Drawing a line in the sand: Effectiveness of off-highway vehicle management in California's Sonoran desert. (15th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Custer, Nathan A.; DeFalco, Lesley A.; Nussear, Kenneth E.; Esque, Todd C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 193(2017)
• Page Start: 448
• Page End: 457
• Publication Date: 2017-05-15
• Subjects: Degradation -- Desert wash -- Gopherus agassizii -- Monitoring -- OHV -- Xeririparian habitat condition; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.02.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Public land policies manage multiple uses while striving to protect vulnerable plant and wildlife habitats from degradation; yet the effectiveness of such policies are infrequently evaluated, particularly for remote landscapes that are difficult to monitor. We assessed the use and impacts of recreational vehicles on Mojave Desert washes (intermittent streams) in the Chemehuevi Desert Wildlife Management Area (DWMA) of southern California. Wash zones designated as open and closed to off-highway vehicle (OHV) activity were designed in part to protect Mojave desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ) habitat while allowing recreation in designated areas. OHV tracks were monitored in washes located near access roads during winter and early spring holidays – when recreation is typically high – and at randomly dispersed locations away from roads. Washes near access roads had fewer vehicle tracks within closed than open zones; further away from roads, OHV tracks were infrequent and their occurrence was not different between wash designations. Washes were in better condition in closed zones following major holidays as indicated by less vegetation damage, presence of trash, and wash bank damage. Furthermore, the frequency of washes with live tortoises and their sign was marginally greater in closed than open wash zones. Collectively, these results suggest that low impacts to habitats in designated closed wash zones reflect public compliance with federal OHV policy and regulations in the Chemehuevi DWMA during our study. Future monitoring to contrast wash use and impacts during other seasons as well as in other DWMAs will elucidate spatial and temporal patterns of recreation in these important conservation areas. Highlights: Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in desert washes can be detected using simple methods. OHV wash use was greater in designated open zones compared to closed zones. Habitat damage was lower in designated closed zones than open zones. Current management guidelines appear to have positive effects on sensitive habitats.