It just seems to be getting worse every time we turn around. There is 1 or 2 good pieces of news along with a huge pile of bad news items. The attack continues in Tellico, the Black Hills and MOAB areas, and we’re getting hit on new National Forests every day. To read about these important off-road topics in more detail and keep informed go to OHV / Off Road Information.
Now onto the important off-road / OHV topics:
Month of September Sees Record for ATV Related Deaths in WV - This year (2007) ATV related deaths in West Virginia are down compared to last year, but there were 11 ATV-related fatalities in September. This is the most recorded in any single month since they started keeping records for this in 1990 according to official. Helmkamp was quoted as saying that until West Virginia changes its ATV laws, the number of fatalities is not going to go down.
El Dorado National Forest Travel Management Plan - The El Dorado National Forest Travel Management Plan is in and it is a butcher job! According to their travel management plan there currently exists 2,830 miles of roads and trails that have OHV traffic, and that the Forest Service manages 2,110 miles for such use. The ridiculoud proposals are: Alternative A - no change in trails or road use, and cross country travel allowed; Alternative B - 1,120.8 miles of road and 20.71 miles of trail would be open to OHV use with open cross country travel prohibited; Alternative C - 1,064.1 miles of road and 177.1 miles of trail would be open to OHV use with open cross country travel prohibited; Alternative D - 844.3 miles of road and 217 miles of trail would be open to OHV use with open cross country travel prohibited; Alternative E - 751.6 miles of road and 136.3 miles of trail would be open to OHV use with open cross country travel prohibited. Note that all 3 of the alternatives which propose change (you know one of these is what will be implemented) close open cross country travel. Couldn’t they at least give us some designated areas for cross country travel? Learn where to send your comments regarding El Dorado National Forest Travel Plan.
Forest Service Plan For Sierra National Forest Draws Fire At Public Meeting - The draconian proposal came under fire during three well-attended, and according to the reporter, at times confrontational public forums in Clovis, Prather and Mariposa. Way to go OHV community! Stand up and make your voices heard. We are citizens and tax payers and we deserve some say in the trail changes that are occurring. The Sierra National Forest travel plan that they are proposing would result in a total of 124 miles of trails and no open cross-country travel. The Sierra National Forest has approximately 590 miles of OHV trails. Under terms of the Notice of Intent, published on September 14 in the Federal Registry. This means that we would be losing 466 miles of trails! On top of that, 200 miles of maintenance roads would be permanently closed to public use and 970 miles of roads would be subject to seasonal restrictions. Look, close the majority of the forest to open cross-country travel, but designate a well defined area where it will be allowed. You are taking away 90% of our riding opportunities. You could try to work with us some! Find out where to send your comments regarding the Sierra National Forest Travel Plan.
Appalachicola National Forest Travel Plan Chosen By Forest Service and It Stinks!
In an announcement that was to be officially published last week (but we cannot find it anywhere) the Forest Service has chosen its preferred alternative that was proposed in July. It establishes 55 miles of motorcycle trails, 34 miles of trails for motorcycles and ATVs (this is down from 370 miles of trails), and 52 miles of mixed-use roads for all types of vehicles. Licensed vehicles, including trucks and Jeeps, will be restricted to 1,652 miles of numbered forest roads. They really reamed the full-size vehicles with this plan. They are not given any trails for 4×4 recreation! The decision can be appealed within 45 days after the notice is published. Exactly why it hasn’t been published yet is not known. We’re looking for it, and will continue in our efforts to find it.
City of Wichita, KS considers Opening Off-Road Park - Wichita city officials are considering opening a $1 million off-road park on land the city owns near 85th North and 127th East. It could be weeks or months before they take a vote on the proposed action. The park would be on 160 acres the city already owns, and it would include tracks for motorcycles, ATVs, and 4×4s. There are also plans for a campground with utility hookups.
The Miss ATV America Beauty Pageant - November 9-10th in Greenville, will see the first ever Miss ATV America Beauty Pageant, which will run in conjunction with the 6th annual Maxxis 12 Hours of ATV America. The Maxxis 12 Hours of ATV is the richest ATV race in the world. The beauty pageant will be held at Caddo Point Motorsports and the Hangar Bar and Grille in Greenville, Texas where a panel of 12 photojournalists and VIPs from the ATV industry will score five categories of the new pageant. Miss ATV America will be crowned after scores are tabulated from three rounds of competition; Evening Gown, Casual Wear and Swimwear.
New New Hampshire ATV Park Is Catching On - Jericho Lake State Park will eventually offer 136 miles of trails and numerous campgrounds. At the moment, the park has about 20 miles of trails open on it’s 7,500-acres. The state has estimated the park will eventually generate $694k in annual revenue, but some folks in the ATV circles think that it will be much, much more.
We are waging huge battles in most every National Forest / Grassland to just hold onto 10-15% of the trails and riding areas we once enjoyed. This is a full-out debacle for off-road enthusiasts. The results from virtually all of the Travel Management Plans has been a huge loss of traisl and almost a complete wipeout in the open cross-country travel areas. These people are not even throwing us a concilliatory bone every great once in a while. I now believe that they are intent on limiting us so much on national and public lands that there will be a sizable drop in off-road enthusiasts due to a lack of ride opportunities. One wonders how the ATV and off-road industries feel about this. Are they asleep at the proverbial wheel? They need to start throwing some serious money at this problem or there industries could take a huge hit!
