Western Mojave Faces 2,200-Mile OHV Closure; Off-Road Community Pushes Back
Western Mojave Faces 2,200-Mile OHV Closure;
Off-Road Community Pushes Back
Western Mojave faces 2,200-mile OHV closure - off-road advocates push back hard
SEMA and ORBA, along with a broad coalition of stakeholders, issued a statement decrying a federal court ruling that will result in the closure of approximately 2,200 miles of designated OHV routes across the Western Mohave planning area.
This is a ruling that, if upheld, would result in a significant loss of motorized access for families, recreationists, and public lands enthusiasts from across California and throughout the U.S.
The letter, sent under the Ecologic Partners Coalition banner, highlights not only the consequences of the closures but also the order's reliance on flawed assumptions about desert tortoise mortality. The coalition, which is comprised of SEMA, ORBA, American Sand Association, and AMA District 37, points to decades of scientific evidence that the court failed to take into account, specifically how predator subsidy effects, disease dynamics, and landscape-scale habitat pressures from utility-scale renewable energy projects and other industrial development are the primary and most significant contributors to desert tortoise population trends.
The letter also reaffirms the significant role the off-road community plays in environmental stewardship and protection through volunteer trail maintenance, habitat restoration projects, educational programs, and conservation initiatives designed to protect sensitive species while maintaining responsible public access.
To read more, follow SEMA News
Stay up to date by following ORBA on social media!