FOCCMA and lots of other users from the valley recently sent in e-mails and requests for the BLM to hold Public Scoping meetings in Fresno and Visialia on the Clear Creek Closure.  Here is a copy of the request and the official response from Rick Cooper of the BLM

request comment = Dear Rick Cooper

During the last 2 scoping meetings in Santa Clara and Hollister we have

asked you to have meetings in Fresno and Visalia. We have not received any

response. The OHV community in the valley is a very large and powerful

group and we feel that we should also be included in the scoping process.

Most people can not take off work in the middle of the day and drive 2 to 3

hours to make a meeting. Please consider our request to have a meeting in

Fresno and Visalia.

THE BLM RESPONSE:

Mike,

We will not schedule another scoping meeting in the Central Valley area.

Please encourage the valley OHV community to submit their issues and ideas

on what the CCMA RMP/ EIS must address, either in writing or by email. The

Hollister BLM webpage www.blm.gov/ca/hollister has the scoping form on it.

They can also write our office for a form if they do not have a computer or

just send a letter with statement that this is a scoping issue for CCMA. BLM

will consider all scoping related issues received by June 21, 2008 in its

Scoping Report for the RMP/EIS.

We will be scheduling other outreach opportunities through the Central

California Resource Advisory Council, during the draft RMP/EIS development

and then during the BLM scheduled comment period to the draft RMP/EIS.

OUR RESPONSE BACK:

Once again we the OHV community of the valley seem to be brushed aside by our government.

Mike

 

The second meeting with the BLM for their public scoping process was held in Hollister on Mon night 5-19-2008 at the Veterans Memorial Building.  The meeting was well attended by the OHV community but did not pack the house.  The BLM gave a outline of how they would be conducting the scoping process of the meeting before we got started.  They had everybody break into groups and give input into different sections of Clear Creek and how the public thought it should be managed and how the BLM could improve its management of the Creek.

From what I could see and hear everybody was very positive about their involvement in the planning process, and we all hope that Rick Cooper and his office staff will listen to what the public and OHV community have said and what they want to have happen in the area. 

The Friends of Clear Creek Management Area had a Booth set up inside of the meeting hall and was accepting Legal defense Fund donations and also had bumper and swing arm stickers as well as trail buttons available.

We will be looking forward to seeing everybody at the San Jose meeting on Wed night and hope to have the booth set up again for all to come by and visit.

Mike

 

United States Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Managment

Hollister Field Office

20 Hamilton Court

Hollister Ca. 95023

831-630-5000-Office

831-630-5055-Fax

www.blm.gov/ca/hollister

 

EMERGENCY CLOSURE EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2008 OF 31,000 ACRES WITHIN THE

CLEAR CREEK MANAGEMENT AREA

INFORMATION FACT SHEET

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began conducting a study in 2004 on asbestos exposures experienced by CCMA users during typical recreational activities. The study was conducted to provide BLM with information to manage and minimize human health risks at the CCMA and to update a similar study conducted by the BLM in 1992.

               

On May 1, 2008 the EPA released the report, “CCMA Asbestos Exposure and Human Health Risk Assessment.”  The report stated the exposures measured by EPA for many recreational activities at CCMA are “above the EPA acceptable risk range of lifetime cancers.”  It also notes that children “have greater risk than adults due to higher exposure measurements [and] are of special concern because their exposures occur earlier in their lives.

 

Based on the findings in the report, BLM simultaneously enacted an immediate temporary closure on May 1, 2008 of 31,000 acres of the area to all public access/entry upon release of the EPA report while a Resource Management Plan (RMP) to determine the long-term management of the area is underway.  The BLM’s number one priority is to protect the public’s health and safety.

 

Over the next two years, BLM will be preparing a Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement to guide the long-term management of public lands within the CCMA. EPA and BLM will host a public meeting to discuss the results of the EPA Human Health Risk Assessment and BLM will discuss the need for the temporary emergency closure on May 8, 2008.

 

The Fee Program has been suspended and partial refunds will be issued to all persons who purchased a Season Pass.

