Pine Nut Mountains Trails Association

Preserving Public Lands for Public Use

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First Quarter 2021 OHV Newsletter

April 12, 2021 by Judi Allen

As the first quarter of 2021 comes to an end, it has been busier than one may think!  While much of the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) community has been in winter hibernation, indoors doing maintenance or planning for the post covid return to normalcy, there has been a ton of positive OHV related activity.

OHV REGISTRATION UPDATE

As noted at the last update in 2020, the OHV stakeholders were successful in submitting a request to update NRS 490, the regulations surrounding most everything OHV.  Currently, there are two bills in committee, with a total of five suggested amendments.  None of them are earth shattering and none, if accepted, in their entirety would create a negative impact on OHV.

Most of the amendments are technical or structural in nature.  With the removal of the OHV registration process from DMV (more on that in a moment), there is no longer a need for a representative from DMV on the Nevada Off-Highway Vehicle (NVOHV) Commission.  The folks over at the Nevada Conservation League have suggested an amendment that replaces the DMV representative with a representative from NV Department of Wildlife.  This is felt to be a reasonable fit as so many of the OHV are the backwoods anglers and hunters and we tend to ride in areas that cross paths with wildlife of significance.  Having a non-voting member to provide advice and informational support to the commission does work well.  The only area of heightened awareness is the change that is being proposed by Nevada Conservation League, a group that works to advance their agenda that, by omission or commission, champions land grabs and other restrictions that are problematic to the OHV user.  It is reasonable to assume whomever the Director of Wildlife appoints to participate will be a supporter of the OHV program, but this will be an item we will keep an eye on for sure.

It was heartwarming to see six of the seven letters received for the bill were in support of the registration improvements.  The seventh letter was a sole letter in opposition from the Motorcycle Industry Council’s (MIC), Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA).  ROHVA is funded by MIC, as is National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC).  This letter addressed an issue not even in the bill and focused on the operation of ATVs on roads*.  This is problematic for a lot of reasons aside from this bill not changing anything about where we can ride, it was just odd, and an obvious “Form Letter” of opposition.  The larger issue for us at the club level is NOHVCC, sister group to ROHVA, has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the NVOHV grant program.  Yes! YOUR REGISTRATION DOLLARS are being paid to an affiliated group that just tried to undermine the improvement of our registration process.

Where one’s head should feel free to explode, is that NOHVCC has three State Partners in Nevada: Bob Adams, Nye County; Mathew Giltner, Douglas County; and Larry Calkins, Lyon County.  Yet it appears that not a single attempt was made by ROHVA to speak to anyone on the ground before sending a letter of opposition from their Virginia-based lobbyist. As of this writing, emails and phone calls to ROHVA’s Scott Schloegel (full voice mailbox) over the second of half of March have gone unanswered.

Not all is lost, as one would be willing to bet that the next time NOHVCC applies for funds from the NVOHV Commission Grant program paid for by, YOUR OHV REGISTRATIONS, that will afford the opportunity for the answers we have all been seeking this month.

Overall, if passed, the NRS 490 re-writes will streamline the registration process, with the goal to make it easier and less cumbersome.  As it stands now – again, if passed, we will simply log on to a website, and order the number of use stickers needed, and in a few days, they will show up in the mail.

We will keep everyone updated on the progress of these two bills as they go through the rest of the process before the Legislature adjourns the first week of June.

*ROADS – One of the Issues that comes up all the time is making the SxS street legal. This is not in either of the bills for a few reasons. The first is that the ability of a community to designate on-road use by ordinance.  So, there is no need to fix what is not broken.  Also, on a side note, Utah and parts of Colorado, which have allowed on-road use, are revisiting those regulations, as the realized financial benefits from the use are not outweighing the hazards created by the SxS user.

PAINTED ROCK MINE

We are expecting the next phase of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the area surrounding Painted Rock Mine to come out soon for public comment.  You may recall we submitted our concerns surrounding the increased traffic through the de facto staging at the end of Johnson Lane. If the next phase of the EA addressed our comments from last fall, hopefully there will be no need for additional comments.

Some more detail of the Public Lands that might explain why we in the recreational and access community have little room to chart the course.

