Collaborative Effort Promotes Responsible OHV Recreation and Minimizes Resource Impacts

2011 Post Subpart B Trail Recon with FS

and Local OHV Club

QWR has long believed that partnerships and collaborative efforts are key elements in any 21^st Century OHV recreation program.  In many rural areas where federal land-based timber or other resource industry activities have ceased to exist, recreation tourism can help bring economic benefit to the region.

A good example of where OHV tourism may fill that role is in Trinity County, California.  Several decades ago, this NW region of the Golden State had a robust timber economy.  However, due to growing environmental regulations and other factors, the federal timber program ground to a halt and so did the local economy.  The lumber mills were closed and people lost their jobs.

QWR is proud of the recent collaborative effort between The Watershed Center, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and the California State Park Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s Grant Program to promote sustainable OHV recreation on public lands in Trinity County.

Remember to Share the Road

Shasta-Trinity NF

According to the Center, the Trinity OHV Project is part of an ongoing effort to promote OHV recreation in Trinity County while facilitating sustainable OHV trail use through community engagement, the promotion of legal riding, and long-term planning that minimizes the damage to the environment.

Historic FS Fire Camp Cabin

Shasta-Trinity NF

The Center also states, by providing user-friendly information that showcases legal routes and offers information about environmentally sensitive areas, we are working to serve the dual goals of minimizing environmental damage while promoting OHV recreation in Trinity County.

QWR credits the Shasta-Trinity National Forest of laying much of the groundwork for this effort by fulfilling its commitment to the OHV community to engage in post subpart B project-level trail/area planning.  About 5 years ago, the Forest hired an OHV program manager to review the agency’s OHV route network with a goal to enhance legal motorized recreational opportunities.

Plummer Peak LO

Shasta-Trinity NF

The Trinity OHV Project joins a growing list of high quality OHV-based recreation programs throughout the country that strive to bring economic benefits to the local economy while minimizing environmental impacts to the resource.

LINK TO THE TRINITY OHV PROJECT

http://www.trinityohvtrails.com/

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QWR/Partners Launch New OSV Trail Stewardship Module for 2016

Cal Custom Trailers/Powersports, Trevor Messersmith (L), and QWR's

Don Amador (R), Partner-Up for OSV Recreation in 2016 

As the snow begins to fly in California and the West, QWR wants to thank Polaris, Klim, and California Custom Trailers and Power Sports for their generous support in helping us launch our official OSV trail stewardship module for the 2015/2016 winter riding season.

OSV-based recreation brings an important economic benefit to many rural areas and supports local dealerships and the jobs they create.   According to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, OSVs contribute $26 billion annually in the United States.   Over 100,000 full time jobs are generated by the snowmobile industry in North America. Those jobs are involved in manufacturing, dealerships and tourism related businesses.

Having an OSV module will allow QWR to continue its efforts to represent our partners and clients in various federal and state OSV planning or legislative efforts.  Such initiatives include the Forest Service Subpart C OSV Travel Planning Process, reauthorization of the CA OHMVR Program, and promotion of the SAE J2567 OSV sound standard for field level enforcement.

Feb. 2015 Field Trip/Trail Review

Stanislaus NF

 In 2013, the New York State Snowmobile Association supported a new state OSV sound law based on SAE J2567.  That measure was enacted because some private property owners were closing trails due to excessively loud snowmobiles.  The New York law mirrors similar legislation in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Colorado. QWR believes the SAE J2567 OSV sound standard in California would complement the current 96dBA sound law for OHVs.

Being proactive in the development of new recreation “tools” (such as reasonable sound laws) is a smart practice and recreationists should embrace these management implements for use in their land-use tool box.

OSV Travel Information Signs

Stanislaus NF

Don Amador, President of Quiet Warrior Racing, states, “The OSV manufacturers have done an excellent job of producing sleds that are sound compliant with low emissions.  I think it is important for law enforcement to have the J2567 sound law in their tool box so they can address riders who have modified their exhaust with excessively loud pipes that create user conflicts and lay the groundwork for potential closures.”

“Adoption of J2567 in California and other states without an OSV sound field test makes good sense and will help keep trails and riding areas open for future generations,” Amador concludes.

Just a quick reminder that California’s Seasonal SNO-PARK permits are available for purchase online. This online service allows visitors an easy and convenient way to purchase SNO-PARK permits.   Permits are required from November 1, 2015 to May 30, 2016.

PURCHASE AN ONLINE SNO PARK PASS HERE

https://secure.kinsail.com/results.asp?p=casno&pt=parks

QWR looks forward to getting out in the field with OSV-related agency staff, users, law enforcement, dealers, and rental businesses to review travel plans, resource issues, management prescriptions, and solutions.  Hope to see many of you out on the trail.

Op Ed - Time for OSV Sound Standards

Op-Ed

By Don Amador

April 15, 2014

*Permission is hereby granted for reprint

TIME FOR PROACTIVE OSV SOUND STANDARDS

As many motorized recreationists know, I have long championed the use of sound compliant exhaust for motorized vehicles that use public lands.  Most of those efforts over the last 17 years were focused on summer motorized uses including dirt-bikes, dual-sports, and ATVs.

Many states have implemented reasonable sound laws and those rules have contributed to the long-term viability of OHV use on public lands for future generations.  Having common sense regulations in place makes it easier to defend managed OHV use in court against anti-access litigants who had historically cited “loud bikes” as a major complaint in their lawsuits. 

The Forest Service recently submitted its proposed Over Snow Vehicle (OSV)-specific travel planning rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget.  That agency proposal was driven by a court decision last year that stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Winter Wildlands Alliance.  I believe the OSV community will continue to face a growing avalanche of anti-access lawsuits as more National Forests (including the Inyo NF in California) undertake OSV planning efforts.

Being proactive in the development of new recreation “tools” (such as reasonable sound laws) is a smart practice and recreationists should embrace these management implements for use in their land-use tool box.

In 2013, the New York State Snowmobile Association supported a new state OSV sound law based on SAE J2567.  That measure was enacted because some private property owners were closing trails due to excessively loud snowmobiles.  The New York law mirrors similar legislation in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Colorado.

I believe it is time for states that do not have current OSV sound regulations to work with various stakeholders in crafting sound-related legislation that helps protect the sport and shows respect for other trail users.

Don Amador writes on recreation and resource issues from his office in Oakley, CA.  Don is president of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting and is also a contractor who serves as the Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition.  He may be contacted by email at: damador@cwo.com