Registration Is Open for the 2022 NOHVCC Annual Conference!
Registration for the 2022 National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) Annual Conference in Knoxville, TN, August 18-20, continues to be open. The conference allows attendees to gain and share insight on issues affecting the off-highway vehicle (OHV) community. Some topics the conference will cover include an update from the powersports industry, the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) by Federal Highway Administration staff, an interactive discussion regarding principles explored in Great Trails Guide, and an update on NOHVCC’s initiatives.
This year’s conference will also feature a Mobile Workshop on August 18th at the Windrock Recreation Area. The workshop will allow participants to take part in a management tour of the area, including moderated discussion on successful management practices and sustainable trail development. Recreational off-highway vehicles will be available for participants to operate.
Click here to register, explore sponsorship opportunities, and view the preliminary schedule.
Discretionary Grant Program Could Benefit OHV Sites
On July 14th, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) held a webinar to assist prospective applicants with information about the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) grant program established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The $1 billion RCP Program established under the BIL was the first program to help reconnect communities previously cut off from opportunities by transportation infrastructure, such as highways and rail lines, through solutions like high-quality public transportation, infrastructure removal, and main street revitalization.
“We hope that operators of OHV facilities, parks, and trail systems across the country take a look at this program, get informed, and learn about how they might gain federal funding that will improve access for dirt bike and ATV riders and side-by-side drivers,” said Duane Taylor, Executive Director of the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC). “There are potentially millions of dollars that could be put to great use to benefit OHV communities.”
In fiscal year 2022, the RCP Program provided up to $195 million for public engagement, planning activities, capital construction projects, and technical assistance to reconnect communities where transportation infrastructure has created barriers.
The RCP Program welcomes applications from diverse eligible applicants regardless of size, location, and experience administering Federal funding awards. Visit the RCP Program website to access the Notice of Funding Opportunity and learn about eligibility, funding, application and submission processes, and evaluation criteria. The application submission deadline is Thursday, October 13, 2022. You can email DOT program staff at ReconnectingCommunities@dot.gov with questions.
Careers in Outdoor Recreation Highlighted in New Report
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) released a new report highlighting lucrative and diverse career opportunities in the $689 billion outdoor recreation sector. The report aims to help industry leaders, policymakers, and workers understand how these jobs provide an outstanding quality of life, support conservation, strengthen local economies, and connect Americans to the great outdoors. The report, “Outdoor Rec Drives Jobs, Careers in the Recreation Economy,” served as the foundation for the recent Work in the Outdoors webinar hosted by ORR and the Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy at Oregon State University.
The report illustrates the breadth, depth, and diversity of the outdoor recreation industry workforce, which totals more than 4.3 million jobs that help develop economies, increase rural prosperity, improve public health and quality of life, and promote environmental stewardship and conservation. The report also illustrates the millions of professional and technical full-time positions across the sector that are less known to the public and provide competitive wages and meaningful careers.
“Right now, there are so many high-quality jobs that exist across the outdoor recreation industry for professionals with a variety of skill sets that provide outstanding lifelong careers,” said ORR President Jessica Turner. “And we want to highlight those opportunities in this report.”
Lee Davis, Executive Director of Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE), said there’s a misconception that “there aren’t real jobs in the outdoor recreation economy, that they are all part-time or seasonal or low-wage jobs, and that you can’t really build a life and a career in this industry. And those of us that are deeply inside the industry know that that is definitely not the case.”
The webinar panel included a diverse group representing a variety of outdoor jobs, including a state office of outdoor recreation director, an RV service technician, an executive director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, a ski lift technician, and others. Stories from the panelists “can inspire others to get jobs in the recreation economy because they really have lifelong careers and good paying jobs…and contribute to our communities in meaningful ways,” Davis said. “We also know that there is a growing skills gap in the outdoor workforce and that there are thousands of open jobs available.”
Recent BLM Activity
- Ukiah, California – The BLM issued seasonal fire restrictions for public lands managed by the Ukiah Field Office effective immediately. Seasonal restrictions are issued to prevent wildfires and for public safety and are in addition to the year-round statewide fire prevention order and will remain in effect until further notice.
- Elko, Nevada – Due to increasingly high temperatures, expected high winds, and rapidly drying vegetation, the Elko District implemented fire restrictions beginning June 29th to promote safety and reduce the potential for human-caused fires. The restrictions aim to reduce the number of wildfires and to protect lives and property as well as wildlife and other resources. “We are asking everyone to be responsible on public lands. Due to the extended drought, the potential for a fire to start is very high. All fireworks are prohibited on BLM land,” said Gerald Dixon, District Manager.
