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INTERFACE OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE FUNDS SLASHED BY STATE
Arnold, CA, January 30, 2001
The California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, a
division of State Parks and Recreation that distributes grants to
agencies to provide OHV riding opportunities, mostly on public land, has
eliminated this year’s operation and maintenance funding to the
Stanislaus National Forest and directed that the remaining enforcement
and conservation monies not be used for the Interface. CORE (Commitment
to Our Recreational Environment), a community-based group with some 75
members, hopes this funding reduction will send a message to forest
officials that broad community input needs to be incorporated into
executive planning and that these grants based primarily on gasoline tax
dollars cannot be taken for granted. “The Commission’s action in
response to citizens’ concerns gives substance to a reaffirmed commitment
to social and environmental responsibility in OHV management,” said
Judith Spencer, President of CORE.
Members of CORE, Forest Service personnel, the Calaveras County Sheriff,
and spokespersons for off-highway groups all addressed the OHMVR
Commission on January 26th. At issue were concerns about the Urban
Interface, a narrow 8,500-acre island of national forest adjacent to
towns, subdivisions, ranches and resorts along Highway 4.
A majority of public input over a three-year period has asked the
Calaveras District to come up with a plan that excludes OHV use next to
homes, where the majority who recreate are hikers and walkers, and where
there is threat to waterways and protected plant and animal species.
After two Environmental Assessments, instead of a compromise, the Forest
Service continues to propose OHV use throughout the area and seek money
for OHV management, although, having received funds for years, problems
in the Interface have only increased. Joanne Corso, a member of CORE,
observes, “The Forest Service always says first up, ‘It’s not the money.’
So why do you think they ask for public opinion and then not use it?”
Randy Crutcher, who traveled to Sacramento three times to speak before
the Commission stated, "This is such an obvious case of conflict of
interest. The Calaveras District seems willing to pit citizens against
one another in the Interface in order to keep state dollars flowing.”
This year’s Stanislaus’ Operation and Maintenance Grant (which includes
enforcement and conservation) request was for $475,000. They are to
receive $208,000, none of which is to be used in the Interface.
Currently, the Calaveras District is preparing an Environmental Impact
Study to assess existing damage to forest resources while proposing a
public recreation plan for the area. In the meantime, unregulated OHV
use continues with increased impact on soils, streams, forest denizens,
and private property owners.
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