El Mirage Ohv Skills-Training Area

EL MIRAGE OHV SKILLS-TRAINING AREA

Master Plan

February 4, 2014 El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area BLM Barstow Field Office

El Mirage Photo: Jeff Kurtz Executive Summary OHV Skills Area Master Plan Features Include: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) established El MIrage Off- • Trailhead area with restroom, shade Ramada, fire pit, parking, Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area to provide riding and other loading ramps, information kiosks and a pedestrian area recreation opportunities while conserving resources on a managed • Safety training area landscape. El MIrage has a long history of motorized recreation starting with speed trials on the dry lake bed. Today public use of the recreation • Children’s trail (ATV and motorcycle) area ranges from activities on the dry lake bed to OHV riding to camping and learning about the desert environment. • Youth trail (ATV and motorcycle)

Providing responsible OHV recreation opportunity includes having a • Beginner trail (ATV and motorcycle) space for safety training and safe youth riding. To meet this need, BLM • Skills development stations to practice various basic obstacles designated a 54 acre area near the El MIrage visitor center. This master plan provides a design and specifications to develop the “OHV Skills- All features were designed and will be constructed using recognized Training Area.” practices for safety, sustainability, and a high-quality recreation experience. Funding to design and develop the skills area was provided in the form of an OHV grant through the California State Parks Off-Highway The OHV Skills Area will be supervised and managed by BLM staff, and Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) Grants and Cooperative with help from the Friends of El Mirage and other organizations. The Agreements Program. Partnership efforts on the project included OHV Skills Area will provide safe outdoor recreation opportunities for National OHV Conservation Council (NOHVCC), Great Outdoors children, families, and will create much-needed access to safety training Consultants, Lynn Construction, California Conservation Corps, California for all OHV riders in Southern California. NOHVCC and Great Outdoors State Park staff from Hungry Valley and Hollister, Friends of El Mirage, Consultants would like to thank the BLM and others for the opportunity Los Angeles and San Bernardino County staff and several volunteers. to contribute to such a valuable recreation area.

The El Mirage OHV Skills Area will provide a dedicated facility to accommodate OHV user safety training for children, youth and beginner OHV riders. The space will also meet the needs of visitors by providing a safe and enjoyable family recreation facility, and by serving as a training facility for agency employees who need OHV safety training as part of their duties.

The Park will comply with BLM construction practices and federal ADA standards. Environmental review (NEPA) was conducted for the site and it was cleared before the master plan comenced. Contents

Project Purpose 1

Design Process 3

Initial Site Visit 3 Concept Plan Development 3 Design Elements and Approach for El Mirage 7 Design Development 10

Skills-Training Area Features & Design 12

Trailhead Area 12 Safety Training Area 13

El Mirage Photo: Jeff Kurtz Children’s Trail 13 Beginner & Skills Trails 15

Guidelines & Recommendations 24

Construction & Management 24 Visitor Navigation/ Safety 25 Resource Management 27 Other Management Recommendations: 28

Project Contacts 30

El Mirage El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Project Purpose

The El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area is located in the Mojave Desert on the western edge of San Bernardino County near the Los Angeles County Line and is located in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Barstow Field Office. This OHV area attracts a variety of recreation activities and provides a managed place for visitors to ride. Areas of interests include El Mirage Dry Lake bed, the Shadow Mountains, El Mirage Basin, and the Twin Hills area. The area is made up of 24,000 acres of public and private land. The OHV area attracts a variety of activities including dry lake speed trials, commercial filming, motorcycles, ATVs, trucks, cars, buggies, land yachts, model airplanes, model rockets, ultra-light aircrafts, gyrocopters, parasails, and full-sized aircrafts. Elevations range from about 2,800 feet at the El Mirage Dry El Mirage Lake to more than 3,800 feet in the Shadow Mountains.

To improve visitor experience and riding safety, BLM decided to establish a 55 acre OHV skills development area located close to the El Mirage visitor center. This skills area was defined and evaluated through a NEPA planning process. The skills area is located south of the visitor center and east of the El Mirage entrance road. This location makes the site highly visible and is located at the southern edge of the El Mirage OHV Area which provides a safe space adjacent to other riding areas.

Funding to design and develop the skills area was provided in the form of an OHV grant through the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. Partnership efforts on the project included National OHV Conservation Council (NOHVCC), Great Outdoors Consultants, Lynn Construction, California Conservation Corps, California State Park staff from Hungry Valley and Hollister, Friends of El Mirage, Los Angeles and San Bernardino County staff and several volunteers. BLM contracted Great Outdoors Consultants through NOHVCC to design the skills area. This report documents the design process and outcomes. El Mirage Photo: Jeff Kurtz

BLM Barstow Field Office 1 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

EL MIRAGE

National Geographic, Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, UNEP-WCMC, USGS, NASA, ESA, METI, NRCAN, GEBCO, NOAA, iPC

BLM Barstow Field Office 2 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Objectives for the OHV Skills-Training Area Include:

• Provide a safe space for beginner riders to develop OHV skills

• Provide a safe space for children and youth to develop OHV riding skills

• Provide a space for OHV safety and ethics training

• Manage and improve the natural landscape through designated trails and restoration efforts

Design Process

Initial Site Visit El Mirage

Great Outdoors Consultants made an initial site visit to El Mirage in November of 2012 to define the project with BLM staff, Friends of El Mirage and to visit the OHV skills area site. A list of objectives and design elements were developed to better define how to use the space. A rapid site inventory and analysis was then completed to document the site’s opportunities and constraints.

