GAO Issues Report on Forest Service Trails

QWR's Don Amador Helping FS Trail Rehab Project

 

The Western Congressional Caucus announced today that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report regarding the maintenance of system trails on National Forest lands.

 

Link to GAO Report

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-618

 

In 2012, Rep. Lummis (R-WY), Rep. Simpson (R-ID), and Rep. Moran (D-VA) asked the GAO to analyze   various challenges faced by the agency to maintain over 158,000 miles Forest Service System Trails in motorized and non-motorized areas.

 

Volunteer Support for Trail Projects

 

QWR believes the report highlights the need for the agency to better utilize partnerships with volunteer groups and other trail stakeholders.  We also believe the report correctly notes how NEPA-related red-tape (and subsequent lawsuits) hinders the agency’s ability to effect on-the-ground services such as trail maintenance and environmental mitigations that both protect resources while allowing public use of route networks.

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FS OHV Program Manager Becomes Dirt Bike Coach

*Training Photos Used by Permission from Paul Hart

Paul Hart is 2nd from Right

 

Quiet Warrior Racing wants to congratulate Paul Hart on his graduation from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) Dirt Bike Coach School.  Hart is the OHV Trails Coordinator for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.  The certification class was held at the Honda Rider Education Center in Southern California.

 

Paul Hart is 2nd from Right

 

Paul Hart stated he will be able to train agency employees, volunteer organizations, and non-profits on how to safely and responsibly ride off-road motorcycles. 

 

QWR believes it is important for agency line-officers, specialists, and recreation staff to learn how to ride OHVs so they can have 1^st hand knowledge of how travel management is being implemented on their unit.

Paul Hart on TMR Tour with QWR in April 2013

 

There are a lot of important resource protection efforts that deserve on-trail review by decision-makers and riding an OHV on those surveys is the best way to appreciate those projects.

 

QWR again wants to congratulate Hart and the other graduates from the MSF program.  QWR looks forward to helping support the training efforts of Hart and other instructors

 

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SxS Trails and Training Serve Greater Sacramento Area and Delta Region

Located just 25 miles east of Sacramento California, Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) offers a lot of diverse recreational opportunity for the OHV enthusiast.   There are a number of trails for dirt-bikes, ATVs, SxSs, and 4x4 vehicles. 

 

 

The unit also has several 4x4 obstacle courses for full-size vehicles, an environmental training center, kiddie tracks, and is home to the world-famous Hangtown MX.

 

QWR believes it offers the residents of the Greater Sacramento Area some great OHV recreation that is convenient, well-managed, and fun.

 

The park offers SxS training as well.  Last year, Prairie City SVRA, Hollister Hills SVRA, and a site in Irvine were designated as official training centers for the Basic DriverCourse created by the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA).

 

After taking the free 2 hour online ROV E-Course, students 16 years of age or older which have a valid driver’s license are eligible to take the 3 hour closed-range driving program taught by a licensed ROHVA DriverCoach.  The cost for the Basic DriverCourse is $150 per driver and a passenger can attend for free.    

 

At some locations, the DriverCourse offers additional Open Trail Experiences which allows the driver to put some of their new skills into practice on a variety of terrains. 

 

Link to ROHVA Main Website for info about all the Courses

http://rohva.org/

 

Link to ROHVA DriverCourse Video about the Training

http://rohva.org/Videos.aspx

 

Link to ROHVA Free ROV E-Course

http://cbt.rohva.org/

If you live in the Greater Sacramento or Delta Region of California and don’t have time to take a family OHV vacation into the mountains and are looking for a place where you or your family members can ride or drive their motorized vehicle,  Prairie City SVRA is certainly an alternative that is worthy of consideration.  It is also a great place to get trained up on that new SxS you just purchased.

  

Link to Prairie City SVRA

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1221

 

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OHV Restoration Project Targets Trail Shortcuts

Shortcuts don’t have any redeeming value whether you are at work or on the trail.  While on a recent tour of various travel management prescriptions on the Mendocino National Forest, I had the opportunity to gauge the effectiveness and success of the St. John Mountain Restoration Project.

 

In 2007, the Forest applied for a restoration grant to the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s grant program to address trail shortcuts created when the unit had an “Open” to cross country travel designation.

 

 

 

The agency was awarded the grant that helped support the effort to use natural woody debris and trail barriers to rehabilitate steep routes that could have impacted water quality or affected other environmental concerns.  Signs were also part of that equation.