The land from the end of Johnson Lane to the tribal border just west of the mine site is zoned for potential development at some point in the future.  The land was identified years ago as a disposal area, meaning that the federal government will willingly turn the land over to the state, county and or a developer for development.  An example of this is over on the east side of Yerington, where the Pumpkin Hollow tract was withdrawn from public inventory and ‘sold’ to the county, who then sold it to the Nevada Copper mine.  Also, there is a long-term plan for Hwy 395 to cut through the Pine Nuts and connect to 580.  Yes, we all know how long it took for 580 to make it to Carson, so keep that calendar in the back of your mind.

These types of issues are why it is imperative the BLM publishes their updated Resource Management Plan. Without it, everything is stalled and we are waiting, arms crossed tapping our collective foot.

A very bad map from the Current Resource management lands marked for disposal in red (map 16) can be found here.

We understand none of this is a feel-good bit of news, it just is the status.  So, we at PNMTA can only work with what we have today.

MOONROCKS OHV MANAGED SPACE

For those who venture north to Washoe County to ride at Moonrocks, there is some good news and some more “Arms crossed, what about?” news as well.

The BLM Carson District office is finishing up the public comments section for the EA to revise the Moonrocks area from an “Open Area” to a “Managed Open Area.”  This is good news for OHV, primarily because it identifies and pretty much locks in the OHV use moving forward.  They have a quick timeline which is good, although a tad rushed in the opinion of some of the stakeholders.  One point of contention, which was covered in PNMTA’s comments, is the lack of a permanent sanitary facility.  Pit toilets were not included in the plan; instead, it was opted to install a concrete pad with portable toilets.  This is aesthetically annoying; and with the Forest Service’s ability to build hundreds of pit toilets, it is remarkable there is not a similar solution in this plan.  The answers received are along the lines of when the blue plastic toilets are vandalized, it is less expensive to replace them and is less of an environmental concern when someone shoots them up.  This may be empirically true – plastic is cheaply replaced, but one would suggest a quality facility would be used and respected more.  But as we see from time to time, the decision is likely already made.

There are some other interesting quirks to the timeline, including the program for trail maintenance and inventory is somewhat of a moving target and ambiguous at best.  Options surrounding the ability to hold events with required permits are not included and there are concerns regarding the ability to access Moonrocks from other staging areas in Washoe; in particular, the Chickadee Drive staging area, which is quite popular.

And finally, the biggest item on the radar, is the inability of BLM to formalize any agreement that the area will not become a fee area.  This is particularly important to the OHV community in Nevada as the BLM has received several hundred thousand dollars over the years to improve the OHV areas, specifically at Sand Mountain (a fee area). The thought of making Moonrocks another area that OHVers paid for the work and then need to pay again to ride there is unconscionable.

To be clear, PNMTA supports the transition to the Managed Open area. Our concerns expressed in the initial EA and the comments are of support to the transition, as well as groups like One Voice and ORBA. They may not make a difference, but they have certainly “marked the page” when we, the OHV community, need to jump back in and work for continued improvements to this or any other BLM Managed Public Lands.

PNMTA FIRST POST-COVID EVENTS

PINE GROVE – May 8

Late in first quarter of 2021, PNMTA received word that vandals have been removing the wood from the remaining buildings over at the Old Pine Grove Townsite on the Eastern Slope of the Sweetwater range and using it for campfires.

Pine Grove is one of the easiest accessible true “Ghost Towns” in northwest Nevada.  We have been working with the leadership at USFS Bridgeport Ranger Station, the Public Lands manager for the Sweetwater Range. We are now entering into a stewardship agreement to help keep an eye on the area.  Detail on the stewardship plan will be forthcoming. 

Meanwhile, we are scheduling an outreach and education day at the Pine Grove site and partnering with folks from the “Nevada Backroads” group to make a difference at Pine Grove.  The strategy is for PNMTA to have our traditional information table to discuss issues and good stewardship, OHV registration and its importance, and supply tools to do a clean-up day as well.  Items we hope to accomplish, aside from picking up trash, is to cut a wildfire defensible area around the remaining buildings and take a photo inventory of all the remaining structures and artifacts.

With an overt ‘maintenance’ presence at Pine Grove, it is hoped the casual visitor will see this as an active space and, hopefully, not be so quick to continue dismantling the town.

The long-term strategy is to encourage another local group to formally adopt the townsite, something akin to “Friends of Bodie,” where this group would note the status of the town and, if needed, schedule a stewardship day.  This event is scheduled for May 8 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

GOLD POINT, NV – May 29 – June 1

All Work and No Ride makes Pine Nutters Nutty

As a reward for your help over at the Pine Grove ghost town site, how about a little camping and riding at another Nevada ghost town. Until you have had the chance to camp, ride and dine in Gold Point, you have not truly experienced the Nevada Old West.

