California State Parks has introduced a new Annual Park Pass Program to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of State Parks. From the press release:
The Pass Program will include a variety of options for visitors, including a 150th Commemorative Pass, the Surf Explorer pass, the Off-Highway Vehicle pass, a Historian Passport pass, and the California Park Experience day-use pass. The new passes will be available to purchase starting today.
The National Park Service (NPS) at Yosemite National Park is pleased to announce that the Record of Decision for the Restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Final Environmental Impact Statement (Mariposa Grove Final EIS) was approved by the Regional Director on December 10, 2013. The Record of Decision (ROD) formally selects Alternative 2, South Entrance Hub for implementation. Alternative 2 was identified as the park’s Preferred Alternative in the October 2013 Mariposa Grove Final EIS. The Selected Action in the Record of Decision is substantially the same as described for Alternative 2 in the Final EIS.
The National Park Service has released the Draft Wildland Fire Strategic Plan, which describes what wildland fire management leaders consider the best course of action to meet the NPS mission, and how it can be effectively implemented.
The strategic goals and objectives contained in this plan articulate NPS’s best judgment of where to spend our time and attention to assure success. All levels of the NPS Wildland Fire Program will be involved in developing and maintaining a detailed implementation plan addressing the specific strategies and tactics to achieve the goals and objectives. Many components of this plan are multifaceted and complex. Therefore, prioritization of goals and objectives as well as the development of implementation strategies will require additional planning and commitment.
You can get a copy of the Draft Wildland Fire Strategic Plan HERE.
Press Release:
Hammerking Productions, the founders of The Griffin King of The Hammers Presented by Nitto Tire, are pleased to announce that the week-long off road festival held annually in Johnson Valley, CA will be able to continue in its current location for the foreseeable future. After six years of negotiations between the United States Marine Corps, the federal government and the Off Highway Vehicle(OHV) Community, a deal has been reached to preserve the majority of the land in Johnson Valley for OHV use.
Congressman Paul Cook spearheaded the deal which allows nearly 100,000 acres of land to remain open to the public and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Marines will have access to approximately 55,000 acres of shared use land for 60 days a year to meet their training objectives, but will not retain ownership of the land the remaining 305 days a year. The proposed legislation is expected to pass the House later this week and the Senate next week before the holiday recess.
Yep, that means that you can visit some forest areas free of the $5 daily or $30 yearly Adventure Pass fees! Hikers and off-roaders rejoice!
Or that may be just what they’re expecting us to do.
I will always look a gift horse in the mouth – especially if that gift horse is coming from a governmental agency. The plan is called the “Federal Lands Recration Enhancement Act” – or REA. When you walk around it and kick the tires, it seems like a good idea. But when you look under the hood, there’s some hinky. There’s ALWAYS some hinky. Here’s a portion of what the REA says in their summary:
