Category Archives: Public Lands Advocacy

Public Lands Advocacy

To All New Mexico OHV Enthusiast

Dear New Mexico OHV Enthusiast,
The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) is a non-profit 501C3 organization
dedicated to creating a positive future for off-highway vehicle recreation. You can learn more at
Home.
NOHVCC is working in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and needs your assistance in
learning how the BLM can better provide access to high quality OHV recreation experiences in the state of New
Mexico.

NOHVCC and the BLM have partnered to develop a National Motorized Recreation Action Plan that
will help the BLM develop individual state strategies for providing high quality OHV opportunities and develop
partnerships to help maintain those opportunities. The strategies will be used to guide the BLM in future
Resource Management Plans (RMP) and Travel Management Plans (TMP), however, the strategies are NOT
part of a specific travel management plan. In developing these strategies, you as a rider will have a chance to
share your thoughts on the following topics:

 What activities are taking place on BLM managed land in New Mexico?
 Where in general are these OHV activities taking place?
 What experiences are you looking for on BLM managed land?
 Where might these missing activities fit on BLM managed land in New Mexico?
 What could the BLM do better to enhance your recreation experience?

Without your help and the help of other OHV recreationalists like you, we will not be able to answer the
questions above and you could be missing out on a chance to provide ideas that could lead to enhancements
to the areas and trail systems you enjoy. To help us gather this very important information, NOHVCC will be
holding a series of community meetings and we ask that you participate in one of the following:

 Albuquerque, February 2nd, Holiday Inn & Suites, 5050 Jefferson St NE, 87109, 6:00pm-9:00pm

 Las Cruces February 3rd, Holiday Inn Express, 2635 S Valley Drive, 88005, 6:00pm-9:00pm

 Roswell February 4th, Holiday Inn Express, 2300 N Main St, 88201 6:00pm-9:00pm

 Hernandez February 16th, Hernandez Center, 19418 A US Highway 84 87537 6:00pm-9:00pm

 Farmington February 17th
, Red Lion Hotel, 700 Scott Ave, 87401, 6:00pm-9:00pm

These meetings are not being organized by the BLM, however BLM staff will attend these meetings as
participants and will be on hand to discuss how future TMP and RMP processes will work, the timeline for those
processes to occur in your local BLM field office area, and how your suggestions could help shape future
decisions. The meetings will also be an excellent time for you to meet national, state and local BLM field office
personnel. The BLM is interested in developing partnerships with individuals and organizations to improve the
management of OHV recreation on BLM managed lands.

The more information we gather, the higher the quality of each statewide strategy and action plan, so please
attend the meetings and invite your fellow club members and riding buddies as well. For more information on
the meetings please contact NOHVCC at 800-348-6487, or at trailhead@nohvcc.org.
Sincerely,
Russ Ehnes
Executive Director

Public Lands Advocacy

To All New Mexico OHV Enthusiast

Dear New Mexico OHV Enthusiast,
The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) is a non-profit 501C3 organization
dedicated to creating a positive future for off-highway vehicle recreation. You can learn more at
Home.
NOHVCC is working in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and needs your assistance in
learning how the BLM can better provide access to high quality OHV recreation experiences in the state of New
Mexico.

NOHVCC and the BLM have partnered to develop a National Motorized Recreation Action Plan that
will help the BLM develop individual state strategies for providing high quality OHV opportunities and develop
partnerships to help maintain those opportunities. The strategies will be used to guide the BLM in future
Resource Management Plans (RMP) and Travel Management Plans (TMP), however, the strategies are NOT
part of a specific travel management plan. In developing these strategies, you as a rider will have a chance to
share your thoughts on the following topics:

 What activities are taking place on BLM managed land in New Mexico?
 Where in general are these OHV activities taking place?
 What experiences are you looking for on BLM managed land?
 Where might these missing activities fit on BLM managed land in New Mexico?
 What could the BLM do better to enhance your recreation experience?

Without your help and the help of other OHV recreationalists like you, we will not be able to answer the
questions above and you could be missing out on a chance to provide ideas that could lead to enhancements
to the areas and trail systems you enjoy. To help us gather this very important information, NOHVCC will be
holding a series of community meetings and we ask that you participate in one of the following:

 Albuquerque, February 2nd, Holiday Inn & Suites, 5050 Jefferson St NE, 87109, 6:00pm-9:00pm

 Las Cruces February 3rd, Holiday Inn Express, 2635 S Valley Drive, 88005, 6:00pm-9:00pm

 Roswell February 4th, Holiday Inn Express, 2300 N Main St, 88201 6:00pm-9:00pm

 Hernandez February 16th, Hernandez Center, 19418 A US Highway 84 87537 6:00pm-9:00pm

 Farmington February 17th
, Red Lion Hotel, 700 Scott Ave, 87401, 6:00pm-9:00pm

These meetings are not being organized by the BLM, however BLM staff will attend these meetings as
participants and will be on hand to discuss how future TMP and RMP processes will work, the timeline for those
processes to occur in your local BLM field office area, and how your suggestions could help shape future
decisions. The meetings will also be an excellent time for you to meet national, state and local BLM field office
personnel. The BLM is interested in developing partnerships with individuals and organizations to improve the
management of OHV recreation on BLM managed lands.

