activities. They are essential in our continuing education and safety when recreating in the outdoors. They help us make informed decisions through the resources they provide and on the field analysis. Caroline Graeff - 4/4/2023

Eastern Sierra Avalanche center provides invaluable resources for multiple recreation user groups, including OHV/snowmobile users. As a long time resident of the Eastern Sierra, it is evident to me that recent increases in recreation in the area have placed unprecedented strain on EMS and SAR resources. ESAC actively saves lives by helping to prevent avalanche and weather-related accidents. Please support ESAC. Rosa Cox - 4/4/2023

Few potential OHV organizations have as much potential to prevent injuries and deaths as ESAC. It's operation helps keep people safe and aware of the hazards. They deserve a grant! Jonathan Weissman - 4/5/2023

Winter recreation in the Eastern Sierra is growing in popularity. OHV use is also growing. The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center provides an essential service for all eastern sierra winter recreationalists, OHV or otherwise: they provide the raw information, avalanche forecasts, and winter education to make OHV use across the eastern sierra safe. I support the ESAC OHV grant to enable ESAC to continue it's educational mission to help all OHV users in the eastern sierra recreate safely and successfully in our wonderful backyard. Leo Franchi - 4/5/2023

I find it imperative that the Eastern Sierra Avalanche center receive the funds to increase awareness around OHV avalanche awareness particularly in the wake of the recent weather. The past few years have seen devastating fires and heavy snowfall on an unprecedented level in the Eastern Sierras. With the threat of a warm summer and a possible El Nino again next winter, avalanche conditions will only continue to get worse, and thus the threat posed to the general public will increase as well. If the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center receives these funds, they can better educate the public about the high risk of avalanches with these conditions, and prevent needless avalanche creation thus save human lives. Give ESAC their greatly needed funds! Conrad Walt - 4/6/2023

Please approve this OHV grant for ESAC. As OHV usage grows, the number of users at risk rises. Nationally, the proportion of avalanche victims on OHVs is on the rise. By providing detailed forecasts and analyses, ESAC enabled OHV users to make informed decisions and stay out of harm's way. Noam Shendar - 4/6/2023

Esac offers a very valuable service with both backcountry safety education as well as potential life saving information. Harvey chou - 4/8/2023

I support ESAC's request for grant funding to further support the avalanche advisory, awareness, and outreach project. Snowmachines are a popular form of off highway vehicle access during winter months, and ESAC's work helps promote awareness of factors that help increase both public access, and safe operating principles. Joe Pink - 4/24/2023

The products that the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center provides are invaluable to the communities within its forecast area. The daily avalanche forecast is an essential tool for recreationists to make informed risk management decisions surrounding use of terrain that is in, beneath, or adjacent to avalanche slopes. Their forecasters' expertise in the local geography, weather conditions and developing snowpack is obvious in their forecast products and the observations which they share with the community. The same information was critical for safe navigation of state and federal highways, and county roads in Mono and Inyo Counties during this record setting snow year. Never before has our local avalanche center been such a cornerstone of safety in daily life here in the Eastern Sierra. Their guidance helped to inform when to safely open roads and evacuate isolated communities. The information is always timely and pertinent to all user groups. In addition to forecasting resources and information, ESAC provides many other services to the community. I appreciate the new and improved website that speaks to many different user groups, and provides weather and avalanche safety information outside of their organization. I regularly attend the free avalanche awareness events in our area where forecasters not only offer educational material, but an opportunity to network and get to know the people that they serve. I also attend the inter-agency roundtable meeting which they host annually. It is a gift to be surrounded by local stakeholders who are affected by avalanches and have great facilitators to help connect us all and learn about how we can best network together and continue our education surrounding avalanche conditions and its implications in our area. I have leveraged the services of the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center since 2008 and have seen a marked increase in the quality and extent of their possibilities in the last couple of years. Increased funding has obviously provided the opportunity to attract and retain quality staff, improve their communication tools (website, social media, outreach events) and generally be more publicly visible. Please consider continuing your generous support of an important organization like the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center going forward. Mike Phillips - 4/30/2023

The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is an important organization in our community. They provide important safety messaging surrounding avalanche condtions in areas in which I like to recreate. During a record setting winter like this year, their information was also important to our town and county officials who were making decisions about public safety on roads and in our homes with regard to avalanches that threatened these areas. In addition, the other resources which they provide are great, including their website with all of the educational resources for utilizing their forecasts, information specific to snowmobiling and their excellent social media presence. The free avalanche awareness events which they host throughout the Eastern Sierra are good ways to pick up some good continuing education regarding a complicated subject, stay abreast with current conditions, network with community members and get to know the forecasters and other experts that they bring to the events. Please consider continuing to support ESAC so that they can keep up the good work and continue to improve the services which they provide to us. Thank you. Sarah Hoff-Phillips - 4/30/2023

