The Bureau of Land Management has opened the Yuma East travel management plan for another round of public comments. This plan, if finalized will close or restrict the use of nearly 500 miles of roads on Bureau of Land Management land in the Yuma East travel management area near KOFA Wildlife Refuge.

The proposed action is part of the Bureau’s Travel Management Planning mandate established by Executive Order 11644 from president Richard Nixon signed in 1972. The planning process has been in development for almost two decades and was one of several plans withdrawn under the Trump administration in 2018. It is fully supported by the National Off Highway Conservation Council who has developed a National Motorized Recreation Action Strategy for Arizona that includes recommendations for this plan. It is also supported by local 4×4 clubs and sheriffs departments under a Programmatic Agreement with the California and Arizona State Historic Preservation Offices.

The proposed action will designate a system of roads and trails for motorized vehicle use and define management objectives for the next several years. Throughout the process, 500 miles of roads will be closed to all forms of motorized travel, denying access to existing campsites and river access areas within the Yuma East and Gila travel management areas.

This proposed management plan will affect access to many well known landmarks like the KOFA Wildlife Refuge, Yuma Proving Grounds, Hovater Homestead, Muggins Mountains, Gila Mountains, Morgan Wash, Mohawk Valley, Mohawk Mountains, Gila River, Palomas Plain, Little Horn Mountains, Baragan Mountain, Turtleback Mountain, Picacho Hills, Columbus Peak, Copper Valley, Courthouse Rock, Eagletail Mountains, Ranegras Plain, Red Raven Road, Palomas Harquahala Road, Nottbusch Valley, and everywhere in between.

Yuma East Travel Management Plan Map