(Photo credit: Don Amador) Members of Congress Petition BLM to Reopen Clear Creek Recreation Area In early April, Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20th) and David Valadao (R-CA-21st) sent a joint letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California State Director, Karen Mouritsen, urging her to take administrative action to reopen the Clear Creek Recreation Area to managed OHV use.…
(Infographic credit: USFS) USFS Reveals Trail Partner Survey Results In the fall of 2021, the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) encouraged its State Partners to participate in a United States Forest Service (USFS) survey conducted by the USFS in partnership with the University of Colorado Denver. The survey, which had over 1,300 respondents, aimed…
Temporary Restraining Order Halts 130 Acres of Dust Control Measures On February 17, dust control measures were placed on hold at the Oceano Dunes after the San Luis Obispo Superior Court temporarily prohibited them. The court ordered in favor of the Friends of Oceano Dunes’ legal efforts with a temporary restraining order on Oceano Dunes SVRA closures…
Outdoor Recreation Office Established in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania is joining several states focusing on the connections between having fun outdoors, the health of people and communities, and the outdoor industry. Pennsylvania is the 19th state to create an Office of Outdoor Recreation and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recently announced Nathan Reigner…
Additional Restrictions Implemented at Oceano Dunes Despite pleas from the industry and written comments from MIC and ARRA members, the California Coastal Commission (CCC), without deliberation, unanimously voted in late December to further restrict OHV use at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The amendment proposed by staff calls to shut down 108 acres…
Outdoor Recreation Continues to Fuel Economy Despite economic challenges brought on by COVID-19, a recent report from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) calculated that outdoor recreation generated $689 billion in gross output and 4.3 million jobs in communities across the country during a year of shutdowns and closures. Motorcycle and ATV riding was…
(Photo credit: Coalition for Recreational Trails) Top Trail Projects and a Terrific State Trail Program Chosen for Special Awards The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) has selected 12 trail projects and a state trail program to be recognized next month for outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program funds. The CRT awards, honoring former U.S. Representative Tom Petri,…
(Photo credit: NOHVCC) Register for NOHVCC’s Free Virtual Annual Conference Registration is now open for the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council’s (NOHVCC) free Virtual Annual Conference on October 15-16. The NOHVCC staff has prepared a virtual suite of presentations and opportunities to interact, guided by survey responses. NOHVCC hopes to have their in-person Annual Conference…
(Photo credit: American Trails) Increase in Funding for RTP Not Part of Senate Infrastructure Package In early August, the Senate passed a $550 billion infrastructure bill that included reauthorization of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The Senate Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) included the congressionally directed Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimate but did not contain the…
(Photo credit: NOHVCC) The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act Reintroduced On June 1, Rep. Joe Neguse, Chair of the U.S. Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, introduced H.R. 3670, the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, legislation which would simplify the permitting process for outdoor guides, outfitters, education organizations, and college and…