NEWS/ISSUES

Stop the Lock-Out: Protect Motorized Access to the Caja del Rio

Fellow Riders and Outdoor Enthusiasts,

A new threat to our public lands has just been introduced in Washington, D.C. Senator Martin Heinrich and Representative Teresa Leger Fernández have introduced the Caja del Rio Protection Act (S. 4458 / H.R. 8616).

While the bill is being marketed as "protection," the reality for the motorized community is much different. This legislation seeks to designate 107,000 acres of the Caja del Rio as a National Conservation Area and Special Management Area—designations that historically lead to the closure of existing trails and the permanent exclusion of motorized recreation.

Why this matters to you:

• Prohibition of New Roads: The bill explicitly prohibits new road development, which often prevents the creation of sustainable trail loops and reroutes.

• "Secretarial" Closures: The bill gives federal agencies broad authority to determine "appropriate" uses, often prioritizing non-motorized groups while labeling OHV use as "inconsistent" with conservation goals.

• Loss of Heritage: The Caja has been used for generations by New Mexicans for responsible motorized recreation. This bill threatens to turn a multi-use treasure into an exclusive park.

NMOHVA supports responsible conservation, but we believe that true conservation includes access. We cannot allow the "protection" of our lands to become a tool for locking out the people who use and maintain them.

To ensure your NMOHVA members can reach out effectively, here is the direct contact information for both offices. Providing local office numbers is often more effective for New Mexico residents than just the D.C. lines.

Senator Martin Heinrich

Senator Heinrich has several offices across the state, but the Albuquerque and Santa Fe offices are the primary points for this region.

• Washington, D.C. Office

  • Phone: (202) 224-5521

     

  • Address: 709 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

     

• Albuquerque District Office

   

  • Phone: (505) 346-6601

     

  • Address: 400 Gold Avenue SW, Suite 1080, Albuquerque, NM 87102

     

• Santa Fe District Office

   

  • Phone: (505) 988-6647

     

  • Address: 123 East Marcy Street, Suite 103, Santa Fe, NM 87501

     

• Online Contact Form: heinrich.senate.gov/contact

Representative Teresa Leger Fernández

As the representative for New Mexico's 3rd District (which includes the Caja del Rio), her Santa Fe office is the key local contact point.

• Washington, D.C. Office

  • Phone: (202) 225-6190

     

  • Address: 2417 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

     

• Santa Fe District Office

   

  • Phone: (505) 428-4680

     

  • Address: 120 S. Federal Place, Suite 323, Santa Fe, NM 87501

     

• Gallup Office (Useful for members in the western part of the state)

   

  • Phone: (505) 551-4696

  • Address: 207 West Hill Ave, Office 301A, Gallup, NM 87301

• Online Contact Form: fernandez.house.gov/contact

And we had a lot of help: Yours.

On Friday afternoon, the White House announced that President Trump signed an Executive Order to rescind two 1970s-era Executive Orders. For decades, these directives have been the driving force behind almost every motorized access closure we have ever fought in New Mexico and across the country.

This is one of the most significant actions to restore and protect public land access since BRC opened its doors in 1987. After 40 years of fighting, this changes everything.

What Were These 1970s Executive Orders?

The rescinded orders formed the foundation of the "Minimization Criteria" regulations. These rules required federal agencies to minimize environmental impacts from OHV use. Over the years, activist groups and courts twisted "minimize impact" to mean "eliminate impact," resulting in excessive, sweeping trail closures.

The breaking point happened recently in California, where a federal judge used these very criteria to force the BLM to close over 2,200 miles of trails in the Western Mojave Desert (WEMO). That egregious overreach made it clear: federal agencies could no longer keep trails open under the old rules.

We took that urgency straight to Washington D.C., mobilized the OHV community, and the President listened.

Key Takeaways from the New Executive Order

• No Basis in Law: The President’s order confirms that the restrictive Minimization Criteria actually have no basis in federal statute or law.

• New Rules Coming: Federal agencies are now required to adopt new rules that officially rescind the Minimization Criteria.

• A New Mandate for Access: The old restrictive system is being replaced by a new framework that explicitly prioritizes “more access, recreational opportunities, and greater multiple-use benefits to the public.”

What Happens Next? (And What We Need From You)

These changes won't happen overnight, and they won't automatically reopen trails previously closed under the old system. The real work begins now. We need to build a comprehensive record of the trails and roads we want revisited under this new, pro-access framework.

Leadership from the BlueRibbon Coalition is heading to Washington D.C. to coordinate the next steps. In the meantime, we need the New Mexico OHV community to help us map out our priorities.

🗺️ What is Your Top Priority for Reopening?

What area, trail, or road in New Mexico (or neighboring public lands) has been closed over the last 40 years that you want to see reevaluated?

👉 CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR TOP PRIORITY TRAILS (Link to BRC/NMOHVA Form)

Deep-Dive Resources

To fully understand how this victory happened and what it means for the future of land management, we highly encourage you to check out BRC's deep-dive report and podcast on the Western Mojave closures that triggered this historic action:

• Read the 4-Part Deep-Dive Report & Listen to the Podcast

Thank you to every NMOHVA member who signed petitions, amplified the message, and kept up the fight. There has never been a better time to stand up for our right to ride.

We Belong Here.