VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - TRAIL PROJECT ON THE UPPER LAKE RANGER DISTRICT

PWORA Mason Trail Project 

Upper Lake Ranger District - Mendocino National Forest

 

JOIN VOLUNTEER  TRAIL PROJECTS ON THE UPPER LAKE RANGER DISTRICT

 

For OHV and other trail enthusiasts who want to get engaged with ongoing volunteer efforts on the  Upper Lake Ranger District just east of Ukiah, CA – Please contact the  The Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) that has been working with the Forest Service on important trail clearing projects.  PWORA has a new online volunteer management program where you can register to help reopen trails that are currently closed due to downed trees from winter storms.  You will see there are a lot of slots available for the March 11 volunteer work event  when you sign up/register.

  

March 11, 2023; Upper Lake Road, trail-clearing work party; Mendocino National Forest. Middle Creek Campground Check-in and briefing; more details on Facebook (PWORA).

 

CHECK-IN: Volunteer Check at 9 am, Saturday, USFS Middle Creek Campground, Mendocino National Forest, 8 miles north of Upper Lake on County Road 301 (Forest Road M-1).

CAMP: camping available on site with toilets and water; trailers/RVs ok.

JOBS: will include hand tool work, cutting and moving cut tree limbs, and other trail repair and restoration work.

FOOD: Bring your own lunch/food (unless we get a sponsor/donor) and hydration fluids.

 

GEAR: Bring personal protective gear if you have it; some will be available on-site.

DATES: work is scheduled for the 2nd Saturday of each month of January, February, March, April, May, June (nothing in July – September), October, November, and December.

 

VOLUNTEER: Sign-in or create an account; pick a job and let's do this!

BACKGROUND: PWORA is working with the Mendocino National Forest, Upper Lake District, to build new trails and restore fire-damaged trails. The Mason Trail Connector is a conversion to OHV use of approximately 1.3 miles of the abandoned logging road. It will provide a connection between two existing Mendocino National Forest OHV trails. The trail was partially constructed by the Mendo NF and improved with 3 other culverts in locations along with the trailbed but lacked a sustainable all-season creek crossing in one location. PWORA constructed a multi-plate culvert to provide an all-season, sustainable, fire-resistant creek crossing to complete the new trail. Final preparations and arrangements are being made by PWORA and Mendo NF to prepare for an official opening of the trail in 2023.

 

LINK: Project Catalog URL where you can VOLUNTEER (after you create an account)

https://pwora.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/15

 

LINK TO PWORA WEBSITE

www.pwora.org

  

As a co-founder and past president of PWORA, I thank you for your interest in volunteer trail projects to help recover, restore, and reopen recreation facilities damaged by wildfires and winter storms.  I also want to commend the new President, Ted Cabral, for his efforts to support future work projects starting with the Six Rivers NF and moving to the Eldorado NF and elsewhere.  Good stuff!

TESLA SAGA - Not All OHV Advocacy Journeys are Pleasant

Tesla Expansion Property Closed to OHV

OPINION

By Don Amador

February 21, 2023

 

TESLA SAGA -  Not All OHV Advocacy Journeys are Pleasant

 

Not all OHV advocacy journeys are enjoyable and maybe the best example of that is the CA State Parks “Access for All” open house held on February 16 in Pleasanton, CA.  The goal of that meeting was to discuss Senate Bill 155 and the process it authorized for Parks to find a new OHV area to replace lost motorized use of the 3,000 acre “Tesla” property adjacent to Carnegie SVRA.

 

The event marked the end of a fierce 25-year legal and political battle between the OHV community that wanted new trail opportunities on lands purchased in the late 1990s for said use vs. a powerful coalition of environmental attorneys, East Bay Regional Park District, Alameda County, politicians, conservation groups, and the City of Livermore.  

OHV Leads from Oakland MC and AMA D36 talk with Park Staff

On the other hand, the 40 people – representing both sides of the aisle - who attended the meeting seemed willing to find common ground on the effort to find an alternative site for motorized recreation that is outside of the Greater S.F. Bay Area. 

 

In contrast to the highly charged political Land-Use battles in the 1990s between multiple-use interests and environmental groups many of which today (including me) found those fights to be ineffective and divisive, there were positive discussions at the open house about diverse groups working in a collaborative manner to find a replacement facility for the Tesla property that was recently added to the CA State Park System as a non-motorized area.

Access for All Discussion with Park Planning Leads

In hindsight, I would have never supported the purchase of the Tesla property 25 years ago if I knew the juggernaut OHV would face in trying to open it for managed motorized trail recreation opportunities. 

 

I have found shouldering responsibility for misjudging rugged terrain encountered on one’s OHV political journey - and then taking corrective action - is part of the adventure.    

 

In-the-trenches OHV advocacy is not for the faint of heart and as my paraphrased version of the old saying goes… “Nothing in this world that's worth having comes easy especially when it comes to siting a new motorized park in the Bay Area.”

 

# # #  

 

OVERVIEW OF SB 155 FROM CA STATE PARKS

 

In September 2021, Senate Bill 155 amended Public Resources Code Section 5090.42. This bill transferred funding from the General Fund to the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trust Fund to explore the acquisition and development of properties and opportunities to expand OHV recreation in new and existing facilities. Also, this bill recommends prioritizing opportunities that can serve large urban areas such as the Bay Area and Central Valley and offer potential recreational opportunities for OHV recreation and motorized access to nonmotorized recreation. This meeting is the second of several opportunities to be involved in this project, including virtual and in-person meetings. CSP will develop a preliminary report, feasibility study, and OHV Recreation Access Plan with recommendations and strategies to enhance existing OHV recreation areas or expand OHV recreation within the State through an acquisition, lease, land swap, or other available means. The project would also consider developing motorized access to non-motorized recreational opportunities

POST TESLA STATE PARK ACCESS PROGRAM LAUNCH TO SITE NEW SVRA IN NOR CAL

 

Championing OHV Recreation at Tesla and Carnegie

in 2015 at Alameda County Meeting

ACTION ALERT - POST TESLA ACCESS PROJECT TO SITE A NEW SVRA IN NOR CAL

  

Many of us who fought hard in the 20-year TESLA battle are still stinging from that fight.  As you know, the CA OHV program purchased the Tesla/Alameda property back in the 1990s to expand legal OHV opportunity at Carnegie SVRA.   Little did we know at the time that OHV would be in a protracted, bitter, fierce, ugly, and costly legal and political battle with a strong cabal of anti-OHV environmental attorneys/groups, East Bay Regional Park District, legislators, regulators, City of Livermore, vineyard owners, and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.  And at the end, it was a bridge too far.

 

However, we must move on and support the new CA State Park OHV Access Program that is being launched on February 16 in Livermore.   I hope that many of you who fought in the Carnegie/Tesla fight will be there and join an effort to find and build a new SVRA in Northern CA.  See you at the Marriott!

 

 

INFO ON ACCESS FOR ALL MEETING

 

Date: February 16, 2023

Location: Pleasanton Marriott, 11950 Dublin Canyon Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588

Time: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 

Meeting Information

California State Parks (CSP) will hold an open house to inform the public about the Off-Highway Vehicle Access Project and receive input. The meeting will be held in person, and the public can join anytime between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. There will be stations with topics of interest and time to discuss the project with State Parks staff. The public will learn about Senate Bill 155 and the Department’s process for searching, selecting, and acquiring property; discuss OHV recreation opportunities and visitor needs; and discuss potential locations for OHV recreation opportunities, including partnerships, leases, and new properties.

 

Project Background

In September 2021, Senate Bill 155 amended Public Resources Code Section 5090.42. This bill transferred funding from the General Fund to the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trust Fund to explore the acquisition and development of properties and opportunities to expand OHV recreation in new and existing facilities. Also, this bill recommends prioritizing opportunities that can serve large urban areas such as the Bay Area and Central Valley and offer potential recreational opportunities for OHV recreation and motorized access to nonmotorized recreation. This meeting is the second of several opportunities to be involved in this project, including virtual and in-person meetings. CSP will develop a preliminary report, feasibility study, and OHV Recreation Access Plan with recommendations and strategies to enhance existing OHV recreation areas or expand OHV recreation within the State through an acquisition, lease, land swap, or other available means. The project would also consider developing motorized access to non-motorized recreational opportunities.

VOLUNTEER TRAIL CREWS HELP THE MENDOCINO WITH POST WILDFIRE/STORM DAMAGE RECOVERY

VOLUNTEER TRAIL CREWS HELP THE MENDOCINO WITH POST WILDFIRE/STORM DAMAGE RECOVERY

 

Glad to see PWORA and other work parties taking place on the ULRD and Stonyford OHV areas!  I had the privilege to help organize and lead several dirt bike strike teams for PWORA back in the spring of 2021.  We had two dirt-bike mounted trail strike teams with support from a ROV carrying larger saws, tools, etc., which we used to clear downed trees from some of the higher elevation trails.

