A few months back, we reported that the U.S. Marine Corps had put forth a new land access plan that would expand the reach of the base at Twentynine Palms in Johnson Valley, California. And, basically, the proposal as it sat would've effectively cut off the public's ability to operate on the OHV area, as emergency services wouldn't be allowed to fly aircraft over.
Think Search & Rescue operations and, more importantly, the ability for the organizers of the King of the Hammers off-road race to contract emergency medical professionals with helicopters, thereby killing the famous race right then and there.
But the public threw a fit. Off-road organizations and users near and far, including the race organizers, reached out to the USMC officials responsible for the new access plan, and while the Marines aren't known as the best compromisers in the U.S. military, they actually listened to the public and came up with a plan that would seemingly satisfy both parties.
There is still one hurdle, and that's that the new plan has to clear the U.S. FAA, which is dealing with a few different battles at the moment. It does, however, look like King of the Hammers, and the public's access to Johnson Valley are safe. A win for public lands.
The original contention between the USMC and public land users came due to the Corps' want for closing the airspace to everyone but the Corps for training operations, which were expanded over the public use area. Originally arguing that it would constitute flight dangers, the USMC said that folks could still use Johnson Valley for off-road recreation, but because it would close the flight paths over, EMS wouldn't be able to operate.
That closure meant that King of the Hammers organizers wouldn't be bale to have choppers on standby in case of a medical emergency or accident, and that would kill their ability to insure the event, thus saying goodbye to KOH as it presently sits. Luckily, folks got wind of the Corps' plans and wants and fought back to preserve their ability to access the area.
According to the newly drafted Environmental Assessment, "The EA analyzed the establishment of new permanent Special Use Airspace (SUA) areas and modifications to the lateral boundaries, component sectors, and altitude limits within existing SUA areas to support future and daily training activities at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California (hereinafter, the "Combat Center"). The Marine Corps is proposing to establish new permanent SUA to the west and east of existing Combat Center SUA and modify existing Combat Center SU A along the southern and eastern boundaries of the Combat Center."
However, it's the third paragraph in the summary that's the important addition to the EA, with the Corps adding, "There would be no change to the public's access to the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area, which currently allows for full public access except when the area would be closed to the public for up to two 30-day periods each year. To ensure public safety and access, the Marine Corps would manage the R-2509 airspace differently depending on whether the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area is open or closed to the public. When the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area is open to the Page 1 of 5 public and the RA is activated, the RA "floor" would be established at 1,500 feet above ground level. This vertical separation ensures that ground-based activities like off-roading, camping, hiking, recreational rocketry and drones, etc. can continue on the ground without interruption or interference from military aircraft overhead. This would be codified in the FAA/Marine Corps Letter of Procedure for the proposed new RA."
What that means is that during full public access, airspace would be open up to 1,500 feet off the valley's floor, which would allow for the continued operation of EMS helicopters, as well as drones for King of the Hammers. However, during two 30-day periods, the whole airspace would be closed, which is already in place.
Again, that's a big win for off-roaders and racers, as it was increasingly looking like Johnson Valley was going to be closed off for everything. And in a time when so much of our public lands are under attack from the current administration, it's a win we should all celebrate. King of the Hammers gets to continue, at least if the FAA gives it the OK. We still need final confirmation, but for all intents and purposes, the USMC and public land advocates have come to an agreement.