Concept Plan Development

The design process was started in October, 2013 when Great Outdoors Consultants (GOC) traveled to El Mirage for a second time to meet again with BLM staff, Friends of El Mirage and Lynn Construction. Drew Stoll, Executive Director, and Jim Keeler, Senior Recreation Planner with GOC facilitated a 4 day design workshop. Jim was a former manager of El Mirage for BLM and so brought valuable experience and knowledge to the process. El Mirage photo: Jeff Kurtz

BLM Barstow Field Office 3 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area Hollister Hills SVRA

The first day of the workshop was used to tour Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) to understand how California State Parks provides OHV skills development program and facilities. Staff from the SVRA included: Matthew Allen-District Services Manager- Hollister Hills & Hungry Valley District, and Jared B. Ashton- Parks and Recreation Specialist. Hollister Hills SVRA is a park for motorized and other recreational activities in the Galiban Mountains, near California’s Central Coast. The park includes about 4,100 acres of OHV opportunities for Motorcycles, ATVs and larger 4x4 vehicles. The recreational trail network includes more than 150 miles of varying skill level OHV trails.

In addition to the trails, the park has several skill practice and field training facilities at various locations in the park. These facilities include formal training areas and smaller “skill features” that park staff have been developed over time. These features include specialized challenge and skill practice for off-road motorcycles; all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), recreation off highway vehicles, full size 4x4 vehicles and rock crawlers. Many of the smaller areas are open for all park visitors to utilize during their recreational visits to the park, or can be closed to the general public during formalized training sessions.

Hollister Hills Lessons Learned

• Hollister Hills SVRA facilities were developed over time and for specific purposes, as specific needs dictate. This development process allows adaptive management of the facilities, as OHV equipment capabilities change; new vehicle types or configurations are developed or uses occur- and allows staff to build from, and improve from previous experiences. To some extent, all skill practice Hollister Hills SVRA

BLM Barstow Field Office 4 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

areas and features will need some adaptive management to meet future needs, and improve existing facilities.

• Some features require water- mud and water crossings for example. Hollister Hills park management guidelines include periodic watering of some trails and areas. Maintenance staff responsibilities include refilling water features as part of periodic trail and track watering. Some water based training features are located to be refilled by the water truck during the trail watering. In addition, several of the skills water/mud features are staged so that water flows from one feature to the next. This allows water to be put into the upper areas, and as it is displaced, it is reused in lower features.

Hollister Hills SVRA • Basic OHV training for ATV, Motorcycles, and ROV certification is performed on a large fenced flat area. Fencing allows for controlled access during classes. The training area needs periodic maintenance to keep dust under control, and to limit compaction of the area. Hollister Hills utilizes a dust-control product to assist this process, and the area is watered periodically.

• Beginner practice trails do not need to be long to provide the desired experiences. Design and development of practice trails can be used to restore damaged landscapes and vegetation. Skills stations along the trail should provide a diversity of beginner level challenges. The trail should be designed with many curves to control riding speed and consider acceleration/deceleration sections. Barriers may be needed to prevent short cutting and close some areas. The entire trail area may need to be fenced to limit entrance/exit to one location. Hollister Hills SVRA

BLM Barstow Field Office 5

El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan 0 700 60 800 1000 8007800 Cienega Road • Hollister, CA 95023 • 831.637.3874 Hollister Hills TO HOLLISTER Special Use Area (Non-motorized) LOWER RANCH Fenceline Riding Areas and Trails MOTORCYCLE & ATV AREA RENZ PROPERTY MOTORCYCLE & ATV AREA Paved Roads Point of Interest 1000 900 Main Park Road Ranger Station 1100 River or Stream 36˚48.000’ N 36˚48.000’ celine Restrooms Special Use Area en F outhw Park Boundary S o Showers (Non-motorized) o d s Easiest Trails

M Camping e More Difficult Trails a d Day Use Area o 1200 w Most Difficult Trails STAY ON Wheelchair Access STAY ON HHORA Challenge Loop TRAILS TRAILS Service Roads Telephone 1300 Riding Area First Aid 800 Most Major Trails are One Way Maintained Tracks 700 One Way Road Back Tank No Motorized Access Warp Canyon Two Way Road Special Use Area 1300 PRIVATE PROPERTY Bee Hive 1400 Special Use Area (Non-motorized) Special Use Area Four Corners (Non-motorized) Special Use Area (Non-motorized)

1300 STAY ON Old Ranch Rd. TRAILS Go Between Hudner Property il ra (Four-Wheeled 1500 T Garcia Gulch

b Tiger Vehicles Only) o R n a ncho K R 900 oad oad R Seasonal Ridge o Windmill h W Closure Gates s Pass c oo ing n d C 1000 pr a am Windmill Maze S R K p k San Juan Canyon Gate nob R c Trail o a a B (Emergency Access) d OK Corral T o Rd. Ridge R y s oa o g 800 ad d n Fault Line n o T ri R J r ge p High a a Back Rid S ge Road Co y i Psych Le Sa y ' l Rd. Ranch Old k r o s 1200 c o C t Hill M L y’s e W a i H o T a R 1300 d d d iz My Tr A B d a a st a a y ra y id do d d le o a ic il il be a o Lower Field Rd r o Ja g Ro a Fi R R r T m 1600 y’s e eld d t o h r e R d a o T ge Road e R g o id . a i T il n ra a R b 1600 H k o o d r y il d Lights Out c d oa a W R i Dinosaur Loop a A R e l age Road g S d a B sie’s Roa d Cienega Gate a u y STAY ON l 2000 S S e G i (Emergency Access) Post a TRAILS d F t Ri a Tra . e d S o Basin r il e ny d. Oak Circle Peat’s Pa g R ee l h Ca on R D th e h D Shale d

