Public Land Access at Risk: Join Us to Oppose the Range of Light Proposal

Protect Our Public Lands: Take Action Tomorrow Night!

We've raised the alarm in our Newsletter and on our Blog, and now is the time to stand together.

Join us tomorrow evening in Clovis, California, for a critical Public Meeting to discuss the proposed Range of Light National Monument—a sweeping land grab that could strip away public access to over 2,000 miles of roads open to all vehicles, including non-highway green/red sticker vehicles, 190 miles of local, trails and some 75,000 acres of hunting and snowmobile destinations. This devastating proposal threatens to close off these areas to off-roaders, hunters, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

This plan, fast-tracked by the outgoing administration, would turn vast areas of Sierra National Forest into a National Park, cutting off access for countless public land users with a single pen stroke. Our public lands should remain for the public—not locked away.

When & Where: Tomorrow night in Clovis, CA at the Veterans Memorial District, 808 4th St, Clovis, CA 93612 (Link to Google Map)

If you can’t attend, make your voice heard by contacting your federal representatives today to oppose this overreach. Together, we can preserve the trails, access, and traditions that make our community strong.

Please share this with your networks and spread the word!

Featured Speakers

Bobby Macaulay (Madera County Supervisor)
Tom Hobby (Yosemite Clean Energy)
Kirby Molen (Sierra Forest Products)
Rose Winn (Cal4Wheel)
Ben Burr (BlueRibbon Coalition)
Mike Wubbels (Stewards of the Sierra NF)
Marc Magness (Clovis Independent 4WD Club)
Mike Costello (HOWL for Wildlife)
Jeff Aiello (18Thirty Entertainment)

With representatives from

Congressman Vince Fong
Yosemite Sierra Gateway Trail Coalition (YSGTC)
Fresno County

Supported By

BlueRibbon Coalition
California Four Wheel Drive Association
Stewards of the Sierra NF
CORVA (California Off-Road Vehicle Association)


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I don’t disagree with the reduction of access part, but be careful when saying “national park” vs “national monument”. They have different levels of protections, access, and so on.

 

Seems oddly political for tw

 

We actually missed attending the meeting due to working late at the shop but will get an update posted from our next club meeting.

This is a good point, however, it is the national parks department who'd be running things and as we've seen in other areas of California, national monuments can more readily turn into a national parks. Nevertheless, the proposed legislation outright prohibits vehicle access to only paved roads, so this is a serious issue for our community as we are home to the second oldest 4WD club in the country with over a dozen trails in continuous use dating back to the early 1950s.

Unfortunately, it's a continuous battle between off-road access and politics in California and raising public awareness is something we have done for over 41 years as members of more than 20 different 4WD clubs and California OHV organizations.

Here are a couple good reads from a local online publication:
"Could Biden Declare Shaver Lake a National Monument and 'Completely Change' It?"
https://gvwire.com/2024/10/31/could...ument-ending-boating-hunting-and-off-roading/

...and this one that we helped contribute for:

"'Leave It the Way It Is': Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest"
https://gvwire.com/2024/11/04/leave...oposal-to-change-1-4m-acres-of-sierra-forest/

"The Range of Light National Monument proposal could ban 4-wheeling in the Sierra National Forest."


Marlin Crawler

 

So I’ve worked for multiple land management agencies and I’m curious what the feds are saying is the reason they are restricting vehicle access.

Usually they only do it once a natural or cultural resource has been repeatedly damaged or destroyed…