(Photo credit: Don Amador)
USFS and BLM Staff Await Round Two in Reduction in Force
The Forest Service (FS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff in western states have been drastically reduced. Most, if not all, of the 6,000+ seasonal and probationary recreation and resource management staff who were laid off in “round one” of the layoffs have been rehired with back pay and are now on administrative leave. They anxiously await their fate as the upcoming “round two” of Reduction in Force (RIF) layoffs is set to occur in the next month or two.
Because many FS and BLM units remain under winter closures, there is little information about DOGE-related hard closures of motorized or non-motorized recreation areas. In California and Nevada, the BLM and FS continue to authorize historic Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) competition events, mainly on units that have established strong partnerships with OHV groups, which effectively organize the events with minimal involvement from agency staff.
“I am cautiously optimistic at this point that OHV will not experience many hard closures of FS/BLM recreation sites this year,” said Don Amador, Western States representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. “Still, we must continue to monitor the situation closely. We may see an accumulation of trash and more recreation areas not being maintained to their usual standards, but those sites should remain open.”
ARRA members must continue to monitor their local sites and share information and feedback with our national and regional recreation partners to help Congress and the Trump Administration understand the concerns about the long-term negative impacts these layoffs will have on the capacity of career staff and volunteers to manage recreation facilities and provide access to high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities for the 2025 tourism season.
It is important to highlight our concerns about the downward pressure that the loss of management capacity will have on rural communities that rely on the economic benefits of local outdoor recreation activities.
Legislation Supporting Full Funding for the Recreational Trails Program Introduced
Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and James Risch (R-Idaho) issued a press release about their introduction of S 811, The RTP Full Funding Act, which “…signals strong support for bringing the Recreational Trail Program funding in line with the revenue collected from the federal gas tax already paid by off-road recreational vehicle users without impacting funding for other federal transportation programs.” The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
Sen. Klobuchar said about RTP, “Minnesota snowmobilers, hikers, ATV users, cyclists and countless others who enjoy the outdoors rely on the Recreational Trails Program to explore our state’s natural wonders and support our local businesses. Our bipartisan legislation will ensure states receive the resources they deserve to protect and improve these trails for generations to come.”
Sen. Risch noted, “The Recreational Trails Program provides Idahoans and visitors to our state with access to our public lands. This legislation ensures trail maintenance projects can continue and future generations can enjoy Idaho’s great outdoors for years to come.”
The release also notes broad support for the legislation from recreational groups, “The bill is supported by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), Motorcycle Industry Council, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, American Trails, International Mountain Bicycling Association, The Corps Network, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, American Council of Snowmobile Associations, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation, American Hiking Society, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), PeopleForBikes, Back Country Horsemen of America, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association, and Rails to Trails Conservancy.”
Included in the release was a quote from Duane Taylor, director, Safe and Responsible Use Programs, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, “The RTP is vitally important to trail users everywhere. The program funds trail construction, maintenance, safety, interpretation and other important projects. The funding for this program has remained flat for too long. We would like to thank the bill sponsors for taking action to ensure that these important priorities will be fully funded.”
ARRA notes that the legislation is necessary as the RTP is based on the “user-pay, user-benefit” model of the Highway Trust Fund and is funded by gas taxes paid by off-highway recreational interests. Currently, RTP funding is just $84 million annually. However, a 2021 FHWA report found the estimated amount of taxes collected on nonhighway use of recreational vehicles is $281 million per year – This is the amount of funding RTP should receive.
California Court of Appeal Judges Rule in Favor of OHVs
In an opinion filed in March, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals found that the commission’s attempt to ban off-road vehicles at the Dunes contradicts the language of the Local Coastal Plan put in place by San Luis Obispo County. As a result, it said the decision to open or close the Dunes to vehicles fell under the jurisdiction of the county, not the Coastal Commission.
The decision marks yet another legal victory for Friends of Oceano Dunes, which has secured a significant legal win in its years-long effort to keep a popular state vehicular recreation area open for riding and driving along the Pacific Coast in California.
“These provisions make clear that the governing LCP (Local Coastal Plan) permits OHV use at Oceano Dunes,” the opinion read. “And while the carrying capacity of different areas of the park may be ‘readjusted as conditions warrant,’ any moratorium must come from the County, not the Commission.
“Here, we conclude the commission did not have the authority to phase out OHV use by unilaterally amending the Oceano Dunes [development permit] because the LCP permits such use,” the Second Circuit court ruling said. “The LCP states that one of its goals is to ‘maximize public recreational opportunities’ — including OHV use — at Oceano Dunes.”
“The MIC and its Government Relations Office have long opposed the California Coastal Commission’s efforts to close Oceano Dunes to motorized activity, by organizing opposition letters, meeting with California leadership, and testifying in opposition to closures,” said Scott Schloegel, MIC Senior Vice President of Government Relations. “We commend the Friends of Oceano Dunes on this legal victory.”
Recent BLM Activity
- Safford, Ariz. – The BLM is improving public access to the 2,200-acre Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, a popular off-road and utility vehicle riding area in Safford, funded through the Great American Outdoors Act. The BLM received close to $14.4M in Great American Outdoor Act funding in 2022 to complete recreation improvement projects to Haekel Road, the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, and the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area. These projects will replace aging recreation facilities and improve road systems to enhance recreation experiences at each location.
- Medford, Ore.—Because of the recent heavy rains, the Rainie Falls Trail, located on the south side of the Rogue River near Grave Creek, will be closed until further notice. This closure order covers BLM-managed public lands south of the Rainie Falls Trail. The trail sustained heavy damage, including multiple landslides and heavy erosion.