rt o a s ro Lake D d

o n R rea p i N d . d

n d y n M d y d A a b . T an o

36˚47.000’ N 36˚47.000’ Rattlesnake ro r R S R

. A 2100 Crossover o Four Corners d dobe k e Traffic oa ower Basi g d R L n Poppy Ridge Harmon d d iel d y G i Circle a F a

ate R o ck o STAY ON N R H R a d R in

rn a s

anyon Road Scandia ort tu oa o B o n a TRAILS h e e i

C Can n R d l R B

yo l s . N Woodwardia o g le a r Rd

th Basin o a B e ld r r w d h p ie d t i p F

h . S U e o C Basin 1300 l a R 1300 d d

n d

N yo T i G k

n re R M

e c

t tu e u

STAY ON r e a

u n O ll Overlook Tank

y b R d

k B o

TRAILS O R O a d i o e d

o a H l d

Eagle y STAY ON i a d .

l l ll d d o n i A E r

r R R R S u Rocks a TRAILS e r t a l

r a l a e a Sh e e

E T n d 2200 n T W n

ro Entrance to B 110to0 d n e R

l l a i l l c s d . e

d l No o e d a b a o T o s d o d a rt h n o R l r h d v o

r r C Renz Property a t R R C o e o T a a R e S R d i

T i an m B d l l y n F R l o p r n s . everly’s

San Juan Canyon Roa n R d l i ’ A r Cienega Roa o R e r eturn oa . y s ly e h T Troll Trail d L ’s a r w g o e i Roa R B d o e d d o v l R 1200

H Alternate k Sycamore a e e L

g i o d R a e B a STAY ON Entrance F d L Lake

a H

e d rail n TRAILS T l l L a rol i T l R c o l o ATV d N a h C Lodge d d R o 900 1000 n o i rt Lake l g Track c h oll Tra R i n Tr il H Lodge m Kids Track e h H M o o Manzanita a o i d

y d i b R l r 0 2400 C 100 g l Trail n anyo Lake R a n d h o e R a s o a o o 1100 - a o R w n N a R C a e r d

Troll Trail tu d o

h k rd Re - l Hudner Property rt d a a l d

No Alternate L h D i L l

Olive Or c r e

y d H i Twin Hill

Entrance Gol T F (Four-Wheeled

d r

r o 0 120 H . 1300 il Turtle Lake TT Track e l R Fr Ro p emo O ad Mx Track Vehicles Only) n l e u t R i b 2200 oad v o S Hi oad e Ad gh R Long Lodge Camp / Mini Bike R H e Rid G Orchard Return d k ge 1500 ranite d . i a 2100 R R Park Store Trail Area a g High Ro L L oa oa Vintage h Bee Camp on Road l d d Long g ge i C Track R Rid ra a T nyo

oad o er n a R Minibike F nt R il dg o

remo d Tra a STAY ON ad r B MX Track Beginner ge TRAILS d ive Orcha 900 Lower Track Tule Lake Ba Ol rd Retu G Ranger Station

il rn ranit Walnut Camp W Day Use O at Tra e Hill a

c n ln & District Office

l ur ut

i b ard Ret PRIVATE Ex Radio Ridge v o h i STAY ON B Orc t R

e e (first aid, phone) TRAILS liv oa O 1600 d L O PROPERTY eft ork Bird 1700 F Cre r e c Madrone Camp k PRIVATE h ar d PROPERTY Ret urn Azalea C Park Rules and Regulations Main SVRA Entrance an 800 yo To Upper Ranch n l nnec ai You are responsible for knowing park rules and regulations. All REACH AND OPERATE ALL CONTROLS: All operators of 1200 Co to Tr r k ra c provisions of the California Vehicle Code are enforced. A copy o-highway vehicles must be able to reach and operate all 1800 T il e B may be found at: www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc.htm.1500 If170 you0 controls. 1200 cks have questions, please contact park sta at: (831) 637-3874. l Ro RED STICKER RIDING SEASON: Red sticker vehicles are not dra C Hidden Springs 1600 he a st th t t The term OHV means o-highway vehicle. Any motor vehicle allowed to operate in the SVRA from June 1 - September 30 . a h k e C e rail 1300 T e d k operated o-highway is an OHV. A highway licensed vehicle is an These dates are established by the California Air Resources Board Nature Area c r r e a B C OHV when operated o of the highway. Vehicles having green (CARB) and are subject to change. Please call the park for updated l (Non-motorized) R 1400 d r i o Madr and red stickers are OHVs. information. c one B k 1000 s ALCOHOL: Open container and DUI laws apply o-highway just REGISTRATION: When operating an OHV, you must display either PRIVATE 1800 36˚46.000’ N 36˚46.000’ STAY ON as they do on-highway. Don’t drink and drive. Alcohol1900 is only a license plate or an OHV sticker. OHV stickers include “Green TRAILS PROPERT Y 2000 allowed in your campsite. Stickers,” “Red Stickers,” California Nonresident OHV Use Permits, s g and OHV stickers from states that have an OHV program. 1400 Area 5 1100 in r ATV LAWS: There are laws which apply specically to the p 1200 S operation of ATVs only. (For more complete information please SPEED: Please follow posted speed limits throughout the park.

