POST FIRE GOLD - Don't Trespass - Stay the Trail

Gold Note OHV Area

Eldorado NF

With many FS and BLM OHV areas being impacted by devastating wildfires, QWR believes it is important for the OHV community to remember (and be thankful for) a number of other fun OHV areas that can help offer family-oriented trail recreation during these trying times.

Stay on the Trail

Eldorado NF

While up on a business trip to visit with Dave Pickett, a good friend and AMA District 36 Legislative Action Officer, I made use of some free to take a short tour of the Gold Note OHV Area located on the Eldorado National Forest.

Link to FS Info on Gold Note OHV Area

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3795235.pdf

The Forest Service has done a good job of signing the trails and armoring some of their park/staging areas.

Gold Note OHV Staging Area

Eldorado NF

QWR believes that non-fire impacted OHV areas will play an important role by providing access for both casual use and permitted events while units impacted by wildfires are repaired post-fire mitigations such as hazard tree removal, erosion control structures constructed or reconstructed, and barriers or trail delineators installed.

OHV 4WD Route

Eldorado NF

Please stay safe during this fire season and avoid illegal off-route trespass in sensitive areas or onto private property where signs, barriers, or protective vegetation has been burned off by the wildfires.

Adventure Riders Are Part of the Land Use Equation

"New Regulations" Close Adventure Route

QWR believes that Adventure Riders are part of the OHV family and an important factor in the land-use equation. 

QWR's Don Amador with 2006 Tiger 955i 

   

Continued access to high quality adventure-type roads and trails is under constant pressure from a growing number of laws, regulations, and rules that determine if those routes are open or closed.

The Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Travel Management, legislation, litigation, political pressure, and funding are all factors that open or close gates on public lands. 

Although many adventure riders have OHV experience, there are many new riders that come from a street or non-OHV background.   Dealing with the avalanche of rules and regulations that govern motorized access to federal lands is something that some adventure riders are not familiar with.

"Gate Open" for Adventure

QWR would like to urge the adventure bike community to continue their efforts to become engaged in land-use issues and/or support those organizations and businesses that advocate for responsible motorized recreational access to public roads and trails.

CARB Continues Outreach to OHV Community on OHMC "Red Sticker" Planning Process

QWR attended the CARB Off-Highway Motorcycle (OHMC) Workshop: Assessment Update today in Sacramento, California.

QWR wants to commend all members of the OHV community (OEMs, dealers, organizations, users, and OHMVRD) who are actively engaged in the process. 

The willingness of CARB staff to substantively engage the various stakeholders in a collaborative planning effort is ground-breaking and is a refreshing change from what some users have felt is a bunker mentality at the agency.

The key bullet points from today are:

CARB’s commitment to have a trusted observer from the OHV community at the testing events

CARB stated its effort is focused on emissions from new motorcycles, not used vehicles

CARB stated that it is not their intent to penalize or punish owners of red-sticker vehicles purchase under current laws and regulations

CARB remains committed to working with its sister agency at OHMVRD

QWR appreciated the statement by James Lombardo, legislative advocate for the California Motorcycle Dealers Association, to ask his board to help secure new motorcycles – which would be leased by CARB from the dealers – for the testing procedures.

QWR wants to urge OHV stakeholders to review the survey and related documents and submit comments on how you feel they can be modified or improved.  

Link to CARB OHMC Documents/Survey

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/offroad/orrec/orrec.htm

If you have questions, please feel free to contact the CARB representative below:

Cassie Lopina

Air Pollution Specialist | California Air Resources Board | Monitoring and Laboratory Division

Evaporative Control, Engineering, and Regulatory Development Section

1900 14th Street | Sacramento, California 95811

916) 322-2411 |916) 322-2444 |

clopina@arb.ca.gov

Thanks for your interest in the CARB OHMC planning process.