PLANNING THE WILD - RECPRO INTERVIEW WITH DON AMADOR ON RECREATION MANAGEMENT

Photo Credit - RECPRO

PLANNING THE WILD – PODCAST ON RECREATION MANAGEMENT

 

Just want to thank Rachel Franchina and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) for giving me the opportunity to speak on a recent podcast that is part of their Planning the Wild series designed for U.S. Forest Service professionals and partners who work on National Forest Service lands in the Pacific Northwest.   These educational podcasts are done in partnership with USFS Region 6.

 

PLANNING THE WILD – EPISODE 2  (24 minutes)

https://www.recpro.org/viewdocument/s1-e2-trailblazing-together-don-a

 

 While this podcast covers my recreation and resource management journey spanning 70 years from growing up in Eureka to currently living in Cottonwood, CA,  I think it is more about highlighting the important role that relationships and collaboration have in successfully managed recreation programs, forest health efforts, and wildfire mitigation projects.

 

The interview hits on a lot of topics including the DOGE cutbacks,  explosive growth of recreation use during COVID,  creation of a culture of trail stewardship and volunteerism, and collaboration between diverse interest groups.

 

Important concepts and strategies such as mentorship, paying it forward, servant leadership, and finding zones of agreement are part of the interview.

 

The interview went by fast.  However, I did try and cite some real world examples of how groups such as the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance, Nevada County Woods Riders, FireScape Mendocino work with their Forest Service partners on projects to build generational support for access to managed recreational opportunities on public lands in CA and the West.

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for 35 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance.  Don is a Co-Founder and Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino, a forest health collaborative that is part of the National Fire Learning Network.  Don served as an AD Driver for the Forest Service North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Fire Seasons.   

"FOOT ON THE GAS NO BRAKE" EFFORT FOR PUBLIC LANDS

 

Popular BLM Trail Area Bordering Pocatello, ID

BLM Pocatello Field Office, ID

“FOOT ON THE GAS NO BRAKE” EFFORT FOR PUBLIC LANDS

OPINION 

By Don Amador

May 30, 2025

 

As the summer recreation season kicks into gear, I want to celebrate the recent goods news update from our friends at the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR).

 

ORR News Release

https://recreationroundtable.org/news/public-lands-sell-off-is-removed-from-house-budget-reconciliation/

  

Big thanks to Jess Turner at ORR and other recreation leads such as Katie Hawkins at the Outdoor Alliance for their leadership in this joint motorized/non-motorized all-hands-on-deck state and national effort to champion keeping popular public land recreation sites off of the auction block.

Salt Creek Trailhead - Near Redding, CA

BLM Redding Field Office

 

The issue of federal land disposals has been around for several decades and will likely remain an issue that recreation groups will continue to follow.  However, for the next few weeks get out on public lands and waterways and enjoy summer outdoor recreation with family and friends without worrying about an auctioneer accepting a bid on a local riding or hiking trail.

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.

 

 

OPINION - FOREST ROADS PROVIDE CRITICAL ACCESS TO RECREATION, WILDFIRE, AND FOREST HEALTH ACTIVITIES

POST 2020 AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE ROADSIDE HAZARD TREE MITIGATION

Mendocino National Forest

 

Don Amador

OPINION

May 21, 2025

 

FOREST ROADS PROVIDE CRITICAL ACCESS TO RECREATION, WILDFIRE, and FOREST HEALTH ACTIVITIES

  

As a long-time partner that depends on access to Forest Service System Roads and Trails for OHV recreation and post wildfire trail stewardship efforts, QWR appreciates Chief Tom Shultz’s commitment to managed outdoor recreation, resource management, fuel projects, and wildfire mitigation activities.

 

In fact, the Forest Transportation System functions as the common thread that binds or connects virtually all forest recreation, management, research, or cultural activities.  

KEY FOREST ROAD NORTH/SOUTH TRANSPORATION ROUTES

Mendocino National Forest

 

Yet to date, none of the Administration’s stated policies or guidelines – including the May 20 post by Acting Associate Chief Chris French – highlight “roads” as a key focus area or acknowledge that none of the on- the- ground Forest management objectives or goals happen unless Forest roads damaged or blown out during winter storms are repaired in a timely manner.

 

ACTING ASSOCIATE CHIEF CHRIS FRENCH, MAY 20, STATEMENT ON OPERATIONAL PLANNING

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/leadership/update-interim-operational-planning

 

French notes the actions below aim to maintain essential services, address critical risks, and support the agency's priorities. Key focus areas (sans ROADS) with dedicated working groups include:

 

•             Employee and public safety

 

•             Disaster recovery

 

•             Active management (timber/vegetation/fuels)

 

•             Recreation

 

•             Energy, minerals and geology

 

•             NEPA planning

 

•             Grants and agreements

 

•             Information technology

 

•             Communication and legislative affairs

 

•             Fire response (incident management capacity)

 

•             Human resources

 

•             Law enforcement and investigations

 

•             Budget

 

•             Chief Finance Office (payments, billings & reimbursable agreements) 

 

•             Procurement & property services/contracts, facilities & leasing

 

 

 

Over the last 4-5 years, the subject of not having the funds and resources to effect post-winter repairs of FS storm damaged roads is almost always part of any conversation that QWR has had with agency staff or partners.

