Today we are under attack more fiercely than ever before.  Our foes have shown their hand and desire in utilizing the court systems to attempt to get what they want.  To read about any of the issues below in more detail and/or to link to the original article please visit us at atv parks, off road parks, and OHV public land issues  .  Now onto the important topics of the day:

• MOAB Travel Plan Comment Period Deadline is November 30th! - There
  are exactly 10 days left to comment on the Moab Travel Plan! Get involved and
  make your voices heard. We have been told through various sources that there will
  be no extension of the comment period for this plan. to read this alert and begin
  today to write your comment letter. The environmentalists are out in full force
  on this one.  These jackals are trying to take the majority of this wheeling Mecca away from us!  The plan that is adopted will be a far-reaching set of regulations that will profoundly affect this area for off-roaders for decades. The BLM is allowing for public comment on the four alternatives until Nov. 30.  Read more about the MOAB Land Battle and learn how to comment on the MOAB Travel Plan here.  
• Kisatchie National Forest (LA) Eleminates Cross Country Travel by OHVs - The Kisatchie National Forest has finalized their decision to restrict motorized travel to designated routes.Anyone leaving a designated road or trail and traveling cross-country by motor vehicle will be in violation of national forest regulations, and will be fined. The decision will not be enforced until motorized vehicle use maps are available.This decision eliminates cross-country travel by ATVs and OHVs. In this decision we off roaders have lost hundreds of miles of trails once again!  Where was everyone on this fight?!
• Willamette National Forest Tail Public Comment Period Closes November 25th - Get your opinion in now. The deadline for public comment on the Willamette National Forest’s study to identify roads, trails, and other areas that will remain open to motorized use, was extended to November 25th. Another battle is looming on this forest.  You can bet we’ve hundred of miles of trails at risk here!   Learn where to submit your Travel Plan Comments for the Williamette National Forest here.
• Polaris Leads The Way With It’s T.R.A.I.L. Program - Polaris
  Industries has recently announced the completion of its second year of T.R.A.I.L.S.
  grants. In two years, the Polaris T.R.A.I.L.S. Grant Program has granted $591,657
  in funds to local, state and National ATV Clubs. This is a fantastic program and
  is a model for all ATV manufacturers and suppliers to emulate. All companies that
  make a living off of these trails should have a similar program to support the
  sport.   Why aren’t they?
• Children Injured by ATVs is at an All-Time High (in PA)  - Title of this
  article says it all! According to the article “With two months left in the
  year, more children have been admitted to the hospital for medical care this year
  than ever before because of injuries caused by ATVs according
  to a recent press release from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.  Folks we can
  fix this ourselves by monitoring our kids and protecting them better or the legislators will pass a ton of laws that we don’t want or need to try to get the job done.  But something has to and will change because the politicians are not going to
  sit by while this problem continues to grow. All we’re doing by not getting it
  done ourselves is setting up future problems that we’ll have to live with.
• A Voice of Reason In The Midst of the Utah Land Battles- As this opinion article states “Responsible off-roading has been a great tool for people to see nature that would otherwise be out of reach. Some of the most awe-inspiring places are the most remote, requiring days of hiking. Off-road vehicles allow these areas to be reached within a few hours. People who would be unable to access these sites — such as the elderly or children — are able to experience these majestic sites with the help of a four-wheeler…. Although only a few riders have abused their privilege and have failed to handle themselves properly, we are being punished…” 
• Another Legal Shot Fired By Wacko Greenies - On November 1, 2007 The Center for Biological Diversity Tuesday sued the California Department of Parks and Recreation for issuing a multi-year approval of an off-road vehicle race through the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. According to tthe fanatics suit, they charge that State Parks failed to conduct any meaningful analysis of the race’s effects on California’s delicate coastal ecosystem.  Hello! Oceano Dunes is an OHV Park!!!  It should now be extremely apparent to the most dense off-road enthusiast, the environmentalists are going to sue us over and over again!  
• Democratic Members of the House of Representatives Turn ON OHVs  - It was only a matter of time before the Libs in Congress banded with the greenies to come after us, and this is the first salvo! A group of House members sent a letter urging the federal government to block off-highway vehicle use in some of Utah’s remote lands, citing the cultural and archaeological treasures that “might” be damaged. One out of every five members of the House of Representatives signed the letter sent to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne - but none of them represents Utah. “I don’t presume to set transportation policy for Chicago or New York,” said Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah. “So I would appreciate my colleagues - none of whom are from Utah - not trying to protect Utah from Utahns.”  All but four of the 93 signatories are Democrats (doesn’t it figure?!  They love telling everyone else what to do!), 27 come from Western states, and 14 of them are on the House Natural Resources Committee, which has oversight over the BLM.  Why do you folks keep voting for the Democrats.  If you don’t like the Republicans, fine!  Go vote for an independant.  The Deomcrats are to deeply in bed with the environmentalistst.

 The battles continue, and I must tell you that we are losing way more than we are winning.  The Forest Service Travel Plan implementation has cost us hundreds of thousands of miles of trail across this country. and with the now constant pressure of lawsuits on the horizon, we are facing an uphill battle.  If you give a damn about your sport you had better get involved now before its to late!  

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.

It just seems to be getting worse and worse.  We’re now under attack in the Black Hills and MOAB areas.   Read on to be better informed (and depressed).  Its not all bad news, but there is enough of it.  To read about these important off-road topics in more detail and to learn about others go to ATV Parks and OHV Information.

Now onto the important off-road / OHV topics:

• MOAB Next For Trail Closures!- The BLM has worked up a new travel management plan for MOAB. They’ have actually drawn up 4 different proposals for the appearance sake of supposedly being fair and reasonable to all involved. Well, let me tell you that just isn’t the case! These jackals are trying to take the majority of this wheeling Mecca away from us! The BLM is asking for public comment on the four alternatives until Nov. 30, and they say they are encouraging all offroaders to study it and voice their opinions. Trust me you won’t like any of the 3 options of change the BLM is considering for MOAB!
• US Forest Service Seeks Public Comment On Tellico Plans- The U.S. Forest Service gave notice this week that it will seek public comment on it’s plan to close trails in the Tellico Off-Road Recreation Area because of environmental problems. We need to give them an earful because it isn’t good news for us. Learn about their plans for Tellico and how you can contact them.
• PA State Environmental Agency Closes ATV Park! - Mountain Ridge Trails Resort, an ATV park has been closed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Protection Agency, because it lacked the required permits to operate. It is expected to remain closed at least through January 1, 2008 according to the park’s Website.
• New Oklahoma ATV Laws Go In Effect In November  - New ATV laws go into effect on Nov. 1 in Oklahoma and they place new restrictions on riders. Passengers will be prohibited from riding four-wheelers on public land unless the vehicles are specifically made to carry more than one person. The law will also make it mandatory for riders under the age of 18 to wear helmets.
• Problems Brewing At Red Creek Off-Road Park In Mississippi - Neighbors of this off-road park have formed a group and have filed complaints against the park regarding noise, alcohol issues and, here comes the bad one…..environmental damage. Some residents organized a group that hired and paid a consultant to help them make their case, which they then took to the George County Board of Supervisors. According to the complaint ATV riders in the park are riding at all hours of the night and leaving piles of trash along the Red River, a scenic waterway, which they say may now be in jeopardy.  This is not good news for the park.
• A New ATV Park Planned for Western Texas- Finally some good news!  The Escondido Draw Recreation Area Planning, a 3,329 acre area is slowly making its way through Federal bureaucracy to become a reality. The plans for the recreation area include off-road trails for ATVs and dirt bikes, an RV camping area and a special use area of 300 acres to be used by groups like the Boy Scouts.
• Sierra National Forest Proposed Trail Changes - Sierra National Forest officials will lay out two proposals that could result in sweeping changes for off-road enthusiasts and other recreational users in a series of public meetings. One proposal will prohibit all motorized cross-country travel, limiting the use of OHVs to a designated network of roads and trails. The Sierra National Forest contains about 70 miles of designated OHV routes, and according to the Forest Service, over the years users created another 520 miles of unauthorized (their words not mine) trails that have been inventoried and mapped.  The preposterous proposal by the Forest Service chumps would lead to 54 miles of these “unauthorized trails” being added to the designated trail system, giving us a total of 124 miles of trails for OHV use. The rest would be closed, and further cross-country travel prohibited. That means we would be losing 466 miles of trails and all of the open cross-country travel areas!!
• Black Hills Travel Management Plan / OHV Trail Reduction Proposal - The US Forest service’s initial proposal is to have 1,075 miles of road open only to highway vehicles,  2,231 miles of road open to all motor vehicles, 165 miles of trails open to all motor vehicles, 437 miles of trail open vehicles 50″ wide and less, 79 miles of trail open only to motorcycles, and special designated trails of 29 miles open for Rock Crawlers.  This insane plan would greatly reduce the total amount of trails and eliminate 100% of the motorized cross-country travel areas.  The Forest Service has left key information out of the plan they are presenting to the public in that they do not reveal how many miles of trails there are currently in the Black Hills today.  They are trying to slide one by us. 
• Now About This Unauthorized Trail Nonsense! - To all jerk-off US Forest Service spokespeople and people of the press. Listen up you political wonks and agenda pushers because I’ve had enough! Stop calling these trails unauthorized or illegal because you’re trying to screw us over and you want us to just take it without a fight and this is your trite and manipulative way of justifying it! Those trails were all legal because when you have an “open motorized cross-country travel” (your precise term I believe) it means that you can take your motorized vehicle wherever you want! You are authorized to go wherever you desire! Only in your whacked out Orwellian world does it mean that you can go anywhere as long as you don’t leave a trail. You see, to venture forth with a motorized vehicle means that you will leave a trail of where you have been.  The truth about the unrestricted or open motorized cross-country travel rules that were used for all of these national ands where you are taking trails from us is all over the place. In a recent article it is mentioned briefly when the article quotes “The retiring chief of the US Forest Service’s Intermountain Region says the days of unrestricted cross-country travel on public lands are quickly coming to an end.” Well, my question is how can it come to an end if it was never used?  All of the trails that were made in these forests, grasslands and parks where there was an open or unrestricted cross-country travel rule are legal and authorized, and as such, when you close them down you are taking something away from us that we were using for years!
• BLM Restricts OHV Use In Indian Creek Canyon (UT) - The notice reads….”Notice is hereby given that, effective immediately, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Monticello Field Office, is restricting off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel to existing roads and trails on approximately 100,000 acres of public lands in the Indian Creek Canyon area near Monticello, UT…..The purpose of this restriction is to protect riparian, soils, riparian, vegetation, visual and cultural resources that have been adversely impacted, or are at risk of being adversely impacted by cross-country OHV travel. The restriction will remain in effect until the Monticello Resource Management Plan Revision is completed.”
• Southern Four Wheel Drive Association’s Rescue Tellico Fund! - Please support the fight to keep Tellico open by donating whatever you can to the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association’s “Rescue Tellico Fund”. Every little bit helps.
•  Huge ATV Park Might Be Coming To Kentucky - What could possibly be one of the largest ATV parks in the country could be a reality in the state of Kentucky. Members from three county governments met to discuss the off road coalition in Hazard, KY.

Well, thats it folks, and isn’t it enough?  We are under a well orchestrated attack on our riding rights on all public national lands.  It is a well thought out attack and one in which our potential losses are huge!  Just look at what is at stake with Tellico, MOAB, and the Black Hills!  Our riding areas at all 3 of these areas could be gutted.   Its now or never for you to get involved and put your money and your actions where your mouths are.  Don’t just sit there and complain about it.  Contact your Senator, Congressional Rep, the BLM, and US Forest Service, and complain to them about what they are doing.  Then join and  financially support one of the off-road representative bodies like the 4 Wheel Drive Association, BlueRibboon Coalition, Treadlightly and the National Off-Highway Vehical Conservation Council.  They want and need your support to fight these battles. 

The first steps in the battle over the Tellico ORV Area have been taken and it doesn’t look good for the ORV community.  The US Forest Service Is Already Proposing Closing 3 Trails and a Complete Seasonal Closure of the Entire Tellico ORV Area!  As a result of a “notice of intent to sue” issued by environmental groups over water clarity issues, the US Forest Service is now proposing to close trails 2, 7 and 9, and possibly a seasonal closure of the entire ORV area! If this goes through it will be a huge win for the environmental groups and look for more concessions to come. I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose this entire ORV area if this first step gets implemented.  Read more about the Tellico ORV Battle.

