D.C. Budget Fight Could Impact OHV Recreation

As the threat of a government shutdown looms at midnight tonight, HQ is concerned that OHV recreation (especially permitted events) could be an unintended victim in this fight.

While many, if not most, national parks are expected to be closed, HQ believes it is unclear just what will happen at OHV areas managed by the Forest Service and BLM. 

There are many federal OHV riding areas  that could be impacted. At developed sites, will garbage be picked up?  Will the bathrooms be cleaned?  Will there be resource protection or law enforcement officers patrolling the unit?  Will there be recreation staff available to answer questions or hand out a map?  On units funded by state OHV grants, will those dedicated monies be used to keep an area open during the shutdown?

HQ does not believe the FS or BLM will barricade county or state roads that enter public lands, but this could result in the agencies cancelling any permitted OHV events that are scheduled during the shutdown.

Stay tuned as the budget battle continues in D.C.

OR Dunes Update -Major Dune Work Party - Sept. 21/22, 2013

The Recreation HQ wants to commend the Save the Riders Dunes organization for becoming an effective local force for protecting OHV recreation at, and promoting responsible resource management of, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Oregon.

HQ's Don Amador on 2011 Dune Tour

 

 

Some of you remember our 2011 CORDRAM Tour up the Oregon Dunes to review important recreation and resource issues with local riders and the Forest Service.   Those tours included all three major riding areas, visiting with local OHV-related businesses, talking with county officials, and a one day field trip with the Forest Supervisor.

 

Blog on 2011 CORDRAM Tour 

http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2011/08/hq-announces-2011-cordram-tour.html

 

This effort has led to a substantive change of direction in the travel planning process.  The initial FS travel planning had no tenets to address the real danger to the dunes and that is destruction of the dunes by non-native vegetation.  Today the FS and users are working together on a resource project as cited below.

STRD Members ID Popular Riding Area on 2011 Tour

 

 

This weekend on Sept 21-22, 2013, STRD and US Forest Service are coordinating the start of the Oregon Dunes Restoration Project.  They are asking interested parties in the area to join them at Bullrun Staging Area, North Bend at 10am.  They are asking you to bring your work gloves and digging tools!

 

For more information on this weekend's project contact the event lead; Jody Phillips at

coleman.phillips@hospira.com

 

 

Kiosk at OR Dunes

This is a good case study of what happens when OHV recreationists organize and engage the agency and other user groups in the management of an area.   HQ salutes STRD for their effective advocacy and dedication to protect the sport and also champion responsible resource management.

 

STRD Website

http://www.savetheridersdunes.com/About-Us.html

 

Again, this story highlights the importance of OHV recreationists being engaged at a landscape level with the agency, county, green groups, businesses, and other user organizations. 

 

NV Sage Grouse Update - OHV Concerns noted by State Grouse Council at Carson City Meeting

Don Amador Riding in Pine Nuts

*Area Noted as a High Value Sage Habitat Reserve

 

The Recreation HQ wanted to give OHVers and racers who ride in Nevada a quick update on today’s meeting of the Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Council in Carson City, Nevada.

 

As some of you know,  this State of Nevada effort is running concurrently with two other federal Greater Sage-grouse planning efforts.  

 

BRC remains concerned about the fact that motorized recreation was not afforded a seat on the council.  As you will see in BRC’s comment letter today, we reaffirmed that concern and noted our OHV casual use and permitted event-related comments submitted to the council in May 2013 had not been addressed in any of the staff reviews and/or related reports.

 

BRC Sept. 12, 2013 Comment Letter to the Council

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Nevada_Ecosystem_Council_BRC_comments_Sept.12.3013.pdf

 

While watching the meeting on a live video stream, it was gratifying to note that BRC’s comment letter today was referenced several times by agency staff and council members as providing important information regarding OHV use that had not been considered as of yet.

 

While the FS representative basically stated he did not anticipate significant impacts to existing OHV use on designated trails and areas, I continue to be concerned about unintended consequences to OHV recreation if we are not actively engaged on all three processes.