n 1900 e see reverse page.) In developed areas, keep speeds to 15 mph or less. Never drive d eek d Cr i Bird faster than is safe for conditions. H G DOGS: Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. Please pick up a rn er after your dog. SPARK ARRESTERS: All vehicles operating o-highway must be Lak d e R Bathtub Rocks 1100 a o ad equipped with either a street legal muer or a spark arrester o l R i NIGHT OHV OPERATION: Operation of OHVs is not allowed at l a il r maintained in eective working order. T th night. Hours of operation are from sunrise to sunset. o p 0 1000 2000 C o a F r h T 4x4 F a SUSPENDED OR REVOKED LICENSE: Anyone whose driving k o m NOISE EMISSIONS: The law limits noise emissions from all OHVs. n o a Obstacle t is privileges have been suspended or revoked is prohibited from T UPPER RANCHh e i Scale in feet T 1600 ll r Noise emissions for most OHVs are limited to not more than Course R a FOUR-WHEEL VEHICLES ONLYo i operating any motor vehicle, on- or o-highway. a l 96 dBA when measured from a distance of 20 inches using d standardized test procedures. For more specic information, VEGETATION: It is never legal to drive or ride over vegetation. ail bbit Tr go to: www.ohv.parks.ca.gov/noise_emissions. Always stay on established trails. Ra Vineyard Schoo l

d a

121˚28.000’ W 121˚27.000’ W 121˚26.000’ W 2000 121˚25.000’ W Quarry Day Use Area o 121˚24.000’ W Prospe R ct

t Ro

1600 a a ad l o

2000 d McCray R

a G

BLM Barstow Field Office 6 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Design Elements and Approach for El Mirage

The second day of the design workshop was started by meeting with BLM staff, Friends of El Mirage, California Conservation Corps, Lynn Construction, San Bernardino and Los Angeles County staff. The meeting started with GOC sharing projected photographs of skills facilities from California OHMVR project areas at Prairie City, Carnegie, and Hollister SVRA’s, and from the New Mexico Route 66 State OHV Park, currently under development. These examples provided the group with ideas on what could be developed at El Mirage. Participants then reviewed and refined a list of potential skills area elements and discussed who the targeted users should be. It was decided that youth and beginners on ATVs and dirt bikes should be the target audiences for the skills area. Side by side machines (ROVs) would also be allowed in the skills area on a limited basis as part supervised safety training classes. A list of design elements is provided in the next section of this report.

Site Analysis

Following the meeting, some participants walked through the skills area to better understand the site’s opportunities and constraints. The skills area has diverse topography that ranges from flat to steep slopes (40%). Soils range from hydric clay soils in the western area to sandy soils in the middle area to rocky soils on each of the 2 small hills. Native vegetation in the skills area includes salt bush, creosote bush, Joshua Trees and some grasses. Open OHV travel in the skills area has caused some vegetation loss and a fairly high density of overlapping trails. The BLM and other agencies have used the current location of the skills area as an OHV safety training site.

The site was long ago platted as private parcels, roads and drainage structures. While a subdivision was never developed, remnants of road beds and drainage structures can be seen on the site. There is a concrete spillway structure that remains and a drainage canal that now appears as a sandy wash. Neither of these drainage structures appears El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 7 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

BLM Barstow Field Office 8 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

BLM Barstow Field Office 9 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan to carry storm water. All but 2 of the private parcels located in the skills team walked through the preferred concept plan on the site to better area have been acquired and have been incorporated in El Mirage. understand it. The 2 remaining private parcel areas have not been used as part of the proposed trail system but could be used when they are acquired. Design Development While the site is located along the main El Mirage access road, the skills area can only be accessed from a gravel road that starts behind the The GOC team then refined the preferred concept plan into a draft plan. visitor center. The skills-training area is 55 acres in size and is delineated This included further analysis of the defined spaces to consider their with post and cable on all edges. A vault toilet, 24-foot shade ramada, relationships. The draft plan was also compared to known resources, group barbecue, fire pit, and loading ramps have been installed outside drainage land ownership to make sure the design is sound. A GIS the skills area. Maze-type in-and-out gates have been installed in the map showing the designed spaces and trails was then developed and northwest corner of the skills area as the primary access point. There is distributed for further consideration by the BLM and other stakeholders. a locked maintenance gate located in the middle of the north edge of Some minor adjustments were made to gate locations to refine the best the skills area. location for them. Guidelines for construction and management were prepared to better define how the site should be developed.

Concept Plan

The next step in the design workshop was for GOC to prepared concept designs including the major elements. Several concepts were hand drawn to compare and contrast each of them. It was important to consider the location of each major element and its relationship to the other elements. It was decided the children and youth trails should be located close to the parent observation area to allow for convenient supervision and instruction. The training area also needed to be located close to the entrance for convenience and bathroom access. The safety training area, children and youth trails should have their own entrances to separate them from other riders. The beginner trail can be used while safety training classes are underway, or can be closed for exclusive use by the class. The location of these spaces then defined the remaining area for the beginner skills development trail. The 2 private parcels within the skills area were avoided until they can be acquired by San Bernardino County. Vegetation in areas between the trails and training area should be restored to make the area more attractive, conserve resources, and better define the designed trails. A preferred concept plan was selected in a meeting at the end of the workshop. The project El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 10 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

BLM Barstow Field Office 11 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Skills - Training Area Features & Design

Trailhead Area

The trailhead area adjacent to the skills area was developed by BLM to provide basic facilities for the needs of the users. A road from the visitor center to the trailhead was graded and a gravel base was added. This road leads to a graded parking area that accommodates approximately 10-20 vehicles. A vault toilet, 24-foot shade ramada, group barbecue, fire pit, information kiosk and loading ramps have been installed. A fence around the ramada and toilets defines a pedestrian area to provide a safe zone for children and parents observing. A few stone- lined paths define the walking routes and observation areas. Native vegetation should be restored in the pedestrian area to make it more attractive and define the paths.

