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2008 USFS OHV Route Designation Workshop Schedule

Trail Sustainability, Volunteer, and Partnership Development Workshop for Land Managers, OHV Enthusiasts and Other Stakeholders, Mena, AR This is a Route Designation Follow-Up Workshop Read more>> Press Release and Registration>>

June 13-14

What is the U.S. Forest OHV Route Designation process all about and why is it important for you to be involved? The ARRA has an excellent OHV Route Designation web page that summarizes the process in an easy-to-understand manner.

Click here for more detailed information on the U.S. Forest Service Travel Management and OHV Program from the USFS website.

Land Access Notification Database (LAND) web page at Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA)

   The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) released its final rule for motorized vehicle use on National Forest System lands on November 2, 2005. The OHV designation rule requires individual forests and grasslands to work with their local and state governments and the public to designate routes and areas for OHV use. After a forest has completed its route designation process, OHV use will be permitted only on the designated system.
   As each forest will be responsible for complying with the final rule separately, it is imperative that the off highway community monitor and participate in proposed actions and meetings at the forest level. It is also important to note that each forest will have and/or develop individual processes for contacting interested stakeholders. Since there is no requirement that each forest submit proposed actions and rules to any single clearinghouse, someone will have to be involved with each forest at the local level.
   For this reason, this website has been created as a means to submit information regarding the route designation rule as individual forests make it available. This website will allow you to submit meeting and process notifications which will, in turn, allow us to notify and engage key stakeholders in and around the affected forest. This process is designed to maximize awareness of local issues and to target appropriate responses, ensuring that the local forest is not negatively impacted by the route designation rule.
   Please utilize this website as you become aware of any information pertaining to the implementation of the route designation rule. Interested enthusiasts can be notified of workshops and other access related information in their area by registering with Americans for Responsible Recreational Access.

(NOHVCC Press Release 6/20)
The NOHVCC to Conduct National OHV Route Designation Workshop Program

Series of regional workshops are aimed at ensuring that the new Forest Service OHV Route Designation Rule results in quality OHV trail systems that are adequate for demand, sustainable and fun.

    The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) will undertake an extensive and important project regarding the U.S. Forest Service OHV Route Designation Rule. The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) are providing the resources to develop and conduct a series of workshops for U.S. Forest Service (USFS) personnel, OHV enthusiasts and other stakeholders. The workshops are aimed at ensuring that the new OHV Route Designation Rule results in quality OHV trail systems that are adequate for demand, sustainable and fun. The “Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use Rule” requires each National Forest or ranger district to designate those roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicles. The implementation of the rule will be a massive undertaking that will require individual forests to carry out an extensive process of route identification, evaluation, designation and mapping.
   MIC, SVIA and Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA) are partnering with the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) to design the  workshops, in collaboration with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) and United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA). The workshops will be conducted by NOHVCC and held at selected locations throughout the country.
   NOHVCC Executive Director Russ Ehnes stated, “I can’t stress enough how important it will be for riders to be involved in this process. The route designation process is truly a once-in-a lifetime opportunity that couldresult in either good or poor opportunities, depending on how involved riders are. The workshops will be aimed squarely at building the skills that both the agency and the riders will need throughout the process in order to designate successful trail systems that meet riders’ needs”.
   The agendas for both the Agency and OHV Enthusiast Workshops were developed at a collaborative summit in Salt Lake City in April, 2006. MIC, SVIA, ARRA and NOHVCC invited representatives from AMA, UFWDA, and BRC to meet over two days to generate outlines of course topics and content.

The Agency Workshop objectives are:

· To develop a better understanding of the needs and concerns of OHV enthusiasts and other stakeholders in implementation of the USFS Travel Management Rule
· To improve the quality and the sustainability of trails, trail systems and areas through the implementation process
· To improve OHV enthusiast and other stakeholder input and support for implementation process
· To increase partnerships between the USFS, the OHV industry, OHV enthusiasts and other stakeholders
· To facilitate better communication between the USFS, OHV enthusiasts and other stakeholders

OHV Enthusiast and Other Stakeholders Workshop objectives are:

· To develop an understanding of the FS Travel Management Rule
· To help OHV enthusiasts and other stakeholders become more active in route designation decisions
· To help OHV enthusiasts and other stakeholders understand how to improve the quality and sustainability of trails, trails systems and areas through the implementation process
· To increase partnerships between the USFS, the OHV industry, OHV enthusiasts and other stakeholders
· To facilitate better communication between the USFS, OHV enthusiasts and other stakeholders

   Four workshops will be conducted in 2006 and a significant number of additional workshops will be held in 2007. Enthusiasts interested in initiating a workshop in their area should contact the NOHVCC at trailhead@nohvcc.org or call 800-348-6487. Riders interested in attending can be notified of workshops and other access related information in their area by registering with Americans for Responsible Recreational Access.

   You can also keep updated on the program by logging on to the NOHVCC website http://www.nohvcc.org/

   The workshop concept grew from a number of discussions over the past year with U.S. Forest Service staff in Washington, DC regarding ways in which MIC and SVIA could work with the Forest Service to implement the OHV Route Designation Rule.
   MIC’s Senior Vice President for Government Relations Kathy Van Kleeck stated, "The importance of successful implementation of this Rule to the future of OHV recreation on our National Forests cannot be overstated. The Industry is committed to working with the United States Forest Service and the rider community over the next several years to achieve the goal of putting quality OHV trail systems in place."