 

You can find meeting schedules and other info at the websites below:

 

ONE – State of NV

 

NV Sagebrush Ecosystem Council

http://sagebrusheco.nv.gov/

 

NV Sagebrush Ecosystem Council Meetings/Documents

http://sagebrusheco.nv.gov/Meetings/Sagebrush_Ecosystem_Council_Meeting/

 

TWO – Forest Service

 

Humboldt-Toiyabe NF Bi-State Greater Sage-grouse Forest Plan (be sure and click on DEIS link)

http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=40683

 

THREE - BLM

BLM Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Planning Effort

https://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/nv-ca-usfs-blm-release-draft-bi-state-sage-grouse-eis

 

BRC Greater Sage-grouse home page with updates, etc.

http://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/10-state-sage-grouse-planning

 

HQ wants to encourage NV OHVers to try and be engaged in these processes.  I will be up at the Ride Reno 200 DS Ride this weekend so feel free to stop by and visit me at the BRC booth on Friday night or catch me at the Sat. night dinner.

CA/NV Summer Fun Events for Dual-Sports, Adventure Bikes, ATVs, SUVs, UTVs, and 4x4s

Typical View on Ride Reno 200

 

A number of great Dual-Sport and 4x4 events are occurring this summer and it would be impossible to mention them all.  However, QWR is planning to attend two events that feature diverse OHV opportunities for dual-sport, adventure bike, SUV, ATV, UTV, and 4x4s.

 

The Dust Devils Motorcycle Club is hosting its 2013 Ride Reno 200 Dual Sport Ride on September 13-15, 20-13.  It is an AMA National Event and this year it also has loops for adventure bikes.  QWR and its Sound Trails Initiative will be there with its Quest sound testing equipment to offer the SAE J-1287 20-inch sound test for the event to help educate riders about using sound compliant exhaust systems.

QWR Sound Education Station at Previous Event

 

This ride takes you up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains where you will see spectacular forested lands and back through the high desert where wild mustangs can often be seen.

 

2013 Ride Reno 200

http://www.dustdevilsmc.com/Participant/ParticipantFlyer.aspx

 

Jeeps Driving in the Sierra

 

QWR will also be at the 2013 Sierra Trek hosted by the California Association of Four-Wheel Drive Clubs.  This event runs from August 8-11, 2013.  According to the club, Sierra Trek is the granddaddy of all Cal 4 events. It is held in Northern California near Truckee. The event takes participants over the famous Fordyce Trail and the surrounding areas via SUV, ATV, modified 4x4 vehicles and dedicated trail rigs.

 

2013 Sierra Trek

http://www.cal4wheel.com/events/sierra-trek

 

Cal 4 is working hard to introduce new and fun activities for families that we know you will enjoy. You can still run the Fordyce trail with the confidence that the trail staff will make your adventure memorable!

 

Cal 4 is also bringing back two-day SUV and the ATV/UTV runs in additions to the challenging 4x4 trail rides.

 

QWR and STI will also be at this event and will be making the SUV adventure touring runs. We will also be manning the BRC booth and talking with riders about responsible use of system roads, trails, and areas.  This is a great event for those who want a high elevation OHV experience in an alpine setting.

 

QWR’s Sound Trails Initiative

http://www.quietwarriorracing.com/Sound_Trails_Initiative.html

 

I hope to see you this summer on the trail!

 

Yolo County Board to Vote on New OHV Park (Tue. April 23)

Road to New County OHV Park?

(100 acre proposal is on the other side of the levee at end of the road)

 

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors will be meeting in Woodland to consider passing a resolution in support for creation of a NEW OHV county park on about 100 acres of unused land N.E. of the city.

 

Currently there is not a single acre of legal OHV opportunity in the county.  This project would serve the recreational needs of the area by providing a managed OHV facility.

 

The Board of Supervisors is meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday (April 23) at the Yolo County Administrative Building, 625 Court Street, Woodland, CA 95695.

 

Link to Agenda (OHV Park is item #27)

http://yoloagenda.yolocounty.org/agenda_publish.cfm?dsp=ag&seq=144

 

 

Site of Proposed County OHV Park

 

 

I hope to see you there.  Not too often we get a chance to support a new OHV facility.