The more information we gather, the higher the quality of each statewide strategy and action plan, so please
attend the meetings and invite your fellow club members and riding buddies as well. For more information on
the meetings please contact NOHVCC at 800-348-6487, or at trailhead@nohvcc.org.
Sincerely,
Russ Ehnes
Executive Director

Public Lands Advocacy

RTP in Trouble

The Recreational Trails Program funded by the Federal Transportation Act has been put on the chopping block.
"The full Senate is gearing up to vote on its version of a transportation bill. U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced an amendment to H.R. 22, the DRIVE Act, which would eliminate the Transportation Alternatives Program.
This proposal would eliminate all funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) because the RTP derives its funding from the Transportation Alternatives Program. RTP is an important funding source for the management of both motorized and non-motorized trail opportunities throughout the country.
As many of you know, BRC and many others worked hard in the early 1990s for the creation by Congress of the Recreational Trails Program. Trail users need to champion RTP!
BRC is joining with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in issuing a CODE RED partner alert. Please go to the AMA alert HERE and petition Congress to continue its support for recreational trails.
Thanks,
Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition"

take action everyone!
Norris

Public Lands Advocacy

RTP in Trouble

The Recreational Trails Program funded by the Federal Transportation Act has been put on the chopping block.
"The full Senate is gearing up to vote on its version of a transportation bill. U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced an amendment to H.R. 22, the DRIVE Act, which would eliminate the Transportation Alternatives Program.
This proposal would eliminate all funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) because the RTP derives its funding from the Transportation Alternatives Program. RTP is an important funding source for the management of both motorized and non-motorized trail opportunities throughout the country.
As many of you know, BRC and many others worked hard in the early 1990s for the creation by Congress of the Recreational Trails Program. Trail users need to champion RTP!
BRC is joining with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in issuing a CODE RED partner alert. Please go to the AMA alert HERE and petition Congress to continue its support for recreational trails.
Thanks,
Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition"

take action everyone!
Norris

Public Lands Advocacy

Send Letter to Save OHV Recreation in Northern Nevada – Comments Due by April 27, 201

Send Letter to Save OHV Recreation in Northern Nevada – Comments Due by April 27, 2015.

April 27, 2015, is the deadline for public comments on the Draft Resource Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/EIS) for the Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District, Sierra Front and Stillwater Field Offices.

Once finalized, the Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District, Sierra Front and Stillwater Field Offices’ RMP will provide management direction for almost 5 million acres of public land in northern Nevada.

Currently, the DEIS might be interpreted to preclude designation of "dry washes" as an OHV route. The elimination of dry or sand washes from interim management prescriptions or subsequent project level travel management plans could functionally close most of the desert because motorized travel would be "limited to designated roads and trails."

As OHVers know, washes are often the historic backbone of any desert-based route network. Washes either function as a trail or trails traverse them.

BRC is concerned the DRMP/EIS does not clearly codify future "area" designations in the document. BRC believes it is important for the agency to describe a strategy for the designation of staging/camping areas.

Area designations may also include future "play" areas or other open areas where said use is an important recreational experience. The agency should grant itself broad authority to designate varying acreages (using historical and anticipated use patterns) from 1 to 20 acres or more for said uses.

BRC believes the agency should develop a process to expedite the approval of competitive and other permitted events that are well-known, historic, and reoccurring. This can be accomplished through known "pre-approved" routes from which an event organizer can choose. Events that could benefit from a streamlined permitting process include the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno and the Virginia City Grand Prix.

JOIN BRC TODAY
YOUR MEMBERSHIP GIVES US A STRONGER VOICE

Public Lands Advocacy

Send Letter to Save OHV Recreation in Northern Nevada – Comments Due by April 27, 201

Send Letter to Save OHV Recreation in Northern Nevada – Comments Due by April 27, 2015.

April 27, 2015, is the deadline for public comments on the Draft Resource Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/EIS) for the Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District, Sierra Front and Stillwater Field Offices.

Once finalized, the Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District, Sierra Front and Stillwater Field Offices’ RMP will provide management direction for almost 5 million acres of public land in northern Nevada.

Currently, the DEIS might be interpreted to preclude designation of "dry washes" as an OHV route. The elimination of dry or sand washes from interim management prescriptions or subsequent project level travel management plans could functionally close most of the desert because motorized travel would be "limited to designated roads and trails."

As OHVers know, washes are often the historic backbone of any desert-based route network. Washes either function as a trail or trails traverse them.

BRC is concerned the DRMP/EIS does not clearly codify future "area" designations in the document. BRC believes it is important for the agency to describe a strategy for the designation of staging/camping areas.

Area designations may also include future "play" areas or other open areas where said use is an important recreational experience. The agency should grant itself broad authority to designate varying acreages (using historical and anticipated use patterns) from 1 to 20 acres or more for said uses.

BRC believes the agency should develop a process to expedite the approval of competitive and other permitted events that are well-known, historic, and reoccurring. This can be accomplished through known "pre-approved" routes from which an event organizer can choose. Events that could benefit from a streamlined permitting process include the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno and the Virginia City Grand Prix.

JOIN BRC TODAY
YOUR MEMBERSHIP GIVES US A STRONGER VOICE