Weekly Newsletter Issue 64 | Mar 29, 2024 |
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Bears Ears OHV Closure Plan Released |
Located in the rural corner of Southeastern Utah, the Bears Ears National Monument has been a point of controversy for nearly a decade. In 2016 President Obama initially abused the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate 1.3 million acres as a national monument completely bypassing Congress and abusing the Antiquities Act which gives presidents the authority to protect the smallest area of land possible. When the monument was created it required the BLM to create a resource management plan (RMP) to dictate the management of the monument. A year later, President Trump reduced the monument’s boundaries, it required a new resource management plan. In 2021, President Biden re-expanded the monument, in fact making it even larger the the original boundaries triggering yet again the process for a new resource management plan.
The Bureau of Land Management in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service have released the proposed alternatives for a resource management plan in this area. The plan is open for the public to submit comments and feedback until June 11, 2024.
The picture above is the entrance to Arch Canyon, which is one of the most popular off-road routes in the area. It is popular for a reason! It is an 8 mile primitive route along a flowing stream. It is a scenic canyon with unique rock formations, arches, and cultural sites that can be viewed high in the cliffs on the canyon's ledges. It is almost guaranteed to be closed in the current plan even though it has been used for years by locals and ATV clubs rides.
If it is closed to motorized traffic, it is likely that it will only be accessible by foot (even though the Bears Ears plan does leave open the possibility that even hiking could be restricted throughout the monument). If it is left open to only foot traffic, this will prevent disabled Americans from ever seeing one of the most spectacular canyons in southeastern Utah.
In addition to Arch Canyon, this map below shows which other areas will be closed to motorized recreation.
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At the same time that we're seeing how restrictive monument management plans can be, a proposal to designate another massive monument in western Colorado around the Dolores Rive is gaining substantial opposition.
This weekend our Policy Director, Simone Griffin, attended a meeting in Montrose, CO to educate concerned citizens there about the false promises that get made during the PR push to designate monuments. Currently, there is a full court press coming from anti-access advocates to perpetuate the falsehood that monuments don't lead to significant restrictions on public access. Anyone who has looked through a recent monument management plan can easily see that we shouldn't believe monument advocates.
Abuse of the Antiquities Act is simply a way to lock up our public land and fulfill the 30x30 agenda.
We hope you will join us in opposing these monuments and their restrictive management plans.
~Team BRC
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1. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 15 - Grandview Travel Management Plan: 65% of routes at risk |
The Owyhee region of southwestern Idaho is accepting public comment for their final travel management plan of the area. The Grandview travel area hosts 1,365 miles of open OHV routes year round along with one backcountry airstrip. These routes give way to numerous permitted motorcycle races throughout the year. The planning area encompasses 251,000 acres, and because it’s only a 90 minute drive from Boise, it is a popular area for all kinds of OHV interests. It is one of the best single track riding areas in southern Idaho.
Of all the areas we've reviewed in the Owyhee region in the recent months, this is the area with the most proposed closures. The proposals don't seem to reflect the way that users are recreating on the landscape. If this is an area you visit, we need you to add your feedback.
Please submit a comment below to the BLM in order to make your voice heard. The link includes more briefing materials and links to the BLM's interactive map. If you have additional insight to this area, include that at the beginning of the comment. Comments will be accepted until April 15, 2024.
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2. 55 Million Acres Up for Grabs for Solar Projects |
There is a shift happening on public lands with two main drivers: recreation and renewable energy, solar and wind power. The climate agenda is shifting the priorities of our public lands.
There has been a significant increase of solar farms on public land in recent years. Currently, a Western Solar Plan created in 2012 identifies public lands eligible for fast-track solar farm development in 6 of the western states; Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. With this current plan there is a variance process that potential solar projects have to go through in order to be approved. BRC has been engaged in a number of these proposals throughout these southern states, and we often find that these developments conflict with recreation use.