 

 

GREAT NEWS - FS Extends Comment Period for OR Dunes

Great News from the Recreation HQ!  As many of you know, HQ and other riders are concerned about the current proposal by the FS to severely restrict OHV recreation (particularly in the sand trail areas) at the OR Dunes.  The public comment period for the Travel DEIS was supposed to end on Dec. 10.

 

BRC Alert with Copy of FS Letter to Counties

http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2012/12/06/comment-period-on-oregon-dunes-10c-designated-routes-project-deis-extended

 

However, because of a lot of hard work by Save the Oregon Dunes club with help and support from BRC, local businesses, and county officials the Forest Service extended the public comment period until Jan. 24, 2013 to give Coos, Douglas, and Lane counties a chance to place the DEIS for the Oregon Dunes Travel Plan on their county commission agendas as an action item.

 

HQ believes the current preferred Alternative 4 in the DEIS is simply a recipe for disaster because it does not recognize the important role that OHV recreation has in managing encroachment of non-native plant species into the open dune areas.   Over time, new portions of the open dune riding area would have to be fenced off each year to provide habitat for species such as the Snowy Plover (it needs open sand to nest).  In 15-20 years, there would be no OHV recreation because of the need to continually close off more open sand areas for the plover.  OHV recreation as we know it would go extinct at the Dunes.

 

Stay tuned as this issue continues to develop.  Let’s hope the FS, local users, and the counties can come up with a long-term strategy (modified Alt. 5?) that will protect both OHV recreation and natural resources for generations to come.

 

Famous Eco-Law Group Closes its Doors

By now, many HQ riders know about the recent departure of Carl Pope from the Sierra Club and the 31 % cut in staff made by The Wilderness Society over the last year.


HQ believes much of that is based on a downturn in the economy that has hit basically all non-profit land advocacy groups. Also, with most if not all “Wilderness quality” lands being already designated by Congress as federally designated Wilderness, pro-Wilderness groups may have become less relevant in 2011.

HQ was also surprised to learn today that a rather famous environmental law-firm had recently closed its doors. Wildlaw, who had hired a former Bush-era cabinet member as their lobbyist in Washington DC, specialized in anti-OHV and anti-timber lawsuits.

Wildlaw Hiring Mark Rey as their Eco-Lobbyist
http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/mark-rey-resurfaces/Content?oid=1148317

Wildlaw Statement on its Closing
http://www.wildlaw.org/

HQ believes there is a paradigm shift underway in this country. The proponents of hard-left land-use politics will fall by the trailside and be replaced (or evolve) into more mainstream environmental or conservation groups who have a desire to work collaboratively with OHV organizations and leaders on projects that both protect the environment and allow for responsible OHV recreation on designated roads, trails, and areas.

# # #

Gov. Signs AB42 - Link to More SVRAs in CA?

HQ was pleased to see the Governor sign AB 42, which allows for non-profit organizations to manage various state parks that have low visitation or are otherwise unable to sustain themselves. HQ believes that counties should also be given the opportunity to manage state park units that are in fiscal trouble.


Article on AB42
http://www.sonomanews.com/News-2011/Gov-signs-state-parks-bill/

HQ believes this bill could open the pathway for OHVs to use several non-motorized state parks units that are in fiscal trouble. Two examples come to mind. Henry W Coe State Park near San Jose is a perfect candidate for being operated as a State Vehicular Recreation Area. Also, Tolowa Dunes State Park near the Oregon border is also a great candidate for OHV use because its last management plan authorized ATVs at the site.

Community Support for Tolowa Dunes SVRA
http://www.triplicate.com/20060211103532/Opinion/Editorials/Our-View-Lets-get-an-OHV-park-on-countys-fast-track

The OHV community should be looking for ways to assist state parks and the local economy by finding a way to help manage these parks for motorized recreation. Henry Coe SVRA would help elevate overcrowding at both Hollister Hills and Carnegie SVRAs. Tolowa Dunes SVRA would provide much needed ocean/sand opportunities for OHV use on the North Coast.


Let’s all think outside of the box on this one. Comments are welcome here at the HQ on this issue.



