LAND USE
Our Public Lands
We encourage participation in the governance process by our members to enable reasonable access and responsible use of our public lands. We are committed to engagement, over the long haul, with the agencies involved.
Programs often take years to develop and as stakeholders we need to express our opinions and ideas. Only by participating in the process can we expect to have our voices heard and our viewpoints seen.
Resources
Public Information & Government Agencies
Public Information & Government Agencies
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Bureau of Land Management (U.S. Department of the Interior) – Bishop Field Office
Inyo National Forest (U.S. Forest Service)
Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association
Manzanar National Historic Site
Mono County Museum (Bridgeport)
Upcoming Meetings/Reviews
Comment on Agency Proposals
Several of the local public agencies have filed preliminary OHV grant requests with the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR)
The issuing of the grants is somewhat competitive, especially this year because available funds are lower than in past years.
We encourage your participation in this process by making comments to support the local agencies that manage our public lands. Comments should be submitted directly through the division website from March 8 to May 2, 2022.
You can view the requests and make comments by following this link:
https://olga.ohv.parks.ca.gov/egrams_ohmvr/user/home.aspx
The following agencies have made requests:
BLM – Bishop Field office
Ground operations
Law Enforcement
USFS – Inyo National Forest
Ground Operations
USFS – Inyo National Forest – Patrol District
Inyo Sherriff
Mono Sherriff
Law Enforcement
INF Press release
Inyo National Forest OHV grant applications available for public comment
The Inyo National Forest submitted preliminary applications for grand funds to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR). Grant funds will be used to enhance and manage motorized recreation. The Law Enforcement grant proposal seeks funding to help ensure off-highway vehicle (OHV) user safety, education, and regulatory compliance.
The agency invites public comments on the preliminary grant applications. These and all other applicants’ grant requests, as well as detailed instructions about the process and how to comment, can be viewed on the OHMVR website https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/. Comments should be submitted directly through the division website from March 8 to May 2, 2022.
As stewards, the Inyo National Forest manages public lands for the benefit of current and future generations. For more information, or to submit ideas through other means, please email Inyo National Forest OHV Manager Jeremy DeCell at jeremy.decell@usda.gov. For additional information about the Law Enforcement grant contact Laura James, Law Enforcement Patrol Captain at laura.james@usda.gov.
STEWARDSHIP
Thanks to those who helped! – Greg W, Dan G, John H, Tom T, Michael L, Pat W, John P, Mike C, Pat H, Ric D. Not in the photo Chuck T. and John S.
The Eastern Sierra 4X4 Club participates in Facelift Eastside
On Thursday, October 15th, 2020, the Eastern Sierra 4X4 Club participated in a stewardship project called Facelift Eastside. Twelve members of the club spent the morning picking up 3/4 of a ton of trash and litter in the Polita area and other spots along the base of the White Mountains. Everyone worked hard until the thick smoke started moving in.
So, what is this Facelift thing all about? First a little history.
in 2004, the Yosemite Climbing Association organized “The Yosemite Facelift” as an annual volunteer event to encourage visitors to clean up the park at the end of the busy summer season.
This is the single largest organized volunteer clean up in any National Park. For 2020, the traditional event in Yosemite did not happen due to COVID-19. This year, Facelift, wants local volunteers to pick up trash closer to home.
Black Canyon Cleanup on National Public Lands Day
Eastern Sierra 4WD Club and Friends of the Inyo
Black Canyon Road is a designated Inyo National Forest Road in the White Mountains. It provides access for a broad range of recreational users. The road becomes so overgrown in places that it is very difficult to travel on. The dense vegetation needs to be trimmed every other year. On National Public Lands Day, September 24, 2016, Eastern Sierra 4WD Club partnered with Friends of the Inyo to remove vegetation, large rocks and other debris from the road providing safe access for all. A small invasive Salt Cedar tree was discovered and the location was provided to USFS.
Organizations that support keeping our publics lands open for recreational access
CAL4WHEEL
Since 1959, the California Four Wheel Drive Association has actively promoted the advancement of vehicle-oriented outdoor recreation. They are the largest organization of this type in California and represent owners of all makes and models of 4WD vehicles, as well as non-owners who support responsible vehicle-oriented recreation.
CORVA
The California Off-Road Vehicle Association advocates on behalf of their membership to promote, protect and preserve off-road recreation and automotive access on public lands throughout California. CORVA’s main purpose is to work with the land managers for responsible off-highway vehicular access and recreation opportunities
GEAR GRINDERS
The Gear Grinders 4WD Club was established in 1971 in Ridgecrest, CA. They are active in Land Use advocacy and participate in the BLM roundtable each month to help give guidance on important issues, and they participate in many local community activities and support local service organizations.