Clear Creek Recreation Area H.R. 403 Reintroduced 2019

Butch

poseur
Staff member
from thiis post #29:
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10243961#post10243961

Panetta introduces legislation to reopen Clear Creek
January 10, 2019

Courtesy of Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s Office:

Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced the Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act, H.R. 403. The legislation directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect 21,000 acres of BLM land adjacent to Clear Creek by designating the area the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness. It would also reopen the 63,000-acre Clear Creek National Recreation Area in San Benito and Fresno counties for public outdoor recreation, including off-road vehicles and hiking.

“By introducing this bill, I am proud to continue the legacy of our local leaders, including former Congressman Sam Farr, to protect and preserve California’s public lands for future generations,” Panetta in the statement. “Preserving the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness will bolster our conservation efforts and reaffirm our commitment to protecting our pristine environment on the Central Coast. At the same time, reopening the Clear Creek National Recreation Area will promote recreation and tourism in our district.”

Once considered a premier off-road vehicle recreation site, Clear Creek was temporarily closed in 2008 to the public after an Environmental Protection Agency analysis about potential risk created by naturally occurring asbestos. Congressman Panetta’s bill instructs the BLM to develop a rigorous plan to minimize the risk from asbestos exposure and educate visitors about the naturally occurring asbestos. The BLM would also be required to find ways to reduce the impact of off-road vehicles to protect the area’s habitat.
 

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Sweet... guess when we get closer we call on our members to contact their assemblymembers etc. for support.

This is great news!
 

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
Excellent! It's a shame we have to give them something (21k acres of wilderness) in order to get back what was taken from us, but it's better than losing everything. Clear Creek was one of my favorite places to ride in CA.



WC
 

Butch

poseur
Staff member
Clear Creek is epic. It was 750 miles if developed trails until the desiganated routes thing, then still 250 miles of designated trails.

Then, in 2008, Jere Johnson and the BLM decided, without any scientific data (er, with manufactutered data) that
the dirt was dangerous and shut it all down.

I just wish the OHV Community had time to deal with this.
 

Butch

poseur
Staff member
So this bill has just been sitting for a year now?

Yeah, apparently our legislators don’t really have much interest in legislating. I have meant to go to Kamela Harris’s office and asking WTF?

I don’t think our community makes enough noise.
 
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