Now they want to stop foot traffic SMH

IMMEDIATE CALL TO ACTION - PENDING LEGISLATION!

(I know Mary has posted a short post about this, but it deserves our immediate and united attention and some more detailed information, so I decided to share this with the group. All California desert explorers will be adversely affected if this passes, so we must act now! This proposed legislation will affect ALL state parks, natural and cultural preserves including all those in the Mojave desert region within the state of California.)

The State of California is attempting to make it ILLEGAL to explore off-trail ON FOOT in ALL California State Parks and Natural and Cultural reserves. This would in effect permanently OUTLAW virtually all exploration of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and numerous similar desert and mountain areas if passed, in addition to creating an impossible enforcement nightmare that would completely overload the already limited resources of our parks. While discouraging off-trail wandering is great for some parks where the public would destroy natural resources if allowed to do so, in our desert parks and mountainous areas, off-trail exploration is the primary method of use of these incredible places, as there simply are no trails that reach most of the great areas of these regions. A sweeping, one-size-fits-all bureaucratic band-aid is not the solution here.

June 6th is the deadline for public comment, and they are trying to fast-track this right past us by burying the comment information in a long and obscure PDF file and limiting the public comment period to a very short time.

The Anza-Borrego Foundation & Modern Hiker are both firmly opposing this new legislation and encouraging followers to all do the same:

http://www.theabf.org/ca-state-parks-proposes-trail-use-res…

Comments may be submitted to: trails@parks.ca.gov by June 6th.

Here is some more info:

Comments may also be submitted by facsimile (FAX) at (916) 324-0301 or by email to trails@parks.ca.gov.

WRITTEN COMMENT PERIOD
Any interest person, or his or her authorized representative, may submit written comments relevant to the proposed regulatory action to DPR. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile (FAX) at (916) 324-0301 or by email to trails@parks.ca.gov.
The written comment period closes at 5:00 p.m. on June 6, 2016. DPR will consider only comments received at DPR offices by that time.

Submit comments to:
Lisa Mangat, Director
California Department of Parks and Recreation
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296

AUTHORITY AND REFERENCE
Public Resources Code Sections 5003 and 5008 authorize DPR to adopt these proposed regulations. The proposed regulations implement, interpret and make specific Public Resources Code Sections 5003, 5008, 5019.50, 5019.65, 5019.71,
and 5019.74.

@Crom

 

Thank you for this.

I'll be sure to comment and will attend the hearing in San Diego.

I looked into the cultural preserves in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park I think there's 8 and I found a map with at least 7 on them if this rule goes through those areas would be no-go for foot traffic, off Trail.

 

Thanks for the thread Paul!I will also be sure to comment!

 

Crickets... I guess this is okay as long as you all have battery left on your smartphone.