El Mirage

El Mirage El Mirage El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 12 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Safety Training Area Children’s Trail

The safety training area provides a separated space for classes including The children’s area provides a short one-way 575 foot trail for children dirt bikes, ATVs and ROVs (side-by-sides). The minimum area size needed up to 9 years of age. This area provides the safest space possible for for larger ROV safety training classes is 120 x 120 feet and the El Mirage small children. The trail has been designed for motorcycles or ATVs with safety training area is 300 x 430 feet, providing space for two classes to a maximum of 100cc engines. The children’s trail will have an entrance be conducted at one time. While the safety training space is relatively sign specifying rules and guidelines. A 36 inch wide gate will limit the flat it was graded to create a smoother surface of 1-2% with positive size of OHVs that can enter. The trail is 72 inches wide with gentle drainage toward the low point (mud area) on the western edge of the turns for children to learn on. The trail will be lined with straw bales to training area. A gate to the training area is provided adjacent to the contain riders in case they lose control. The children’s area is delineated information kiosk and an exit gate is provided on the southeast edge to with mesh style field fence to prevent riders from short cutting in or provide direct access to the beginner trail. The beginner trail has been out of the children’s area. The children’s trail is located adjacent to the and will be used as part of safety training classes. In the future, a storage trailhead pedestrian area for convenient supervision by parents and locker can be installed to store equipment for safety training classes and proximity to toilets. general maintenance purposes. El Mirage

El Mirage Photo: Jeff Kurtz

BLM Barstow Field Office 13 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Youth Trail El Mirage Photo: Jeff Kurtz The youth area provides a short one-way 0.4 mile trail for youth up to 15 years of age. This area provides a very safe space for children and youth. The trail has been designed for motorcycles or ATVs with a maximum of 250cc engines. The youth trail will have an entrance sign specifying rules and guidelines. A 50 inch wide gate will limit the size of OHVs that can enter. The trail is 50 inches wide with gentle turns for youth to learn on. The trail will have several stations for youth to practice basic trail riding skills including: small hill climb, rock field, log jump, tight turns, bumps, wash crossing, whoops, tight turns, mud, sand, and elevated turn. The youth area is delineated with mesh style field fence to prevent riders from short cutting in or out of the youth area. The youth trail is located adjacent to the trailhead pedestrian area for convenient supervision by parents and proximity to toilets.

See Fig. 11 for number legend

El Mirage Photo: Jeff Kurtz

BLM Barstow Field Office 14 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Beginner & Skills Trails

The Beginner and skills trails provide a short trail for children, youth and beginner adult riders to practice their riding skills in a safe controlled space. Intermediate to advanced riders will be advised to ride elsewhere unless they are actively supervising riders for whom the trail is intended. A primary beginner trail loop provides the easiest route for beginner and children riders. Short skill trail segments off the primary trail provide additional challenge but are still beginner level challenges. Most of the trails are one-way to make them safer to ride. The entrance trail and Two short cross trails are two-way to provide more flexibility in riding trail loops without needing to return to the entrance. An information kiosk is provided at the entrance gate which list rules, guidelines and has a map of the trails and skills stations. There are two adjacent in and out maze- type gates that limit vehicles to ATVs or motorcycles. The beginner trail is 84 inches wide to allow for vehicle passing and space for novice riders space to adjust for changing trail conditions and turns. The skill trail El Mirage sections are 60 inches wide with tighter turns to create more challenge. While the primary purpose of the trail will be for ATVs and dirt bikes, recreation off-highway vehicles (ROVs or side-by-sides) may be allowed to use the trails only as part of supervised safety training classes.

El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 15 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

BLM Barstow Field Office 16 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Skills Stations Whoops

A series of skills stations will be constructed along the trails to provide Whoops (bumps) opportunities for users to improve their riding skills on relatively are found on easy obstacles. These skills stations also serve to make the trail more and existing interesting and to control the speed of riders. Most skills stations will straight away have a by-pass trail allowing riders to go around them if they choose. trail along the The skills stations help riders learn to master easy features they may boundary fence. encounter on other trail systems in El Mirage and California. The whoops are about 3 feet Wash Crossing high and spaced about 10 feet The trail crosses an existing minor dry wash at a 90 degree angle. The Hollister Hills SVRA rider learns to slow their speed, absorb the down and then up motions, apart. The rider and then accelerate while maintaining control of their machine. learns to slow their speed, absorb the down and then up motions, and then accelerate while maintaining control of their machine.

Slick Rock

Two or more of smooth rocks or cement blocks are placed in the trail. The overall width of the slabs should be 65 inches, length should be at least 84 inches, and the height should be no more than 1 foot above the ground. At least half of the block mass should be buried to make sure it is well anchored. The slabs can be flat or have a slight uphill and downhill slope (5%). The rider learns to approach the slab at a slow speed, feel El Mirage the change in traction, and then leave the slab while Prairie City SVRA maintaining control of their machine.

