PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is hosting several in-person and virtual public and stakeholder meetings to gather input to develop off-highway vehicle grant proposals for submission to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. Grants support off-highway vehicle management activities, including visitor services, law enforcement, resource protection, planning and monitoring, and maintenance on BLM-managed public lands.

“The BLM uses these important grant funds to help manage, operate, and maintain the many BLM-managed off-highway vehicle recreation areas in the District,” said Acting California Desert District Manager Brandon Anderson.

Grant applications are being prepared for the 2025 grant cycle. Public comments will be most helpful to the field offices if received prior to the grant submission deadline of March 3.

Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to attend any of the meetings below. Participants are invited to join meetings virtually, by phone using the dial-in information, or attend in-person. The meeting schedule is as follows with options for participation below:

Needles Field Office: Tuesday, Feb. 11

9 – 10 a.m. public meeting and 10 -11 a.m. stakeholder meeting
Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/NzFQ50UONeb

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 868 2430 / Passcode: 948817

 

Ridgecrest Field Office: Tuesday, Feb. 18

4:30 – 5:15 p.m. stakeholder meeting and 5:15 – 6 p.m. public meeting
In-person: BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S Richmond Rd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/LXuX50UNZo0

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 544 4745 / Passcode: 408376

 

Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office: Tuesday, Feb. 18

5 – 6 p.m. public meeting and 6 – 6:30 p.m. stakeholder meeting

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/EAxb50UOMNW

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 160 146 2122 / Passcode: 245615

 

Barstow Field Office: Wednesday, Feb. 19

5 – 6 p.m. public meeting

In person: BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/OJIl50UNZhl

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 710 5577 / Passcode: 693916

 

El Centro Field Office: Monday, Feb. 24

3 – 4 p.m. public meeting and 4 – 4:30 p.m. stakeholder meeting

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/xVqF50UNZn2

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 973 9827 / Passcode: 776862

 

After the proposals are submitted to the state, preliminary applications are available for review and comment from March 4 to May 5, by visiting the OHV grants web page  at https://ohv.parks.ca.gov, or by submitting written comments to the field offices by mail or email:

• BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, 92311, ATTN: Caleb Scruggs; cscruggs@blm.gov
• BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S 4th Street, 92243, ATTN: Michael Mujica; mmujica@blm.gov
• BLM Needles Field Office, 1303 S Highway 95, 92363, ATTN: Sabrina Bice; sbice@blm.gov
• BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, 92262, ATTN: Caroline Gish; cgish@blm.gov
• BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S Richmond Road, 93555, ATTN: Katrina Meyer; kmeyer@blm.gov

The California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division state program supports off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing funds collected from gas tax, entrance fees and off-highway vehicle registration. For information on the OHV grant program, past grant allocations, program regulations, and more, please visit the website.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is hosting several in-person and virtual public and stakeholder meetings to gather input to develop off-highway vehicle grant proposals for submission to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. Grants support off-highway vehicle management activities, including visitor services, law enforcement, resource protection, planning and monitoring, and maintenance on BLM-managed public lands.

“The BLM uses these important grant funds to help manage, operate, and maintain the many BLM-managed off-highway vehicle recreation areas in the District,” said Acting California Desert District Manager Brandon Anderson.

Grant applications are being prepared for the 2025 grant cycle. Public comments will be most helpful to the field offices if received prior to the grant submission deadline of March 3.

Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to attend any of the meetings below. Participants are invited to join meetings virtually, by phone using the dial-in information, or attend in-person. The meeting schedule is as follows with options for participation below:

Needles Field Office: Tuesday, Feb. 11

9 – 10 a.m. public meeting and 10 -11 a.m. stakeholder meeting
Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/NzFQ50UONeb

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 868 2430 / Passcode: 948817

 

Ridgecrest Field Office: Tuesday, Feb. 18

4:30 – 5:15 p.m. stakeholder meeting and 5:15 – 6 p.m. public meeting
In-person: BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S Richmond Rd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/LXuX50UNZo0

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 544 4745 / Passcode: 408376

 

Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office: Tuesday, Feb. 18

5 – 6 p.m. public meeting and 6 – 6:30 p.m. stakeholder meeting

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/EAxb50UOMNW

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 160 146 2122 / Passcode: 245615

 

Barstow Field Office: Wednesday, Feb. 19

5 – 6 p.m. public meeting

In person: BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/OJIl50UNZhl

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 710 5577 / Passcode: 693916

 

El Centro Field Office: Monday, Feb. 24

3 – 4 p.m. public meeting and 4 – 4:30 p.m. stakeholder meeting

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/xVqF50UNZn2

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 973 9827 / Passcode: 776862

 

After the proposals are submitted to the state, preliminary applications are available for review and comment from March 4 to May 5, by visiting the OHV grants web page  at https://ohv.parks.ca.gov, or by submitting written comments to the field offices by mail or email:

• BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, 92311, ATTN: Caleb Scruggs; cscruggs@blm.gov
• BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S 4th Street, 92243, ATTN: Michael Mujica; mmujica@blm.gov
• BLM Needles Field Office, 1303 S Highway 95, 92363, ATTN: Sabrina Bice; sbice@blm.gov
• BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, 92262, ATTN: Caroline Gish; cgish@blm.gov
• BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S Richmond Road, 93555, ATTN: Katrina Meyer; kmeyer@blm.gov

The California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division state program supports off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing funds collected from gas tax, entrance fees and off-highway vehicle registration. For information on the OHV grant program, past grant allocations, program regulations, and more, please visit the website.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is hosting several in-person and virtual public and stakeholder meetings to gather input on the development of off-highway vehicle grant proposals for submission to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. Grants support off-highway vehicle management activities, including visitor services, law enforcement, resource protection, planning and monitoring, and maintenance on BLM-managed public lands.

