YOLO OHV UPDATE - Packed House at Yolo County OHV Park Public Meeting

County Park Staff Present OHV Park Info 

***ACTION REQUIRED – Take Surveys***

Because of the many alerts and flyers posted by OHV organizations and local government, over 40 people from the OHV and conservation communities attended the Yolo County OHV Park Informational Session on February 21, 2019 in Woodland, CA.

Besides the large number of attendees from local and state OHV organizations, it was impressive to see the high level of commitment by Yolo County Parks and Recreation staff to locate a new OHV recreation facility (or facilities) in their jurisdiction.

Several important factors were cited by local government staff or noted by the audience as the reason for this renewed effort to site a new OHV recreation area in Yolo County and those tenets include:

• Direction from Yolo County Board of Supervisors to find new OHV recreation opportunities
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• Permanent reauthorization of the CA OHV Program in 2017 via SB249
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• Support from the Yolo County Sheriff
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• Stable CA OHV Grant Program
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• 2018 County OHV Survey has most participation of any public survey in county history
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• Support from local/regional conservation organizations
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• Support from diverse OHV recreation interests
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• OHV Recreation is important to rural economies

Again, Yolo County is applying to the CA OHV grant program to fund a market analysis to ascertain if there is enough community and stakeholder support for new OHV opportunities. 

Yolo County OHV Park as Gateway to Federal OHV Recreation

Pic: BLM's Knoxville OHV Area

Two options for new county OHV facilities surfaced at the meeting and those are:

One - Locate a large “destination-type” OHV area in the western rural part of the county that could serve as a gateway park to federal riding opportunities such as the BLM's Knoxville OHV Area.   The county park amenities could include camping for small and large RVs, water, restrooms, youth track, MX track, 4x4 obstacle course, and trail opportunities for both small and large OHVs.  The site could also host a sheriff or 1^st responder substation.

Two - Locate a small (less than 150 acres) OHV park nearer to town for day-use riding.  The site could also be used by the county sheriff to hold OHV training classes for the public.

There are two surveys that OHVers should take (if you have not done so already) to provide more input into the decision-making process and those are the Yolo County OHV Planning Survey and the Yolo County Strategic Plan Survey.

YOLO COUNTY OHV SURVEY – This is where you can provide OHV specific comments about the new park - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ohvyolo

YOLO COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN SURVEY – This will guide county planning for the next 3-5 years - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/yolostrategicplan

Both of these surveys are important and they only take a few minutes each to fill out online.  I took them and they are easy to navigate. 

Take these surveys now as they will help the county in the decision-making process. 

Also, watch for additional opportunities to comment after the Yolo County OHV grant application is submitted on March 4, 2019.

OHV Recreation Key Partner in National Monument Dedication

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on

4x4 Tour

Article by Don Amador

March 20, 2016

Word count: 529

Note to editor: Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this article

OHV Key Partner in National Monument Dedication

COWBOY CAMP, CA (March 19) - A popular BLM equestrian campground was the site for the official dedication ceremony for the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.  Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell was joined by Members of Congress, local elected officials, state dignitaries, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, BLM National Director Neil Kornze, other FS/BLM officials, and diverse user groups including OHV recreationists.

Mendocino NF's Ann Carlson and BLM Ukiah Field Office's Rich Burns

Welcome Folks to Dedication

California Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird 

What made this event unique is that OHV recreation was featured as a key partner in development of the plan to bring additional resources to enhance both conservation efforts and existing/ future non-motorized and motorized recreational opportunities within the Monument boundary.  

Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell

Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi Hand Out

Certificates of Appreciation

All of the speakers noted that OHV recreation has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the recreation program in the Monument.

OHMVR Commission Chairman, Ted Cabral, Visits

with Jay Watson, Director of the Student Conservation Association

In addition to the official dedication ceremony, the event had two other official activities.  Those were a morning hike on non-motorized trails and an afternoon 4x4 tour of the BLM’s Walker Ridge where the agency is getting ready to start the route designation process.

Rigs Lined Up for Start of 4x4 OHV Tour

Secretary Sally Jewell, former CEO of REI, was very engaged with the 4x4 tour’s participants which included the Mendocino 4x4 Club, Matson Breakey/MetalCloak, CA OHV Program staff, BRC, Tuleyome, and FS/BLM officials.

Official 4x4 Tour Map

The group got to visit with Secretary Jewell on a broad range of subjects including the CA OHV program, trail volunteerism, partnerships, modern trail management prescriptions, potential new trail designations within the Monument, special recreation permit reform, and other OHV recreation topics.

Secretary Sally Jewell Talks with 4x4 Tour Group 

 A lot of credit for this collaborative effort goes to Tuleyome, the regional conservation group that has been working with OHV and other stakeholder groups for the past 6-7 years to help ensure a bright future for multiple-use recreation on lands managed by the Forest Service and BLM.

