INDUSTRY ECON UPDATE - Federal Economic Report Includes SxS Recreation

Designated SxS/ATV/MC Trail

BLM's Chappie-Shasta OHV Area

 As motorized recreation continues to grow as an important economic contributor, QWR believes it is important for both private and public sector researchers to detail vehicle-specific analytics to better inform decision-makers, planners, and other stakeholders.

Off-Road Motorcycle Trail

CA's Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area

A recent update from NOHVCC and the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) confirms that SxS recreation WAS included in the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

LINK TO MIC NEWS RELEASE ON SXS USE COUNTED IN BEA STUDY

https://www.nohvcc.org/economic-data-shows-motorcycling-atv-riding-side-by-side-driving-among-nations-largest-outdoor-recreation-activities/

Don Amador, QWR President, states, “Today, OHV recreation not only provides access to high quality casual use trail opportunities and permitted events, but also provides motorized access to non-motorized activities.  I have friends and colleagues from both the OHV and conservation communities that also utilize SxSs for resource management, wildlife viewing, hunting, and stewardship projects.”

Open Sand Riding for SxS/ATV/MC and other OHVs

Forest Service's Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

“I believe outdoor recreation economic reports and updates are a critically important tool and breaking out data about the fiscal benefit that comes from specific vehicle types will better inform land management agencies as they plan for current and future OHV use on designated roads, trails, and areas,” Amador concludes.

POST WILDFIRE ACCESS - Avoid Economic Impact to Local Communities

Alert Public to Post Fire Hazards

Extreme wildfires have both immediate and long-term impacts on OHV recreation. They can destroy  trail delineators, signs, viewsheds, kiosks, and campground facilities.  Costly soil erosion and water quality-related trail structures can often be obliterated by dozers blading fire lines around the blaze.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, “…  many lands sustaining wildfire are naturally stimulated and recover to healthy conditions, some catastrophic fire can damage the land, causing threats to human life, property, and biological and cultural resources downstream. In these situations, land managers may decide to apply "first-aid" immediately after the wildfire to help stabilize and repair the landscape.

The USDA Forest Service and Department of the Interior (DOI) agencies use Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) to manage post-fire response actions within a year of a wildfire being contained. These efforts, also known as Emergency Stabilization, prevent further degradation of natural and cultural resources, and protect life and property.

In some cases, DOI may provide additional funding to improve burned areas and achieve desired conditions for up to 3 years after containment. "Burned Area Rehabilitation" (BAR) supports the healing process and provides a "bridge" to long-term recovery. Allocation of BAR funds involves a rigorous and competitive process to evaluate projects. This ensures the needs of greatest concern on DOI lands are addressed first.

Further rehabilitation and maintenance of healthy conditions are the responsibility of local land managers through agency natural resources programs.

Caution Signs - Post Fire Management Tool

A recent main stream media story (see link below) also illustrates that loss of road and trail access can have a devastating impact to the local community’s culture and economy.

LINK TO ROADS ARE MONEY ARTICLE

https://www.businessinsider.com/r-smoke-gets-in-your-eyes-wildfires-sting-california-park-tourism-2018-8

QWR understands that land agencies are faced with a lot of difficult decisions on how to recover the land after the wildfire has been put out and that temporary closures can be an important tool for when a bridge or road is washed out. 

Post Fire Trail Management Tool

However, given the important role that outdoor recreation has as a critical economic driver in many rural areas, QWR believes that land agencies should avoid - if possible - landscape level closures of the burn area and work with various partners in post-fire recovery planning and implementation of subsequent “first aid” travel and resource management prescriptions that are focused on reopening affected areas in a timely manner so as to avoid prolonged impacts to recreation access and local communities.  

SHARE THE ROAD – Slow Down on Blind Corners!

Share the Road Sign

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

As the popularity of summer motorized recreation continues to grow on public lands in the USA, QWR wants to remind new owners of SxSs, ATVs, Dirt-Bikes, and Dual-Sport Motorcycles to be aware of oncoming traffic you may encounter when touring on backcountry Forest Service and BLM roads.

What is coming around that corner?

It is important for newcomers to OHV to be aware that two-way traffic occurs on federal dirt roads.  During the summer it is not uncommon for OHVers to encounter oncoming traffic when riding on native dirt or gravel roads.

Oncoming traffic and vehicles that you need to watch for include hunters in pickups or jeep-type vehicles, other OHVs, emergency vehicles such as Forest Service crew buggies or fire engines, logging trucks, or the general public just out enjoying scenic vistas.

