It appears that hostile political forces in Sacramento are
on the verge of functionally eliminating the CA Off-Highway Motor Vehicle
Recreation Division (OHMVRD) which includes OHV-related grant funding to the
Forest Service, BLM, counties, local sheriffs’ departments, non-profit trail
and conservation groups, and other partners.
The State Parks Transformation Team is recommending that
OHMVRD, which is a separate and highly specialized department, is moved back
into the offices of the CA Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).
In the early 1990s when OHMVRD was located at/in DPR, the
OHV program languished in obscurity and irrelevancy while trying to operate
under the oppressive bureaucratic thumb of apathetic and/or anti-OHV Resource
Agency and DPR leadership.
Even worse, prior to 1982 the entire OHV program was
divided up among numerous Parks Department Divisions and had no cohesive
element. Employees would work on OHV for a few hours and then move to other
unrelated projects. There was no opportunity to develop the expertise and
understanding of OHV that has evolved since the legislature saw fit to create a
separate Division to oversee the program and an Independent Commission to
concentrate on making sure resources are allocated where they are needed to
provide a safe and enjoyable OHV experience while protecting California's
environment."
It is important to remember that the OHV program has a
distinct mission that is often lost in DPR where there has been (and apparently
continues today) a corporate or institutional movement to end or severely
restrict motorized recreation, MTBs, and horses on DPR lands.
Based on what I know today, I believe the Transformation
Team’s proposal has nothing to do with improving government efficiency. Rather, it is a crass political maneuver to eviscerate
the OHV program and lay the groundwork for permanently sunsetting the program
on January 1, 2018.
The good news in the dark aforementioned potential future
of OHV is that there are millions of motorized recreationists who can speak up
as a strong political force against the Transformation Team’s plan.
Your loud voice was heard 20 years ago to save the CA OHV
program and now government officials in Sacramento need to hear from you once
again!
# # #
Don Amador writes on land-use and recreation issues from
his office in Oakley, CA. Don was
Chairman of the CA OHMVR Commission in the 1990s. He may be reached via email at: damador@cwo.com
Posts
Thank you Don, for your comments, they are "right on". The move to oust all forest use has gone on for almost FOUR decades now. That's because the "no forest use" GREENS are now in charge of our forest management agencies, so it will continue UNLESS Donald Trump becomes president. He's the ONLY CANDIDATE who will rein in the EPA, the power behind the GREENS.
ReplyDeleteThese people follow their own narrow agenda, and don't care that their "no use" policies have increased forest densities and undergrowth, contributing to the wild fire catastrophe in the Western forests (that burns up the habitats they profess to protect). This fact alone proves that their REAL AGENDA is hidden behind their rhetoric. While Trump is not perfect, he LOVES AMERICA, and will do his best to see that common sense prevails. It's clear that he's our only hope to keep "access for all".
Dear Anonymous, over the last 40 years both GOP and DEM administrations in Sacto have supported efforts to defund and/or gut the CA OHV program.
ReplyDeleteFollow the money... Users pay agencies to deprive them of Public use of Public lands. Say nothing and you will all be looking for a new place to recreate. Where is ORBA on this Don? How about MIC?
ReplyDeleteGeorge, all OHV groups and assn. are engaged in this full court press. Watch for alerts, etc. early next week... including the July 19 (6-9pm) "Parks Transformation Team" meeting in Sacto.
ReplyDeleteI assume they would still be collecting Green Sticker Fees but provide nothing for it?
ReplyDeleteHas the Transformation Team published any rationale for their recommendation to re-integrate the OHMVRD? Often these decisions are based purely on economics and an attempt to reduce duplication of services. Usually they fail, for the reasons you mentioned - ie lack of focus, re-prioritisation of staff time etc. Of course there can be years of backwards progress before the failure is recognised! But if the battle over the economic imperative can't be won, then maybe focusing on a potential structure and degree of autonomy within the DPR might be a practical target for advocacy. If the right people are given the right mandate within an agency good things can still happen. May not the best outcome from an OHV perspective but might be an achievable fall-back position. Best of luck with this new challenge.
ReplyDeleteOHV enthusiasts PAY money and respect the land (most of us). Closures will leave greens no money.
ReplyDeleteOur efforts to preserve recreation, whatever it may be shall not be infringed upon. Enough failure in Government and dilly dallying around, "Trump Em". Circle the wagons around America, tighten our wasted spending and let the rest of the world be their own leaders, we Can't influence the world when our policies are larger than lame. Keep up the great work Don.