The off-road community showed up and we made a difference.
When the Marine Corps proposed changes to airspace over Johnson Valley, we made it clear this is a world-class OHV area, and any changes must protect access, safety, and the future of events like King of the Hammers, along with the ongoing recreational use of Johnson Valley.
More than 30,000 public comments were submitted during this process, and a significant portion of those came from BlueRibbon Coalition members and supporters. That level of engagement matters. When we speak with clarity and consistency, agencies are forced to respond.
What We Asked For and What Changed
Throughout this process, BlueRibbon Coalition focused on a few key priorities: clear limits, protection for users on the ground, and accountability to the recreation community.
Defined flight floor to protect users on the ground
We called for a minimum flight altitude to ensure safety and allow continued event operations. The Final EA now includes a 1,500-foot AGL floor when the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area is open, formalized through the FAA–Marine Corps Letter of Procedure.
Hard caps on airspace use
We raised serious concerns that the Draft EA left the door open to unlimited activation. The Final EA now establishes defined limits:
R-2509 and Johnson Valley MOA: 60 days per year
CAX MOA and Turtle Low MOA: 40 days per year
These limits represent a direct response to the concerns raised by the recreation community.
At the same time, the Final EA also states that these limits do not fully meet the Marine Corps’ training needs, and that additional use may be evaluated after implementation. That matters, and it is something we will be watching closely.
Protection for King of the Hammers and organized events
We made it clear that without aviation access, events like King of the Hammers cannot function. The Final EA now explicitly recognizes this and commits to coordination with event organizers:
“The Marine Corps would coordinate with the event proponents… to determine altitude requirements…”
This acknowledgment is critical to the continued success of large-scale events in Johnson Valley.
Acknowledgement of recreation impacts
The agency directly recognized the concerns raised by the public:
“Most of the comments received… were critical… and identified potential impacts to recreational activities and organized events in the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area.”
That acknowledgment reflects the strength and clarity of the input provided by the off-road community.
What This Means for Johnson Valley
From an initial review, we are seeing meaningful movement in response to the concerns raised by the recreation community.
The two biggest issues we identified, unlimited activation and the absence of a defined flight floor, have now been addressed. Ground access remains intact, King of the Hammers is specifically acknowledged, and the Final EA includes clearer limits and coordination requirements.
At the same time, this decision still establishes permanent Special Use Airspace over Johnson Valley. Aviation users and landowners have rightfully raised concerns about the permanence of this designation, as it continues to give priority to military use even with the limits that have now been put in place.
Compromise is not always a clear win. But it does matter when this community is taken seriously and when our input results in real, measurable changes.
Just as important, this process reinforces a simple truth. When we show up, we matter.
What Comes Next
This is not the end of the conversation.
We are going to review the Final EA and FONSI thoroughly to ensure the details match the intent and that the commitments made are clear, enforceable, and workable for all stakeholders. That includes landowners, aviation partners, local communities, allied organizations, and the broader recreation public.
Because the Marine Corps made changes in response to substantive feedback, we believe there is a path to continue working productively to ensure implementation reflects the intent outlined in the Final EA.
At the same time, we will be paying close attention during implementation to ensure these commitments are upheld and function as intended in the real world.
Stay Engaged
We know how long this community has been waiting for answers. Since September 15, when formal comments were submitted, many of you have been following this closely and asking what comes next. We wanted to get this initial update out as soon as our first review was complete.
Our ask is simple. Stay engaged and keep following BlueRibbon Coalition.
As we continue to analyze the Final EA in detail, if there are additional actions needed from the community, we will make that clear and provide direction on how to help.
We are not done, and we will continue to advocate for access, accountability, and the long-term future of motorized recreation in Johnson Valley and across the country.
You can download the full Marine Corps environmental assessment here.