El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 17 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Log Jump Rollers

Four logs are Rollers (small drilled and hills) created cabled together on the trail to in a diamond create a rolling shape. At terrain. The least 3/4 of rollers are about the bundle is 6 feet high and buried to make spaced about 20 sure it is well El Mirage feet apart. The anchored. The rider learns to Hollister Hills SVRA logs should be 84 inches long and protrude no more than 18 inches sustain a steady above the ground. The first and last logs should be slightly above ground slow speed to act as ramps for machines to climb over the center log. Soil should be while maintaining control of their machine. filled in front of the first log to create a gentle ramp. The rider learns to approach the logs at a slow speed, sustain adequate speed to clear the Elevated Turn log, and then accelerate while maintaining control of their machine. A berm is constructed on the outside edge of a gentle turn. The berm Low Bridge should be 4 feet tall and a relatively smooth surface provided on the inside edge. The berm should be constructed on a gentle slope to allow Four or more logs or water to drain away without pooling in the trail tread. If the elevated beams are drilled and turn is constructed close to fencing (post and cable), straw bales should cabled together to create installed behind a 65 inch wide and 84inch the berm to long low bridge. The stop riders if beams are anchored to they lose control partially buried cross El Mirage and go over the beams to create an overall berm. The rider height of 8 inches above the ground. The approach and exit of the low learns to sustain bridge should be ramped with soil to create a smooth transition on slow speed will and off. The rider learns to cross the bridge at a slow speed and steer banking through straight across the bridge while keeping their machine centered. The low the turn while height of the bridge would not cause an ATV or ROV to tip over if one or maintaining two wheels fall off. control of their Rt 66 State OHV Park, NM machine.

BLM Barstow Field Office 18 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Climbing Turns

A trail with gentle climbing turns is built into the South Hillside. The trail is 60 inches wide El Mirage with sandy soil in the lower turn and rocky soil in the Carnegie SVRA Small Hill upper turn. This skills trail merges with the beginner trail at the top of the South Hill. The An existing small hill (about 10 feet high) with a flat top is located on rider learns to sustain a slow speed while turning, climb a gentle grade, the trail. The rider learns to climb the hill with adequate amount of keep the machine on the inside edge of the trail to avoid the softer momentum, slow when arriving on top while maintaining control of outer edge while maintaining control of their machine. their machine. If the rider does not make it to the top of the hill, the slope is gentle (~20%) and will allow the rider to apply breaks or if Cross Slope needed, lay their motorcycle on the ground. The rocky west slope of the South Hill has been used in the past for Worm Track safety training classes to learn off-camber cross slope riding. This skills trail is one of the more difficult trails and should be used under proper An existing oval track that has been used in the past for safety training supervision. The rider learns how to very carefully ride their machine classes and general riding is incorporated as a skills trail. The track on a moderate side slope (30%), and then turn back downhill while includes a slight hill traveling very slowly. climb on the east end. The rider learns to enter and existing, make continuous turns, and practice climbing turns while maintaining control of their machine.

El Mirage El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 19 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Hill Climb Sand Wash

The rocky An existing west slope drainage of the canal that South Hill does not has been carry water used in serves as a the past deep sand for safety “dry wash” training trail. This classes and El Mirage straight El Mirage general trail is riding to learn proper hill climbing techniques. This skills trail is one of about 750 feet long and 20 feet wide. The rider learns to sustain speed the more difficult trails and should be used under proper supervision. to keep the front end of their machine light, control steering with a tight The hill has varying slopes (30-40%) which provides options for riders grip on handle bars, climb in and out of the “wash” while maintaining learning to ride up-hill. Travel is only allowed going uphill to keep the control of their machine. This section of trail will be more challenging for trail as safe as possible. motorcycles.

Sand Down-Hill

The trail passes through existing deeper sandy soils. The rider learns to The trail follows a gentle down-hill slope (20%) in sandy soils. The rider maintain the appropriate speed and keep the front end of their machine learns to maintain the appropriate speed to keep the front end of their light, and use very gentle turns while maintaining control of their machine light while maintaining control of their machine. This section of machine. This section of trail will be more challenging for motorcycles. trail will be more challenging for motorcycles.

El Mirage El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 20 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Side Hill Rock Climb

The flat trail Existing large bench is cut rocks on a into a gentle moderately side hill (20%) sloped hillside in sandy soils. are part of a The rider learns skills trail. There to maintain the are multiple trail appropriate routes climbing Hollister Hills SVRA speed to keep El Mirage the rock allowing the front end of varying levels of their machine light, stay centered on the trail while maintaining control difficulty. Rocks may need to be added or better anchored depending of their machine. on how they react to machines riding up and over them. The rider learns to climb a small hill while maneuvering over rocks. Each type of Tight Turns machine and tire has different climbing capabilities and this skills station allows riders to understand their machines capability on a small hill. This Tight turns are created in the trail by weaving the trail around large section of trail will be more challenging for all types of machines. rocks. Turning radius’s allow vehicles up to 65 inches to maneuver around the large rocks. Berms will form on the outside edge of the turns Boulder Field as the trail is used. Riders learn to slow their speed, turn gently while El Mirage maintaining control of their machine. A series of boulders is installed to create a wide trail area on a skills trail. The boulders vary in size and are anchored with at least half their mass buried for stability. The rider learns maneuver around or travel over boulders at slow speeds while maintaining control of their machine.

Hollister Hills SVRA

BLM Barstow Field Office 21 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Off-Camber Log Pile El Mirage

The trail climbs 10-12 logs are cabled together and a gentle slope partially buried in the soil to create (15%) with an an uneven wood surface. The logs off-camber installed on a small earth berm to out-slope. The create an overall height of 2-3 feet. trail is left this The right and left sides of the log was on purpose pile are bermed with soil to prevent for the rider to a vertical edge. The rider learns to understand the El Mirage slowly climb the log pile, sustain proper speed and a slow speed, keep a firm hold of feel of their machine while crossing the slope. the handle bars on the uneven surface, and control their speed on Log Straddle the downhill side while maintaining control of their machine. Two logs are positioned 36 inches apart in the trail. The logs are buried in the soil and protrude about 8 inched above the ground. The rider Bumps learns to balance their machine on one or both of the logs while traveling slowly. A series of small bumps that typically form in straight sections of trail from the motion of OHVs provide an easy challenge. The bumps are only 1-2 feet high and may be irregularly spaced. The rider learns to use the correct speed while maintaining control without getting stuck.

