Johnson Valley update

[GARhead]

I got this email from C.O.R.V.A with updates on the latest about J.V.:

Attend a BLM Public Meeting to Learn About the

Possible Closure of the

Johnson Valley Off-Road Area

October 23 & 24, 2008


 
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Marine Corps will hold two

open-house style public meetings to share details about the possible

expansion of Twentynine Palms Marine Base. This plan includes land to the

east and west of the base, and could result in the removal of most, if not all,

of the 189,000 acre Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area from public

use! It could also mean the forced sale of almost 72,000 acres of privately

owned land.

 

Attend one of the public meetings to let BLM and representatives of

the Marine Corps know that closing or ?withdrawing? Johnson Valley

from public use will have significant impacts with the loss of this

irreplaceable and unique area.

 

The BLM needs to hear from you to help inform them during the decision

making process! The removal of Johnson Valley from public use must not

happen without offsetting the enormous loss of recreational lands that will

occur IF the current base expansion moves forward as PROPOSED.

 

ATTEND ONE OF THESE PUBLIC INFORMATION

MEETNGS TO LEARN MORE

!


Thursday, October 23, 2008 4:00 ? 9:00 pm

Hay?s Gym, Twentynine Palms Junior High School

5798 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
 
Friday, October 24, 2008 1:00 ? 4:00 and 6:00 ? 9:00 pm


Hilton Grand Inn Victorville ? 12603 Mariposa Road, Victorville, CA 92395

 

Johnson Valley offers unmatched year-round outdoor opportunities for multiple use

visitors and residents throughout high desert communities. Its varied landscape is

punctuated by steep rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds and

sandy washes. It is used extensively for competitive racing events, OHV free play,

gem and mineral collecting, rocketry, land sailing, filming and has numerous

opportunities for hiking, rock hounding, wildlife watching and disbursed camping.

No other designated ?open? area in the California Desert provides

the recreational resources and value on this broad scale.

 

Regularly visit


www.corva.org or www.pfjv.org
for updates and the latest information as this process moves forward.

Thanks,

Jim Colln
VP - Administration
www.corva.org  

[84socal]

there is also another  active  site dedicated just to this    it is fojv.org   

[hammeredtoys]

Thanks for the update Justin ~rockon

[Metal Twister]

Time is running out to submit your comments to the Marine Corps regarding the proposed expansion, and possible loss of the largest multi-purpose OHV area at Johnson Valley .  All comments must be received prior to January 31st, 2009.  Please read the press release below.

 

We realize that there is a lot of information to absorb regarding all of the options that were given.  Most of the options took all or portions of Johnson Valley OHV.  The only option that did not result in a loss of our public OHV lands was Alternate 3.  Although not being considered currently, the de-designation of the Sheephole Wilderness area as suggested by Supervisor Mitzelfelt, would imminently enhance the attractiveness of Alternate 3. 

 

We encourage you to read Supervisor Mitzelfelts letter to Senator Feinstein's office.  He goes through each of the options, and then proposes a de-designation of this area based on several factors.  The area in question is not quality wilderness, and was never intended to be set aside as wilderness area.  Another benefit to this area of expansion is that it can be used for Air Combat Training, whereas the air space over Johnson Valley is in the flight path of the Los Angeles Basin .  Overall, this is the best solution for everyone.  However, the Marines need our help to de-designate this wilderness area, and that begins with sending in your comments.  Please send a copy of your comments to your Congressman and Senators as well.  De-designation of a wilderness area requires Congressional action.  To find your representatives go to www.congress.org.   

 

Please take a few minutes out, read the information provided and SEND IN YOUR COMMENT FORM. Now is the chance to make our comments heard!  After that we will be at the mercy of the Marines and Congress. 

 

Thank you for your continued support and interest-

 

Sincerely,

 

Tamera and Chris Field

MyJeepRocks.com

 

You have received this email because you signed a petition to Save Johnson Valley from the Marine Corps intended expansion.  If you do not wish to receive further emails, please reply to this email and we will remove your email address from the list.

 

 

For Immediate release

January 11, 2009

 

 

Wayne Nosala

PFJV Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

760-373-7866

 WayneNosala@PFJV.org

 

 

 

Partnership For Johnson Valley hosts meeting with local businesses and Military representatives from Twentynine Palms 

 

What was to  be a routine meeting to discuss the proposed expansion of the Twenty-nine Palms MCAGCC chaired by Harry Baker turned into an emotional discussion about the economic impacts the military's proposed expansion would have in Lucerne , Johnson, Yucca Valley and surrounding communities if tourism was removed from the region.

 

"This is a Route 66 scenario" said one of the business owners concerned about local impacts on tourism that could turn our communities into ghost towns.

 

Ed Waldheim, President of the California Trail Users Coalition and a Director of the Partnership, was visibly shaken and genuinely concerned that the emotion of these local retailers could never be channeled through typical scoping methods. Range Expansion Program Manager Joe Ross, assured us he would relay this overwhelming concern demonstrated by local business owners to the upper military brass and that every comment carries weight. He noted that socioeconomics will be one of many important items to be fully analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

 

One very important key element discussed was the volume of scoping comments that have been received so far by the Marines.  As of today, just under 900 Emails and about 500 hard comment letters have been received.  This number of comment letters to the military is disappointingly low.

 

The Partnership is urging the public to send letters to the military regarding this issue. The more the better.  Unique comments and ideas are openly welcome from all types of  tourists, multiple users and local residents. All substantive comments that are received will be incorporated into the Draft EIS, scheduled for release in Spring 2010.

 

Comments can be as simple as one sentence, or as many words as you would like. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING COMMENTS IS JAN 31, 2009.





Download comment form here http://pfjv.org/Mcom.pdf

 

Comments may be submitted in writing by sending a letter to:

 

Mr.  Joe Ross, Project Manager, 29Palms Proposed Training

Land/Airspace Acquisition Project, MAGTFTC/MCAGCC,

Bldg. 1554, Box 788104, Twentynine  Palms, CA 92278-8104;

 

by an e-mail to SMBPLMSWEBPAO@usmc.mil;

 

Or by voice mail at 760-830-3764

 

All meetings of the PFJV are open to the public, and the military is regularly invited and in attendance. Harry Baker said, "I've been very gratified that Marine Corps representatives accept our invitations and take time out of their busy schedules to attend. They have shown an impressive willingness to be open, honest and listen to all stakeholder concerns during their planning process."           

 

If you would like to donate to the Partnership, please send a check or money order in care of:

 

Partnership For Johnson Valley

3550 Foothill Blvd.

Glendale CA 91214

 

PayPal link

http://www.pfjv.org/donations_needed.htm 





About The  Partnership for Johnson Valley : The leadership of the Partnership For  Johnson Valley has been cooperatively working with the military and the affected  Stakeholders in an effort to explore alternatives to the proposed land expansion. The PFJV is a division of the 501(c)3 California Trail Users  Coalition. The Mission of the Partnership is to unite the many people who enjoy  the diverse activities available in the multiple-use open access area of Johnson   Valley . The Partnership?s charter is to promote responsible recreation and the  use of desert resources through conservation and education. The goal of the  Partnership is to ensure public open-access to the area in the present, and for  future generations who Live, Work, and Recreate in Johnson Valley . For more  information and updates, please visit www.PFJV.org





Wayne Nosala

21411 Lutie

Mojave (Wonder Acres) CA  93501

760-373-7866

info@pfjv.org

Partnership For Johnson Valley








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