Old News

CITY OF SAN DIEGO INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO PREVENT TRESPASSERS IN PROCTOR VALLEY. Click here for a word to the wise.

MIKE THOMAS REMEMBERED by Deedee Kerr

ATTEMPT BY ANTI-ACCESS GROUP TO SHUT DOWN TRUCKHAVEN DENIED BY COURT... for now. Click here for details.

SECURE YOUR TOY TRAILER! The Santee Sheriff's Station reports that several trailers with OHVs have been stolen from Santee recently. They suggest buying and using a trailer hitch lock and parking another vehicle in front of your trailer.

HIGHWAY 78 REOPENED! The work was completed on schedule and the highway is now open full time in both directions. Check here for details.

corral canyon ohv area reopenED! Thanks to the hard work of the Cleveland N.F. and many volunteer off-roaders, the northern 1/3 of the OHV area has been reopened for public use. Included in the area that has been reopened is the Four Corners staging area, all of the Kernan Cycle Trail which connects Corral Canyon OHV area to Pine Valley, Spur Meadow Trail, Los Pinos Road, and Espinosa Trail, a portion of both Corral Canyon Road and Skye Valley Road. There will be another volunteer work day on Saturday, April 21. For further information contact Richard Tull at 619.445.6235 ext 3451.

STOLEN BUGGY! You can help recover a stolen buggy. Click here for info.

new off-road web site: There is a new group on Yahoo called Socal Off-Road Singles. Formed by an off-roader as a service to single off-roaders, the purpose of this group is to promote the love of our sport and to bring together single off-roaders who desire a partner to share in the off-road addiction.  Check it out at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/socal-off-road-singles.

OHV Community Impact upon WEMO Plan: OHV attorney David Hubbard comments on impact he sees us having on BLM thinking. Click here.

Imperial Dunes Plan Approved! The Imperial Sand Dunes, one of the most popular recreation sites in the country with more than 1.2 million visitors annually, has a new land use plan balancing off-highway vehicle (OHV) use with protection of wilderness and threatened plant and wildlife species, and emphasizing a family-oriented safety and law enforcement program. BUT THE CLOSURES ARE STILL IN PLACE FOR NOW... PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY OUT OF THE CLOSED AREAS. Click here for details.

Wanna dual sport? gET A STREET LICENSE FOR YOUR DIRT BIKE! Before 2004, Californians could do that. Help us regain that ability. Write a letter to the Governor. Click here for a PDF version of a letter you can print out, sign and mail in, or here for the text you can copy and paste into your word processor, and personalize with your own changes.

good news! The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has issued a favorable opinion on the management plan for the Imperial sand dunes. This action should eventually result in the re-opening of those areas closed to OHV use since 2000. Click here for details.

WATCH OUT FOR THIS SCAM! This warning from an alert off-roader: "I just became aware of a fraud that has become very popular recently. I got a response to an ad I ran to sell my ATV from a man who claimed to be in England wanting to send me a check for my full asking price (the hook) along with the cost of shipping. He sent several emails asking for pictures and asking about a title. He wanted the bike for a December birthday present so he wanted the bike shipped ASAP. I did receive a Cashiers check by Fed-Ex today with instructions to call a shipper and have the bike picked up. The check drawn on a bank in Missouri turned out to be completely fake. The idea was for me to deposit the check in my account and call the shipper, write them a check from my account and give them the bike. I would have been out the bike and the cost of shipping and had no recourse. I called the Secret Service and they were aware of the scam but said there was nothing they could do. My bank noticed that the Fed Ex had originated in Lagos Nigeria and the Secret Service man said I didn't need to go any farther than that. Maybe you could pass the word along to the group."

Dirt-biking fun turns tragic. Mission Viejo rider dies when he tumbles down unmarked mine shaft. What out for those holes! Details here.

Hesperia Ordinance Restricts Off-road Vehicles in City limits. Offenders may face forfeiture. Click here for details.

The DMG is conducting a survey of uncontrolled dogs in the desert. The Desert Managers Group (DMG) has been receiving increased reports of encounters between humans and wildlife with uncontrolled/unrestrained dogs in the southern California deserts. There is mounting concern these encounters could pose a threat to the health and safety of both the public and wildlife. Click here for further information and to download a form to use if you spot one of these animals.

Changes In Effect At Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area

Imperial Sand Dunes rules and regulations

Critical Habitat designated in Imperial Sand Dunes for Peirson's milk-vetch. Click here for the official Federal Register notice.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has determined that the Peirson's Milk-vetch will remain on the Threatened and Endangered Species List. Click here for details. SDORC, in conjunction with other OHV organizations throughout the state, is considering the recourses available, up to and including suing USFWS for this obviously faulty decision which ignored the best available science. This is a vitally important but expensive battle. We will be asking for your help.
 
Tierra Del Sol Four Wheel Drive Club of San Diego contributes another $5,000 to SDORC Land Use Fund! Thanks, TDS, for helping us fight to preserve our right to access public land!

NEMO Proposed Routes of Travel Plan Available to Public. Written protests on the proposed plan amendment must be received by Monday, June 14, 2004. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS!

Important message from BLM: Apparently ATV's have been operated from McCain Valley/Lark Canyon OHV area down to Carrizo Gorge in violation of the Wilderness Area. Further such transgressions could lead to a closure of Lark Canyon. I know that no one reading this is guilty, but please pass the word to your buddies!

ISDRA Protest Letter.  Follow this link to view the protest letter we (ASA, ORBA and SDORC) asked Hubbard (our attorney) to send to the BLM.

SDORC joins other OHV organizations in suing Dept. of Interior for failure to protect the desert tortoise! Click here for details.

OHV Noise Regulations. Effective January 1, 2003, pursuant to the passage of AB 2274, new OHV noise regulations are in force. Be advised that officials at many popular OHV areas are now trained and equipped to conduct on-site noise tests, and you are liable to be cited if your OHV does not meet the new requirements. Click here for further details.

Volunteers needed at Wildomar! The Forest Service is looking for volunteer help at the Wildomar OHV area, with the goal of making it a first-class off-road park. Click here for details.