California - Anza Borrego Desert State Park - Coyote Canyon Road History Tour
California Off Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) Board members Jim Arbogast and Wayne Todd conducted a comprehensive hike and history tour of the Upper and Middle Willows of Anza Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) Coyote Canyon for Daphne Greene, the Deputy Director of the OHMVR Division of California State Parks on Sunday November 7th.
On March 9, 2004 Senator Bill Morrow requested an opinion from the State Legislatures Legislative Council on Parks 1995 actions in closing a 3.1 mile section to vehicular travel with their controversial Coyote Canyon Public Use Plan (CCPUP).
The Legislative Council Opinion dated April 20, 2004 stated that Coyote Canyon Road is likely entitled to RS2477 protection and that State Parks did not have the legal authority to close public roads, including and especially RS2477 roads. The opinion further stated that if State Parks had the authority to close public roads, such closures cannot be made to promote environmental protection.
Riverside, Imperial and San Diego County Board of Supervisors have made RS2477 Right-Of-Way assertions. None of these counties have abandoned their routes that are within ABDSP. Imperial and San Diego Counties passed resolutions in opposition to the 1995 CCPUP.
The ABDSP General Plan/Environmental Impact Review will be heard at a public meeting on February 11, 2005 in Borrego Springs, CA.
Logistics support for the tour was provided by Hemet Jeep Club, Tierra Del Sol Four Wheel Drive Club, Southern California Land Rovers, and On The Edge 4 Wheel Drive Club.
