July 13, 2004
270 - The Story Behind the Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you had had the chance to review the running battle with the BLM over the trail and barren designations on the Salinas Rambler web site, you most certainly will have seen the number of 270 miles of trails come up over and over again. In fact, this number was recently mentioned again by George Hill in the interview that he gave to the Hollister Freelance last month. What he probably neglected to tell the reporter was that the BLM was only going to propose an alternative with 270 miles of designated routes, not recommend it. And, of course, he also probably neglected to mention that, of the 270 miles of designated routes, there would be 25 miles for administrative use that would not be open to the public.
For some reason, the BLM seems to be stuck on this number, 270, as though there was something magical about it. One might assume that this number was the result of an extensive study done by the BLM, perhaps in conjunction with the EPA and Fish and Wildlife Service, a study that would have analyzed the trail network in relationship to the recreation opportunity spectrum, maintenance budget projections or erosions statistics. For the benefit of everyone who was not involved in the EIS process in the early 1990’s, especially George Hill, let me explain the significance of that number.
There is none!
The truth of the matter is that this number was developed over coffee and pie at Jerry's Restaurant in Hollister one night after a BLM meeting. Why? At the time the BLM had presented a series of alternatives to the public for comment during the scoping phase of the last Environmental Impact Statement process. The BLM was proposing to allow OHV use to continue in either a No Action alternative or under very restrictive alternative.
The logic behind No Action is that the BLM would continue to implement the 1986 management plan that called for the area to be managed as an “open use” area with limited restrictions around waterways, plant habitat and mines. This plan was perfectly OK with the OHV community but was unrealistic in light of the EPA’s push to limit exposure to asbestos.
The second alternative would have concentrated all OHV use in the Clear Creek drainage, i.e. from ridge top to ridge top on either side of Clear Creek canyon and east to San Benito Mountain and Four Corners. This was a truly stupid alternative that someone in the BLM dreamed up. Sure, lets promote all OHV use in the area of Clear Creek with the most sensitive issues. What a brilliant idea!
While we all hoped that the BLM would pick the first alternative since they are so good at No Action (or government inaction), the OHV community felt compelled to advance a more OHV friendly alternative. Over coffee and pie one evening after a meeting with the BLM, the OHV technical review team members did a little placemat math and penciled out the numbers that eventually became Alternative 3, Dispersed Use in the Draft EIS document. Trust me, there was no major expenditure of public funds and no elaborate scientific study by a team of “ologists” involved in the creation of this alternative.
Now, like the Charlie Brown/Peanut’s character Linus who won’t let go of his dirty blanket, the Hollister field Office will not let go of this number. In fact, all of their efforts seem to be centered around coming up with a plan for trail mileage that achieves this number, even if they have to throw in administrative routes.
The truth of the matter is that there is no rhyme or reason for this "fixed" number. Ed Hastey, the previous State Director understood this and modified the EIS through the Record of Decision to allow use on all routes that were not physically or signed closed. He changed the EIS to make the 270 miles of routes be the encouraged (or signed) routes where the BLM would promote use. Now the BLM, under the leadership of State director Mike Pool, is trying their best to gut the previous decision and create a nightmare management plan that will turn long time Clear Creek users into criminals.
Stay tuned!