 

As you can see in the photographs, the project has been very successful in meeting its goal to protect natural resources.  This project also had a positive benefit in that it enhances the long-term future of managed OHV recreation in the area.

 

 

QWR believes that OHV-related restoration projects have become an important tenet of managed OHV recreation in the 21^st Century.  “Restoration” (R) can now be added as another foundation block to the three “E”s - Education, Enforcement, and Engineering as core elements of any successful motorized program.

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Trail Tip - Be a Force Multiplier

As many OHV enthusiasts head out to their favorite riding areas during the late spring and early summer, QWR wants to encourage them to become an extra pair of eyes for the land management agencies.

During the winter, trees often fall down across OHV trails forcing the casual rider to either turn around or try and bypass the obstacle using an impromptu reroute.  While OHV recreational staff works hard to keep up with the trail maintenance needs of their unit, they can’t be everywhere at once.  This is where a trail rider can help by making a mental note of where the downed tree is and report it to the agency.

Be sure and include the trail or route number of where the downed vegetation is located.  This type of user involvement is greatly appreciated by the agency.  Once notified by you, they can send the appropriate staff or trail volunteer to remove the obstacle.

With ever shrinking trail budgets, this type of public service can be a force multiplier and will help keep riding areas open. 

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Environmental Responsibility Key Tenet of OHV Recreation

Environmental responsibility is a key element of OHV recreation on state and federal lands.  It is important to know that many units are working hard in a collaborative manner with various stakeholder groups to address conservation issues associated with motorized recreation so that those OHV opportunities are preserved for future generations.

 

The Eldorado National Forest is a leader in such efforts to solve environmental challenges related to management of both casual OHV use and permitted recreation events.

CERA Leader Reroutes Enduro Course around

California Spotted Owl Nest Site

 

 

The agency is required to protect the California Spotted Owl and to safeguard owl nesting sites especially during the spring reproduction season.  Recently, the California Enduro Riders Association successfully rerouted a section of the Fool's Gold Enduro to avoid conflict with an owl nest so the event could be held.

 

QWR's Don Amador Stands at Old Low Water Crossing

Replaced by New OHV Bridge in Background

 

 

The Forest has installed a number of structures including the recently completed OHV bridge over lower Rock Creek.  This project replaced the low-water crossing along Trail 1 and ensures the long-term viability of this highly popular motorcycle route.

 

OHV Bridge Over Little Silver Creek

 

 

The OHV bridge seen in the above photograph was constructed over a perennial tributary of Little Silver Creek as part of the Rock Creek Recreational Trail’s decision document.  It replaced a low water crossing and was designed to reduce sediment delivery into the stream course.

  

QWR is believes the future of OHV recreation can be secured through actions that address important environmental challenges that are associated with motorized access in the 21^st Century.

 

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2012 Right Rider Access Fund Report

Dear Trail Enthusiast,

 

The Right Rider Access Fund (RRAF) recently released their 2012 financial and contribution report. Six OHV-related projects were funded by the program.

 

According to RRAF, it is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization created in 2011 to support off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, by supplementing the work of the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty vehicle Institute of America, the Recreational off-Highway Vehicle and of other clubs, dealers and OHV organizations.

2012 Right Rider Access Fund Report
http://www.riderfund.org/downloads/Annual_Reports/2012/2012-Right-Rider-Access-Fund-Annual-Report.pdf 

The Fund was created to ensure off-highway vehicle enthusiasts can safely and responsibly operate their OHVs and access riding areas. By combining the existing support of the powersports industry associations with contributions from businesses and individuals, the financial resources available to support OHV enthusiasts increase exponentially. The Fund uses industry expertise on a charitable basis to manage the work of the Right Rider Access Fund, the result is one hundred percent of contributions support riders. The breadth of the funding sources, the depth of expertise and the absence of overhead make the Right Rider Access Fund a one-of-a kind resource for OHV enthusiasts.

 

Quiet Warrior Racing (QWR) is proud and honored to be among the 2012 grant recipients which includes; the Western Governors' Association, Knott County Rough Terrain Rescue, National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, Off-Road Business Association, and the Egg Harbor Township Police Athletic League's "Ready to Ride" OHV Park.

 

QWR believes that championing responsible OHV recreation is a team effort and that a rising tide lifts all ships. With declining federal and state recreation budgets, the Fund will play an important and critical role in supporting OHV-related educational programs, travel management collaborative efforts, recreation research, and on-the-ground trail projects.

 

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