Weekend warriors fear Washington land grab could take off-roading off the board

By Patriot Outdoor News

“Any time you take away the consensus of the local community they are left with something they did not ask for.”

– Amy Granat, California Off-Road Vehicle Association

California outdoors enthusiasts fear Washington is poised to put up roadblocks on some of the Golden State’s most treasured trails by designating three desert destinations totaling more than 1 million acres national landmarks.

The Obama administration is considering using the federal Antiquities Act to bypass the legislative process at the request of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whose efforts to have the Mojave Trails and Castle Mountain, both in the Mojave Desert, and a section of the Sonoran Desert named federal sites were repeatedly blocked by Republicans. A White House move could put the land under federal control, which critics say could cut funding for upkeep or even restrict access.

“Bypassing the legislative process using the Antiquities Act would be as disastrous as it is undemocratic, creating winners and losers with the stroke of a pen,” said Rep. Paul Cook, R-Calif., who has sponsored a bill that bears some similarities to Feinstein’s, but would ensure off-roading and mining could continue on the land. Cook’s bill would also allow the state to create water projects …Read the Rest

Source:: Patriot Outdoor News