Mitigating ORV Damage

Submitted by Ted Williams on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:21.

B

Thousands of Coloradans ride off-highway vehicles (OHVs) responsibly and have the right to do so, but after decades of problems with a growing minority of reckless OHV riders , the creation of thousands of miles of illegal trails, damage to wildlife habitat and understaffed law enforcement on public lands, a broad coalition of over 30 Colorado organizations representing thousands of sportsman, outdoor recreationists, private land owners, conservationists, law enforcement and elected officials is officially requesting that the Colorado State Parks Board make immediate changes to the state Off-Highway Vehicle Program. The coalition is asking the State Parks Board to direct part of the $3.2M annual fund towards funding law enforcement and restoration of habitat damage caused by OHVs, instead of allowing the fund to be used almost exclusively for OHV trail maintenance and trail expansion. The Colorado State Parks Board will hear presentations regarding the OHV Fund at their board meeting, Nov. 20th from 10 a.m. to Noon, but will not make an official decision. The meeting will be held in Frisco, at the Town of Frisco Council Chambers at 1 Main St.

Colorado’s OHV Program, which is funded by a $25.25 annual registration fee on OHVs, has risen from $300k in 1997 to nearly $3.2M in the 2009.

Currently, the OHV Program awards over 95% of the $3.2M in grants to federal land OHV projects, mainly for trail maintenance. Unfortunately the criteria used to award the annual grants does not result in the essential funding of adequate law enforcement and the restoration of wildlife habitat damage and the thousands of miles of user-created trails caused by illegal OHV use. Unbalanced OHV management without law enforcement leads to habitat destruction and often the closure of riding areas, unfairly impacting all OHV riders, not just those who break the law by riding off-trail.

The coalition of Colorado organizations advocating for changes to the OHV Program includes the Colorado Wildlife Federation, Colorado Backcountry and Anglers, Colorado Bow Hunters, American Hiking Society as well as the recently retired Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the Division of Wildlife and the recently retired Special Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado. The members of the coalition have independently signed a resolution (attached) asking the State Parks Board to change the grant criteria and funding allocation of the program so that 40% of the fund goes towards law enforcement, 30% towards restoration of damage caused by illegal OHV use and 30% for trail maintenance.

The following individuals will present to the State Parks Board on Friday, Nov. 20th and describe why reform is badly needed:

Rob Firth, recently retired, Chief of Law Enforcement, CO Division of Wildlife

John Silence recently retired, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Land Management, Colorado

David Petersen, Colorado Field Director, Trout Unlimited/Sportsmen’s Conservation Project and

San Juan County Commissioner, Pete McKay

For more information please call Scott Chase, Colorado Representative, Responsible Trails America at 303.324.1121.

# # #

Scott M. Chase

Colorado Representative, Responsible Trails

1580 Lincoln St. #1125

Denver, CO 80203

720.570.9200 (o)

720.570.9201 (f)

303.324.1121 (c)

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