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

Young's Corral Bypass Project - New OHV Corridor Between Two FS Ranger Districts

FS LE and Volunteers Install New OHV Corridor Signs

QWR wants to commend volunteers from the Hayward Motorcycle Club and the Marin County Motorcycle Association for their participation and support at the recent Young’s Corral Bypass Signing Project.  Riders helped Forest Service staff upgrade the current signing prescription to reflect reestablishment of an official OHV corridor between the Grindstone and Upper Lake Ranger Districts on the Mendocino National Forest.

FS OHV Staff Give Project Instructions to Volunteers

This has been a 7 year endeavor which started when private property owners decided to not allow public use on a segment of the old OHV corridor that transected their property.  Once no trespassing signs and gates were installed on the corridor by the owners, it became obvious that another route should be found and designated so non-street legal OHVs could tour between the two units.

Private Property Posting on Old OHV Corridor

Another route was found but there was private property at an important intersection.  However, the solution was simple and that was for the Forest Service to utilize an existing road bed for a short bypass around the private property. 

The Young’s Corral Bypass Project was completed last year and the trail bed was allowed to rest and cure over the winter season.   The signing update project reflected official reestablishment of the 26 mile long OHV corridor which allows use by non-street legal dirt-bikes, SxSs, and jeep-type vehicles.

Sign Advising Riders that Private Property is Ahead

(i.e. Don't Go There)

QWR believes that long-term vision/commitment by volunteers and the agency to provide a sustainable, high quality, and common sense OHV route network is a key element to the future needs of the user community and the Forest.

View from Potential Dispersed Campsite Along New Route

QWR wants to again thank all of the public lands partners including individual users, clubs, agency staff, and OHMVR Division for their support of this and other joint efforts.

Overview of April 4 House Hearing on Federal Recreation Fee Program

QWR strongly believes in user-pay/user-benefit land agency fee programs where monies collected stay at the site for on-the-ground public services such as trail maintenance, restrooms, and trash collection.

On April 4, 2014, the House Subcommittee on Parks and Environmental Regulations held a hearing

to amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act  (FLREA) to improve consistency and accountability in the collection and expenditure of Federal recreation fees, and for other purposes.

Link to House REA Hearing

http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=370652

QWR encourages land managers, user groups, local government, and other stakeholders to review the testimony from various presenters.   Topics covered include enhanced pass benefits for seniors and active service members, encourage continued public participation/review of fees, fees stay at site, and import of fees being used as leverage against other funding sources.

QWR would urge readers to review the joint letter submitted to Congress by over 30 recreation groups which includes 12 key tenets that should be addressed in FLREA reform.  One of those recommendations is for the US Army Corps of Engineers, the largest single federal provider of recreation experiences, to be included under FLREA to unify federal fee programs and eliminate current complications for visitors.

Joint Recreation Group Letter to Congress

http://www.funoutdoors.com/files/Joint%20FLREA%20Letter%20to%20House%20Final4.pdf

QWR believes the Recreation Resource Advisory Committees (RRAC) have played, and should continue to have, an important role in helping ensure public participation in the review process.   QWR believes the RRAC appointment process for members must be streamlined so those committees can address fee issues in a timely and efficient manner.

QWR wants to thank agency staff and members of the public who work in a collaborative manner to ensure user fee programs are administered in an effective and fair manner.  It is noticed and appreciated.

PS –  My reflections on the CA RRAC

http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2014_01_01_archive.html

Wet Weather Soil Study - A New Trail Management Tool?

*QWR’s, Don Amador, recently helped the FS’s wet weather management study lead, Roger Poff, with field research on the Mendocino National Forest.  QWR thanks Mr. Poff, a leading soil scientist, for sharing his overview of this important project with our readers.

Roger Poff Explains Soil Study to FS Resource and Recreation Specialists

Forest Service Wet Weather Management Studies – R. Poff

OHV traffic on trails under wet conditions can damage treads and drainage structures. Determining when to open or close OHV trails has been a challenge for trail managers. Some have used seasonal closures; others have used rainfall. Both of these approaches have limitations.

 Poff Takes Soil Moisture Reading at Sample Site 

The USFS is conducting field studies to develop an evidence-based method for opening trails based on direct measurements of trail condition. Four pilot studies are underway, in the Pozo area on the Los Padres NF, the Stonyford and Upper Lake areas of the Mendocino NF, and the Sugar Pine area on the Tahoe NF.

Don Amador Pre-Sample Test Ride at Data Collection Site 

The field studies involve measuring soil strength and soil moisture, and correlating these measurements with observed levels of trail damage. This information is used to predict the risk of trail damage at different levels of soil strength and soil moisture. This prediction of risk can then be used to develop threshold values to determine when to open or close trails.