Memorial Day Weekend, some Pine Nutters will head south to camp and ride out of Gold Point.  The Dunes and Trails ATV club will be coming up from Clark County to join in the weekend as well.  There is room for RV camping and some mine cabins you can rent for the night, as well.  Camping is available with a $5.00 fee, which is used to help maintain the townsite.  YOU NEED to make reservations if you want to stay in one of the old cabins or camp in the town.

We will likely ride to the Old Camp and Stateline Mine site on Saturday and discuss options on where everyone wants to ride Sunday.

Please join us Memorial Day Weekend – Gold Point is 1 hour north of Beatty. Some more interesting reading on Gold Point.

RENO AREA DIRT RIDERS COMING TO JOHNSON LANE – June 6

The Reno Area Dirt Riders (RAD) recently held a registration event in Washoe County up at Moonrocks.  With their success at that event, BLM has asked if they were interested to doing one at Johnson Lane. PNMTA will currently be supporting this event and plans to coordinate with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.  We will provide more details as we get closer.

PNMTA PIC-A -NIC in July

Club Leadership is keeping a close eye on the lifting of COVID restrictions and may hold a formal meeting in June, but is currently planning for a summer picnic–likely in Genoa at the park – sometime in July.  In addition to new and old members, we hope to invite the folks we have been working with to protect your access to public lands. By including other stakeholders, we hope to continue to grow our understanding of issues across all interests.  Please contact the club leadership and let them know your thoughts.

PINE NUT CLEAN-UPS – TBD

Click here for a pdf of the Newsletter. Questions or comments can be sent to Mathew@trailnv.com

NOHVCC Final Report Submitted to the BLM

April 16, 2018 by Judi Allen

The NOHVCC has completed their final report based on the feedback and participation at the public meetings held in November of 2017. This report was created to gather information about the enhancements for public land managed by the BLM in Nevada. From here, the BLM DC Office and Nevada State Office will work cooperatively to create a strategy to implement some of the suggestions that have been made. This process will begin in summer of 2018 and they will share the strategy upon completion.

 

Final Draft NOHVCC-BLM NV REPORT

Washoe County Lands Bill-with Wilderness Component-Information and Upcoming Meetings

April 11, 2018 by Doug Holcomb

A comprehensive federal lands bill is being proposed for Washoe County, which also goes by the name of Washoe County Economic Development and Conservation Act. The bill includes three distinct components:

  1. Economic Development for the Greater Reno/Sparks area
  2. Names, acreages and maps of federal lands in the northern portion of Washoe County that will be proposed for conservation and the release of the remaining wilderness study areas
  3. The draft language that accompanies these maps.

For more information or to view the updated proposed maps and bill draft language, please visit their website: www.washoecounty.us/csd/planning_and_development/conservation-act.php

Washoe County is asking for input on the updated proposal based on the input received up to now on the bill.

Please plan to attend the meetings listed below for information and discussion of the two components of the bill.

For the economic development portion: Tuesday, April 24. 2018 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Convention Center.

For the conservation portion: Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Convention Center.

For additional information, please contact:

Jamie Rodriguez
Management Analyst- Government Affairs
Washoe County Manager’s Office
(775) 328-2010 (office)
JARodriguez@washoecounty.us
1001 E. Ninth Street Reno, NV 89512

BLUERIBBON COALITION MAKES FORMAL REQUEST FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SAGE GROUSE ANALYSIS

September 7, 2015 by Doug Holcomb

BOISE, ID (August 31, 2015)–The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national trail-based recreation group, is again urging federal agencies to avoid “exit-based” final land-use decisions. BRC has weathered numerous litigatory storms at the Presidential administration such as occurred over winter use in Yellowstone Park, or various incantations of a “roadless” rule on our National Forest System lands.

BRC believes the Forest Service and BLM are headed down a similar pathway that will lead to intractable litigation over numerous Greater Sage Grouse (GRSG) planning efforts in Western States.

