We Need To Save Johnson Valley OHV!

[409industries]

As you may know things are heating up with the Military wanting to use the Johnson Valley OHV area as an expanded government training facility. This would basically eliminate Soggy Dry Lake (the location of many of our RallyX events) and leave us with one less venue to rip around in the dirt. Not only that, but this will also take away various trails for quads, dirt bikes, and buggies. There are already some groups that are formed and working to fight this military overtaking, but we need to raise awareness in our community to try to prevent this from happening as best as we can. Once Uncle Sam has this land, he’s not giving it back.

To increase its live-fire training facilities, The United States Marine Corps is planning to expand its 598,000 acre Air Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms in southern California. In order to do this expansion, they are preparing take over 180,000 acres of BLM land in Johnson Valley.

In withdrawing this land from the BLM, the Marine Corps will be effectively shutting the OHV community out of one of the most important and highly prized OHV trail systems on the west coast. The famous Hammer trails system in Johnson Valley is considered Sacred Ground for the 4x4 community, losing this trail system would be like Golf losing Augusta, or baseball losing Wrigley Field.

There are other avenues the Military can take for training their troops, they just took this one because it was the path with what they thought would be the least resistance. Let’s prove them wrong.

Source: http://www.sharetrails.org/letters-p...tter.php?id=29



Here is some very good information about how we can fight back with letters to Congressmen and other decision makers, sending “written comment sheets” to the BLM, and getting involved in local town meetings.

http://www.specialstage.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=34250

Use this online form to generate a letter to send to the BLM to express your disagreement with the military's land use decision:
http://www.sharetrails.org/letters-p...tter.php?id=29

Other resources for more official and up to date information regarding this issue can be found here:

Partnership For Johnson Valley: http://www.pfjv.org/
Friends of Johnson Valley: http://www.fojv.org/forum (specifically JV Land User forum)

[JacksonRally]

Guys please check out this link. There are some meetings coming up real soon and we ALL need to show up. I'm sure the Ontario meeting makes the most sense, but please do what you can to help save JV.

http://www.dezertrangers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79619

Thank You

Kyle Jackson
Jackson Rally

[JacksonRally]

BTW the meetings are this December 2008, NOT 2009.

[worldrallyblue]

DI Caravan to Ontario on the 5th to Save JV Anyone??

[JacksonRally]

Originally Posted by worldrallyblue

DI Caravan to Ontario on the 5th to Save JV Anyone??

Thats what I'm talking about. Lets get some caravans going.

[kurt.]

Originally Posted by worldrallyblue

DI Caravan to Ontario on the 5th to Save JV Anyone??

I'm there!!
I live in Claremont, which isn't very far from Ontario. I'll be there for sure!!

[JacksonRally]

Bump for more so cal guys to come out!!

[Slim]

Having these meetings at 5pm on weekdays will kill the eligible participation. I would be there if I didn't get off work at 5pm in San Diego.:unamused:

I signed a written comment and submitted it though.

-Slim

[JacksonRally]

Originally Posted by Slim

I signed a written comment and submitted it though.

-Slim

Awesome thank you

[Azewaldo]

This month's AMA (American Motorcycle Assn.) mag has a small piece about JV. They are actively participating in the fight against the takeover. If you're also a motorcyclist there's another group to show your support with.

To learn more you can go to http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/rapidresponse.asp and enter CA in the "search by state" box.

[lorenkb]

Originally Posted by worldrallyblue

DI Caravan to Ontario on the 5th to Save JV Anyone??

You bet. I'm rather skeptical about out chances, but I'll be there.

[Azewaldo]

Ok, I did my small part. Please take a moment to express how you feel about the Navy feeling the need to take JV away from us, and why it should look elsewhere for land: http://www.sharetrails.org/letters-p...tter.php?id=29

The decision to take Johnson Valley OHV land away from the public cannot be taken lightly. The Johnson Valley OHV area is a crucial part of providing safe & legal opportunities for enjoying off-road motor sports. Area businesses benefit from the dollars that off-road enthusiasts bring into the region. Johnson Valley is also home to many sanctioned motorsports events, such as AMA hillclimbs and SCCA rallycrosses. These sporting communities rely on Johnson Vally, and they would suffer greatly if they lost access to Johnson Valley as a venue.

If the Navy needs to expand its Marine facility it must look elsewhere. Johnson Valley is a cherished and valuable asset to the public and must be preserved for the benefit of the community.

[worldrallyblue]

Anyone making the trip out to this on Friday for sure??

[lorenkb]

Originally Posted by worldrallyblue

Anyone making the trip out to this on Friday for sure??

Yep.

[kurt.]

Me too..
Trying to gather a couple friends as well.

-Kurt