Hollister Hills SVRA

BLM Barstow Field Office 22 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Gravel, Rock & Switch Backs Cobble A trail with tight An existing climbing turns concrete spillway is built into the that does not North Hillside. carry rainwater The trail is 60 provides a inches wide varying surface with rocky soil. from south (high) This skills trail Prairie City SVRA to north (low). El Mirage merges with Gravel, cobble another skills and rock are added to the spillway to create the varying surface. Riders trail at the top of the North Hill. The rider learns to sustain a slow speed learn appropriate speed and handle bar control while traveling down while climbing, come almost to a stop, slowly make the tight switchback slope (10%), come to a stop, and turn left while maintaining control of turn, keep the machine on the inside edge of the trail to avoid the softer their machine. outer edge while maintaining control of their machine.

Down-Hill Turns

A trail with gentle dropping turns is built into the North Hillside. The trail is 60 inches wide with sandy soil. This skills trail merges with the beginner trail at the bottom of the North Hill. The rider learns to sustain a slow speed while turning, going down a gentle grade, keeping the machine on the inside edge of the trail to avoid the softer outer edge while maintaining control of their machine. This section of trail will be more challenging for motorcycles.

Prairie City SVRA

BLM Barstow Field Office 23 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Guidelines & Recommendations • Whenever possible, skills features should be designed to allow a “bailout” or bypass route that allows riders the option of utilizing or not trying each feature. Construction & Management • The “Beginner” trails and its crossovers can be utilized • During for administrative access to all parts of the trail network- construction administrative access includes law enforcement patrols; EMS and or fire emergencies; maintenance equipment and water subsequent truck access or other similar management activities. Trail trail and construction and maintenance should be performed that allow skills feature reasonable access by typical vehicles used for administrative maintenance and emergency purposes. utilize dozers and other • Consider additional locked gates in the outer perimeter fence El Mirage motorized for administrative purposes, including patrol and emergency equipment response; trail maintenance and other necessary activities. with a “light touch” to minimize dropping the trail prism below • existing grade wherever possible. Trail Construction Specifications

• During construction, limit impacts to soil and vegetation to o Fencing trail corridors. If necessary. If it is necessary for mechanized . Use horse fencing to absorb energy from equipment to trail outside trail corridors, define the extent of potential crashes these areas with stakes and flagging material . Use less rigid T posts to absorb energy from • Skills feature development and maintenance is as much art as potential crashes science- . Install fence 1-2 feet over the ground to allow o Each feature should be documented with a simple wildlife and wind- design approach that identifies experience goals and El Mirage blown vegetation to objectives pass under o After construction, features should be photo documented; periodically monitored; maintained; and replaced as necessary.

o Continue an adaptive management program on trails, features and other program and trail infrastructure.

BLM Barstow Field Office 24 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

o Water Management • Youth Trail area . Create as many grade changes on • Beginner Trail trails as possible to direct rain water away from trails. Trails become • Mud/Open area cupped over time and grade • changes are the most effective Skills trails (could be named by the feature they access) method to prevent trails from • Obstacle or feature accessed (ie: hill climb, downhill becoming ditches turns, sand, etc. ) . Determine the natural or the best • Skill feature bypass alternate route for water to drain from trails and direct water to these areas Single direction trails are not a normal feature in the Desert, so El Mirage for safety, there should be plenty of information, both at area entrance and at trail intersections, but also reinforcing reminders along routes. Since this trail system includes both one-way and two way trails, this is especially important for visitor safety and confidence building.

Design and install signs and other features that reinforce and remind visitors about the one or two way signing along each trail, and at all intersections.

• One and two way carsonite sticker arrows would work along run of each trail.

• Some form of marking for each intersection to remind visitor which way intersecting trails are intended.

• Some portal sign at each gate, showing map or text Visitor Navigation/ Safety reminder about one-way, two-way trail system.

Color Coded signs- Paint or other device to code top 6” of • Facility map should include directional arrows. carsonite to establish zones of use- Mapping should also • Kiosk displays/text should discuss directional trail reinforce colors. Potential zones for delineation: expectation • Children’s Trail • Consider adding a “wrong way” sticker to the back of the carsonite markers along one way trails

BLM Barstow Field Office 25 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Another difficult task for El Mirage will be to move this area from • Consider utilizing a York Rake or other drag on most trails being a typical “Open” to become a designated route network. If periodically to reduce mini-whoops and other undesirable wear this can be accomplished, the area will be safer, and areas outside and tear. trail corridors will have an opportunity to return to a more natural appearing Mojave Desert landscape. The difficulties in promoting this • Consider additional trail surface maintenance and compaction regime might be somewhat difficult at first, but as the trails burn-in during periodic times of higher soil moisture better, and some vegetation begins to develop in the non-trail areas, • it should become progressively easier. Recommended measures to Start to re-establish native vegetation on legacy trails, after most accomplish this include some or all of the following measures, impacting use has diminished. starting with the least difficult, and progressively moving toward more Trail Signing comprehensive measures later. Utilize visual differentiation by providing contrast between active trail and native soils or abandoned trails. • Consider naming, rather than numbering trails

• Add materials to trail surface (ground AC, Bark or other • All intersections should be signed in all directions- recommend materials) that provide contrast with native soil or closed trails intersection signs are printed, rather than depending on carsonite markers. Carsonite can be used for reassurance or • Utilize Rice Straw bales for problem areas, especially changes directional marking, color coded as directed above from old trail alignment on closed section. • All directional marking should reinforce proper direction for • Create small boundary berms along trail surfaces one-way trails • Begin to improve maintenance on desired trails, to begin to • Straw bale covers can be used as low profile signs and to define establish a recognition that trail surface is not the same as designated trails undisturbed soils. • Consider additional trail surface maintenance and compaction during periodic times of higher soil moisture El Mirage

Carnegie SVRA

BLM Barstow Field Office 26 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Resource Management El Mirage

Development of this area will allow more comprehensive resource management by reducing overall trail density, and allowing natural and managed revegetation and vegetation protection within the area. It will also allow visitors to experience an area with improved resource conditions. As conditions at the site improve, it will also provide a model and teaching opportunities for visitors about resource protection and restoration.

