QWR PSA - "MAGIC" AT FEB. 26 OHV COMMISSION MEETING NEAR LOS ANGELES

 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

“Magic” at the OHV Commission Meeting

February 26, 2026  in the Los Angeles Area

 

Quiet Warrior Racing (QWR) encourages OHV stakeholders in the Los Angeles region to attend the upcoming Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Commission meeting on February 26 at the Canyon Country Community Center in Santa Clarita, California. The meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.

 

OHMVR Commission Meeting and Agenda:

https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27160

 

While the meeting location is near the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park, the real “magic” will take place inside the hearing room. OHMVR Division staff and specialists have prepared a comprehensive set of reports designed to inform both the Commission and the public on several key issues affecting the OHV community.

Among the agenda items scheduled for review and possible action are:

·         Certification and approval of the Hungry Valley SVRA Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

·         Oceano Dunes Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)

·         Updates from the Commission’s Ad Hoc Committee addressing the OHV program budget

 

A Public Comment Period for Non-Agenda Items will occur near the beginning of the meeting, following opening remarks by the State Parks Director and the OHMVR Deputy Director. This provides an important opportunity for local OHV enthusiasts, clubs, volunteers, and other stakeholders to share their perspectives, concerns, and support for responsible and managed OHV recreation at the local, state, and federal levels.

 

QWR plans to provide comments and updates on several agenda items, as well as non-agenda matters such as the Coyote Creek Solar Project and the WEMO court order. QWR also looks forward to meeting with OHV leaders and stakeholders who attend in person.

 

Constructive engagement remains essential to ensuring a sustainable path forward for OHV recreation on public lands.

 

We hope to see many of you there.

OPINION - FS ANNOUNCES HIRING LOCAL RECREATION STAFF

QWR's Don Amador

 

OPINION

By Don Amador

February 18, 2026

 

FOREST SERVICE TO HIRE LOCAL RECREATION STAFF

QWR applauds the U.S. Forest Service’s recent announcement to hire up to 2,000 seasonal employees to strengthen recreation services is welcome news for OHV stakeholders, industry partners, and agency professionals alike.

 

FS ANNOUNCEMENT

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/leadership/strengthening-recreation-services-season-ahead

 

For years, QWR has emphasized that access to high quality outdoor recreation activities depends on a strong “boots on the ground” workforce.  Trails, roads, and campgrounds require skilled and committed field staff to remain open, safe, and sustainable.

 

This hiring initiative signals recognition that field-level workforce capacity matters. It recognizes that seasonal recreation employees are essential to maintaining trail systems, repairing infrastructure, managing campgrounds, and supporting multiple-use access that drives rural economies.

 

While the announcement does not address broader budget or structural debates, it does move in a direction long supported by OHV advocates, industry leaders, volunteers, and collaborative partners: ensuring that resources reach the local unit where public service is delivered.

 

Continued engagement and partnership between user groups, industry, and agency staff will be critical to maintaining this momentum and securing long-term support for recreation access and responsible land management.

 

A key QWR axiom is -  “Access doesn’t maintain itself. Investing in field-level recreation staff is investing in the people who care for the land and serve the public every day.”

 

# # #

 

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.  

OPINION - REFLECTIONS ON SIERRA CASCADE LOGGING CONFERENCE

 

TN20D SWING MACHINE

OPINION

By Don Amador

February 9, 2026

 

REFLECTIONS ON SIERRA-CASACADE LOGGING CONFERENCE

 

 

On February 5, I had the honor to attend the 2026 Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference and Equipment Show held at the Shasta County Fairgrounds in Anderson, CA.  And, to meet Tom Schultz, Chief of the Forest Service, before he gave the keynote presentation early Thursday morning to a crowd over 250 leaders from the timber industry, state and federal land agencies, CAL FIRE, logging equipment suppliers, and elected officials.

Forest Service Chief, Tom Schultz, Keynote Speaker

I appreciated that Chief Schultz emphasized the agency’s commitment to “actively manage” this country’s national forests and to increase the pace and scale of forest management efforts via a major overhaul of NEPA and other regulations.  Those efforts also include engaging more with tribes, timber companies, Resource Conservation Districts and other community partners to do more on-the-ground projects that will support rural economies, provide more lumber for building homes, and support more wildfire mitigation and post-fire recovery efforts.  Schultz did mention the necessity for the agency to ensure the forest transportation system is repaired and armored post-fire and that recreation is another important product of the forest.

Jeff Marsolais - USFS Lead (Retired)

In the afternoon, the recently retired Jeff Marsolais - with his extensive background of serving in key lead roles in the Forest Service both in Region 5 and Washington DC – gave his overview and status of current agency reforms, policy/guidance updates, consolidation, priorities, and focus on partnerships. 

 

Key Takeaways

 

·         FS Going through Greatest Upheaval in History

 

·         Chaos and Deep Staff Cuts were Demoralizing

 

·         Focus on Active Management

 

·         Amplifying “Getting Work Done” Mindset

 

·         Revise/Streamline NEPA, ROADLESS, other Rules, and Permits

 

·         Increase Use of Post Fire EAs

 

·         New Stewardship Agreements with Partners including Tribes, Counties, Timber Industry, RCDs, and successful project-driven NGOs

 

·         Continue Dismantling/Restructure of WO and ROs and Redirect Resources to the Local Unit

 

·         Demand Accountability/Quantify Accomplishments from Decision-makers

 

Anther topic that came up during post meeting discussions was the critical need for the Outdoor Recreation Community to continue their advocacy efforts in support of the Forest Roads and Trails Program and post fire recovery of recreation facilities to ensure they are not forgotten during reorganization or budget activities.

The good news is there appears to be momentum to PUSH THE RESET BUTTON and redirect fiscal and staff resources to individual Forests and Ranger Districts in support of on-the-ground forest health, fuel, wildfire, and recreation projects with a significant reliance on private and public sector partners to help accomplish that mission.

 

2026 Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference

https://www.sclcexpo.com/expo/current-expo

 

# # #

 

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.