Test Site Recon with Roger Poff

This method will not be a “magic bullet” to solve all the issues related to opening and closing trails under wet conditions. However, it will be an important tool in the trail manager’s toolbox for managing trails under wet conditions.

The field studies will be completed by October 2014.

# # # 

OHV Trail Icon and Pioneer - Trails Unlimited

Contour Trail at Carnegie SVRA

There are few, if any, trail-related national “enterprises” that have helped shape the concept of managed or sustainable OHV recreation more than the crew at Trails Unlimited.

Post Mill Fire Trail Repair of 4WD Route

QWR had the recent privilege to visit with Cam Lockwood, founder of Trails Unlimited, while working on a Forest Service trail research project in Northern California.  Before the US Department of Agriculture Reinvention Program authorized the Enterprising of a Trails Training Program through Trails Unlimited, Cam pioneered (circa 1980s) the concept of engineered contour trails with rolling dips while working for the BLM at the Cow Mountain OHV Area near Ukiah, California.

Over the last 26 years, Trails Unlimited has led the way in constructing and reconstructing motorized and non-motorized trails and related structures for local, state, and federal land agencies throughout the country.  The team has also trained many of the top trail dozer operators that work on numerous county, state park, National Forest, and Bureau of Land Management units.

The next time you are out on a contour trail and ride over a “rolling dip,” remember that modern trail structure is an integral part of sustainable OHV recreation that helps secure that use for future generations.

Trails Unlimited

http://www.fs.fed.us/trailsunlimited/

# # # 

Combined Use - Important Tool in Travel Management

M10 - East of End of Nail Track

QWR wants to commend Colusa County in California for its recent combined-use designations (CVC 38026) to help improve green-sticker access to looped trail opportunities for the larger non-street legal SxS, dune-buggy, and 4WD vehicles that utilize the system route network on the Mendocino National Forest.

County roads often play an important role in Forest Service Travel Management planning efforts where said paved routes can help users access and better utilize agency system routes.

M10- Near Bottom of Potato Hill

Understanding the importance of motorized recreation opportunities on the Forest, Colusa County made formal combined-use designations of relevant segments of M10 and the Goat Mountain Road.

Using M10, owners of larger non-street legal OHVs can now complete a 40-70 mile loop opportunity from the Fouts Springs OHV Staging Area.  In addition, those larger vehicles can now legally access historic gas and start points for AMA District 36 events.

Near Historic Gas Stop at Bottom of Potato Hill

SxS owners and other recreationists with larger non-street legal OHVs can now use Goat Mountain Road between Little Stony OHV Staging Area and Lovelady Ridge (Trail 01) to complete all day “Green Sticker” tours of up to 100 miles in length.

QWR believes that travel management requires genuine collaboration between federal agencies, users, OHMVRD, and counties.  This is a good example of that team approach.

If you would like to send a note of appreciation to Colusa County Board of Supervisors, please see the contact information below:

Colusa County Board of Supervisors

547 Market Street

Colusa, CA 95926

cocolusa@countyofcolusa.org

2014 CA OHV Commission Report - 10B Economic Impact to the Golden State?

A RCD/BLM Restoration Project at Chappie-Shasta OHV Area

QWR wants to commend the CA Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division and Commission for the recent publication of their 2014 Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission Program Report.

The 150 + page well-written and highly informative document chronicles the 40-year history of the “Green Sticker” program.  It details many program issues related to the budget, commission appointments, OHV grants, economic benefit, partnerships, trail stewardship, SVRAs, law enforcement, safety, and resource protection.

Just a few of the high points (page 6) include preliminary information that an economic impact

study currently being conducted by several industry associations has preliminary findings that indicate the direct annual OHV-related expenditures exceed $10 billion in California.

On page 41, the document outlines the soil conservation practices that helps preserve trail access for future generations.

The report (page 72) describes the Division’s outreach to federal, state, and local partners to help improve  utilization of the restoration grant program.   It also notes that Resource Conservation Districts and other non-traditional stakeholders are applying for grants to help increase the number of projects that are being realized on the ground.

QWR story on RCD/BLM Project

http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2013/11/systems-approach-is-force-multiplier-to.html

QWR story on FS Restoration Project
http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2013/06/ohv-restoration-project-targets-trail.html

QWR believes this report is a must read for industry representatives, shop owners, recreation professionals, agency staff, non-profit leaders,  club officials, aftermarket companies, conservation groups, law enforcement, and individuals.

2014 OHMVR Commission and Division Report

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/25010/files/OHMVR-Commission-2014Report.pdf

QWR wants to thank the Division and Commission for their dedication to, and support for, responsible OHV recreation on public lands.