This part of California is host to numerous destination OHV areas including BLM’s Cow Mountain Recreation Area and the Knoxville OHV Area.  The Mendocino National Forest manages both the Upper Lake and Stonyford OHV Areas.  This area is also home to many OHV permitted events including enduros and dual sport/adventure rides.

OHMVRD Booth at Dedication

The California State Park Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVRD) was at this event to highlight the important long-term relationship between the FS/BLM and OHMVRD’s grant program that helps support trail maintenance, restoration projects, and law enforcement on the federal units.

Site of Monument Dedication

OHV recreation will continue to play an important role in helping shape its future by participating in development of the Monument Management Plan.  This will be a multi-year process where local input will be critical. 

California Conservation Corps is an Important Trail Partner

OHV clubs and individuals will also continue to be an important volunteer workforce to help maintain current and new trail opportunities. 

Mendocino NF Staff 

These types of bipartisan partnerships between OHV, land agencies, and conservation groups will continue to evolve as a key element to managed recreation in the 21^st Century.

 # # # 

Don Amador is a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition and serves as their western representative.  Don is also president of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting.  He writes from his office in Oakley, CA.  Don may be reached by email at: damador@cwo.com

Knoxville OHV Area - Hidden Off-Road Gem

Vista on Ridge Trail

QWR just finished a post-Jerusalem Fire field review of the BLM’s Knoxville OHV Area located about 13 miles east of Lower Lake, California.  This remote low elevation 17,700 acre riding area has a good mix of easy roads for beginners and some very challenging OHV trails that will test the ability of even the most experienced rider.

Entrance to Red Elephant Mine Trail

One of those black diamond dirt-bike routes is the Red Elephant Mine Trail.  This is an 8-mile long trail that traverses some steep terrain.  It also presents the rider with some rocky downhills, tight switchbacks, and several rock gardens. 

Rock Garden on Elephant Mine Trail

Since most of the trails are south facing with reduced vegetative cover (thanks to the Jerusalem Fire), the trails are dried out enough for riders to enjoy within 1-2 days of an average rain event.

Use Caution When Trail Riding in Burn Area

The BLM has an ongoing resource protection program and is in the process of updating the areas’ travel management prescriptions.

Road/Trail Barriers to Protect Resources

The North Staging Area is convenient for day riders who want to explore the trail network.  It has a vault toilet and ample parking for a number of trucks.  Hunting Creek Campground is the southern staging and campground area.  It has several campsites and a vault toilet.

Hunters Creek Campground

QWR suggests that experienced riders recon the area before bringing up beginners and/or small groups.  This is a great area for winter riding when higher elevation trails on other units are closed due to snow or wet weather.

Engineered Trail from Hunters Creek Campground

QWR is excited about this area because it also has the potential to provide some excellent adventure/dual-sport opportunities for riders who want to explore this portion of the Berryessa-Snow Mountain National Monument.

Link to Knoxville OHV Area

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah/knoxville.html

Forest Supervisor Notes Import of Wildfire Impacted Roads and Trails

Dual-Sport/Adventure/SUV Route to the

Lassics Botanical Area on the Six Rivers NF

(Area Closed Due to the Lassic Fire which is part of the Mad River Fire Complex)

Both street-legal and non-street legal OHV recreation is impacted by wildfires.  Many of the lightning-sparked fires burning in California and elsewhere in the West have understandably resulted in the immediate closure of popular routes used by dirt-bikes, ATVs, dual-sports, SxSs, 4WDs, SUVs, and adventure bikes.

In the long-term, what is most important for recreationists is the closure period of the Forest Order related to a fire event.  Some Forests institute a mandatory one-year or longer closure order to all public entry.  On the other hand, some Forest Orders state the closure is in effect until… “the fire is declared out” or the “fire season has ended.” 

QWR commends the Six Rivers National Forest Supervisor, Merv George Jr., for his commitment to reopening roads and trails once safe conditions are restored.

LINK TO SIX RIVERS NF PM FIRE UPDATE AND GEORGE STATEMENT ON ROADS/TRAILS

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4439/26703/

“We recognize the impact these roads, trails and area closures have on the public and these decisions have not been made lightly. These closures are necessary for public safety and fire operations,” said Merv George Jr., forest supervisor. “Knowing your desire to get into some of these areas as soon as possible, we will work with the incident management team and local law enforcement to lift the closures when it can be done safely.”

Once again, QWR urges riders to check in with your local Forest Service or BLM office to find out what roads, trails, and areas are closed due to wildfires.  A link with updated info is listed below:

LINK TO WILDFIRE INFO ON FS AND BLM LANDS

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

Stay safe!  Also, feel free to post comments on how things are going in your neck of the woods.

Knoxville OHV Staging Area

*QWR is concerned the Jerusalem Fire is headed for the BLM’s Knoxville OHV Area

LINK TO MAP

http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentfile1193_1704.pdf