BREAKING NEWS - County Votes to Petition Congress to Designate Clear Creek as NRA

                                                   

The Recreation HQ is proud to announce the San Benito County Board of Supervisors voted today 5-0 in favor of a Resolution to petition Congress to designate the Clear Creek Management Area as a National Recreation Area.


HQ’s Don Amador gave a presentation regarding the need for Congress to step in and bypass the local land manager when he/she is not acting in the best interest of the public. Besides Amador, a number of OHV recreationists and a local newspaper owner stepped up to the podium and supported the County’s effort to champion access on behalf of their constituents.

Chairman Margie Barrios also cited the many campgrounds the Hollister Field Office had ripped out over the last several years and the recently constructed multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded “decontamination center” as prime examples of government waste.

Link to blog (with photo) of 1.7 million dollar boondoggle
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/01/jan-14-clear-creek-meeting-blm-and-epa.html

HQ believes access champions have taken one giant step in this long journey. Certainly the trail will be rough over the next few years while efforts are made to have Clear Creek designated as a National Recreation Area. However, it is a journey that all of us should be prepared to take.

PS - I plan to post the Resolution once the county publishes it and provides a link. Based on the comments by the county supervisors, I expect it to reflect the appropriate NRA related land management tenets in my July 22 Congressional testimony.



Is R5 Changing Course on TMR Closure Directives?

The Recreation HQ does not know if it is mere coincidence that Region 5 appears to be revaluating current directives to various Forest units to not designate level-3 roads for mixed-use and to minimize the designation of historic and important unauthorized routes, but it appears that a change is in the air.

The potential signal that R5 is listening to local users, county officials, and Congress is best illustrated by the September 20 Federal Register Notice regarding the Modoc National Forest’s proposal to designate 331 miles of unauthorized routes for motorized travel and designate 513 miles of level 3 roads for mixed-use (i.e. use by non-street legal OHVs).

September 20, 2011 Modoc NF FR Notice
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-20/pdf/2011-23613.pdf

Some of you may remember that back on March 11, 2010, R5 upheld an appeal by one of the current anti-access OHV commissioners and nationally recognized closure guru, Stan Van Velsor, and ordered the Modoc to not designate 331 miles of routes and 513 miles of level-3 roads for mixed-use.

April 2010 Blog with R5 Directive and other Closure/Appeal Info on the Modoc

http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/04/ca-ohv-commissioner-wins-appeal-and.html

Another sign based on intel from local users groups who attended a Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday in the Redding area is that the Shasta-Trinity NF is also reviewing future post subpart-B project level trail planning and designation of some level-3 roads for mixed-use.

If, in fact, the Forest Service is reviewing future trail and mixed-use designations, a great deal of praise should go out to an engaged public and to the federal officials and land-managers who are moving forward on more access friendly TMR-related projects.

Sept. 19 Field Hearing - FS TMR Constructed on Foundation of Sand?

By now, many HQ followers are aware of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public land’s field hearing being held in Sacramento on September 19, 2011.


BRC Alert with Info on Sept. 19 Hearing
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1376

For several years, HQ has blogged about how the 2005 Travel Management Rule was being misused on number Forests as a planning tool to effect landscape level closures of historic roads and trails to non-street legal (and in many cases street legal) OHVs.

HQ is not the only venue that feels TMR has gone astray. The Chico Enterprise-Record just published an editorial that concurs with our observation.

Chico Enterprise-Record Editorial (Sept. 16)
http://www.chicoer.com/opinion/ci_18908994


Wisdom tells us that you should not build a house on a foundation of sand. HQ believes many of the fatal flaws now clearly evident in TMR have their origin in the 2003 California Route Inventory and Designation Process (RID). Proponents of RID (as in get rid of OHVs on public lands) said users did not have to worry about landscape level closures of historic (and legal) OHV routes. In addition, RID/TMR in Region 5 also included the additional “thumb in the eye” of creating a new federal directive that effectively prohibited (except on rare road segments less then 3 miles in length) non-street legal “Green-sticker” OHVs from using level 3 non-paved logging roads. What makes the R5 ruling even more offensive is the California Vehicle Code expressly states that Green-sticker OHVs are allowed on non-paved logging roads.