POST 2020 AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE ROADSIDE HAZARD TREE MITIGATION

Mendocino National Forest

QWR believes the Administration and Congress should make maintaining a quality Transportation System a top priority if they plan on increasing the pace and scale of forest management treatments and providing access to outdoor recreation.  

 

CHIEF TOM SHULTZ POSTS MAY 6 UPDATE ON NEXT STEPS

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/leadership/our-next-steps

PS- Thanks to the hard work by Mendocino NF crews and partners to recover forest lands and recreation facilities damaged by the 2018 Ranch Fire and 2020 August Complex Fire. 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for 35 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance.  Don is a Co-Founder and Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino, a forest health collaborative that is part of the National Fire Learning Network.  Don served as an AD Driver for the Forest Service North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Fire Seasons. Don is a  Northwest California native and writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.  Don may be reached by email at: damador@cwo.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIELD TRIPS ARE THE BEST - HIGHLIGHT OF MENDOCINO NF TRAIL PROGRAM

Grindstone RD Recreation Specialist Explains Post Ranch Fire Recovery

of Mill Valley Camp Ground - Mendocino NF

FIELD TRIPS ARE THE BEST - HIGHLIGHT OF MENDOCINO NF OHV PROGRAM

 

QWR hosted a recent SxS field trip with the Mendocino National Forest Supervisor, Wade McMaster, Grindstone Ranger District Recreation Management Specialist, Les Hill, and Region 5 North Zone Partnership Coordinator, Tanya Torst, to review various travel management prescriptions being used at the Stonyford OHV Area in Northern California. 

Post Ranch Fire Trail Restoration of Popular Single Track MC Route

Stonyford OHV Area - Mendocino NF

 

As a long-time volunteer partner with the Mendocino National Forest, QWR appreciated being able to share the history of how the Forest has been one of the agency pioneers in implementing modern managed recreation tenets over the last 40 years.

Recreation Specialist, Les Hill, Explain Function of Rolling Dips and

Sediment Catch Basins - Mendocino NF

 

On-site discussions focused on the many post-wildfire recovery and restoration projects of recreation facilities on the unit. Other topics included the important role that FS roads have in providing connectivity for both recreation opportunities and pre/post-fire related fuel projects, ingress/egress for public and firefighter safety, and recovery efforts.  

Storm Wash Out of Important Connector FS Road

Grindstone Ranger District - Mendocino NF

 

Credit should be given to the recreation management team for the hard work they put in to keep that unit open for public recreational activities given the many on-going challenges they face and the important role that volunteer partner groups and clubs have in supporting post winter storm or wildfire recovery projects should also be recognized.

FS Recreation Specialist, Les Hill and QWR's Don Amador

Getting Ready for Start of Field Trip at FS Work Station

Grindstone Ranger District - Mendocino NF

 

The field trip concluded with discussions about the function of rolling dips and sediment catch basins, trail maintenance, equipment and training, signing, resource and cultural protection techniques, route delineators, volunteer agreements, repairing washed out roads, and the critical trail funding the Forest receives from their partners at the CA State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s Grant Program.    

 

The trail management review proved the recreation management axiom that field trips are the best!

 

# # # 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 34 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Co-Founder and current Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don served as an AD Driver for the FS North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 wildfire seasons. Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.

CODE RED ACTION ALERT - SOLAR PROJECT STATES SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO PRAIRIE CITY SVRA

AI Rendering of Electrical Station from Quart Hill Trails

CODE RED - ACTION ALERT for all OHV Trail and Competition Users

 SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO PRAIRIE CITY SVRA FROM SOLAR PROJECT

 SEND COMMENTS - DUE MAY 5, 2025

 

*This is a longer than usual alert due to the importance of PCSVRA and the complexity of the issue.

 

QWR wants to alert the OHV racing and casual use community about a proposal to site a 2,704 acre  200-megawatt solar facility next to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Division’s Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA). 

 

COYOTE CREEK AGRIVOLTAIC RANCH – DEIR (752 pages)

https://planning.saccounty.gov/Pages/Coyote-Creek-Agrivoltaic-Ranch.aspx

Project Map in Relation to PCSVRA

 

 ISSUES OF CONCERN

 

The project’s 230-kilovolt (kV) gen-tie line would be approximately 1.3 miles long and would parallel the boundary of the SVRA. The gen-tie line would connect with a new switchyard that would be constructed to interconnect into the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Following construction of the switchyard, SMUD would own and operate the switchyard facilities.

 

While many Californians support sustainable solar projects they also believe that impacts to existing open space recreation facilities should be minimized and the trail opportunities respected and protected.

 

The DEIR states on page 3-47… “Because there are no feasible mitigation measures available to reduce the project’s significant impact from substantial adverse effects on scenic vistas as viewed from the Prairie City SVRA, this impact is significant and unavoidable.

