Travel Maps are Important Management Tool

2016 MVUM - Eldorado NF

The 2005 Forest Service Travel Management Rule (TMR) requires that each National Forest designates roads, trails, and areas where use of motorized vehicles is authorized.   TMR also requires the Forest or Ranger District to publish a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) that identifies where those legal motorized opportunities exist.

QWR believes an important public compliance factor for “staying on the trail” is having MVUMs readily accessible at key staging areas and campgrounds.

Kiosk with Stocked MVUM Holder

Eldorado NF - Georgetown Ranger District

OHV recreation continues to be a highly popular outdoor activity on federal lands.  A significant amount of motorized recreation occurs on weekends when many FS offices are closed.  This can create an information deficit if the unit does not stock kiosks with MUVMs.

Having MVUMs available online is helpful, but QWR believes there is no substitute for having OHV map holders well stocked at sites where riders stage to unload their vehicles.

As more units ramp up their trail programs and as funds become available (via appropriated recreation monies, fees for maps, grants, etc.), they may want to consider publishing a color Travel Opportunity Guide that shows the route system with additional highlights such as topographical features, campgrounds, vista points, route numbers, and trail difficulty.

Color Travel Opportunity Guide (avail. for purchase)

Eldorado NF - Georgetown Ranger District

QWR believes accessible travel maps helps ensure that motorized recreationists stay on designated routes, understand the rules, protect resources, and respect other users. 

MVUMs Guide OHVers to a Great Experience

 Finally, an accessible map can lead to a fun, safe, and enjoyable OHV trail experience.

LINK TO FS MVUM WEBSITE

http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/ohv_maps.shtml

"Share the Road" is Sound Travel Ethic

"Share the Road" Sign

Shasta Trinity NF

As federal and county agencies designate more of their non-paved road networks for use by both street legal and non-street legal motorized vehicles, it becomes increasingly important for land managers and user groups to champion a strong “Share the Road” travel ethic.

Many new-to-the-sport OHVers may not be aware that most federal and county non-paved roads are open for two-way traffic.

Forest and BLM roads are not just used by traditional OHVs which include dirt-bikes, ATVs, SxSs, and jeep-type vehicles.  Rather, they are also used by hunters driving pickups, tourists driving for pleasure in SUVs, loggers and miners using heavy equipment, agency staff driving large fire trucks, property owners towing a horse trailer, and many other users and vehicle types.

QWR commends those clubs and government agencies that promote a Share the Road strategy that incorporates a substantive signing program and strong narrative on related websites and/or event flyers.  If you are an entity that does not articulate a Share the Road philosophy, consider establishing a related program.

When government agencies designate a road for mixed-use by various vehicle types, it is important that all stakeholders appreciate their respective role in helping spread the word to “Share the Road” with other users.

QWR believes that OHVers should use common sense when operating on public roads since you never know who or what is coming around the corner.   You should ride on the correct side of the road with the anticipation that a logging truck, another OHV, or fire engine IS coming around the bend and adjust your speed accordingly.

Common sense combined with a better understanding of who is using public roads is a good recipe for a safe experience for you, your family, and those you meet on the trail (or road in this case).

Companion Trails Complement Federal Land Road Networks

ATV/MC Companion Trail Along Road 1

Chappie Shasta OHV Area - BLM Redding Field Office

As the Forest Service and BLM continue to plan for motorized travel management throughout the country, QWR believes the agencies should add the concept of the “companion trail” to the planning process. 

In regions of the country where federal units have been planning for and implementing travel management,  the companion trail often plays an integral role in creating a high quality motorized route network that is both functional and fun.

ATV/MC Companion Trail Along Forest Road M5

Stonyford OHV Area - Mendocino National Forest

Construction of new companion trails along existing high standard roads can separate vehicle types for safety and an enhanced trail experience.   Adding a companion trail for OHVs will create a “trail” opportunity for non-street legal motorized recreation.

Companion Trail Along Road 3

Chappie Shasta OHV Area - BLM Redding Field Office

Often, the environmental review process is less complicated if the companion trail is sited within the road’s sphere of influence or prism.

In many cases, companion trails can utilize pre-TMR routes (where OHV use was allowed), existing skid roads, or old mining paths.  Often, no new construction is needed.  The old road/trail bed simply needs to be brushed and the downed trees cleared.

Companion Trail Along Samoa Road

Provides Access from County Park to Samoa Dunes Recreation Area

Companion trails for non-street legal OHVs can provide access from a camping/staging area to the trail network. 

Companion Trail Along Forest Road M5

Stonyford OHV Area - Mendocino National Forest

Ultimately, the goal of a companion trail is to complement existing OHV opportunities.

Companion Trails Along Paved Road

Access from Staging/Camping Area to Main Riding Area

Samoa Dunes Recreation Area - BLM Arcata Field Office

QWR believes there are a lot of quality OHV recreational opportunities that can be enhanced through better utilization of roads and trails within an existing riding area and we urge users and land agencies to look for projects where use of the companion trail makes sense. 

Partnerships Core Element of Modern Trail Program

Mike Damaso (L-Merced Dirt Riders) and Chuck James (R- FS OHV Lead)

QWR recently took part in a post Rim Fire recreation and resource tour of the Hull Creek OHV Area on the Stanislaus National Forest.  The Forest Service OHV Program Manager, Chuck James, led the ride and was also joined by AMA District 36 leadership, and the Merced Dirt Riders Motorcycle Club.

L-R: Jerry Fouts (D36), Don Amador (BRC/QWR), Mike Damaso (Merced Dirt Riders)

Chuck James (Forest Service)

While the fire’s impact to about 20 percent of the OHV trail system was clearly evident, the main takeaway from the event was the outstanding public/private partnerships the agency has embraced to help them manage their high-quality OHV facilities.

OHV Trail Leading Out of Campground

 Here are some of the recent partner projects on this unit.

Hull Creek Campground Restrooms- Funding partnership between Forest Service, Tuolumne County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) Grant, and Recreation Enhancement Act (REA campground fee collections) for purchase and installation of two CXT vault restrooms. Operations and maintenance of restroom facilities are a partnership between the Forest Service, Calif. OHMVR OHV Ground Operations Grant funding, and Forest Service Campground Host.

Trail Barriers Next to CXT Vault Restrooms

Hull Creek Campground Trail Barriers - Partnership between Boy Scouts from Troop 500 in Sugar Pine, assisted Michael Oryall in this Eagle Scout Project with Mi-Wok Recreation Specialist, Chuck James, supervising the effort.  Approximately 623 feet of barrier fence was installed to protect riparian habitat, stream banks, the Hull Creek aspen grove, and prevent unauthorized vehicle use adjacent to Hull Creek Campground campsites 20, 21, 22, and 23.

Hull Creek Campground Eagle Scout Project

OHV Trail Repair and Maintenance (Turf Pavers/Tread Block)- Partnership between Forest Service, Calif. OHMVR OHV Ground Operations Grant funding, American Conservation Experience Crews (ACE), Calif. Conservation Corps (CCC), Merced Dirt Riders, and Summer of Success High School Crew funded by Tuolumne County RAC and administered by Mother Lode Job Training.

AMA Dist. 36's, Dave Pickett, Riding on Paving Block Armor

Trout Creek/Clavey OHV Restoration Project (blocking of unauthorized routes with debris, installation of erosion control woodstraw, straw wattles, and silt fence, and installation of project signing)- Partnership between Forest Service, Calif. OHMVR OHV Restoration Grant funding, and Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC).

Trout Creek Restoration Project

Twomile OHV Restoration Project (Camp Clavey Barrier Fence Construction) - Partnership between Forest Service, Calif. OHMVR OHV Restoration Grant funding, and Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC).

Camp Clavey Barriers

Twomile OHV Development Project (Construction of reroutes to avoid sensitive areas and reduce need for tread hardening mitigation per Stanislaus NF Travel Mgt. Plan, Construction of 3N01 bypass trail to reduce Combined Use segment)- Partnership between Forest Service and Calif. OHMVR OHV Development Grant funding.

Camp Clavey Meadow Protection

As you can see after reviewing this impressive list of projects, it really does “Take a Partnership” to keep trails managed and riding areas open in the 21^st Century.

Combined Use - Important Tool in Travel Management

M10 - East of End of Nail Track

QWR wants to commend Colusa County in California for its recent combined-use designations (CVC 38026) to help improve green-sticker access to looped trail opportunities for the larger non-street legal SxS, dune-buggy, and 4WD vehicles that utilize the system route network on the Mendocino National Forest.

County roads often play an important role in Forest Service Travel Management planning efforts where said paved routes can help users access and better utilize agency system routes.

M10- Near Bottom of Potato Hill

Understanding the importance of motorized recreation opportunities on the Forest, Colusa County made formal combined-use designations of relevant segments of M10 and the Goat Mountain Road.

Using M10, owners of larger non-street legal OHVs can now complete a 40-70 mile loop opportunity from the Fouts Springs OHV Staging Area.  In addition, those larger vehicles can now legally access historic gas and start points for AMA District 36 events.

Near Historic Gas Stop at Bottom of Potato Hill

SxS owners and other recreationists with larger non-street legal OHVs can now use Goat Mountain Road between Little Stony OHV Staging Area and Lovelady Ridge (Trail 01) to complete all day “Green Sticker” tours of up to 100 miles in length.

QWR believes that travel management requires genuine collaboration between federal agencies, users, OHMVRD, and counties.  This is a good example of that team approach.

If you would like to send a note of appreciation to Colusa County Board of Supervisors, please see the contact information below:

Colusa County Board of Supervisors

547 Market Street

Colusa, CA 95926

cocolusa@countyofcolusa.org

Gabions as Sign Posts - Common Sense and Creativity

QWR is always looking for low-cost and effective travel management tools that can help protect resources while providing for a quality recreation experience.

On a recent field trip to the Upper Lake Ranger District on the Mendocino National Forest, QWR viewed a new use for gabions.  Forest Service recreation staff are using those structures as sign posts to help let riders know what areas are closed because of resource concerns.

Trail users have often seen gabion baskets (wire mesh baskets filled with rock) used along routes in popular riding areas. They can provide erosion control for road bank stabilization or OHV trail crossings.  They are easy to assemble and nearby rock is used to fill the basket.

The use of gabions as natural sign posts at the Middle Creek OHV Campground is a good example of

agency staff using common sense and creativity to help direct riders away from protected areas on the gravel bar. 

QWR Trail Tip for CA - Purchasing a Dual-Sport Motorcycle in 2013

QWR's Factory Plated 500 EXC Dual-Sport

 

QWR has been getting a number of questions from riders in California asking about the purchase of a dual-sport motorcycle or doing a dual-sport conversion on a “Green-Sticker” off-highway motorcycle.

 

In the late 1990s, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) determined that it was illegal to register off-highway motorcycles for street use unless they were CARB or EPA certified for highway use.   QWR believes that decision was based on an ever changing regulatory climate that has become a foundation block of this state.

 

Today, the dual-sport enthusiast has only two legal options in the State of California.  One, they can purchase a street-legal dual-sport that came from the factory as such.  Or, they can purchase a used “Green-Sticker” off-highway motorcycle that was purchased new by December 31, 2003 and where the owner had initiated its dual-sport conversion with the DMV no later than January 31, 2004.

The 1st Land-Use Battle Bike - a 1995 Honda XR600 that was

Plated BEFORE the DMV Deadline

 

QWR believes that travel management and other land-use restrictions has increased the demand for street-legal dual-sport motorcycles so that riders can connect various trail networks that are separated by paved roads where non-street legal motorcycles are prohibited.

 

Based on that demand, the Industry has responded with a wide variety of factory plated dual-sport motorcycles.  QWR urges riders who are getting into the dual-sport market to do their research and find that new or used dual-sport motorcycle that both meets their need and complies with California law.

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FS OHV Program Manager Becomes Dirt Bike Coach

*Training Photos Used by Permission from Paul Hart

Paul Hart is 2nd from Right

 

Quiet Warrior Racing wants to congratulate Paul Hart on his graduation from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) Dirt Bike Coach School.  Hart is the OHV Trails Coordinator for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.  The certification class was held at the Honda Rider Education Center in Southern California.

 

Paul Hart is 2nd from Right

 

Paul Hart stated he will be able to train agency employees, volunteer organizations, and non-profits on how to safely and responsibly ride off-road motorcycles. 

 

QWR believes it is important for agency line-officers, specialists, and recreation staff to learn how to ride OHVs so they can have 1^st hand knowledge of how travel management is being implemented on their unit.

Paul Hart on TMR Tour with QWR in April 2013

 

There are a lot of important resource protection efforts that deserve on-trail review by decision-makers and riding an OHV on those surveys is the best way to appreciate those projects.

 

QWR again wants to congratulate Hart and the other graduates from the MSF program.  QWR looks forward to helping support the training efforts of Hart and other instructors

 

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Signs Indicate Level of Agency Commitment to Trail Management

Signs give the trail user a lot of very useful information.  Signs often tell us what vehicle types are allowed on a certain route, the difficulty of the trail, or a route number that is keyed to a map.  Signs are one of the primary ways the agency communicates with the public.

When doing a site-review of a recreation facility or route network, signs also inform me as to the level of commitment that unit has to its OHV program and public safety.

In the attached photo, you will see on the left a newly installed “mixed-use” sign that identifies what portion of a forest road is open for non-street legal OHVs.  It is well placed and current.

On the right of that photo, you will notice that I had to hold a sign so a fellow rider could see it.  It appeared the post had rotted out many years ago and both it and the sign had been cast to the side of the road.

QWR believe signs are an important travel management tool.  However, they also convey to the public the level of commitment the unit has to managed OHV recreation.  Without exception, you can be assured that a well-signed unit has made a commitment to the trail community.

A management unit with few signs, missing signs, or poorly maintained signs is sending a signal to the user that the agency does not care about the area or you. 

What sort of “signal” have you been getting from the land management agency where you ride? 

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