CVC 38001

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d16_5/vc38001.htm

Back in 2003 when RID was codified, several FS staffers told HQ offline that supporters of RID would rue the day. BRC strongly protested RID because it was basically an underground regulation created without a formal public process as required by NEPA. Based on the expected tone and direction of the September 19 field hearing it looks like those RID/TMR “planning chickens are coming home to roost.”

Can TMR be salvaged in CA and elsewhere? HQ believes it can, but the agency must work hard to address the user’s legitimate concerns and restore public trust. The FS should also start their long heralded post Subpart B project level trail planning.

Sand should never be used as a foundation nor should it be used as a place where you stick your head. Instead, good planning and management should be based on solid rock and you (the FS) should man-up and admit that mistakes were made in RID/TMR.

See you at the September 19 hearing.

History on National Monument Fight Shows Need for Congressional Fix

2000 Protest/Rally Against Clinton's Monument

By now many riders and public land access interests are aware of efforts in Congress to address misuse of presidential executive orders that create National Monuments.

Article on Current Effort in Congress
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/13/2405576/gop-wants-to-give-congress-veto.html

Those of you new to the “monument fight” that question the need for Congress to step and create a legislative fix may want to review some history. Some may remember when President Clinton during his last days in office created a number of new monuments throughout the West including the Sequoia National Monument in California.

Off-roaders and other multiple-use interests fought back in the political and legal arena by organizing protests, filing R.S 2477 claims, and filing a lawsuit.

2000 Protest of the Sequoia National Monument
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?node=142&filter=media

Lawsuit filed against Clinton’s Monuments
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2003/2003-10-06-05.html

The lesson learned is that only elected officials can correct this abuse of executive branch authority when it creates National Monuments as a political favor to environmental groups.

Let’s just hope this effort to address the National Monument issue is successful. We don’t really have any other recourse.

Keeping OHV Recreation Alive is Worth Effort at OR Dunes

STRD Leadership (L) with Don Amador (R)

On behalf of the BlueRibbon Coalition, I want to thank the Save the Riders Dunes’ leadership for hosting the 2011 CORDRAM Tour. The tour was a real educational experience for the Recreation HQ.

In a 3-day period, the tour covered much of the three main OHV riding areas in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA). On Sunday, Jerry Ingersoll, the Forest Supervisor for the Siuslaw National Forest, took personal time off and joined the group – in some “BBQ Diplomacy” (actually it was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches) - to discuss various recreation and resource issues.

Rodney Roberts, a Coos County Deputy Sheriff, also joined the group to share his views on law enforcement on the dunes. Rodney also mans the Sheriff’s substation at the Riley Ranch ATV Park. The tour got to observe the Dunes Patrol (a volunteer group) in action when they rescued a stranded 4wd enthusiast that got stuck.

It was an eye opener to see the scores of OHV dealerships and OHV-related businesses along the 40 miles of Highway 101 that runs the length of ODNRA. It was clear the local economy is strongly tied to OHV recreation.

HQ believes the Forest Service offers the public one of the premier destination OHV recreation sites in the country. It has well-developed camping and staging areas. Also, there are many private OHV camping areas that provide more developed facilities (pull-throughs, lodges, group camps, etc.) often popular with today’s recreational community.

The owner of the Oregon Dunes KOA campground gave the group a guided tour of his facility. He said that most of his customers come from WA, CA, and OR. However, there are riders that come from all 50 states and from overseas. Also, OHV recreation is a popular activity enjoyed by military families when the service member is on leave.

There is a lot of hard work ahead for both the agency and user communities. However, after meeting federal, county, and local recreation leaders, I am optimistic that the future of the dunes can be secured if those interests find ways to increase communications and cooperation.
# # #

HQ Announces 2011 CORDRAM Tour

The Recreation HQ is proud to announce its 2011 California Oregon Dunes Recreational Access and Management (CORDRAM) Tour. CORDRAM goes from August 11 – 15. HQ’s Don Amador, on behalf of the BlueRibbon Coalition, will be headed to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area for a tour/review of the site with local recreationists, government officials, and other interests. 


