Outdoor Recreation Leaders Convene in Washington to Convey Unified Message
The Motorcycle Industry Council, the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America participated in the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s (ORR) Business Council fly-in last week in Washington, D.C. The group met with members of the House and Senate, the Department of the Interior, and the domestic and economic policy council staff at the White House.
The recent meetings came on the heels of new economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, underscoring the scale and significance of the outdoor recreation industry. The data shows that outdoor recreation now generates $1.3 trillion in economic output and supports 5.2 million jobs nationwide, fueling economies in every state. Yet alongside this growth is a more sobering reality: momentum is beginning to slow amid broader economic uncertainty.
This shift makes the current landscape not only one of opportunity, but also one of urgency. Sustaining long-term growth will require business certainty, continued investment, and a renewed focus on the public lands and waters that form the backbone of the outdoor economy.
Attendees focused on strengthening the foundation of outdoor recreation:
- Reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF): Building on the success of the Great American Outdoors Act, stakeholders called for extending and strengthening the LRF to address critical maintenance needs across public lands.
- Supporting Continued Economic Growth: With new federal data highlighting the industry’s impact, leaders emphasized policies that support sustainable economic expansion in communities across the country.
- Protecting Access to Public Lands and Waters: Outdoor recreation contributes an average of $351 million to the U.S. economy each day. Maintaining access to these shared resources remains both an economic necessity and a public good.
- Advancing Innovation and Technology: The industry identified opportunities to partner with the government in implementing the EXPLORE Act, leveraging technology and improved data systems to enhance access and the overall recreation experience.
- Integrating Outdoor Recreation into Public Health: Increasingly, outdoor recreation is being recognized as part of the solution to chronic disease, mental health challenges, and physical inactivity.
A central focus of the fly-in was the Legacy Restoration Fund, established through the Great American Outdoors Act and signed into law in 2020. The fund has already delivered meaningful results, supporting projects that improve trails, campgrounds, marinas, and visitor facilities across the country. These investments have expanded access, strengthened local economies, and enhanced the visitor experience on public lands and waters. Reauthorizing the LRF represents a generational opportunity to build on this success—ensuring that public lands are prepared to meet growing demand as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary and beyond.
The fly-in also marked a first-of-its-kind engagement between industry leaders and the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR), focused on advancing collaboration in recreation data, technology, and access. Federal agencies highlighted ongoing implementation of the EXPLORE Act, including efforts to better coordinate data collection across agencies and launch pilot projects nationwide. Improved data sharing and interoperability will be critical to enhancing visitor experiences, informing land management decisions, and strengthening the outdoor recreation economy.
Meetings with both parties, officials, and federal land managers showed strong engagement and widespread interest in working with the outdoor recreation community. As bipartisan support grows for reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund, the industry is well-positioned to shape the future of outdoor recreation.
As the country nears its 250th anniversary, the outdoor recreation industry stands at a key point. BEA data shows that this industry bolsters the economy, supports local communities, and plays a significant role in shaping America’s identity. To keep the outdoor economy strong for future generations, we need consistent investment, robust partnerships, and ongoing efforts to protect and enhance access to public lands and waters.
OHV Use Restored at Glen Canyon
Following a signature from President Trump, the use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) has been restored on routes in part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southeast Utah and northern Arizona. Restoration of Glen Canyon recreation trails was a priority issue at last year’s MIC/SVIA/ROHVA Fly-In.
On March 17, the president signed a Congressional Review Act resolution, which overturns a National Park Service rule that restricted the use of vehicles on 24 miles of routes in the recreation area. The resolution was introduced by Utah Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy and Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis.
The closures were implemented in the final days of the previous administration. Shortly after the rule was finalized, Utah Sens. John Curtis and Mike Lee introduced legislation applying the Congressional Review Act to block its implementation, with Rep. Celeste Maloy introducing a companion bill in the House. MIC, ROHVA, and SVIA submitted a joint letter supporting the effort. The measure passed both the House and Senate and was signed by the president last year, reversing the closures.
“This is a big win,” said Duane Taylor, director of Safe and Responsible Use Programs for MIC, ROHVA, and SVIA. “The trails remain open and have additional protection from future closures, as rules that are disallowed under the Congressional Review Act or substantially similar new rules cannot be reimposed by the agency without explicit Congressional authorization.”
“When Utahns found out that the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area’s Travel Management Plan included nonsensical restrictions on motorized access, they reached out for help,” Maloy said, according to a release from her office. “We took legislative action and, through this CRA, reversed a rule pushed through by the previous administration. Utahns shouldn’t be shut out of decisions that affect their own backyard.”
Maloy’s resolution was filed under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn agency rules by a simple majority vote in both chambers. This vote has to be done within 60 legislative days of the rule’s submission to Congress. The CRA also prohibits the agency from issuing a new rule that is “substantially the same” as the overturned rule unless authorized by a new piece of legislation.