“These grant funds help us manage, protect, and maintain the many BLM off-highway vehicle recreation areas in the District,” said California Desert District Manager Shelly Lynch. “We welcome public input on these important grant funds, as the input received at these meetings is used to develop our grant applications.”

Grant applications are being prepared for the 2024 grant cycle. Public comments will be most helpful to the field offices if received prior to the grant submission deadline of March 4.

Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to attend any of the meetings below. Participants are invited to join meetings virtually, by phone using the dial-in information, or attend in-person. The meeting schedule is as follows with options for participation below:

 

Needles Field Office: Feb. 21

4:30 – 5:30 p.m. scoping meeting and 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. stakeholder meeting

In person: BLM Needles Field Office, 1303 S Highway 95, Needles, CA 92363
Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/VBbS50QwTix

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 160 805 1054 / Passcode: 304433

 

Barstow Field Office: Feb. 22

4 -5 p.m. scoping meeting and 5 – 6 p.m. stakeholder meeting

In-person: BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/YH1g50QznW1

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 291 7162 / Passcode: 636079

 

El Centro Field Office: Feb. 22

3 – 4 p.m. scoping meeting and 4 – 4:30 p.m. stakeholder meeting

In-person: BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S 4th St, El Centro, CA 92243

Phone: 866-763-8176 / Passcode: 9991496#

 

Ridgecrest Field Office: Feb. 22

4:30 – 5:15 p.m. stakeholder meeting and 5:15 – 6 p.m. scoping meeting
In-person: BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S Richmond Rd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/wR4o50QwTpN

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 161 942 9567 / Passcode: 990837

 

Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office: Feb. 27

2 – 3 p.m. scoping meeting and 3 – 3:30 p.m. stakeholder meeting

Virtual via Zoom: https://ow.ly/MzyA50Qzn4P

Phone: 833-568-8864 / Meeting ID: 160 121 0531 / Passcode: 436977

Once the proposals are submitted to the state, anyone interested can review and comment on the preliminary applications from March 5 to May 6, by visiting the grants section at https://ohv.parks.ca.gov, or by submitting written comments to the field offices by mail or email:

• BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, 92311, attention Caleb Scruggs; cscruggs@blm.gov
• BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S 4th Street, 92243, attention Michael Mujica; mmujica@blm.gov
• BLM Needles Field Office, 1303 S Highway 95, 92363, attention David Roan; droan@blm.gov
• BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, 92262, attention Kris Ellis; kellis@blm.gov
• BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S Richmond Road, 93555, attention Katrina Meyer; kmeyer@blm.gov

The California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division is funding the planning efforts through an off-highway vehicle planning grant. The state program supports off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing more than $35 million annually collected from gas tax, entrance fees and off-highway vehicle sticker registrations. The program supports off-highway vehicle recreation in California by providing financial assistance to cities, counties, districts, federal agencies, state agencies, educational institutions, and federally recognized Native American Tribes and non-profit entities.

(Updated Oct. 2)

MARINA, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management has completed repairs to Clear Creek Road in the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern allowing visitors to receive permits online and enter the area in San Benito County. The full order rescinding the closure can be found on the website.

“We are excited to welcome the public back to the area for the first time in 2023 and remind visitors to recreate responsibly by staying on designated routes and by practicing leave no trace ethics on public lands,” said Central Coast Field Manager Zachary Ormsby.

Crews completed repairs to culverts and stream crossings on Clear Creek Road and maintenance work along the entire public touring route network in the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern; they also repaired the many stream crossings and culverts that were washed away during the winter storms. The completed work included a complete regrading of the total length of Clear Creek Road, which had experienced significant erosion from Clear Creek overflowing and washing out the road surface. Crews also surveyed the entire public route network and completed repairs and regrading, where needed.

Visitors can go online to recreation.gov to access permits for entering the Clear Creek Management Area and the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern. All visitors are required to have their own permit, regardless of age, and the permit must be always in the holder’s name and on them. Please note some visitors will need multiple permits to access areas within the Clear Creek Management Area. An individual is allowed a total of five permits per calendar year.

The Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern permit is available for advanced reservations and allows the visitor access to the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern within the Clear Creek Management Area for the duration of one day.

Recreate Responsibly and Pack It In – Pack It Out: Practice Leave No Trace ethics, while recreating on public lands by packing out all your trash. Illegal dumping of waste is a public safety hazard and dangerous to wildlife.

Clear Creek Management Area encompasses approximately 75,000 acres, of which 63,000 acres are public lands managed by the Central Coast Field Office. Topography is rugged with elevations ranging from 2,600 feet at Oak Flat Campground to 5,241 feet on San Benito Mountain. Recreational opportunities include hunting, camping, hobby gem/mineral collecting, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking/backpacking, and sightseeing. There are two developed campgrounds in the Clear Creek Management Area, Oak Flat and Jade Mill, both with picnic tables, shade structures, fire rings, and vault toilets.

For more information, please visit the Clear Creek webpage. For specific questions, contact the Central Coast Field Office at 831-582-2200 or BLM_CA_Web_CC@blm.gov.

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