Re: Photos_Cottonwood Springs 1994

These photos illustrate that all the damage (including J1299) to Cottonwood Springs has been inflicted since Mike Castro's enduro event in 1993.

A BLM letter dated Aug 8, 1993 defined the following conditions for granting the permit:

"An emergency closure of all trails other than an access routes to the USFS system of trails from Bowen Ranch and Hesperia will be implemented prior to this event. This closure is included with the enclosed decision record. It will remain in effect the official route designation process is completed for the Juniper Flats area. The route designation process has begun and may be completed for the Juniper Flats area in conjunction with the West Mojave Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP). All interested parties and affected interests will have the opportunity to provide input during the route-designation process."

The emergency closure was defied by the permittee and other rogue riders while Juniper Flats was most vulnerable (in recovery from the Willow Fire).
The intent was to create trails that could be packaged into WEMO. A deal was apparently cut with corrupted elements within the Barstow Field Office to deliver the WEMO package. BLM looked the other way and attempted to intimidate those calling for a halt to the trail burning.

Other recreationists and local property owners were kept out of the planning process despite the commitment that "All interested parties and affected interests will have the opportunity to provide input during the route-designation process." The most controversial route (J1299) was inserted directly into the Amended Decision Record.

The rogue riders declared J1299 to be an old trail and were backed by their buddies in the Barstow Field Office.

Done deal?