QWR encourages OHV club leaders to discuss the topic of two-way traffic with their riding networks to help them understand an old driving rule that many rural OHVers embrace and that is: “SLOW DOWN when riding or driving your OHV on public land dirt roads.  When approaching a blind corner or bend in the road ALWAYS assume there is a vehicle coming towards you and reduce your speed accordingly.”

Drive safe and have a great summer!

The Big View – Sustainable Shared-Use Trail Management

The Big View Trail (Trail 10) 

Rock Creek Trail System- Eldorado NF

Modern trail management is not just about OHV recreation.  It also applies to a wide variety of other outdoor trail-based activities which include mountain bikes, equestrians, and hikers.

Trail Management Sign for Shared-Use 

As outdoor trail-based recreation continues to grow in popularity throughout the country, QWR supports those public land agencies and private sector units that have embraced wet weather-based and other management prescriptions that help protect trail integrity and conserve natural resources.

Sediment Catch Basin/Rolling Dip - Shared-Use Trail

A recent review of the Mace Mill (Rock Creek) trail network, prompted QWR to highlight the ongoing effort by Eldorado National Forest recreation staff to manage and maintain mixed-use trail opportunities to sustain high-quality outdoor experiences for a diverse user community.

Shared-Use Trail

QWR believes there are three key components (3 Cs) to successfully managing a unit that offers mixed-use or shared-use trail-based opportunities for motorized and non-motorized recreation.  Those factors are commitment, communication, and collaboration.

FS Information Booth at 2017 Fools Gold Enduro

3C engagement between agency staff and user groups can occur in a number of ways.  Those venues or methods may include formal recreation advisory councils (RACs), substantive and updated websites/social media, joint field trips, volunteer projects, agency staff attending club meetings or events to provide current information, and/or just picking up the phone to ask a question or offer help.

Trail Courtesy Sign

QWR has an axiom that “The quality of your local trail recreation program is or will be directly proportional to the quality of your engagement with agency staff and other users.”

If you have not done so already, QWR urges both user groups and agency staff to make that long-term commitment to help ensure current and future access to high quality trail-based recreational opportunities.  

The California Trail is Important Link to our Past/Future

CA Trail Center near Elko, NV

At QWR, we believe “The Trails You Take on Life’s Journey are Important.”   Trails can offer backcountry adventurists a link to our past and/or help chart a course for the future.  A perfect example of that link to our past is found along the California Trail.  

According to The California Trail Interpretive Center, between 1841 and 1869, up to 250,000 people sold their belongings, packed wagons, and set out on a 2,000 mile trek for California.

Path of CA Trail

Located near Elko, Nevada, The Center is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and offers the public a high-quality “step back into the past” experience via a number of kiosks, video/audio presentations, authentic pioneer-era structures, artwork, and other educational modules.

CA Trail Marker Post 

 The Center also has a number of free publications with maps and site details for those of you who might want to explore the California Trail by vehicle.

LINK TO THE CA TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER

http://www.californiatrailcenter.org/

While most of the California Trail is in close proximity to major interstate highways or goes through private property, there are some segments on federal lands that are accessible for those of you with high-clearance SUVs  or adventure/dual-sport motorcycles.

BLM Dirt Road along CA Trail

The next time you are near Wells, Nevada, you might want drive about 12 miles up Highway 93 and turn right at the BLM’s Hunter Draw/Willow Creek sign.  Just a few miles up that dirt road you will find carsonsite markers that identify the original California Trail where wagon ruts are still visible.

BLM Route Sign along Highway 93

Remember to stay on the dirt road which mostly parallels the California Trail so as to honor and protect the historic route.

View from BLM Road along CA Trail

QWR commends Congress for authorizing the California National Historic Trail in 1992.  The California Trail is administered by the National Park Service in partnership with the BLM, Forest Service, local/state government, and other stakeholders.   

LINK TO THE NPS CALIFORNIA TRAIL PROGRAM

https://www.nps.gov/cali/index.htm

QWR believes the California Trail highlights the important role that trails have in adding quality to our lives for both current and future generations.

# # #

Trail-based Volunteer Programs Don’t Happen by Accident.

Recent Pre-Event Recon for May Volunteer Project

Upper Lake Ranger District, Mendocino NF

QWR believes that substantive federal trail-based volunteer programs don’t happen by accident. 

The success of any volunteer program is directly related to agency and user commitment to both the process and the product.  

QWR understands that agency volunteer programs are simply just one tenet (albeit an important factor) of managed recreation on a Forest Service or BLM unit.

