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The bipartisan “California Off-Road Recreation and Conservation Act” was the subject of a hearing by the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee in February.

The bill (H.B. 857), introduced by U.S. Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.), promotes conservation and enhanced recreation activities in the California Desert Conservation Area by designating six National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Areas, identifying 330,000 acres for new Wilderness study and creating 77 miles of new Wild and Scenic Rivers.

The act would rename the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area as the Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area and expand it to the south by about 12,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land.

The bill also would create three expansion study areas on BLM land adjacent to the Spangler Hills and El Mirage National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation areas and another possible National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area totaling 52,000 acres north of Johnson Valley after a two-year study.

Additionally, the bill would release about 120,000 acres of legislatively designated Wilderness Study areas.

Cook’s bill has gained widespread support among Southern California riders, along with local governments, tribes, off-highway vehicle users, conservation groups, Chambers of Commerce, miners and other stakeholders.