California

David Danelski

The status of more than 5,000 miles of off-road vehicle routes in the western Mojave Desert was left in doubt this week after a federal court ruling took issue with the way routes were chosen.

Judge Susan Illston's 92-page ruling set an Oct. 30 conference to determine what should be done.

The federal Bureau of Land Management is stepping up enforcement of laws prohibiting off-highway vehicles on BLM lands in Trinity County. "We're going to start citing," BLM Park Ranger William Crothers said.

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Source: http://www.trinityjournal.com/news/2009/0812/sports/038.html

David Zook

SAN BERNARDINO – Last week the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved off-highway vehicle enforcement agreements with the state Department of Parks and Recreation. Through the agreements, the County will receive grant funding totaling $242,825 to be used for OHV enforcement in the Victor Valley, Barstow and mountain areas.

“We welcome responsible OHV use in our County but when people ride in inappropriate areas it negatively impacts the quality of life of our residents,” said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who represents the majority of the County’s desert regions.

Mark Clifford

I have hunted and fished the Shasta-Trinity and Klamath national forests for some 20 years now, and the time I spend casting for trout and tracking game gives me a few precious hours of breathing space from all the demands of everyday life.

So imagine my concern last year when I arrived at my favorite hunting spot only to find the trail mangled and trees and bushes uprooted by an off-road motorcycle. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the fun of an off-road excursion, but to me, this incident reinforces the need to increase protection of our remaining unroaded areas for those of us who like to hunt, fish, backpack and camp away from the noise and pollution of the city.

Doug Johnson

The debate is over public lands, and what should and shouldn't be allowed to travel through them. About ten hikers met with Sierra Club organizers in Bend Monday, to discuss identifying trail damage done by off road vehicles.

"We want to be able to empower the community to be able to pro-actively protect their favorite places, be able to protect the last and best habitat for wild life," says Asante Riverwind, an organizer with the Sierra Club in Bend.

Zachary Slobig

OCEANO, Calif. — Rob Hunter leaned over his canary-yellow, orange-flamed dune buggy 20 yards from the lapping Pismo Beach surf and ticked off specs with palpable pride.

"This baby is a 400 horsepower V-8," he beamed. "It’s got an LS1 Corvette engine ... and perfectly balanced 50/50, just like a Corvette is."

Any time Hunter, 48, can piece together a few spare days, he and his family camp here in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, known to most duners as "Pismo."

Sacramento - Conservationists are offering a reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of dirt bikers who damaged a beautiful mountain meadow that is vital habitat for the Yosemite toad, a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The damage also compromises an expensive and important five-year research study...

“There is not recreation; this is inexcusable vandalism,” said Karen Schambach, California Coordinator for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). “The perpetrators need to be held accountable, and the message needs to get out that this kind of activity will not be tolerated.”

Associated Press

PISMO BEACH, Calif. -- At one Central Coast beach, birds and buggies aren't mixing.

Advocates for the threatened Western snowy plover want off-road vehicles totally banned from the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, saying the dune buggies and motorcycles are a danger to the tiny bird.

Environmentalists say bird monitors have observed plovers crushed and terrorized by vehicles.

Greg Welter

WILLOWS — Three people have been arrested on suspicion of hunting violations that allegedly took place near Elk Creek on May 26.

Department of Fish and Game Lt. Sam Castillo said Cody Layne Gregory, Derek Holmes, 21, and Whitney Word, 21, all from Elk Creek, were observed using spotlights to hunt game from all-terrain vehicles at night.

Castillo said a game warden witnessed the violations and none of the suspects had game with them when they were detained. The only game legal to be taken in May would have been wild pigs, which have no season.