TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Jan. 18, 2013) — The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has joined a coalition of organizations trying to save the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area near the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base.
The Marine Corps has unveiled plans to expand the Twentynine Palms base to add nearly 147,000 acres of adjacent federal land, the SEMA Action Network said in an email to subscribers. The land —which offers a varied landscape — is a designated OHV recreation area, which hosts the "King of the Hammers" OHV race and other OHV events during the year, Diamond Bar, Calif.-based SEMA said.
Congress has guaranteed access to the Johnson Valley OHV site for now, and is requiring the Marine Corps to prepare a study showing alternative ways for the Marines and OHV users to share the land.
April 2 is the due date for the study, but meanwhile the fight for the land is not over, SEMA said.
The trade group urged Action Network subscribers to sign a petition to keep the area open to OHV users. The petition must have 25,000 signatures by Feb. 14, SEMA said.
According to the federal government's recreation.gov website, "the 189,000-acre Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area offers outstanding trails for competitive off-highway motorcycle racing, enduro and trial events, and day play-riding. Sloping bajadas, narrow canyons, flat dry lakes, sand dunes, and twisting trails through low rocky mountains provide a variety of experiences for all levels of riders.
"The Johnson Valley Yucca Rings Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), Soggy Lake Creosote Rings ACEC, Cougar Buttes' huge rock slabs, ruins of historic mines, range cattle, and a wide variety of desert animal and plant life offer unique nature and touring experiences."