BRC highlighted these concerns in a letter Friday, punctuated by the apparent trajectory of the Bi State Grouse decision process on the Humboldt-Toiyabe Forest. Under the Bi State decision new restrictions would be for off-highway vehicle events through an apparent agreement with environmental groups under the guise of the objection resolution process. The lek buffer distance would be nearly doubled from 3 miles to 4 miles, the 10 a.m. event restriction amended to an all-day closure, and the seasonal restriction expanded by 45 days to include the time from May 15 to June 30.

Don Amador, BRC’s Western Representative, stated, “I think these new restrictions are unwarranted and were never day-lighted during the public process. OHV recreation has been identified as nothing more than a secondary threat to GRSG, but is an important land-use activity in the West.  We are concerned that the GRSG is becoming a convenient excuse to issue parting gifts to various special interests during the Administration’s final year.”

BRC’s letter outlines significant new information and changes that were not available for public comment. BRC formally requested that the agencies conduct a supplemental analysis, and seek an extension from a deadline which would force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide on or before September 30, 2015, whether the GRSG must receive protection under the Endangered Species Act. “The purported urgency of meeting this deadline is improperly driving this process,” Amador noted.  In fact, the deadlines in the settlement agreement have been extended on multiple other occasions for other species. “We intend to test the agencies’ willingness to conduct a proper process that incorporates best available science and allows for full public involvement,” Amador concluded.

Federal Plan Threatens OHV Access In Nevada

March 4, 2015 by Doug Holcomb

NEVADA – Federal Plan Threatens OHV Access In Nevada Desert

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March 03, 2015 11:27 PM

Join and Support The Fight To Protect OHV Use Today!

Off-road Champion, Jimmy Lewis, Riding on NV BLM TrailOff-road Champion, Jimmy Lewis, Riding on NV BLM Trail.

 

Popular Dry Wash Trail at Risk in Draft RMPPopular Dry Wash Trail at Risk in Draft RMP.

 

Elise McAllister, from Partners in Conservation, talks with OHVers about Potential  Sand Wash Closures at Logandale OHV AreaElise McAllister, from Partners in Conservation, talks with OHVers about Potential Sand Wash Closures at Logandale OHV Area.

 

Important Sand Wash Trail at Risk for ClosureImportant Sand Wash Trail at Risk for Closure.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Las Vegas area is currently fronting a draft plan that could eliminate or greatly restrict both casual and event-based OHV recreation on approximately 3 million areas in Southern Nevada.   The draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) creates an unjustified risk that might preclude “dry washes” from being designated as OHV routes.

The elimination of dry or sand washes from subsequent project level travel management plans could functionally close the desert if they are not capable of being designated as routes,  because motorized travel would be “limited to designated roads and trails.”

As OHVers know, washes are often the historic backbone of any desert-based route network.  Washes can either function as a trail or trails traverse them.

BRC’s Don Amador spent February 17-21 touring popular OHV recreation sites with representatives from the Southern Nevada Off-road Enthusiasts (SNORE), Motorcycle Racing Association of Nevada (MRAN), American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), and Partners in Conservation (PIC).  BRC and partners also attended a meeting convened by Clark County Commissioner Tim Collins’ office, where the BLM was an invitee as well.

BRC and OHV groups are not the only users concerned about the clear and present danger that is casting a dark shadow over the future of motorized access in Southern Nevada. Off-road champions and business leaders are also weighing on this important issue.

Adam M. Bosch, President of MGI/Mid America Underground, LLC, states,”The high risk currently threatening motorized recreation in Southern Nevada should be a clarion call to action for all of us who enjoy OHV recreation on public lands.  We all remember the thousands of miles of roads and trails that were closed by the U.S. Forest Service during their travel management process.”

“We can’t let the same thing happen to desert-based OHV use as the BLM starts its sister version of FS travel management.  Now is the time for powersports enthusiasts to gird for the fight by joining BRC’s effort to preserve and protect managed OHV recreation in the deserts of Nevada,” Bosch concludes.

JOIN BRC TODAY
YOUR MEMBERSHIP GIVES US A STRONGER VOICE

Jimmy Lewis, ISDE Gold Medalist and Dakar Champion states, “I moved from California to Nevada to get away from land closures and now the BLM is looking to shut us out of most if not all of my favorite riding trails. It’s time to stand up and fight back. Please send in a comment letter today!”

BRC has prepared an easy to use action alert where you can select issues that are important to you and then send those comments to the BLM at the Las Vegas Field Office before the March 9, 2015 public comment period deadline.