Field Recon with Local Club Representative from

Marin County Motorcycle Association

One aspect of user involvement is to participate with the agency on pre-planning for any large volunteer work project(s).    Often that pre-event planning requires meetings with recreation staff to review material needs for products such as cement, barriers, signs, tables, building materials, etc.

With reduced amounts of federally appropriated funds for recreation projects, there can be a role for users to play by helping secure construction materials via state or industry grants or private donations.  

One key planning tool is for OHV leaders to do a pre-event field-level recon of the project to ascertain the number of volunteers required and which specific skillsets/tools are needed to help the agency accomplish the task.

In areas where the agency is just beginning to staff up with recreation specialists, it will be important for trail enthusiasts to reach out to new FS/BLM staff.  Riders should invite agency leads to attend club meetings or go out for a tour of the area in OHVs.

It has been QWR’s experience that agency recreation staff are more than willing to go out in the field with the OHV community to discuss trail management, solutions to resource issues, and potential future projects. 

A field trip not only gives them an excuse to get out of the office but it is an important method by which both parties can build mutual trust and respect. 

There is a lot of truth to our trail motto which is: The quality of the unit’s trail program is directly proportional to the quality of the relationship that exists between the agency staff and user community.

Nor Cal Redwood Empire/Coastal Dual Sport Adventure Ride - Oct. 4/5

OHV recreation creates an estimated $66 billion dollar benefit to the U.S. economy each year according to a 2014 California State Park OHV Commission Report.  In California, that yearly fiscal boost amounts to approximately $9-10 billion.

QWR believes the growing “Adventure/Dual-Sport” community is an important element of that equation with much of that benefit coming to rural areas where many adventure/dual-sport rides take place.

For riders who enjoy the SheetIron 300 Dual Sport Ride that occurs each year in May that goes from Stonyford to Fort Bragg and back, there is another premium ride opportunity coming in a few weeks.

The Lost Coast Dual Sport Adventure Ride is back for 2014.  The dates are October 4 and 5. Riders will stage in Ukiah from a large private parking area with plenty of space for RVs.  The two day adventure will take participants on a tour of the Coastal Mountain Range with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, old logging towns, rivers, redwoods, cool dirt roads, and spectacular forest and rangeland vistas.

Link to Lost Coast Dual Sport Adventure Ride Flyer

http://www.northbaymc.org/docs.ashx?id=178002

Riders will stay in hotels in Fortuna on Saturday night where there is some good dining available.  This two day adventure in the Redwood Empire is not to be missed and it gives participants a good opportunity to help support the sport and local economies.

QWR will be there with its sound tech station and will also be riding the event with its new Adventure Bike Module to document the sights and sounds of riders enjoying this rare opportunity to sample the natural wonders of this part of California.  See you there.

  

Sustainable ATV (OHV) Trails Website - Must Read for Agency and Users

Mixed-Use Travel Sign - Mendocino National Forest

QWR believes the Sustainable ATV Trails website hits the mark when it states the major challenge of managing a successful trails program is providing quality recreational opportunities while protecting the resources. And, the key to a successful trail program is to develop trails that enhance and reinforce the visitors' experience.

OHV Bridge - Tahoe National Forest

QWR commends the Forest Service and project partners for creating a very informative website that highlights modern trail management strategies, concepts, and construction techniques that should be part of any 21^st Century designated OHV road or trail program.  “Looped trail opportunities” are suggested as one of the concepts that could or should be part of a motorized trail system.

Sustainable ATV Trails Website

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/atv_trails_site/index.html

The website is a must read for line-officers, trail specialists, volunteers, stakeholder groups, state and local land agencies, or other interests who want to learn about trail management and related resource protection efforts.   It contains creative and informative videos, detailed overviews, diagrams, case studies, and links to relevant documents. 

Rolling Dip - Tahoe National Forest

This information is especially useful for Forests that are implementing a travel plan.  Forest planning teams where the unit is being changed from an “Open” for cross-country travel classification to a “Restricted” to designated roads, trails, and areas classification could benefit as well.

Here are just a few of the links contained at the website:

Trail Design and Location Video

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/atv_trails_site/manage/trail-design-and-locations.html

Trails Unlimited - Installing arch culverts, overside/underside drains, and turf blocks

http://www.fs.fed.us/trailsunlimited/projects/training-photos.shtml

Emergency Stabilization of Roads and Trails

http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/pubs/pdf/BAERCAT/lo_res/Chap_4.pdf

Managing Trails in Wet Areas

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publications/00232839/page08.cfm#improv

If QWR could make several suggestions, it would be for the website to offer more detailed descriptions and/or examples of signs related to trail difficulty and assurance.  QWR also believes the website should include information that describes how trail delineators (rocks, fences, railroad type barriers, etc)  can be used in routine trail management or as post-emergency (i.e. wildfire) road/trail rehabilitation treatments. 