As many of you know, BRC and local OHV representatives are concerned the Forest Service has wrongly focused on OHV closures over the last 40 years instead of addressing encroachment of non-native vegetation into the open dunes.

Thanks to an update from Save The Riders Dunes, HQ presents the following link to a 1994 Seattle Times article on the invasive beach grass taking over the dunes.

1994 Seattle Times Article
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940925&slug=1932531


The Forest Service has extended the public comment period until September 1, 2011. After reviewing the site, HQ plans on submitting an addendum to our July 25, 2011 comment letter in which we basically stated the agency has failed in it mission to protect the open dunes by almost exclusively relying on OHV closures as a management tool instead of addressing vegetation encroachment.

Blog with Action Alert to Send in Comments
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2011/08/or-dunes-keep-sending-letters-and-join.html

HQ believes that OHV recreation can survive at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area if the agency takes action to address the encroachment issue. OHV recreation is not the problem… it is the solution.

OR Dunes - Keep Sending Letters and Join BRC

The Recreation HQ wants to urge OHVers who ride at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area to keep sending in those letters because the Forest Service has issued a letter stating they will continue to accept and use those letters through September 1, 2011. You also need to JOIN BRC.


July 25 FS Letter to BRC with Overview of Extension to Sept. 1
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/OR_Dunes_Ingersoll_July_25_letter0001.pdf

HQ would encourage riders to also contact their county commissioners and ask them to place this issue on the agenda at an upcoming meeting. Also, other elected state official should be made aware of the potential impacts of the ongoing closures and encroachment of vegetation into the recreation area.

HQ Blog on Letter Alert/Info
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2011/07/action-alert-comments-to-keep-or-dunes.html

Here is a recent news article on this issue
http://www.theumpquapost.com/articles/2011/07/20/local_news/doc4e25de75a3217440631661.txt

Also, I would ask all riders to join BRC as a way to help support our efforts on the Oregon Dunes. As you know, it takes time and money to fight for access and we can’t do our job without YOUR support. Please join today if you have not done so. That is a personal request from yours truly.

Join BRC online:
https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/join_or_contribute/

I also hope to see some of you when I am up at the OR Dunes next week meeting with BRC members, local OHV leaders, and govt. officials. I don’t think it is too late to get this ship turned around.

Action Alert - Comments to Keep OR Dunes Open for OHV Use Due July 25

Yes folks, it can happen (see above photo)

Just a short time ago, the BlueRibbon Coalition issued an action alert for OHV enthusiasts throughout the West who like to ride at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

BRC Alert with Suggested Comments and FS Contact Info – Comments Due July 25, 2011.
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1350

Recent HQ Blog on OR Dunes Issue
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2011/07/algore-roadless-chief-behind-closure.html

The Recreation HQ urges people to send in comments before the July 25, 2011. As the BRC lead on this issue, Don Amador, in his capacity as the western representative, apologizes for the late alert but trying to sift through the rather complex Oregon Dunes travel issue has been difficult.

Also, Amador (and several local OHV leaders) has requested that the Forest Service extend the comment but has not heard back from the agency at the time of this posting. BRC has also sent letters to Coos, Douglas, and Lane County Commissioners asking them to review this issue.

Stay tuned to the HQ and BRC for updates should there be an extension and/or other developments at the OR Dunes.

Thanks for your involvement!

OR Dune Riders Must Stand Up and Fight Back Against More Closures

By now, many of you already know about the ongoing closures to OHV recreation at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA). HQ has heard an interesting theme that has been coming from users, resource professionals, and other interested parties. That narrative states that if the Forest Service does not aggressively attack the rapidly encroaching vegetation… there will not be a dune riding area at the NRA in 20 years.


July 13, 2011 Op-Ed by Amador in The Umpqua Post Newspaper
http://www.theumpquapost.com/articles/2011/07/13/opinion/doc4e1c8fb76df53096496951.txt

HQ is encouraging the dune fans that travel from CA, WA, NV, and OR to the ODNRA to send in comments (due July 25) about how the Forest Service should “push the pause button” on more OHV closures and instead focus on saving the dunes from the real enemy… encroaching vegetation.


