Off Road Public Land - 4Word

As I sat here at my desk, gazing at my computer screen and wondering just what to write about in my editorial this month, I received an e-mail from a concerned four-wheeler who had just learned that Surprise Canyon in Panamint Valley will be closed to the motorized public as of February 15, 2001. Production schedules being what they are, the closure will already have occurred by the time you sit down to read this magazine, so many of you will already be aware of what's happened. For those of you who didn't know, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but one more trail has vanished from the roster.

As trails continue to be closed around the country, many people, both private citizens as well as OHV advocacy groups, have been declaring that with the election of George "Dubya" Bush and the more environmentally conservative administration that he will put in place, a new era has dawned for the supporters of multiple-use public lands; one that will put an end to de facto wilderness making.

Given what we know of Bush so far, I suspect this is true. Where land-use issues are concerned, he will almost certainly be far more hands-off than the Clinton/Gore/Babbitt team was, and he will probably be inclined to leave local issues in local hands. Gale Norton, Bush's appointee to the position of interior secretary, would seem to be indicative of this trend. And since this was one of the issues on which Bush campaigned, he will want to appear to be making good on his promises, at least early on.

However, before anyone prepares to usher in this brave new world, let's bear a couple of things in mind. First, Bush and, by extension, the Republican Party, control Congress by the skin of their teeth. Do not assume for a second that just because Bush wants something, Congress will necessarily make it so. This is especially true of the environmental debate. This issue has become so divisive and cuts across party lines in such a way that our new president will have to do some serious convincing and, I suspect, make some serious concessions to make any inroads (if you will forgive the pun) in this arena. In short, keep your eye on the ball. The game's not over.

Second, the advocates of off-road recreation and multiple-use public lands have received a quick and brutal education in real-life politics over the past 10 years. Any of them who have been involved at the state and national levels understand that impacting the agenda requires widespread local support and money, a lot of money. For politicians, issues of right and wrong frequently fall by the wayside. This is something that the radical environmental groups learned early on, and they have since become adept at influencing politicians and keeping their public image polished. So don't think for a moment that they have packed up and gone home simply because a new face will be looking back at them from the Oval Office for the next four years.

Essentially, what I see in this new administration is potential. Potential for a more open dialogue. Potential for a more accurate assessment of the situation. And potential for lost ground to be regained. But I'm making no assumptions. For now, I'll be content to wait and see.

In the meantime, stay involved, especially on the local level. It is your backyard, and ultimately no one represents your best interests as well as you.