Trail Delineators - Stanislaus National Forest

Other management strategies such as companion trails or “roads managed as trails” should be offered as well.

QWR Article on Trail Delineators Used as Post-Fire Management Tool

http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2013/09/post-fire-travel-management-tools-trail.html

Again, this information is useful for anybody interested in how modern trail management techniques can be used to enhance responsible OHV recreation while protecting water quality and other natural resources.

Please feel free to share this information with interested parties.  Also, please consider giving feedback or comments.  You may contact QWR/Don Amador at: damador@quietwarriorracing.com
 for any questions.

Recreation on Private Lands - Important Factor in 21st Century

QWR believes that private lands will continue to grow as an important factor in providing high quality motorized and non-motorized recreational opportunities in the 21^st Century.   A great example of that is the new Off-Road Adventure module at Princeville Ranch located on the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii.

This 2,500 acre working cattle ranch also offers horseback riding and zip line adventures.  QWR was impressed with the sustainable grazing prescription that rotates the herd on 7 separate sections.  By integrating recreation with the stock program, QWR believes the ranch provides important food products, jobs, and diverse tourism opportunities to the local economy.

Princeville Ranch joins Plum Creek, a timber management company, and many other private land interests in providing responsible OHV recreation to the public.

QWR believes this “multiple-use” approach adopted by Princeville Ranch and others can help the in-holder meets it resource and business management objectives while providing an important recreational opportunity to the public. 

QWR believes this pro-active approach to recreation management on their private lands should be looked to as a model by other landowners who are considering allowing OHV or other forms of recreation on their in-holdings.

Princeville Ranch

http://princevilleranch.com/off-road-adventure/

Plum Creek Recreation Program

http://www.plumcreek.com/PlumCreek/media/Library/PDFs/Recreation/Plum-Creek-Northern-Hunting-Program.pdf?fileticket=gDT49PaetUY%3D&tabid=142&mid=794

# # # 

Wildfires are Not a Laughing Matter - Simple Tips for OHV Recreationists

With wildfires burning throughout the West, QWR wants to remind OHV enthusiasts to follow the recommendations from the BLM and other land management agencies to… “Never park a vehicle over dead grass; the catalytic converter can ignite the vegetation…”

2012 Mill Fire Impacts to OHV Staging Area

 QWR also strongly supports the proper use of a well-maintained USDA Forest Service Approved spark arrestor when operating an OHV on public lands.

Link to Forest Service Spark Arrestor Guide

http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/pubs/html/03511307/03511307.htm

Another suggestion for operating an OHV during the fire season is for the operator to remove any vegetation that has gotten trapped in the vehicle frame or body.  Our land management friends in Canada produced a short and informative video about the need to rid our vehicles from any buildup of dead grass or other vegetative debris when out on the trail.

ESRD Alberta Canada PSA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6vPd6a3-5U

QWR believes that OHVs can be operated safely during the summer months if riders and operators follow many of the common sense regulations and guidelines that will help prevent wildfires and allow us to continue our recreational activities on public lands.

Ethics for Recreational Shooting on Federal Lands

Recreational target shooting is a time honored tradition on federal lands in the West.  Often times, sport shooting enthusiasts use OHVs such as Side x Sides, ATVs, or jeep-type vehicles to access the backcountry where target shooting is legal.

Our good friends at Tread Lightly! have developed some sport shooting ethics such as: practice target shooting and other shooting sports only on lands opened to shooting - never take a shot unless you see the target clearly and you know what lies between you, the target and beyond - don’t shoot across roads, trails, waterways or into caves - and do not shoot in developed recreation sites such as campgrounds, trailheads, parking areas or boat launches.

TL Recreational Shooting Ethics

http://treadlightly.org/quick-tips-for-responsible-shooting-sports/

QWR believes it is important that you do not use live trees as a backstop and to make sure you have a dirt embankment as a bullet stop.  QWR supports TL’s recommendation that shooters check with the local land manager to find out about any restrictions.

Just as riding your OHV with non-sound compliant exhaust is unacceptable, shooting up signs and leaving your spent casings on the ground are equally damaging to ongoing efforts to protect and promote recreational access to public lands.