 

Even back then we were running into more of the larger diameter trees falling across the trail that were killed by the 2012 Mill Fire and were reburned in the 2018 Ranch Fire.  Most of the small diameter trees had fallen or were burned up.  It looks like now we are seeing even more of the larger trees starting to fall.

Don Amador Bucking Tree as Part of Dirt Bike Strike Team

Post Fire Recovery Effort from 2018 Ranch Fire

 

Having worked with the Mendo agency leads and staff for over 30 years on various recreation and fuel projects, I have every confidence they will continue to work hard to utilize every resource at their disposal including fire crews, partners, etc. to recover and reopen the OHV trail network.

 

Be sure and check in on the Mendocino National Forest website and FB page for updates on trail conditions and volunteer events.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino/

 

Also check in on the PWORA FB page for updates on their ongoing Mendo work parties.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=post%20wildfire%20ohv%20recovery%20alliance%20-%20pwora

 

OHV WELCOMES NEW FOREST SUPERVISOR ON THE ELDORADO NF

Joe Stout (L) with QWR's Don Amador (R) on Field Trip

South Cow Mountain OHV Area - BLM Ukiah Field Office

 

OHV WELCOMES NEW FOREST SUPERVISOR ON ELDORADO NF

 

QWR wants to congratulate Joe Stout on his recent appointment to serve at the new Forest Supervisor on the Eldorado National Forest.  I had the privilege to work with Joe during his tenure with the BLM and believe he will do an excellent job in his new role with the Forest Service.  

 I especially appreciated Joe coming out to a tour of the BLM’s South Cow Mountain OHV Area 2016 when he was BLM’s State Office Deputy Director. 

 Here is link to that field trip.

https://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2016/11/

  

Also, I will provide a link to the FS News Release on Joe’s Appointment and text as well.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1083626

 

PLACERVILLE, Calif. - The Eldorado National Forest welcomes Joe Stout as the new Forest Supervisor beginning January 17, 2023. Based in Sacramento, Stout has served as the Associate State Director for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in California since May 2015. Stout is replacing Jeff Marsolais who accepted an Associate Deputy Chief position in Washington, DC.

 

“I am excited to take on this new leadership role with the Eldorado National Forest and look forward to actively engaging with our staff, partners, organizations and local communities in the shared stewardship of the forest,” Stout said.

 

Joe’s leadership experience includes serving as Acting BLM California State Director from fall 2018 to early 2020. Prior to coming to California, Joe spent six years in the BLM’s Washington Office as the Acting Chief of Staff for the Director’s Office, Division Chief for the Decision Support, Planning and NEPA Program, and Legislative Affairs Specialist. He also worked in Colorado as the Acting Associate State Director; State Office Planning and NEPA Coordinator; and as a NEPA Coordinator, and Acting Assistant Field Manager in the Kremmling Field Office.

 

As Forest Supervisor, Joe will lead a team that oversees four ranger districts and manages programs in natural resources, fire and aviation management, public services and engineering. The Eldorado National Forest includes over 600,000 acres within major watersheds of the American, Consumnes and Mokelumne Rivers. These lands provide many ecological, economic, and recreational benefits.

 

Joe holds a master's degree in Public Administration (Environmental Policy, Management and Law) from the University of Colorado in Denver. His undergraduate work was in sociology and environmental studies at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Along with his wife and two boys, Joe loves spending time in the outdoors, including backpacking, fly fishing, and skiing.

 

###

 

The U.S.D.A Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer. The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

OP-ED for MLK DAY - MY DREAM COMING TRUE

                                                        Don Amador is The Quiet Warrior

OP-ED

By Don Amador

Contact: damador@cwo.com

Phone: 925-783-1834

1/15/23

 

MY DREAM COMING TRUE

 

In 2001, I wrote an op-ed entitled; I Have a [Trail] Dream.   My dream back then was that someday all trail users would respect each other's personal choice of recreational activity and work in a collaborative manner on important trail stewardship projects, travel planning, and forest health efforts.

 Shortly after that missive was written, a number of stakeholder meetings were convened by the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division in an effort to bring diverse outdoor recreation interests together.  The theme for those meetings was based on the new concept of collaboration. 

 OHMVR Division’s collaborative process was a strategy to bring OHV groups, conservation organizations, and the non-motorized trail community together to discuss how they can work together to provide high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities for the public while protecting cultural and natural resources.

