Monday, January 3rd, 2005 - Ninth Circuit San Francisco Federal Court judge Susan Illston ruled that there will be no more off-highway vehicle use in desert washes on over half a million acres of public lands in the California desert. Why? To protect the desert tortoise, of course. Environmental groups claim that desert washes are prime habitat for the animal.

In our collective experience of riding for thousands - maybe tens of thousands - of miles in desert washes, we have never seen a desert tortoise - dead or alive - or any signs of desert tortoise burrows in washes. It is impossible to dig a burrow in the soft sand of a desert wash! Furthermore, every time it rains, everything in a wash is obliterated and washes are completely reconfigured. Tortoises have survived for millions of years because they know enough to stay out of desert washes and are smarter than the biologists who contend that they are dumb enough to live in washes!

Why do such ridiculous rulings take place? The answer is a very simple business reality: The environmental community has more resources available to fight the land use battle than the OHV community! They have liberal federal court judges in their pocket. They have full-time well connected attorneys on their staff. They have biologists who contend that they are using "the best science available" when they are actually using their personal opinions to support their environmental agenda! And, oh yes, they seem to have unlimited funding available.

OHV enthusiasts need to get involved. The closure of most of the Glamis dunes, and now the closure of a major portion of the remaining desert, has got to be a major WAKEUP CALL! We are witnessing the beginning of a snowball that is rolling rapidly downhill.

OHV Leaders attend all of the government meetings on the desert tortoise. We are aware of the lack of scientific data to support actions taken to close public lands to OHV use, presumably to protect the tortoise. We know what actions can be taken to really make a difference for the tortoise - and closure to vehicle use is not the answer!

Without support from every OHV enthusiast, we will not be able to stop the snowball. We have all of the tools in place to make a difference. We know the issues nationwide, we have excellent environmental attorneys available, we have the necessary political contacts - all we need is adequate funding!

You will make a difference!

If you, and your family, enjoy recreating with vehicles on public lands, it is imperative that you join one or more of your local off-road organizations, get involved, and contribute whatever you can - at least pay the membership dues.

If you own an off-road related business, it is vital that you become a member of ORBA, the Off-Road Business Association. Off-roaders need to encourage businesses that they deal with to become members of ORBA.

Collectively we can - AND MUST - turn things around. But we can't do it without your help!

"We are counting on you to help us help you!"