NON RESIDENT PETITION FOR KERN RIVER VALLEY SPECIFIC PLAN TO RECOGNIZE HISTORICAL OHV USE & ACKNOWLEDGE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF OHV USE IN KERN VALLEY
TO: County Board of Supervisors & Planning Department.
WHEREAS, among other mis-statements marginalizing OHV recreation, the draft Kern River Valley Specific Plan incorrectly states Trails are unpaved, narrow paths established primarily for pedestrian, equestrian or bicycle use (section 3-16) & refers to the Maintained Trails by the US Forest Service map 3-3. Yet 80% of the trails on the map are DESIGNATED OHV MULITPLE USE TRAILS. In addition the only National Forest trail crew in the area is paid with OHV registration funds. Many of the trails are adopted & maintained by OHV volunteers.
WE THE UNDERSIGNED NON RESIDENTS OF THE KERN RIVER VALLEY assert the need for the Kern River Valley Specific Plan to recognize & preserve OHV recreation in the Kern River Valley. Also that Consideration & Facility of a practical scale be incorporated into the Kern River Valley Specific Plan to Sustain this traditional Nature Based recreation activity (Cordell et al 2004 pg 37). As OHV tourists, who spend a considerable amount of money in the Kern Valley, we want the Specific Plan to ensure the irreplaceable OHV recreation Kern Valley has to offer remains encouraged & viable.