DONATE $25, $50,$100, $500, or $1,000
TO THE  “SOUTHERN NEVADA OHV DEFENSE FUND”

GO TO THE
BRC LETTER GENERATOR

BLM – MOTHER-LODE GARBAGE CLEAN-UP

February 6, 2015 by Doug Holcomb

MOTHER-LODE GARBAGE CLEAN-UP 

​ 

 

February 19, 2015   10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

RSVP  for this event by February 17, 2015

 

Follow the signs at the junction of Flint Road (Carson City Landfill) & Eastgate

Siding Road off of Hwy 50 near Mound House in East Carson City.

We will need a point of contact for all volunteers so that you can be notified if there is a weather cancellation.

Contacts:   Melanie    775-885-6024    mhornsby@blm.gov

Cory          775-885-6020    cgardner@blm.gov

Duff           775-885-6179    adcallan@blm.gov

 

Mother-lode clean ups:

March 14 from 10:00-3:00

March 15  from 10:00-3:00

 

Adopt-a-Space workshops:

February 6 in Reno  5-6:30 pm

February 27 in Carson City  6-7:30 pm

Senators introduce bill to stop unilateral monument designations

February 4, 2015 by Doug Holcomb

 

Sens. Michael Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho) and David Vitter (R-La.) have introduced S. 228, the National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015.

The legislation would amend the American Antiquities Act of 1906 to require congressional approval and National Environmental Policy Act compliance for the designation of new national monuments.

Please click the “Take Action” button, fill out the form at the bottom of the page and click the red “Submit” button to ask your Senators to support S. 228 today.

Take Action

The AMA believes this would be an important step toward ensuring all affected stakeholders have an opportunity to be heard before these important designations are made. It would also require public input before management changes are made to designated areas.

The designation of a National Monument is significant for recreational opportunities and local economies. While there are cultural and historical landmarks that deserve the designation of National Monument, the AMA believes Congress and the public must be consulted before any action is taken.

The American Motorcyclist Association opposes unilateral executive declarations that do not allow full public debate about the disposition of public lands. Indeed, every designation deserves to be considered individually to allow time for thoughtful deliberation and input from all affected user groups, local and state elected officials and Congress. Without this careful local consultation, a new land use designation can create negative economic and social effects, such as reduced tourism and fewer open areas on which to recreate.

If you are not yet an AMA member, please join the AMA to help us fight efforts to restrict responsible motorized recreation.  More members means more clout against our opponents, and your support will help us fight for your riding rights – on the road, trail, racetrack, and in the halls of government. To join, go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join.

BLM Carson City District, Draft Resource Management Plan Meeting Dates and Locations

January 7, 2015 by Doug Holcomb

CC BLM RMP Meeting Dates

BLM Starting an Adopt A Space Program

August 27, 2014 by Doug Holcomb

The Sierra Front Field Office, in Carson City, Nevada, has started to put together an Adopt a Space program for volunteer groups. The program will coordinate with these groups to choose an area for them to help keep clean by picking up garbage that has been illegally dumped.

PNMTA has met with the BLM, discussing our annual cleanup and pinpointing some of the usual illegal dump spots. Also discussed was the possible coordination between other volunteer groups and PNMTA’s  annual cleanup.

More information can be obtained by calling the BLM Sierra Front Field Office at 775-885-6000, or by stopping in and picking up a flier about the program. The office is located at 5665 Morgan Mill Rd., (corner of Deer Run Rd.) Carson City, Nevada 89701.

Carson City Open Space Meeting

August 14, 2014 by Doug Holcomb

Aug. 18 Open House to address open space, parks in Carson River area
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 08/07/2014 – 2:30pm

Residents interested in open space and parks along the Carson River, including Silver Saddle Ranch and the Prison Hill Recreation Area, may want to attend an Aug. 18 open house hosted through the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department.

The event will be in Bonanza Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 East William Street from 3 to 5:45 p.m. and will include information, maps and draft recommendations from the Management Plan. Written comments are also encouraged.

Immediately following the open house, the Open Space Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. in the Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center with a presentation and an opportunity to submit public testimony.

A second opportunity to view the presentation and submit public testimony will be at the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Sept. 2, 5:30 p.m. in the Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center. All comments are encouraged and welcomed.

The Draft Management Plan along with the maps, appendices, and comments and staff responses can be found here.

DRAFT Management Plan for Carson City Open Space and Parks in the Carson River Area

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http://www.carson.org/index.aspx?page=2521

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