BLM create conflict over access

Actually 86-87 route network was amended by the emergency closure that was used for Mike Castro's motocross race in 1993. The BLM cooperate with Mike Castro to hold a "for profit" motocross race which allows the BLM to have an emergency closure resulting in the closure of routes in a 20 mile area without public process. This race went all the way to White Mountain. This emergency closure is still in effect today 12 years later.

This was further amended by another emergency "the Willow Fire" which was used to close numerous roads without any public process. Closures due to emergencies are supposed to be temporary in nature in either case go no longer than two years. The emergency closure was represented to be until the CRMP the proposed 1995 plan was finalized. However, that plan was never finalized.

These type of major road closures and route designations are to be done through a public process to include interested members of the public in reaching the final decision on how the land is managed.

In the Management Plan for Juniper Flats Cultural Area September 1988, Section 36 (owned by MojaveGreen) was slated to be acquired to eliminate conflict with public recreational use of the area and private land owners. "Acquire private lands adjacent to the current boundaries of the Juniper Flats ACEC (illustration 2) in order to rationalize and simplify management of existing public lands in the ACEC. This action implements Goal C. ..... "

"Goal C. Minimize future land-use conflicts within the Juniper Flats Cultural Area."

"The public/private land boundary between Sections 35 and 36, (T.4N, R.3W) complicates the efficient management of known cultural resources along the riparian zone as well as grazing management and the preservation of the riparian zone itself. The acquisition of Section 36 would essentially block up Juniper Flats as public land and remove an artificial boundary."

And the BLM were supposed to take particular actions to protect the Indian cultural artifacts. They were to place gravel caps over the cultural site which was located on a road. The gravel caps were to mitigate the damage to the artifacts while not attracting attention. "Place two gravel caps over two cultural properties to protect them from vehicular impacts." They were supposed to erect fences around sensitive cultural and riparian areas.

What I see happening here is that due to BLM mismanagement of the area, we have no concensus between the user groups and private land owners as to the routes and use of routes. The BLM did not implement their actions as cited in the 1988 Management Plan that would have eliminated these very probelms that we are discussing today. The BLM identified these problems in their 1988 Plan.

Then in developing the WEMO plan, the BLM failed to reach out to interested parties so they could participate in the public process and reach a concensus on the future of the Juniper Flats area.

When there are decisions made without the inclusion of a real public process, the public has no ownership of the outcome and therefore lacks respect for the decisions made. Then there is complete lack of enforcement further encouraging that lack of respect.

This lack of enforcement is endangering the public and the private land owners who are experiencing real conflict out on the trails. This is not right. The BLM identified these very problems in 1988 and failed to implement their goals.

Instead, the BLM have created a series of conflicts in the area over access and have failed to protect the Indian cultural actifacts.