When does the adventure begin?

Inyo County Planning held a meeting in Bishop on the Draft Environmental Report for the ATV Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra Project on August 15. Those attending were overwhelmingly in support of the two-year pilot project which would allow ATV riders to travel from campsites and campgrounds to local stores, services and OHV trails using surface streets with restrictions.

Behind the project is State Assembly Bill 628, which granted a pilot extension to Inyo County to increase OHV access on county surface streets.

Joe Gibson of Meridian Consultants, which prepared the Environmental Impact Report for Adventure Trails, gave a slide presentation summarizing the potential environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and project alternatives required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

After the presentation, over two-dozen members of the public commented.

Mike Johnston, President of the 4-Wheel Drive Club, said, “We need this program and we need tourism. Economically, I think it will be a great boost.”

“I support this off-road proposal. My experience has been that most people who come and visit here are very respectful,” said Bishop Business Owner Alex Yerkes. “As a business person, this will be a source of income, for businesses and for the County,” and “this is a pilot project that can be changed as time goes on.”

Gary Colbert of Bishop said that he supports the plan for a trail system, as did John Baxter of Independence, who observed that he “often sees non-street registered vehicles use county roads currently, despite that it is currently illegal” and that it could make much of it legitimate without increasing need for enforcement.

Speaking in favor of the project, John Harris of Bishop said it would bring more people to the Bishop area to enjoy it and access the outdoors. “There are always naysayers when outdoor use is proposed. There are always environmentalists who wish to limit access, when there are people who cannot access the outdoors through other means. The opposition is elitist and people should be able to access the outdoors through every mechanism.”

Jim Jennings, one of the few speaking in disagreement with the plan, is a retired BLM employee. Jennings said that he was alarmed by the project maps because “they do not take into consideration that USFS and BLM are responsible for resource management.” He expressed concern that. “We

don’t want this area to become another Jawbone Canyon.” He recommended a phased-in approach as the project is being implemented.

Business owners Joe Todd and Doug Brown, both felt the County would benefit from the Adventure Trails system. Brown said, “I think it’s a great system. The Paiute Trails system has been instrumental in revitalizing Utah communities and I’m planning a trip to the Paiute Trails to see how it is.”

Dan Conner, a local Bishop resident and musician, expressed disappointment. “We moved out of the city to come to the country, and now we are disappointed to find that the country wants to bring the city here. I wish that weren’t the case.”

Sophia Merk of Ridgecrest asked why there is a 35 mph speed limit for the Adventure Trails Program and who the lead law enforcement agency is. (The 35 mph speed limit was established by AB 628 and enforcement depends on jurisdiction, i.e. City of Bishop Police and Inyo County Sheriff.)

Dennis Flaugherty, another Bishop Business Owner stated that he supports the project, saying, “I remember when environmentalists were against four-laning Highway 395, and now the highway is safer. Not letting people come to this area to recreate is absurd, particularly when the program increases regulation.”

“If 35 mph was part of the legislation, was that a maximum limit?” asked Earl Wilson of Lone Pine, and “could we make it lower?” (The DEIR specifies lower speed limits in areas).

Steve Toomey of Bishop expressed concerns about the alternatives. “This is an economic plan, and when you limit people receiving economic benefits, it doesn’t seem right … the DEIR is written according to CEQA, but it won’t be popular in towns that are left out.”

Bishop City Councilman Keith Glidewell, the only elected public official in attendance, asked “What was the reasoning for allowing use only during daylight hours?” and “could it be amended?” (Hours were originally prescribed in AB 628. Many OHVs do not have headlights. The Board of Supervisors further restricted hours in the Implementing Procedures. It cannot be amended as there are conflicts with Vehicle Code).

Randy Gillespie said that “All that is being proposed by the Adventure Trails program is to mirror the Paiute Trails system in Utah, which has been in place 20 years. It is a very successful program, and has revitalized communities in Utah.” He noted businesses in Bishop are closing and stalling will not help anyone. “We need this program,” he said.

The Environmental Impact Report contains several alternative road maps required by law under CEQA. The report is available at the Public Works Department in Bishop and in Independence, as well as at the Inyo County Free Library in Independence, Lone Pine, Bishop, or Big Pine. It can be also be found online at the County website: www.inyocounty.us/ab628/DraftEnvironmentalImpactReport.htm.