Barren Play Areas

The record of Decision for Clear Creek calls for approximately 937 acres of barrens on BLM land where OHV use is either encouraged or allowed.

With the release of a new user map, the BLM has started to sign "barren play areas" where they hope to encourage the public to recreate.  Problem is, they have never had a forum to discuss what the public would want in a play area or where OHV users "play" today.  Any input provided by OHV representatives of their Technical Review Team for Clear Creek has either been ignored or lost due of staff changes over the years.  Worse yet, one OHV recommended area that actually appeared on a map in 2000 was removed from the new user map.

So how did the BLM come up with these "play areas"?  Good question!  Several of the "play areas" have appeared on various maps produced by the BLM since the start of the Environmental Impact Statement process in the early to mid 1990's.  They were selected by a BLM staff that has no concept what OHV recreation is except something they wish would go away.  Along the North Ridge Route, R002 are four "play areas" of which only one (right most one near T124), in the opinion of the Salinas Ramblers, represents a desirable play area.  The other three are have little value as "play areas".  Two are merely wide areas along trails and the area intersected by R006 (Halfway Hill) offers very little challenge.  In fact, the area where many people play (hillclimb) is the north (opposite) side of R002, generally between T107 and R006.

Once again, the BLM has put the cart in front of the horse.  They have begun the process of erecting elaborate signs and kiosks at several of the "play areas" using (wasting) green sticker money in the process.

The Salinas Ramblers recommend that everyone viewing this page should take a ride to the BLM  encouraged "play areas" shown on the new user map and, if you are dissatisfied with them, send an e-mail or letter to the BLM complaining about the play areas. 

BLUE RIBBON COALITION ALERT:  Thanks to Don Amador, the Blue Ribbon Coalition has set up an automated e-mail or letter writing web page to assist you in contacting the BLM about this issue.  It may be found at: http://capwiz.com/share/issues/alert/?alertid=1093701 .  As there is a place to add additional comments, we suggest you review the other Clear Creek issues and add comments about them too.

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