As the general contractor who built the 800 square foot tortoise habitat at El Mirage and an avid OHV recreationist, I strongly support the Friends of El Mirage Safety Education grant. I live in El Mirage and frequent the El Mirage OHV area. A weekend presence is needed to spread awareness about OHV safety, the desert tortoise and leave no trace principles. With 2 young children who ride OHVs, there is nothing more important than educating the children on proper OHV safety gear and OHV riding ethics. There are too many parents who think that ATVs are "great toys" when in actuality they are a motorized vehicle that can cause great bodily injury and even death when used inappropriately. I LOVE the Jr. Ranger program and the effect that it can have on protecting children AND the desert. Trash means ravens and ravens are detrimental to the desert tortoise. In an OHV area where the death of 2 tortoises in one year means the closure of the OHV area, I appreciate the fact that the Friends of El Mirage are prioritizing education not just maintenance. I'm glad to see that there is an effort to use the tortoise habitat and the visitor center to educate the public. James P Lynn - 4/14/2023

Nice group of grants. Despite the size, these applications are needed to keep this valuable location viable for the recreating public. I'd love to get a Jr Ranger kit! Ed Stovin - 4/26/2023

I’d like to suggest that El Mirage enclose the restrooms and shade structures with wood posts to allow for parking spaces and enough safe space for us to enter and exit the restrooms away from passing vehicles. I also want to suggest that El Mirage have signs put up for us to find the new expansion area and trails there. Garrett Caldwell - 5/1/2023

I'd like to comment on the Friends of Jawbone grants on behalf of CORVA. Do you really have heavy eqipment operating for 3450 hours a year? That is 9.5 hours a day, 365 days a year! Seems excessive. Does Jawbone and El Mirage each have their own auger trucks or do you share? I see it is being used for match. I am a little confused between Owlshead and CTUC maps. I have used and like CTUC. Ok, I see the Owlshead logo on the CTUC maps. Is the Owlshead map like the CTUC maps, but just one for the whole state? Can I delete all those CTUC maps and just use Owlshead? On Total for Materials / Supplies, lines 5, 6 and 7, should the amounts be under the match line instead of the grant lines? It's a big ask, but it's an important area and it needs to be managed well to keep it open and viable. Thanks Randy and all your people for working so hard for us. Ed Ed Stovin - 4/26/2023

I read your appication. Good work for sure. There is a guy out your way who spends a lot of time in the desert hauling out trash. He is Colin from Desert Clense Project. His Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/DesertCleanseProject I recommend you contact him and offer to pay him to remover bigger trash from the park. He really cares about the desert and would make a good partner for your common goals. Ed Stovin - 4/30/2023

My name is Noel Ragsdale. I am a resident of Sky Valley and a member of our Community Council. Sky Valley is an unincorporated community in Riverside County. We are bounded by Joshua Tree National Park to the east and the Indio Hills to the west. We have an ongoing problem with illegal OHV activity in our community. This activity is -- as we know -- not permitted on BLM-owned land in the Indio Hills – much of which is a protected Preserve. Riverside County Ordinance 529 also prohibits motor vehicle activity on private property unless the driver has signed authorization of the owner. Despite these prohibitions, illegal OHV activity is rampant. It destroys the desert plant and animal habitat as the desert patina is torn up. The presence of these vehicles is used to intimidate local residents. Our community and our Community Council are very concerned about this ongoing problem. We have reviewed with great interest several of the OHV-related grant proposals that have been submitted to the California Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. • BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM Needles Field Office - Law Enforcement Application • BLM El Centro Field Office – Law Enforcement Application • Joshua Tree National Park - Restoration Application • Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority - Restoration Application • Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. - Restoration Application All of these grant applications highlight the same serious problem: the increase in illegal OHV activity in wilderness, preserve, other conservation and protected areas, as well as private property – and the extent to which these activities are damaging our natural resources. The principal reason that this illegal OHV continues -- and is increasing -- is that there is no effective law enforcement. And the OHV riders know this. The outreach and educational efforts that are included in the law enforcement applications sound good. But the truth is that most illegal OHV riders are well aware that their activity is illegal so the stepped-up law enforcement components of the BLM proposals are vital. These include more and stronger gates, increased barriers to access (fencing, boulders, etc.) and the ongoing presence of law enforcement officers on the ground. Without funding the staffing, equipment and working shift hours contained in the BLM law enforcement proposals we have no chance to curtain the destruction caused by illegal OHV activity. The restoration proposals of the other three organization are also very important to help repair the damage done by illegal OHV activity and heal our natural resources. Climate change is already posing serious threats to the environments needed to sustain our native plants, fungi, lichens, mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, insects, spiders – and our native and transplanted humans. We are the living entities that can actively fight back. We know how to protect our ecology from the man-made destruction of illegal OHVs. We must support every effort to eliminate this threat, and give vital life back to the ecology of our planet. Noel Ragsdale - 4/30/2023