Stay tuned for more on the OR Dunes battle.

GOOD NEWS - Shasta Trinity NF Gets NEW OHV Coordinator

The Recreation HQ is proud to announce that a former off-road motorcycle champion has been named to the top OHV Trail Coordinator position for the Shasta Trinity National Forest.


Paul Hart who is currently serving as the trails manager for the Cocinino National Forest will be taking over as the Trails lead on the Shasta Trinity National Forest on July 8, 2012.

Open Letter to Users and Biography of Paul Hart
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Tracy_Shasta_T_OHV_Coorddd.pdf

Talk about a turn around on this Forest. HQ believes this new hire is in response to the public outcry that the Forest had never done ANY trail planning and that a trail planner- with some potential new trail projects lined-out - should be in place before the MVUM is printed.

It’s not often that trail users (both motorized and non-motorized) get good news, but HQ believes that when we do… we should celebrate. Let’s all welcome Hart when he arrives.

SACBEE - Quit Taking Money From the OHV Trust Fund?

The Recreation HQ wanted to share the following SACBEE article related to the ongoing theft of monies from the OHV Trust Fund.


June 3 SACBEE – Quit Taking Our OHV Trust Fund Monies (quotes from BRC, PEER, OHMVR)
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/03/3673670/public-eye-lawmakers-take-10-million.html

According to D36’s Dave Pickett, over the 40 year history of the program over $200 million dollars has been stolen from the OHV program. I remember back in the early 70s when the OHV program was invented. Back then, environmentalists and the legislature told riders that if you let us take your state off-road fuel tax refund… we could have our own user-pay/user-benefit self-funded program

Well after recently doubling the green sticker fee it now looks like enviros and some legislators want to break that promise and continue stealing money from our Trust Fund.

Because of an unquenched thirst for funds from one of the only self-funded state programs, the enviros and some in the legislature feel a sense of entitlement from a program where riders already feel double-taxed and betrayed by the long history of “loans.”

Rather than steal money from the OHV program, PEER and some legislators should look for ways to make regular state parks more relevant, cost-effective, and self-funded.

Regarding the $200 million dollars - HQ wants to cite a quote from a popular and funny TV ad…”It’s MY money and I want it back.”

HQ says quit taking our money and pay back what you have stolen. And, stay off the slippery slope of interagency money shifting.

Court Says NO to Enviro Subpart A Claims on Eldorado Legal Case

The General on the Eldorado NF

The Recreation HQ wanted to share the good news about a court decision last week regarding the lawsuit filed by environmental groups against the Eldorado National Forest’s Travel Management Plan.

BRC May 31, 2011 News Release on Recent Court Decision
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=736&filter=media

Link to 82 Page Court Decision (a real good read)
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Eldorado_lawsuit_decision_may_2011.pdf

Some of you may remember that BRC and other recreation groups filed to intervene in the case in January 2010.

BRC January 2010 News Release with Motion to Intervene
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=680&filter=media

The recreation groups had concerns that environmentalists would use this case to get a court to link a dollar amount needed by the agency to maintain a “minimum” number of trail miles on the unit. Even though OHV groups did not like the 2008 Eldorado travel plan we wanted to end the endless planning process and move forward with good management programs.

HQ feels that environmental groups are filling an avalanche of Subpart A lawsuits throughout the West to force a number on the agency and/or to require the agency to undergo Subpart A planning to establish a “minimum” route network before doing the Subpart B trail planning.

By using an “oil change” analogy (page 36), HQ believes the court rejected that argument when it denied the plaintiffs (enviro groups) their Subpart A claims.

HQ believes CBD issued a less than accurate news release last week by intimating the court cast aside the 2008 travel plan.

CBD News Release
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2011/eldorado-05-27-2011.html

In fact, no remedy has been determined and the decision has asked the parties to address how much of a "remedy" is warranted for technical violations involving such small areas. HQ, on counsel's advice, prefers to leave it at that. We believe it unwise to characterize a court decision that has not yet been made.

# # #