 

Public Meetings

 

May 8, Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, EPA and BLM,   open house from 3:00 – 5:00 pm, meeting from 6:00 – 9:00 pm

 

May 19, Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 649 San Benito St., Hollister, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

 

May 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Library Room 225, 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

 

For More Information

 

Contact the Hollister Field Office at (831) 630-5000 or visit our website at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area.html

It’s Club Nite at Yamaha 99.

 

28615 Green Ct.

Madera Ca. 93637

559-645-4545

 

We have been asked to include all the local OHV clubs in our monthly party nite.

 

Sounds great to us at Yamaha 99!

We love off roading just as much as the next guy or gal!

 

So please come by and enjoy the festivities Saturday April 5^th form 4:00 to 10:00 pm.

 

Bring out your rigs and show them off.

 

We will have several bands that night, a great BBQ, prizes, show and shine, Big Love Boxing and some other fun stuff.  It’s a time for socializing and sharing experiences.

 

To all our OHV friends it can be a time to connect and talk about the proposed closures in our National Forests and elsewhere in the state, and develop stronger ways to network and work as a team to keep open the trails we love.

 

Please join us the evening of April 5^th from 4:00 to 10:00 pm for lots of fun and fellowship.

 

Thanks,

Jim Riley

Owner- Yamaha 99

The pictures of the SRMC BBQ have been posted in the membership section under pictures.

Please log in and have a look.  Tell all your friends to become members and for everyone to please donate.  Without your help we can not afford the fight to keep the creek open.

mike

BRP and the Salinas Ramblers MC hosted the first annual Fun Ride on 12-7-9-2007  The event was held at the SRMC property to raise money for the Clear Creek Legal Defense Fund.  The weather was its usual at Clear Creek.  On Thursday and Friday we received just about 1 inch of rain which was badly needed.  This proceeded to turn the front camp into a mush pit, but put an end to the very dusty conditions on the trails.  Over the course of the weekend  there were about 500 plus people who showed up to have a great time and support the cause.  We also had many vendors show up with all kinds of goodies to offer all of those who attended. 

Saturday morning started out with overcast skies and sign ups in the SRMC building for the guided rides to be put on by the various clubs that attended and for those who did not exactly know where to go.  The guides took out groups by skill levels and toured them around the Clear Creek area.  One of the main focus points of the rides was to show people what the closures have done to the area and what is currently being attempted to open more of the trials and roads back up. 

There was also a 4.9 Mile Hare Scrambles course for all to enjoy.  The course started out in the back of camp and took riders around the surrounding hillsides and canyons on SRMC property.  This course was also used for the poker run and featured both a high and low hand for adults and kids. At this point the weather was still holding with a mix of sun and clouds.

As the various groups started to arrive back at SRMC camp it was evident by the smiles on their faces that everybody was having a really good time.  Most of the riders came back to the building to sign up for another ride or to find anybody they could go out with again.  It was reported that the conditions on the trails were incredible and the riding was just fantastic.

The SRMC BBQ crew started up the pit about 1:00 p.m. and started to get ready to feed the very hungry riders that had a great day out on the trail and all of those that volunteered their time and efforts to make this event a huge success.   About 2:30 after the BBQ was loaded with Tri Tip and the beans were cooking away the weather at Clear Creek as usual started to change.  By 3:00 p.m. we were having a mix of rain and snow (SNOW IN CLEAR CREEK?). How could this be?  Fortunate for all concerned it only lasted a short time and we went back to a mix of clouds and sun.  Dinner was served from 4:30 p.m. to about 7:00 p.m. There were a lot of smiling faces after dinner as everybody looked like they had some of the best riding and food all in one great day.

After dinner the band started playing at the SRMC building and the stories started flowing as everybody was recounting the great day of riding they had.  There was a huge raffle that could only be accomplished by the generosity of all of the vendors and donors to the event.  It seemed that the raffle just went on forever as there was so many goodies donated.  The band played till about 1:00 a.m and a good time was had by all.

Sunday morning it was COLD at 7:00 a.m. it was only 26 degrees but the skies were clear and the sun was shining.  There was a Continental breakfast at the SRMC building and sign ups for the guided rides into Clear Creek.  Once again as the riders came back into camp they had smiles on their faces and were looking for anybody to go out with again. 

All in all everybody had a great time and said they were looking forward to next years Fun Ride to support Clear Creek.  Once again thank you to all of the vendors and sponsors of the event who made it all possible.