Polaris and National Forest Foundation Team Up to Enhance Trails on National Forest Lands

Example of Grant Funded OHV Bridge in the Sierra National Forest

Installed to Protect Water Quality

QWR believes the future of OHV recreation on public lands is dependent on many factors including agency commitment, appropriated funds, partnerships with user groups and non-profits, volunteerism, use of modern trail management techniques, and non-federal grant opportunities.

QWR would like to highlight a recent example of a where an OHV industry grant program has teamed up with the National Forest Foundation on projects to armor trails (to address soil erosion) and enhance “looped opportunities” on the Superior National Forest.

National Forest Foundation News Release

http://www.nationalforests.org/press/releases/polaris-and-nff-team-up-to-restore-superior-national-forest-ohv-trails

This is a good case-study that highlights a growing trend in managed OHV recreation where both traditional and non-traditional stakeholders and partners are working in a collaborative effort to enhance sustainable OHV recreation on public lands.

QWR believe this new trend is important and will help protect resources and secure high quality OHV recreational activities on public lands for generations to come.

Systems Approach is Force Multiplier to OHV Management

RCD/BLM Trail Armor Project

Over the last 40 years, management of OHV recreation on public lands has evolved into a highly complex and diverse “systems approach” concept that is often at the core of successful programs.  QWR believes it is important to highlight those partnerships in order to illustrate the evolution of managed motorized trail opportunities.

Last week, QWR was privileged to do an area review of just such an effort at BLM’s Chappie-Shasta OHV Area near Redding, California.   The Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (RCD) and the Bureau of Land Management recently entered into a ten year stewardship agreement to cooperatively manage the Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Area.

RCD/BLM Agreement

http://www.westernshastarcd.org/BLM_interlakes_stewardship_agreement.html

RCD and the BLM will focus on projects related to road and trail maintenance, forest health improvement, fuel reduction, education and outreach and other efforts.  For example, trail armoring projects - as the result of this partnership - are being implemented.

This collaborative effort with the support from the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Grant Program is also in the middle of an OHV staging area enhance project to remove invasive plants that are impacting access and use of the facility.

RCD/Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Enhancement Project

Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Grant Program

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/outdoor/ohv_grants/ohv_grants_home.aspx

The aforementioned RCD/BLM agreement acts as a force multiplier when combined with this unit’s long-standing partnership with California’s Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division and Commission.

CA OHV Grant Funded OHV Bridge to Protect Watershed

This is a good case study of how a comprehensive “many-hands/partners” systems approach to OHV trail and resource management is working in a synergistic manner to protect our natural environment while providing high-quality motorized trail opportunities.

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