 Embracing that collaborative spirit, OHV worked with conservation groups and Congressman Mike Thompson in 2005 on a final version of the legislation that became the North Coast Wilderness Bill (HR233).  After a lot of hard work by both sides, the bill recognized OHV and mountain-bike use as legitimate recreational activities on federal lands and also codified OHV use in statute on designated routes.

 Collaboration between conservation groups and OHV continued in a process that led to the 2016 Dedication Ceremony of the Berryessa -Snow Mountain National Monument held at a popular BLM recreation site just a few miles east of Clearlake, California.

 The dedication event was unique because OHV recreation was featured as a key partner in development of the plan to enhance both conservation efforts and existing/ future non-motorized and motorized recreational opportunities within the Monument boundary. 

 Another stellar example of collaboration is being carried out by the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship in their Connected Communities Project where their vision is to partner with the Forest Service, local communities, and other motorized and non-motorized trail groups to connect 15 mountain communities via a 600-mile route.  

 As the country celebrates Martin Luther King Day this year, I believe the outdoor recreation and conservation groups should continue to participate in solution-oriented collaborative efforts where finding common ground is the goal so our public lands can be enjoyed by current and future generations.

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for 30 years. Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting. Don served as a chairman and member on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don currently serves as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California. Don writes on recreation and conservation issues from his office near Cottonwood, CA.  

SXS SAFETY TRAINING - "Make-it-Home" with Spare Tire/Tools

Student on Exercise 4 - Backing and Turning

Fouts Springs - Mendocino NF

SXS SAFETY TRAINING - "Make-it-Home" with Spare Tire/Tools

QWR wants to congratulate members of the Mendocino National Forest’s recreation and resource team who completed the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) ROV Basic DriverCourse (RBDC) taught at the Fouts Springs OHV Area near Stonyford, California on December 7 and 8, 2022.  Fouts Springs is on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest.

Sign Up Area for ROHVA RBDC

These ROHVA classes were offered in recognition of the long-standing partnership between OHV stakeholders and the Mendocino National Forest and in support of the CA Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s work to improve/update important safety measures to address the rapid growth of ROV/UTV/SxS use on public lands.

 

Search, Evaluate, and Execute (SEE) remains one of the many important themes stressed by ROHVA in both the online E-Course and field training.   SEE is a common sense yet powerful decision-making process where a driver looks for various factors such as trail difficulty then evaluates the risk level of the situation and subsequently executes an action such as turning around and taking another route.

Student on Exercise 4 - Backing and Turning 

Fouts Springs - Mendocino National Forest

Protective safety gear is also another area that is highlighted during online and field education process.  Wearing a helmet, using eye protection, gloves, long sleeved shirt/jersey, and over-the-ankle-boots with non-slip soles can help the driver have a safe and fun trail experience.

QWR believes another important safety axiom - that is also a key motto within the Forest Service - is having staff ensure they make it back home at the end of a work day by working in a safe manner.  One of the many safety discussions that occurred was about how to “make it home” and those talks centered on  outfitting your SxS with a spare tire, tire jack, portable 12v air compressor, and lug nut wrench per chance you get a flat tire. 

QWR Basic Spare Tire Kit - Used Many Times on Trail and Research Projects,

Post Fire Recovery, and Trail Rides

 Having a puncture flat is a fairly common occurrence in the West on routes with sharp rocks, old nails, or pointed branch stubs that have fallen off trees damaged by wildfires.  Being able to change a flat tire just might be the difference on making it home safely before dark or spending the night in the wild.

 

As a ROHVA-certified DriverCoach, QWR’s Don Amador, states, “It’s great to help train agency staff about how to safely operate a ROV/SxS on designated road, trails, and areas.  And, to have them learn about the import of outfitting their ROV with the proper tools to ensure they are able to drive home  at the end of the work day.”

 

Since many federal/state agencies, cooperators, and non-profit partners have increased the use of ROVs for recreation/resource management and fire suppression activities, QWR offers the RBDC course for agency or cooperator staff that need to get certified or recertified before operating a government or corporate SxS/ROV.

 

QWR is a strong supporter of the focused safety efforts by our partners at CA State Parks OHMVR Division, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, ROHVA, Tread Lightly!, and the CA Outdoor Recreation Foundation to address the rapid growth of ROV/UTV/SxS use on public lands.

 

LINK TO ROHVA (Go ahead and take the free online ROHVA E-Course)

http://www.rohva.org/

 

*If you are interested in having Don teach a ROHVA ROV Basic DriverCourse, contact him at: damador@quietwarriorracing.com