Develop a resource management plan for the project area with assistance from BLM Barstow resource specialists. Some considerations include:

Identify goals and Best Management Practices (bmp’s) for the project area to set baselines, to monitor, and to create an ongoing program • Include in the planning process, additional measures for habitat for habitat improvement within the area. Best Management Practices restoration within the project area (and conceivably additional should include: areas within the El Mirage project area) for habitat restoration.

• Protection of existing vegetation and wildlife habitat • Determine target Revegetation species (mostly perennial shrubs- Creosote Bush, Salt bush, Joshua Trees and other • Standards for trail maintenance to promote soil sustainability. species in local Joshua/creosote/ salt bush habitat or other habitats in the El Mirage). • Vegetation restoration techniques to be utilized in the area • Establish standards for seed collection; plant germination by o Emphasis areas for vegetation protection and restoration local arid-land nursery, or develop a nursery for El Mirage. (several areas within the current area have relatively good Creosote Bush communities; several Joshua Trees on the • Establish criteria for seedling planting; protection; and support. site could be better protected. • Consider volunteer planting or adopt-a-plant programs to o Creosote and Salt bush community areas, and protection of involve enthusiasts in vegetation management and restoration Joshua Trees could, and the protection could be a focus for management. volunteer and interpretive education projects. BMP development should also include standards for protecting existing • Develop protection and condition improvement measures to and newly protected shrubs from root damage. Minimum clearance mitigate past and ongoing impacts to vegetation and wildlife; standards should be established for each perennial species (ie. 10 feet undertake measures for soil protection from water and wind- from central stalk, or 3 feet from the drip line of each plant. caused erosion

BLM Barstow Field Office 27 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Other Management Recommendations: borne pollution in the area. Wherever possible, take measures to reduce or stabilize traveled surfaces. Visual Resource Management: • Whenever the facility will be intensively utilized, consider The entire training facility is located next to the El Mirage entry road, watering large, heavily traveled areas- including the training and highly visible from the Visitor Center, the Lake bed, and even area; access road from the Visitor Center; street vehicle parking from El Mirage County Road. When possible, consider the and overall area, and the area around the shade structure and restrooms. impression created by the project on the view shed (primarily viewed • from the western and southern sides). No intensive OHV activity on Consider adding a soil stabilizing additive to large unvegetated arid lands is entirely benign from a visual perspective, but awareness of areas, including, but not limited to the training area. The training area at California State Parks Hollister Hills SVRA the impacted areas should be part of design and ongoing maintenance. is treated once every few years, and the substance utilized • Consider visual impacts of all construction, maintenance, and reactivates each time water is added to it. This would have the facility operations. further benefit of maintaining a relatively compacted surface that reduces rutting or other unwanted effects of concentrated • Establish fixed photo monitoring points, and monitor the vehicle use. project area from various perspectives to identify improved or deteriorating visual conditions to the project site. • Another California Facility (Carnegie OHV Area, managed by Santa Clara (California) County Parks) utilizes wood chips from Air Quality/ Dust Suppression: vegetation management on its intensively used trail system and motocross track. As the chips break down, they form a El Mirage Lake appears to be a large source of dust and other wind- relatively soft, interlocking matrix with the local surface. If this were a practical system at El Mirage, it could be used on all El Mirage intensively used soil surfaces on this project.

El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 28 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Reducing Damage to Facilities: Kiosks and Other On-site Education Materials

Vandalism, theft, and abusive OHV activities are potential management On-site kiosks are an important component of the rider education issues everywhere in the relatively remote areas of the California program for any facility, including El Mirage. Kiosks can “set the tone” Desert. El Mirage especially has both likelihood and some history of for a positive, safe, and low-impact experience. It is also possible to these undesirable activities. try to provide too much information, and cause the reader to avoid the work involved in trying to sort out the cluttered and confusing Think seriously about the need to limit unsupervised activities inside the messages on the board. Think through the interpretative and important management area. Suggested considerations include: administrative information to be placed on any sign or kiosk.

• Possible use of the area only during daylight hours, and/or only El Mirage during times when the Visitor Center is staffed.

• Require facility users to obtain a key or padlock combination from lake bed staff whenever no official personnel is on-site.

• Require all facility users to have a training course, or other form of certification prior to using it.

El Mirage

BLM Barstow Field Office 29 El Mirage OHV Skills Area Master Plan

Project Contacts

Rose Beardshear BLM Project Manager 760-252-6011 [email protected] El MIrage Photo: Jeff Kurtz

Russ Ehnes Executive Director NOHVCC 800-348-6487 [email protected]

Drew Stoll Executive Director Great Outdoors Consultants 970-988-8580 [email protected]

Jim Keeler Senior Recreation Planner Great Outdoors Consultants 916-967-7374 [email protected]

BLM Barstow Field Office 30