“This was a classic case of sue-and-settle policymaking where bureaucrats caved to activists and cut Americans out of the process. That’s not how representation is supposed to work,” said Sen. Lee. “I’m proud President Trump signed this CRA into law—making it clear that environmental groups don’t get to dictate our National Recreation Areas through backroom deals. That’s exactly what happened at Glen Canyon, and this law puts a stop to it. If it says, ‘National Recreation Area’ on the map, people should be able to recreate there.”
“Restoring off-road access in Glen Canyon is an important step to ensure our public lands remain open to the people — not closed off by Washington bureaucrats,” Curtis said.
A Shared Commitment to Wildfire Recovery and Resilience
As Californians welcome the first days of spring, an unusually warm and dry start to the season serves as an early reminder of a growing reality: wildfire is no longer seasonal—it is a year-round challenge that requires shared responsibility.
Over the past decade, Western states have endured some of the most destructive wildfires in recent history. These events have reshaped landscapes, devastated communities, and impacted millions of acres of forests, rangelands, and watersheds. They have also disrupted access to public lands, damaged roads and trails, and placed extraordinary strain on land managers, firefighters, and rural communities.
In response, a broad coalition of partners—including federal and state land management agencies, local governments, tribes, private landowners, recreation organizations, and volunteer groups—is working together to strengthen resilience across both landscapes and communities.
These collaborative efforts are focused on reducing hazardous fuels, restoring forest and watershed health, and improving preparedness. At the center of this work is a clear and growing consensus: proactive, on-the-ground management is essential to reducing wildfire risk.
Recreation communities—especially the OHV community—are a critical part of this effort. For decades, OHV riders, clubs, and volunteers have contributed thousands of hours to trail maintenance, restoration, and monitoring conditions across vast and often remote areas. Their presence on the landscape makes them not only stewards but also early observers of changing conditions.
Equally important is the role of state OHV programs and powersports industry grants. These funding sources provide essential support for post-fire trail recovery, infrastructure repair, and ongoing stewardship led by volunteers and local partners. Without this investment, many projects would not move forward at the scale or speed required.
As we enter the spring and summer riding season, ARRA encourages all who live, work, and recreate on public lands to take simple but meaningful steps to reduce wildfire risk and support safe, sustainable access:
- Follow fire restrictions and seasonal closures
- Use spark arrestors and properly maintain equipment
- Stay on designated routes and respect land management guidance
- Remain aware of weather conditions and changing fire risk
- Participate in local stewardship and volunteer efforts
For rural communities, continued investment in defensible space, emergency preparedness, and strong local partnerships remains essential. For land managers and policymakers, sustaining the pace and scale of forest health and fuels reduction efforts will be critical in the years ahead.
The path forward depends on partnership, shared responsibility, and a continued commitment to the lands we all value—and the access we all depend on.
A Life That Helped Shape the Outdoor Recreation Community Has Passed
Max Clair Reid, 78, passed away on March 26, 2026. He was born on October 9, 1947, in Gunnison, Utah, to Kenneth and Vera Bills Reid. Max grew up in Ephraim, Utah, where he developed a lifelong love for the outdoors. That passion led him to become a Forest Ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, serving with dedication and integrity. Throughout his career, Max made a lasting impact on public lands and outdoor recreation in Utah and beyond.
After high school, Max enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served his country. He spent six years in both active duty and later with the Utah Army National Guard.
People in the outdoor recreation community know how much Max’s work mattered. As one tribute said, “Max Reid wasn’t famous in a celebrity sense – but in the outdoor recreation world, he’s a big deal.” Thanks to his leadership and persistence, the Paiute ATV Trail became the organized and accessible trail it is today. Max changed how people enjoy the outdoors in Sevier Valley and beyond, giving many families and enthusiasts the chance to experience the land he loved.
Max played a vital role in wildland firefighting. He earned respect for uniting separate fire organizations from different government agencies into a single interagency fire service, something that had never been achieved before.
In addition, Max coordinated a historic land exchange in Flagstaff, Arizona, which required an act of Congress to make possible the construction of the Flagstaff District offices of the Coconino National Forest. These offices, which still stand as a tribute, are another lasting contribution Max made to the Forest Service and the communities it serves.
Outside of work, Max had many talents and passions. He loved working with wood and created beautiful pieces of art with care and skill. He was also a gifted storyteller and had a deep love for cowboy poetry. Max wrote many entertaining and beloved poems, leaving behind a rich history of cherished stories that his family will remember.
Max found great joy in the outdoors, especially riding OHVs along the Paiute Trail system he helped create. He often led groups through the mountains, sharing stories about the area’s rich history.
Max will be remembered for his vision, service, creativity, and deep love for the land and the people around him. His legacy lives on in the trails he built, the lands he protected, and the many lives he touched.