"FOOT ON THE GAS NO BRAKE" EFFORT FOR PUBLIC LANDS

 

Popular BLM Trail Area Bordering Pocatello, ID

BLM Pocatello Field Office, ID

“FOOT ON THE GAS NO BRAKE” EFFORT FOR PUBLIC LANDS

OPINION 

By Don Amador

May 30, 2025

 

As the summer recreation season kicks into gear, I want to celebrate the recent goods news update from our friends at the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR).

 

ORR News Release

https://recreationroundtable.org/news/public-lands-sell-off-is-removed-from-house-budget-reconciliation/

  

Big thanks to Jess Turner at ORR and other recreation leads such as Katie Hawkins at the Outdoor Alliance for their leadership in this joint motorized/non-motorized all-hands-on-deck state and national effort to champion keeping popular public land recreation sites off of the auction block.

Salt Creek Trailhead - Near Redding, CA

BLM Redding Field Office

 

The issue of federal land disposals has been around for several decades and will likely remain an issue that recreation groups will continue to follow.  However, for the next few weeks get out on public lands and waterways and enjoy summer outdoor recreation with family and friends without worrying about an auctioneer accepting a bid on a local riding or hiking trail.

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.

 

 

OPINION - FOREST ROADS PROVIDE CRITICAL ACCESS TO RECREATION, WILDFIRE, AND FOREST HEALTH ACTIVITIES

POST 2020 AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE ROADSIDE HAZARD TREE MITIGATION

Mendocino National Forest

 

Don Amador

OPINION

May 21, 2025

 

FOREST ROADS PROVIDE CRITICAL ACCESS TO RECREATION, WILDFIRE, and FOREST HEALTH ACTIVITIES

  

As a long-time partner that depends on access to Forest Service System Roads and Trails for OHV recreation and post wildfire trail stewardship efforts, QWR appreciates Chief Tom Shultz’s commitment to managed outdoor recreation, resource management, fuel projects, and wildfire mitigation activities.

 

In fact, the Forest Transportation System functions as the common thread that binds or connects virtually all forest recreation, management, research, or cultural activities.  

KEY FOREST ROAD NORTH/SOUTH TRANSPORATION ROUTES

Mendocino National Forest

 

Yet to date, none of the Administration’s stated policies or guidelines – including the May 20 post by Acting Associate Chief Chris French – highlight “roads” as a key focus area or acknowledge that none of the on- the- ground Forest management objectives or goals happen unless Forest roads damaged or blown out during winter storms are repaired in a timely manner.

 

ACTING ASSOCIATE CHIEF CHRIS FRENCH, MAY 20, STATEMENT ON OPERATIONAL PLANNING

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/leadership/update-interim-operational-planning

 

French notes the actions below aim to maintain essential services, address critical risks, and support the agency's priorities. Key focus areas (sans ROADS) with dedicated working groups include:

 

•             Employee and public safety

 

•             Disaster recovery

 

•             Active management (timber/vegetation/fuels)

 

•             Recreation

 

•             Energy, minerals and geology

 

•             NEPA planning

 

•             Grants and agreements

 

•             Information technology

 

•             Communication and legislative affairs

 

•             Fire response (incident management capacity)

 

•             Human resources

 

•             Law enforcement and investigations

 

•             Budget

 

•             Chief Finance Office (payments, billings & reimbursable agreements) 

 

•             Procurement & property services/contracts, facilities & leasing

 

 

 

Over the last 4-5 years, the subject of not having the funds and resources to effect post-winter repairs of FS storm damaged roads is almost always part of any conversation that QWR has had with agency staff or partners.

POST 2020 AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE ROADSIDE HAZARD TREE MITIGATION

Mendocino National Forest

QWR believes the Administration and Congress should make maintaining a quality Transportation System a top priority if they plan on increasing the pace and scale of forest management treatments and providing access to outdoor recreation.  

 

CHIEF TOM SHULTZ POSTS MAY 6 UPDATE ON NEXT STEPS

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/leadership/our-next-steps

PS- Thanks to the hard work by Mendocino NF crews and partners to recover forest lands and recreation facilities damaged by the 2018 Ranch Fire and 2020 August Complex Fire. 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for 35 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance.  Don is a Co-Founder and Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino, a forest health collaborative that is part of the National Fire Learning Network.  Don served as an AD Driver for the Forest Service North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Fire Seasons. Don is a  Northwest California native and writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.  Don may be reached by email at: damador@cwo.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIELD TRIPS ARE THE BEST - HIGHLIGHT OF MENDOCINO NF TRAIL PROGRAM

Grindstone RD Recreation Specialist Explains Post Ranch Fire Recovery

of Mill Valley Camp Ground - Mendocino NF

FIELD TRIPS ARE THE BEST - HIGHLIGHT OF MENDOCINO NF OHV PROGRAM

 

QWR hosted a recent SxS field trip with the Mendocino National Forest Supervisor, Wade McMaster, Grindstone Ranger District Recreation Management Specialist, Les Hill, and Region 5 North Zone Partnership Coordinator, Tanya Torst, to review various travel management prescriptions being used at the Stonyford OHV Area in Northern California. 

Post Ranch Fire Trail Restoration of Popular Single Track MC Route

Stonyford OHV Area - Mendocino NF

 

As a long-time volunteer partner with the Mendocino National Forest, QWR appreciated being able to share the history of how the Forest has been one of the agency pioneers in implementing modern managed recreation tenets over the last 40 years.

Recreation Specialist, Les Hill, Explain Function of Rolling Dips and

Sediment Catch Basins - Mendocino NF

 

On-site discussions focused on the many post-wildfire recovery and restoration projects of recreation facilities on the unit. Other topics included the important role that FS roads have in providing connectivity for both recreation opportunities and pre/post-fire related fuel projects, ingress/egress for public and firefighter safety, and recovery efforts.  

Storm Wash Out of Important Connector FS Road

Grindstone Ranger District - Mendocino NF

 

Credit should be given to the recreation management team for the hard work they put in to keep that unit open for public recreational activities given the many on-going challenges they face and the important role that volunteer partner groups and clubs have in supporting post winter storm or wildfire recovery projects should also be recognized.

FS Recreation Specialist, Les Hill and QWR's Don Amador

Getting Ready for Start of Field Trip at FS Work Station

Grindstone Ranger District - Mendocino NF

 

The field trip concluded with discussions about the function of rolling dips and sediment catch basins, trail maintenance, equipment and training, signing, resource and cultural protection techniques, route delineators, volunteer agreements, repairing washed out roads, and the critical trail funding the Forest receives from their partners at the CA State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s Grant Program.    

 

The trail management review proved the recreation management axiom that field trips are the best!

 

# # # 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 34 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Co-Founder and current Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don served as an AD Driver for the FS North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 wildfire seasons. Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.