Hmmmm...where do I start.
Lets just say that if anyone tells you they know what is going on, or is going to happen at Truckhaven, they are missinformned.
I can give some insight here.
Truckhaven (the land that we use for the TDS event) is not for sale.
We already own it. BLM most of it. But.....a large area of privately held land near and around Truckhaven was going to be sold, be it to commercial developers or conservation groups or whomever. The Green sticker fund has the money, most of it, The Anza Borrego Foundation (ya' think I'm a member
) was charged with finding additional funding to complete the purchase.
Because the purchase has been a 'group effert' no determination has been made to who or even how the land will be managed.
We have three groups interested in it.
OCSVRA would love to have the land, no dought, but who would pay for the additional rangers, maintenance etc.?
ABF would love to add the land to the State Park, same problems with costs but the State Park has always held the notion that 'lets just get our hands on it then worry about how to manage it later'.....
The Martinez Indian Tribe claims there is ancient sacred land involved in this purchase. This shouldn't be a suprise. The Indians have inhabited the valley for a long long time.
What off-roaders have on our side; its our money. The land has been used for off-road activities for over 50 years and compromise (yes I used that word!) seems to be in the air.
Lets face it, there is no necesity for any one group to have there way here.
One possible solution is that the land currently being used for off-roading remain in that capacity. Some land that is further up the valley and nearer the mountains would be handed over to the state park, and the Indians would possibly get control over 'sacred' sites (although I don't believe that has ever happened before.)
By all meens let your represenatives know what you think, let our state senators (evironmentalists both of them) let the Govenors office know.
But having said that....it maybe sometime before any proposal is put forth for the management of this land.
I'm not saying I know exactly what is happening either, I only hope that this time level heads prevail and a good plan is put forth.
Rick R
atriot:
