PSA - APRIL 15 POST STORM RECOVERY VOLUNTEER DAY at STONYFORD

 

PSA - POST STORM RECOVERY VOLUNTEER DAY at STONYFORD

 

*The message below is from the FS OHV lead at Stonyford.  Please RSVP to Paige if you are able to attend and also let her know if you have a current FS saw card.  

 

Please join us this Saturday, April 15th for a Volunteer Work Day.  We will meet at 10 AM on the Nail Track and reconvene by 4PM on the Nail Track. After completing the sign in sheet and reviewing the Job Hazard Analysis, we will break out into groups and assign you to an area. Your signature is required and reporting your mileage and location at the end of day is critical to the OHV grant.

 

Snow levels are rising with the warm days but there will still be some deep snow, especially on the north facing slopes. Forecasted temperature for Saturday is high of 67° - Expect downed trees and hazards and be aware of your surroundings. Before and after photos of the areas you work are great for reporting purposes.

 

If you are USFS Chainsaw Certified, great! If not, we will have folding handsaws for your use.

 

Thank you for your excitement in helping out on the trails and we look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

 

Paige Whitney

Assistant Recreation Officer

Mendocino National Forest, Grindstone Ranger District

p: 530-963-1327

paigemakowski@usda.gov

 

 

COLLABORATE IN SUPPORT OF OHV SAFETY - APRIL 1-9

COLLABORATE IN SUPPORT OF OHV SAFETY – APRIL 1-9

 

 QWR wants to encourage OHV enthusiasts to support the 2023 OHV Safety Awareness Weeks that are running April 1-9 and November 11-19.  The theme this year is “Be the Off-Road Hero” where we can set an example of the responsible and safe use of SxSs and other OHVs.

LINK TO OHV SAFETY WEEK

https://www.parks.ca.gov/NewsRelease/1161

 

This is a key program developed by  the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division and partners based on discussions at the August 2022 OHV Safety Summit held at the McClellan Training Center in Sacramento.

 

That conference was the first major in-person post-COVID OHV meeting in CA.  It was attended by various key state and federal agency representatives, powersports industry leads, major OHV organizations, ROV/UTV trainers, motorized media outlets, law enforcement, competition event organizers, and educational non-profits.

 

The primary focus was on improving/updating safety efforts to address the rapid growth of ROV/UTV/SxS use on public lands.  The summit was successful since it planted the “safety standard” in the ground to mark this effort and to recognize the commitment by those in attendance to improve safety and reduce impacts to natural resources and other user groups.

ROHVA Basic Driver Course - Exercise #4

 

Don Amador, QWR President and ROHVA Driver Coach, states, “I am glad to see the OHMVR Division continue this collaborative effort to promote OHV safety and offer related training opportunities.   As a ROHVA driver coach, I have seen the importance of SxS owners enhancing their driving skills and also learning about the use of proper safety gear.”   

 

“What makes this SxS-related safety program important is that many owners of these vehicles have very little if any experience in trail-based backcountry recreation on public lands.  Often they are not aware of the various land management agencies or their efforts to manage travel on legal routes so this educational outreach is helpful,” Amador concludes.

 

As this safety initiative continues to build capacity to address SxS-related management needs, QWR believes it is important for the greater OHV community to increase efforts to share our responsible use message with those new to the sport.

 

PSA - ATTEND CA OHV COMMISSION MEETING/TOUR IN NORTH STATE

PSA - CA OHV COMMISSION MEETING/TOUR IN NORTH STATE

 QWR wants to make sure that OHV and other trail interests know about the upcoming OHV Commission Tour and Meeting being held in the Redding area on March 23 and 24.  This is a great opportunity for club leads and others to meet program officials, provide input to the commission, network with other trail interests, and learn about your program.  The info below is from the CA OHV Program and feel free to share it with your own OHV network.  

 

TOUR AND MEETING NOTICE OFF-HIGHWAY MOTOR VEHICLE RECREATION COMMISSION

March 23 and March 24, 2023

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR)

Commission, pursuant to authority contained in Section 5090.24 of the Public

Resources Code and Section 11120 et seq. of the Government Code, will conduct a

tour on March 23, 2023, and meet on March 24, 2023, according to the following

schedule:

4x4 Challenge Course @ BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area

OHMVR Commission Tour: Thursday, March 23, 2023

10:30 a.m. – approx. 2:30 p.m.

Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area (BLM)

Redding, CA 96001

 

Basic Information: The tour is open to the public and will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Commissioners and staff will meet the public at the Chappie-Shasta ORV Staging

Area. The tour is expected to last approximately 4 hours. Weather permitting, the

tour group will stop at various locations within the main staging area. To access the

tour location, individuals will be required to show proof of current vehicle

registration and insurance to pass through the security checkpoint on the

Shasta Dam.

Popular OHV Trail - BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area
 

Lunch for Tour: A scheduled lunch break will occur at approximately 12:00 p.m.

Participants can choose between (1) bringing their own lunch or (2) paying $10.00

(cash only) for a picnic lunch provided by staff. All individuals are responsible for

bringing their own water, layered clothing, and footwear suitable for walking over

uneven terrain.

 

RSVP for Tour and/or Lunch: Please call (916) 902-8598 no later than 5:00 p.m.

on Friday, March 17 to RSVP if you plan to attend the tour and/or want to purchase

lunch. This will provide the commission staff with enough time to plan for sufficient

vehicle accommodations, transportation, and food supplies.

OHMVR Commission Meeting: Friday, March 24, 2023

8:30 a.m. – until adjournment

Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial

Bridge

820 Sundial Bridge Drive

Redding, CA 96001

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO LINK BELOW

 https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1140/files/01A-Tour%20and%20Meeting%20Notice%20(March%2023-24%202023)%20final.pdf

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - TRAIL PROJECT ON THE UPPER LAKE RANGER DISTRICT

PWORA Mason Trail Project 

Upper Lake Ranger District - Mendocino National Forest

 

JOIN VOLUNTEER  TRAIL PROJECTS ON THE UPPER LAKE RANGER DISTRICT

 

For OHV and other trail enthusiasts who want to get engaged with ongoing volunteer efforts on the  Upper Lake Ranger District just east of Ukiah, CA – Please contact the  The Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) that has been working with the Forest Service on important trail clearing projects.  PWORA has a new online volunteer management program where you can register to help reopen trails that are currently closed due to downed trees from winter storms.  You will see there are a lot of slots available for the March 11 volunteer work event  when you sign up/register.

  

March 11, 2023; Upper Lake Road, trail-clearing work party; Mendocino National Forest. Middle Creek Campground Check-in and briefing; more details on Facebook (PWORA).

 

CHECK-IN: Volunteer Check at 9 am, Saturday, USFS Middle Creek Campground, Mendocino National Forest, 8 miles north of Upper Lake on County Road 301 (Forest Road M-1).

CAMP: camping available on site with toilets and water; trailers/RVs ok.

JOBS: will include hand tool work, cutting and moving cut tree limbs, and other trail repair and restoration work.

FOOD: Bring your own lunch/food (unless we get a sponsor/donor) and hydration fluids.

 

GEAR: Bring personal protective gear if you have it; some will be available on-site.

DATES: work is scheduled for the 2nd Saturday of each month of January, February, March, April, May, June (nothing in July – September), October, November, and December.

 

VOLUNTEER: Sign-in or create an account; pick a job and let's do this!

BACKGROUND: PWORA is working with the Mendocino National Forest, Upper Lake District, to build new trails and restore fire-damaged trails. The Mason Trail Connector is a conversion to OHV use of approximately 1.3 miles of the abandoned logging road. It will provide a connection between two existing Mendocino National Forest OHV trails. The trail was partially constructed by the Mendo NF and improved with 3 other culverts in locations along with the trailbed but lacked a sustainable all-season creek crossing in one location. PWORA constructed a multi-plate culvert to provide an all-season, sustainable, fire-resistant creek crossing to complete the new trail. Final preparations and arrangements are being made by PWORA and Mendo NF to prepare for an official opening of the trail in 2023.

 

LINK: Project Catalog URL where you can VOLUNTEER (after you create an account)

https://pwora.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/15

 

LINK TO PWORA WEBSITE

www.pwora.org

  

As a co-founder and past president of PWORA, I thank you for your interest in volunteer trail projects to help recover, restore, and reopen recreation facilities damaged by wildfires and winter storms.  I also want to commend the new President, Ted Cabral, for his efforts to support future work projects starting with the Six Rivers NF and moving to the Eldorado NF and elsewhere.  Good stuff!

TESLA SAGA - Not All OHV Advocacy Journeys are Pleasant

Tesla Expansion Property Closed to OHV

OPINION

By Don Amador

February 21, 2023

 

TESLA SAGA -  Not All OHV Advocacy Journeys are Pleasant

 

Not all OHV advocacy journeys are enjoyable and maybe the best example of that is the CA State Parks “Access for All” open house held on February 16 in Pleasanton, CA.  The goal of that meeting was to discuss Senate Bill 155 and the process it authorized for Parks to find a new OHV area to replace lost motorized use of the 3,000 acre “Tesla” property adjacent to Carnegie SVRA.

 

The event marked the end of a fierce 25-year legal and political battle between the OHV community that wanted new trail opportunities on lands purchased in the late 1990s for said use vs. a powerful coalition of environmental attorneys, East Bay Regional Park District, Alameda County, politicians, conservation groups, and the City of Livermore.  

OHV Leads from Oakland MC and AMA D36 talk with Park Staff

On the other hand, the 40 people – representing both sides of the aisle - who attended the meeting seemed willing to find common ground on the effort to find an alternative site for motorized recreation that is outside of the Greater S.F. Bay Area. 

 

In contrast to the highly charged political Land-Use battles in the 1990s between multiple-use interests and environmental groups many of which today (including me) found those fights to be ineffective and divisive, there were positive discussions at the open house about diverse groups working in a collaborative manner to find a replacement facility for the Tesla property that was recently added to the CA State Park System as a non-motorized area.

Access for All Discussion with Park Planning Leads

In hindsight, I would have never supported the purchase of the Tesla property 25 years ago if I knew the juggernaut OHV would face in trying to open it for managed motorized trail recreation opportunities. 

 

I have found shouldering responsibility for misjudging rugged terrain encountered on one’s OHV political journey - and then taking corrective action - is part of the adventure.    

 

In-the-trenches OHV advocacy is not for the faint of heart and as my paraphrased version of the old saying goes… “Nothing in this world that's worth having comes easy especially when it comes to siting a new motorized park in the Bay Area.”

 

# # #  

 

OVERVIEW OF SB 155 FROM CA STATE PARKS

 

In September 2021, Senate Bill 155 amended Public Resources Code Section 5090.42. This bill transferred funding from the General Fund to the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trust Fund to explore the acquisition and development of properties and opportunities to expand OHV recreation in new and existing facilities. Also, this bill recommends prioritizing opportunities that can serve large urban areas such as the Bay Area and Central Valley and offer potential recreational opportunities for OHV recreation and motorized access to nonmotorized recreation. This meeting is the second of several opportunities to be involved in this project, including virtual and in-person meetings. CSP will develop a preliminary report, feasibility study, and OHV Recreation Access Plan with recommendations and strategies to enhance existing OHV recreation areas or expand OHV recreation within the State through an acquisition, lease, land swap, or other available means. The project would also consider developing motorized access to non-motorized recreational opportunities

POST TESLA STATE PARK ACCESS PROGRAM LAUNCH TO SITE NEW SVRA IN NOR CAL

 

Championing OHV Recreation at Tesla and Carnegie

in 2015 at Alameda County Meeting

ACTION ALERT - POST TESLA ACCESS PROJECT TO SITE A NEW SVRA IN NOR CAL

  

Many of us who fought hard in the 20-year TESLA battle are still stinging from that fight.  As you know, the CA OHV program purchased the Tesla/Alameda property back in the 1990s to expand legal OHV opportunity at Carnegie SVRA.   Little did we know at the time that OHV would be in a protracted, bitter, fierce, ugly, and costly legal and political battle with a strong cabal of anti-OHV environmental attorneys/groups, East Bay Regional Park District, legislators, regulators, City of Livermore, vineyard owners, and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.  And at the end, it was a bridge too far.

 

However, we must move on and support the new CA State Park OHV Access Program that is being launched on February 16 in Livermore.   I hope that many of you who fought in the Carnegie/Tesla fight will be there and join an effort to find and build a new SVRA in Northern CA.  See you at the Marriott!

 

 

INFO ON ACCESS FOR ALL MEETING

 

Date: February 16, 2023

Location: Pleasanton Marriott, 11950 Dublin Canyon Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588

Time: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 

Meeting Information

California State Parks (CSP) will hold an open house to inform the public about the Off-Highway Vehicle Access Project and receive input. The meeting will be held in person, and the public can join anytime between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. There will be stations with topics of interest and time to discuss the project with State Parks staff. The public will learn about Senate Bill 155 and the Department’s process for searching, selecting, and acquiring property; discuss OHV recreation opportunities and visitor needs; and discuss potential locations for OHV recreation opportunities, including partnerships, leases, and new properties.

 

Project Background

In September 2021, Senate Bill 155 amended Public Resources Code Section 5090.42. This bill transferred funding from the General Fund to the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trust Fund to explore the acquisition and development of properties and opportunities to expand OHV recreation in new and existing facilities. Also, this bill recommends prioritizing opportunities that can serve large urban areas such as the Bay Area and Central Valley and offer potential recreational opportunities for OHV recreation and motorized access to nonmotorized recreation. This meeting is the second of several opportunities to be involved in this project, including virtual and in-person meetings. CSP will develop a preliminary report, feasibility study, and OHV Recreation Access Plan with recommendations and strategies to enhance existing OHV recreation areas or expand OHV recreation within the State through an acquisition, lease, land swap, or other available means. The project would also consider developing motorized access to non-motorized recreational opportunities.

VOLUNTEER TRAIL CREWS HELP THE MENDOCINO WITH POST WILDFIRE/STORM DAMAGE RECOVERY

VOLUNTEER TRAIL CREWS HELP THE MENDOCINO WITH POST WILDFIRE/STORM DAMAGE RECOVERY

 

Glad to see PWORA and other work parties taking place on the ULRD and Stonyford OHV areas!  I had the privilege to help organize and lead several dirt bike strike teams for PWORA back in the spring of 2021.  We had two dirt-bike mounted trail strike teams with support from a ROV carrying larger saws, tools, etc., which we used to clear downed trees from some of the higher elevation trails.

 

Even back then we were running into more of the larger diameter trees falling across the trail that were killed by the 2012 Mill Fire and were reburned in the 2018 Ranch Fire.  Most of the small diameter trees had fallen or were burned up.  It looks like now we are seeing even more of the larger trees starting to fall.

Don Amador Bucking Tree as Part of Dirt Bike Strike Team

Post Fire Recovery Effort from 2018 Ranch Fire

 

Having worked with the Mendo agency leads and staff for over 30 years on various recreation and fuel projects, I have every confidence they will continue to work hard to utilize every resource at their disposal including fire crews, partners, etc. to recover and reopen the OHV trail network.

 

Be sure and check in on the Mendocino National Forest website and FB page for updates on trail conditions and volunteer events.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino/

 

Also check in on the PWORA FB page for updates on their ongoing Mendo work parties.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=post%20wildfire%20ohv%20recovery%20alliance%20-%20pwora