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BLM acquires Blue Oak Ranch; land to increase access to South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Officials said the newly completed acquisition of a ranch near Lakeport will offer more public access to staging and camping for the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area.
The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office and its partners announced the recent acquisition of the nearly 1,400-acre Blue Oak Ranch.
Located along Highway 175 near Lakeport in Lake County, the ranch was purchased with funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the California State Park Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division Grants Program.
The South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area encompasses approximately 23,000 acres of public land in the Mayacamas Mountains that has more than 90 miles of designated roads and trails ranging from easy to extremely difficult and the recommended vehicle type depending on the width of the trail appropriate for motorcycles, OHVs and four-wheel drive vehicles.
“This acquisition will allow the BLM to protect and conserve the area for cultural and environmental resources, sustain and enhance current use at the South Cow Mountain, and allow for paved access to future camping, staging and trail opportunities,” said BLM Ukiah Field Manager Ryan Cooper. “This acquisition would not have happened without the strong collaboration between the ranch owner, recreation community, California State Parks and the BLM.”
The additional staging and camping area will enhance existing facilities. Currently there are two developed OHV staging areas within South Cow Mountain with graveled access roads accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles. Access roads into these areas are narrow and winding. Travel trailers and large recreational vehicles are not recommended.
“Acquisition of the Blue Oak Ranch is a significant milestone in the history of the South Cow Mountain OHV Area in that it will provide much-needed camping and staging opportunities with easy public access from a paved road,” said Don Amador, government affairs lead for AMA District 36.
“I know the OHV community appreciates the agency’s effort over the last four to five years to purchase this property from a willing seller who wanted to see it used for both casual trail use and permitted events,” Amador said. “The BLM, landowner, California OHV Grant Program and the many other partners it took to make this happen can be proud of this historic moment as they continue efforts to provide sustainable high-quality OHV recreation at South Cow Mountain for current and future generations.”
The area offers beautiful views of Ukiah and Lake County; pockets of old-growth fir; several species of oak; willows; more than 31 miles of stream; 13 reservoirs; and habitat for blacktail deer, bear, wild turkey and other upland species.
Amador told Lake County News that the Forest Service and BLM started more collaboration efforts with user groups about 10 years ago to help them flesh out ideas, to help them provide relevant services and make better planning decisions.
He said the effort was unique in that it used collaboration with partners and funding from the
Land and Water Conservation Fund and OHV Grant Program to make a land purchase happen.
“I think it is a model for future efforts to acquire land from willing sellers so agencies can provide more high-quality recreation opportunities in California,” he said.
To learn more about the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area visit www.blm.gov/visit/search-details/10004875/2 .