Protecting Access in California

Prairie City SVRA At Risk

Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is under direct threat. BlueRibbon Coalition has now joined legal action to stop a solar development proposal that, as approved, puts one of California’s most important OHV parks at serious and lasting risk.

This isn’t just about one project or one park. It’s about whether designated recreation areas are treated as permanent public commitments — or as negotiable land reserves when industrial development shows up.

Learn more & help support our legal fight by donating below.

Prairie City Court
Prairie City Land

Solar Development Threating Prairie City’s Future

BRC has joined the California Four Wheel Drive Association (Cal4Wheel) and the American Sand Association (ASA) in filing a lawsuit against Sacramento County over its approval of the Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch solar project. As approved, the project threatens Prairie City SVRA’s long-term ability to operate safely and effectively as a managed OHV recreation area.

Sacramento County advanced this project using an environmental review that failed to meet basic requirements of California law. Equally concerning: required coordination with State Parks and the OHMVR Commission was not completed, even though the project directly affects State Parks land.

When agencies don’t follow the law, the public loses — and access disappears.

Why Prairie City SVRA Matters

For decades, Prairie City SVRA has been a cornerstone of California’s off-highway vehicle system. Located just outside Sacramento, it was intentionally designated and developed to provide a permanent, managed space for OHV recreation near a major population center.

Prairie City supports:

  • Daily riding and family recreation
  • Safety education and training
  • Competitive events and organized use
  • Local economic benefits for the surrounding region

California made a clear decision: OHV recreation deserves dedicated space — not leftover land. That commitment is now being tested.

Johnson Valley

Why This Matters to Every Off-Roader

We’ve seen this pattern before. It’s why we also opposed broad fast-track proposals like the Western Solar Plan, which aimed to accelerate industrial-scale solar development across vast acreage while sidelining recreation concerns.

If Sacramento County gets away with skirting laws and processes, this precedent won’t stop at Prairie City.

Other SVRAs, dune systems, and public recreation areas across California — and throughout the West — will be next. This is how access is lost: not all at once, but one compromised designation at a time.

Prairie City is the line in the sand. If we don’t defend it now, it becomes easier to undermine every other OHV area later.

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About BlueRibbon Coalition

Since 1987, the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) has fought to preserve recreation access to America’s public lands. Serving members in all 50 states, BRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit driven by grassroots energy. We work across all outdoor recreation sectors—4×4, ATV, snowmobiling, dirt bike, UTV, watercraft, e‑bikes, and more—to ensure every adventure is possible .

We’re among the few national groups with a storied history of defending access in court—including a U.S. Supreme Court victory— to preserve recreation on public lands.

Every dollar and membership helps us:

  • Investigate and research public land policy & proposals
  • Fund lawsuits and legal defense
  • Rally grassroots action and cultivate advocates
  • Ensure strong representation in rule-making and planning
  • Expand trails, dispersed camping, and overall access

Our work is ongoing and encompassing.  We’re currently involved in other initiatives, including:

  • Challenging route closures in San Rafael Swell
  • Challenging route in closures Chuckwalla, California
  • Advocating accessibility via the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act