The Bureau of Land Management is updating the Western Solar Plan in order to expand areas of public land suitable for solar energy development to meet a net carbon electricity goal by 2035. Currently the BLM is accepting public comments on the Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. Since they are prioritizing solar farm development on lands that are already impacted near transmission lines, we need you to tell BLM to exclude your favorite OHV riding areas from the plan.
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3. Bears Ears Draft Resource Management Plan Released for Public Comment |
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Located in the rural corner of Southeastern Utah, the Bears Ears National Monument has been a point of controversy for nearly a decade. In 2016 President Obama initially used the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate 1.3 million acres as a national monument completely bypassing Congress and abusing the Antiquities Act which gives presidents the authority to protect the smallest area of land possible. When the monument was created it required the BLM to create a resource management plan (RMP) to dictate the management of the monument. A year later, President Trump reduced the monument’s boundaries, it required a new resource management plan. In 2021, President Biden re-expanded the monument, in fact making it even larger the the original boundaries triggering yet again the process for a new resource management plan.
The Bureau of Land Management in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service have released the proposed alternatives for the public to submit comments and feedback on for the next 90 days until June 11, 2024. Alternative A is the current management objectives, goals and restrictions. Alternative B-E give the proposals the agencies are considering moving forward with the management of this massive area.
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4. Help Us Oppose the Dolores River Canyon National Monument |
Along the Dolores River in Southern Colorado families camp, raft and recreate. We have recently seen a surge in social media posts promoting the creation of a national monument out of the Dolores River Canyon. Surprisingly, these posts suggest that the motivation for the advocates supporting the monument is because they used to camp along the river when younger with their families. National monument designations usually lead to the kinds of restrictions on recreation use that we see in wilderness areas or national parks. As such, it is highly unlikely that there will be any primitive dispersed camping allowed in a Dolores River Canyon National Monument. To the extent that any camping will be allowed at all, it will be in restrictive developed campgrounds that require a reservation, and they won’t be anywhere near the riparian corridor of the river itself.
It is because of restrictions like this that we are opposing the creation of giant national monuments through the abuse of the Antiquities Act in federal court court. We continue to oppose the creation of national monuments throughout the west including the Dolores River Canyon National Monument.
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2 Days Left for the Build Your Dream Rig Sweepstakes - Double Your Entries Before it's Too Late |
We are finishing out the Build Your Dream Rig Sweepstakes with a bang! We were at Easter Jeep Safari this week, and everyone who came by our booth was excited to enter to win this great prize.
We are also excited to announce that Morrflate has donated a tire inflation kit that we are offering as a flash prize to everyone who enters during these final days of the sweepstakes.
We will be drawing the winner of the Morrflate inflation kit on March 31. We will be drawing the grand prize - which includes $30,000 worth of vehicle upgrades - on April 13 at the Boise Offroad Expo.
We're offering double entries through the deadline, so if you haven't entered yet, now is the best time.
All proceeds go to our fight to keep our public lands open!
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Lost Trails Guidebook Sponsor Highlight |
The Utah 4 Wheel Drive Association is dedicated to the Four Wheeling lifestyle and promoting multiple use of Public Lands. The association consists of 4x4 clubs throughout Utah and supporting states.
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NEWSLETTER CLUB AND ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT |
The BlueRibbon Coalition is excited to announce that the following organizations have recently either donated to our Moab Fight or joined as organization members:
4wheelunderground
Utah ATV
Supply Chain Sherpas
RSG Offroad
Roadside 4 Wheelers
We love to see all these businesses and organizations joining the fight! We know that we couldn't do what we do without the support of these organizations. If your business or club isn't on this list: Business/Organization Members, contact us today. As passionate recreation enthusiasts, these clubs and businesses understand the importance of fighting for and protecting our public lands and trails for future generations to enjoy. By renewing their support, they are helping to ensure that the BlueRibbon Coalition can advocate for responsible access to our public lands. We are grateful for their ongoing commitment to our mission and look forward to working together to keep the trails open and accessible for all. |
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