Red Rock Canyon is undergoing a revision of the General Plan by California State Parks which will determine how the land is used for generations to come.
FINAL HEARING
ON
THE GENERAL PLAN REVISION FOR RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK
TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023 (Meeting Details below)
The State Park and Recreation Commission (Commission) will hold a hearing on the Draft General Plan and Final EIR on March 3, 2023. At the hearing, the Commission will consider adopting the Red Rock Canyon State Park General Plan and certifying the EIR.
RED ROCK CANYON INTERPRETIVE ASSOCIATION DOES NOT CONCUR WITH ALL PROPOSED BY THE STATE PARKS PLANNING TEAM. Our Submission to State Parks can be found here.
POSITION OF RRCIA
on OHV Routes that State Parks are proposing be allowed at Red Rock
RRCIA ADVOCATES FOR NO INGRESS AND EGRESS ROUTES TO BE PROVIDED AS SHORT-CUTS THROUGH THE PARK FROM OHV AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE PARK. There are alternative routes that can easily be accessed and utilized as transportation corridors including Power Line Road and EP-15
Official Response from State Parks in part says:
Restricting non-street legal OHV use to two routes will ultimately lessen the impact that OHV use has on sensitive natural and cultural resources, while also maintaining State Parks devotion to providing many types of high quality outdoor recreation to its visitors.
We DISAGREE
The Official Response from State Parks also said:
While the commenters allege that these routes will result in significant impact so the area’s flora, soil, etc. they fail to provide substantial evidence of the statement.
We DISAGREE as State Parks themselves refer back to substantial damage at Red Rock done by OHV, as reported by their own State Park Archaeologist in their General Plan. Red Rock even received a $93,000 grant to try to fix the serious damage done by OHV to resources at the park.
POSITION OF RRCIA
on Keeping Open Access to the Public in Natural Preserves at Red Rock
WE ARE…REQUESTING A[N]…EXEMPTION FOR OPEN ACCESS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND HIKERS TO EXPLORE TERRAIN UNINHIBITED
Off-Trail Use Restrictions for Preserves and Reserves were adopted by State Parks a few years ago (California Code of Regulations Section 4325) whereby no person shall leave trails or board walks in Natural Preserves, Cultural Preserves, State Cultural Reserves, or State Natural Reserves within the California State Park System, unless approved by the Department. Specifically, the proposed regulations would prohibit all public use in these areas unless such use is on a trail or boardwalk.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ENACT CCR 4325’S ALLOWANCE OF OFF-TRAIL HIKING TO CONTINUE THE LONGSTANDING PUBLIC PATTERN OF THE ENJOYMENT OF RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK. IT IS CRITICAL FOR THE VISITOR’S QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE TO WRITE AN EXCEPTION TO THIS CODE FOR RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK”
Official Response from State Parks:
Generally, off-trail hiking in preserves and reserves is not allowed to protect sensitive resources. However, under the code the District Superintendent has the authority to and may allow off-trail use in designated areas of the Park in the future, including for resource specific surveys.
We DISAGREE that this should be left up to the discretion of staff in the future and feel that it should be written into the code. This ONE issue will have enormous consequences for all Visitors’ future ENJOYMENT and Use of Red Rock.
Without an exception these activities will not be allowed as it would be a violation to go off trail.
Insert photos of Turk’s Turban and Red Cliffs with X over the photos.
MEETING DETAILS:
The Commission meeting will be held March 3rd, 2023 at Lancaster City Hall, 44933 Fern Avenue, Lancaster, CA 93534, and virtually on CAL-SPAN starting at 9:00 a.m.
The Draft General Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report are available for public review. To access or download the documents and to learn more about the project, visit the Red Rock Canyon State Park General Plan Project website.
Meeting documents for the upcoming commission tour and meetings scheduled for March 2 and 3, 2023, are now available online. You can access these individual meeting documents by (1) clicking each link below OR (2) visiting the State Park and Recreation Commission page. Please note that the March 2nd Commission Tour will visit the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve and the Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park.
Meeting Documents:
Tour Agenda for Thursday, March 2
Meeting Agenda for Friday, March 3
Past Posts
COMMENTS DUE FROM THE PUBLIC BY DECEMBER 16, 2022
Copies of the Preliminary General Plan and Draft EIR may be reviewed online at the project website, www.redrockcanyongp.com.
RRCIA VIEWPOINT – Read our Final Talking Points here.
RRCIA SUPPORTS ALTERNATIVE 2 (presented as Concept#4 in 2019) for the GENERAL PLAN FOR RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK
“Alternative 2 would focus on the protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources and would not allow any OHV use at the Park, including designated primitive routes.”
IN ADDITION, RRCIA ADVOCATES FOR NO INGRESS AND EGRESS ROUTES TO BE PROVIDED AS SHORT-CUTS THROUGH THE PARK FROM OHV AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE PARK. THERE IS NO NEED FOR SIERRA VIEW ROAD AND RED ROCK WASH TO BE USED AND RISK DESTRUCTION OF RESOURCES AND DEGRADE THE INTEGRITY AND ASSETS OF RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK. There are alternative routes that can easily be accessed and utilized as transportation corridors including Power Line Road and EP-15.
Please find our comment letters from Fall 2018, Spring 2019 and Winter 2019.
The Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association (RRCIA) strongly supports a General Plan for Red Rock Canyon State Park that offers inspirational public access and enjoyment while ensuring the park and its invaluable resources remain prized and protected for all future generations.
The following locations will display the printed copies during normal business hours: See website above for more information.
• California State Parks, Strategic Planning and Recreation Services Division
• Red Rock Canyon State Park Visitor Center
• Great Basin District Office