To read abouut these important off-road topics or others go to OHV & ATV Information 

 Now onto the important off-topics:

• With the latest liberal / green movements going on at Cape Hatteras and Tellico, we feel it is fairly easy to see what our enemies’ next big efforts are- they are going to attempt to eradicate OHV on public land through the court systems. This is a tried and true method for all of those wishing to dictate behavior to the rest of the country, and we despise it…..
• KY Lieutenant Governor Hopeful Pushing for Statewide Recreation Trail System - Daniel Mongiardo, who is running for lieutenant governor of Kentucky, has proposed a statewide recreation trail system.  According to Mongiardo, “If we can expand this and develop this into a statewide network, we’re gonna see I believe, the second largest industry in Eastern Kentucky”. We’ve been telling the Kentucky politicians and tourism officials this for years! Maybe they are finally listening.
• OHV Users Look At Losing Access To Many, Many Trails In Eldorado National Forest (NV)- Arecord crowd of off-road recreationists and public land users objected to a federal trail plan that threatens to close 75% of OHV routes on forest lands in the Sierra, Nevada area. Over 350 concerned citizens attended a public meeting in Pleasant Hill, California, to review the newly released Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for motorized travel management on the Eldorado National Forest. OHV enthusiasts let their voices be heard in strong protest to the Forest Service’s proposed plan to close over 1,000+ miles of popular roads and off-road trails.
• Protest Of Eldorado National Forest Trail Closures Is On! - According to a posting on the web there is a planned protest rally against the severe trail closures in the Eldorado National Forest.  Go to our home page to read more about the protest.
• More Kids Die On ATV Than Bikes According To Study - Jim Helmkamp,Director of West Virginia University’s Injury Control Research Center, tracks ATV statistics and has found that on average, 171 children died each year across the country in ATV related accidents between 2000 and 2004, compared to 157 deaths from bicycle crashes. According to Mr. Helmkamp, children under the age of 16 are seven times more likely to ride bicycles than ATVs, yet ATVs cause more deaths among youngsters than their peddling counterparts according to his study.  Read on to find out who paid for this study.
• Meetings Concerning OHV Use in Santa Fe National Forest Coming Up - Santa Fe National Forest began its third round of public discussions this month concerning the use of ORVs in the national forest. They have a series of meetings scheduled for this month for the public to make comments.  
• Jacksonville City (OR) Forest and Recreational Park Faces Pressure To Close! - Parks committee members (apparently leaning to the environmentalists favor) want to ban off-road vehicles from the city park. Larry Smith and Len Hebert have been reported as saying the 1,800-acre area, known as Jacksonville City Forest and Recreational Park, has been heavily damaged by motorcycles and ATVs.  Find out what OHV opponents are up to in this town.
• Group Is Attempting To Get Children Under 16 Banned From Operating ATVs - Concerned Families for ATV Safety is lobbying Congress and state legislatures across the country to ban children under the age of 16 from operating or riding on ATVs.
• 4X4 Activists Lose In Attempt to Re-Open Surprise Canyon Trail - And the Enviro-Wackos couldn’t be happier! Liberal activism from the bench is alive and well.  The Judge in this case, District Court Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill, dismissed the suit due to a lack of jurisdiction. We really find this ruling a little hard to believe. It is Federal law and Federal land, how can there be a lack of jurisdiction. This ruling is a blatant disregard of law R.S. 2477, which protects preexisting roads from being taken out of the publics’ use.
• Apalachicola National Forest Planned OHV Trail System is Scaled Down - The new “preferred alternative” (preferred by who?!) calls for only 142 miles of ORV trails compared to the 224 miles that were proposed in December 2006. No trails would be allowed east of Springhill Road or south of State Road 267, the Bloxham Cutoff. Many riders are concerned that the proposal will limit their access to the forest (no kidding!). Motorcycle riders would only get about 57 miles of trail compared to about 370 miles they were using prior to 2004, said John Wheeler, vice president of the Tallahassee Trail Riders motorcycle group. That is a major reduction. And as Mr. Wheeler puts it “It is going to be an unsatisfactory system….

To learm more about the above OHV topics or other important land use issues go to ATV, ORV and OHV land Use Information