 

What the DEIR does not address is how siting a major industrial power facility adjacent to Prairie City SVRA could impact the long-term viability of the unit staying open for casual OHV recreation and 2 or 4 wheel powersports events such as the Hangtown Motocross Classic or the NorCal Rock Racing Ultra4 Stampede.

It does not appear the project proponents presented this issue before the CA State Parks OHMVR Commission as required by CA PRC Section 5090.24 (a) that requires the OHMVR Commission to “Be fully informed regarding all governmental activities affecting the program.”  A hearing before the commission would better inform the riders, competition organizations, and powersports businesses.

 

The DEIR did not meaningfully discuss how the project would impact existing casual and competition uses including access to adequate water supplies for managing OHV operations that is already an issue at the SVRA. The solar project offers no solution and would only compound the water shortage and quality problems.

  

The DEIR did not meaningfully discuss what dust related (generated by routine operations)solar project mitigation or maintenance requirements (i.e. washing solar panels) would be imposed onto the SVRA and what the associated costs shouldered by the OHV Trust Fund would be.  There are also easement concerns for project facilities on SVRA property.

 _____________________________________________________________

 

SEND YOUR OWN PERSONAL LETTER TODAY – Tell them who you are and why PCSVRA is important to you, your family or business.  Feel free to reference the aforementioned bullet points and be sure and ask they pause this process until after it is officially presented at the June 11-12, 2025 CA OHMVR Commission meeting.

 

EMAIL TO:     CEQA@saccounty.gov

 

 [Date]

 

Sacramento County,

Department of Community Development, Planning and Environmental Review Division

Attention: Environmental Coordinator

827 7th Street, Room 225

Sacramento, CA 95814

 

RE: Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch Project - Control Number:  PLNP2021-00191 - State Clearinghouse Number:  2022010271

 

Dear Environmental Coordinator,

 

[INSERT PERSONAL STORY/USE AT PCSVRA]

 

[INSERT CONCERNS ABOUT PROJECT PROPOSAL]

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

The Recreation HQ thanks you for taking time to send in your comments and concerns!

MUST WATCH VIDEO - PROTECTING ACCESS TO FEDERAL LAND RECREATION

Don Amador @ BLM Chappie Shasta OHV Area

BLM Redding Field Office, CA

PROTECTING ACCESS TO FEDERAL LAND RECREATION – MUST WATCH VIDEO -By Don Amador, April 10, 2025

 

*I had the honor to serve as a panelist at this important discussion of recreation on public lands in CA and the West.

  

The CA Natural Resources Agency hosted a face-paced, highly-informative, and bipartisan panel of recreation leaders from a wide-array of non-motorized and motorized organizations who shared their views, concerns, and action items related to the initial round of layoffs of 5,000 to 6,000 seasonal and probationary federal recreation and forestry staff.

YOUTUBE VIDEO OF CNRA PANEL DISCUSSION

https://www.youtube.com/live/T5LAhvNMSBY?si=SLfFtg5LliRVVOcd

 

The panel talked about the ongoing national grassroots campaign by recreation organizations to have their members contact Congress and the Trump Administration about the layoffs.  Other topics covered included disposal or selling of federal public lands, national monuments, support from volunteer and non-profit groups and partners for Ranger Districts and BLM Field Offices, collaboration, and Reagan’s 80% Rule. 

 

REAGAN’S 80% RULE – PAGE 60, JANUARY 2025 ISSUE , DEALERNEWS MAGAZINE

https://dealernews.com/Home/post/issue/january-2025/

 

 This one hour video is a must watch for agency staff,  elected officials, and outdoor recreation stakeholders as it shows our joint commitment to the federal boots on the ground workforce and management of our public lands.   

 

Big thanks to the Outdoor Alliance and CA Natural Resources Agency for organizing this event and to the panelists who participated in his valuable discussion.

# # # 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 34 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996 until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Co-Founder and current Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don served as an AD Driver for the FS North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 wildfire seasons. Don is a contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA. 

 

OPINION - FS ROAD REPAIRS MISSING LINK TO MANAGEMENT EFFORTS

Storm-damaged FS Road - Sierra National Forest

OPINION - FS ROAD REPAIRS MISSING LINK TO MANAGEMENT EFFORTS

By Don Amador - April 8, 2025    

 

Just as with the Forest Service North West Forest Plan Amendment process, the critical role the FS Transportation System has in providing access to all forest health, resource management wildfire mitigation, and recreation activities and projects is glaringly absent from current narratives.  

 

 None of the Administration’s on the ground Forest management objectives happen unless Forest roads damaged or blown out during winter storms are repaired in a timely manner.

 

Over the last 4-5 years, the subject of not having the funds and resources to effect post-winter repairs of FS storm damaged roads is almost always part of any conversation I have with agency staff or partners.

 

Repairing roads should be the top priority for the administration if they plan on increasing the pace and scale of forest management efforts.

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for 35 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance.  Don is a Co-Founder and Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino, a forest health collaborative that is part of the National Fire Learning Network.  Don served as an AD Driver for the Forest Service North Zone Fire Cache during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Fire Seasons. Don is a Pacific Northwest California native and writes from his home in Cottonwood, CA.