- Medford, Oregon – As the weather warms and fire danger increases, the BLM Medford District officials implemented public use restrictions on BLM-managed lands in southern Oregon. Starting July 1, 2022, certain activities on BLM-managed lands in Jackson and Josephine Counties were restricted to prevent human-caused fire and reduce wildfire potential. Several activities are prohibited on all public land areas, roads, and trails located within and administered by the BLM Elko District Office, effective Wednesday, June 29, 2022, and expiring on October 31, 2022.
- Carson City, Nevada – Due to drying vegetation, increasing daytime temperatures, and several human-caused fires, the BLM Carson City District Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Western Nevada Agency, Bureau of Reclamation California – Great Basin Region, Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF), Public Domain Allotments, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex announced the implementation of fire restrictions on all lands under their jurisdiction effective Friday, July 1st and will remain in effect until further notice.
- Battle Mountain, Nevada – Due to increasingly high temperatures, expected high winds, and rapidly drying vegetation, the Battle Mountain District implemented fire restrictions beginning June 30th to promote safety and reduce the potential for human-caused fires. The restrictions aim to reduce the number of wildfires and to protect lives and property as well as wildlife and other resources.
- Casper, Wyoming – Due to dry conditions and high fire danger, Stage 1 fire restrictions on BLM administered public lands in Goshen and Johnson counties began July 5th. The BLM is working with the counties to coordinate restrictions. Under a partial closure, the following acts are prohibited:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within agency-provided fire grates at developed recreation sites, or within fully enclosed stoves with a ¼” spark arrester type screen, or within fully enclosed grills, or in stoves using pressurized liquid or gas;
- Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials;
- Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and working, a chemical fire extinguisher of not less than eight ounces capacity by weight, and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches; and
- Using a welder, either arc or gas, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter with a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than eight ounces capacity.
These fire restrictions are in addition to the year-round wildfire prevention restrictions on BLM-administered public lands in Wyoming, including:
- Discharge or use of any fireworks;
- Discharge of a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition;
- Burn, ignite, or cause to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or any other hazardous or explosive material;
- Operate any off-road vehicle on public lands unless the vehicle is equipped with a properly installed spark arrester pursuant to 43 CFR 8343.1 (c); and
- Use/discharge of explosives of any kind, incendiary devices, pyrotechnic devices, or exploding targets.
- Winnemucca, Nevada – The Black Rock Field Office announced temporary closure and restrictions for activities on public lands that immediately surround the site of the 2022 Burning Man event to protect public resources, provide for public safety on the Black Rock Desert, and enable law enforcement personnel to support state and local law enforcement agencies with enforcement of existing laws. A Federal Register notice regarding a temporary closure and temporary restrictions of areas on the playa was published on July 1, 2022. The closures begin on July 28 and continue through October 1, 2022. The 2022 Burning Man Event starts August 28th and concludes on September 5th. The “Closure Area” is a physical space that will be temporarily closed to unauthorized recreational activities and will last approximately 66 days. There are two phases of the Closure Order: Phase 1 will be in effect from July 28th to October 1, 2022 and cover approximately 9,570 acres and Phase 2 will be in effect from August 22nd to September 23, 2022, covering approximately 120,270 acres. Phase 2 of the temporary closure will impact roughly 77 percent of the Black Rock Desert playa, but public access to the other 23 percent of the playa outside the temporary closure area will remain open to dispersed recreational use. Temporary restrictions are in effect to underscore certain activities prohibited during the closure, including: disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, underage use of alcohol, possession of weapons, use of fireworks, and discharge of wastewater within the temporary closure area.
- Barstow, California – The BLM Barstow Field Office is implementing a convenient online visitor pass purchase option for Dumont Dunes and El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Areas in San Bernardino County. Passes became available on gov on June 30th. Fee amounts for passes remain the same and include a small transaction fee for online purchase. The transaction fees for online purchase of recreation both OHV Areas are included in the fee, and the entire pass price goes to the operation and maintenance of each off-highway vehicle recreation area. Passes will still be available for purchase through traditional methods, including on-site fee machines at the BLM Barstow Field Office and through partners such as Friends of El Mirage and retail outlets located in southern California and Nevada.
- Salt Lake City, Utah – The BLM is announcing new user fees that will help improve visitor services, maintain facilities, and enhance the outdoor recreational experience at select sites managed by the Price, Richfield, and Salt Lake Field Offices. User fees will be invested into the same recreation site where they are collected to help keep pace with demand and better serve local communities. The Price Field Office will establish fees in 12 campgrounds and the Richfield Field Office will establish fees in three campgrounds, all of which are currently free camping areas. The Salt Lake Field Office will establish a new Fivemile Pass Recreation Area, with a permit system and fees. The BLM Utah Resource Advisory Council reviewed comments received during each business plan’s 30-day public comment period and considered changes the BLM made in response to those comments. The Council recommended approval of the Richfield Field Office business plan in June 2019, the Price Field Office business plan in June 2020, and the Salt Lake Field Office business plan in November 2020. Implementation of the new fees and permits may begin on January 6, 2023.