Moab - Proposed National Monument from Dead Horse Point to Mexican Hat
After a couple hours I STILL haven't found any mention of this on any OHV forum except for the one that cropped up on Pirate the day before yesterday. Doesn't anyone give a damn what this is going to do to OHV use in the Moab area or is this just a case of no one knows? Or is it that no one knows exactly what 'National Monument' designation will mean to land use?
The proposed area is huge. Something like 1.9 million acres. While the majority of it is south of Moab proper, just from what I can decipher of the map everything west of Hatch Point including Kane Creek, Hurrah Pass and Lockhart Basin will be closed, as will Schaffer Trail/Potash Road. If this doesn't impact White Rim I will be surprised.
From what I've been able to garner from the news, the working ranch on Hwy 211 into Needles will be forced to close. Bobby's Hole, Beef Basin and all the trails in the south La Sal mountains. Lavender Canyon and the one next to it I can never remember the name of, Dark Canyon, and a host of other unnamed OHV trails in the area.
From what I've been able to dig up, this will shut off almost all OHV traffic to everything from Lake Powel and the San Jaun River to the potash mines and just west of Hwy 191, excluding paved existing highways. I imagine most of the county roads with in the boundaries will be closed as well.
Map of the proposed area If anyone has any definitive information on what will be closed by designating this a National Monument, the information would be welcome because I'm not having a lot of luck so far.
BTW, if you think this ain't gonna happen or it isn't going to negatively affect Blanding, Monticello and Moab and your ability to enjoy that area or that Obama isn't going to cave to the environmental/conservation trash, you need to get yourself a new crack dealer.
Edward
