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Land Use
Thank you to all of our corporate partners, small businesses, enthusiast clubs, Tread Trainers and individual members that have helped make 2015 an unprecedented year in keeping the great outdoor healthy, accessible and open for you!
In a joint effort to provide access to our Federal Public lands at no charge.
Call to Action* Please reach out to your local congressman and help get this important bill to benefit the OHV community through its first hurdle.
From Fred Wiley of ORBA - The Off Road Business Association.
The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Lands will be hearing H.R. 3668, the California Minerals, Off-Road Recreation, and Conservation Act, on December 9th at 2:00 P.M.
Let's share this among all of our friends in the off-road community so everyone knows about the hearing and encourage them to weigh in and express their support to committee members.
Tom McClintock Chairman CA-04 (202) 225-2511
Don Young AK-At Large (202) 225-5765
Louie Gohmert TX-01 (202) 225-3035
Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson PA-05 (202) 225-5121
Cynthia Lummis WY-At Large (202) 225-2311
Raul Labrador ID-01 (202) 225-6611
Doug LaMalfa CA-01 (202) 225-3076
Bruce Westerman AR-04 (202) 225-3772
Dan Newhouse WA-04 (202) 225-5816
Ryan Zinke MT-At Large (202) 225-3211
Jody Hice GA-10 (202) 225-4101
Tom MacArthur NJ-03 (202) 225-4765
Cresent Hardy NV-04 (202) 225-9894
Darin LaHood IL-18 (202) 225-6201
Rob Bishop ex officio UT-01 (202) 225-0453
Niki Tsongas Ranking Member MA-03 (202) 225-3411
Matt Cartwright PA-17 (202) 225-5546
Don Beyer VA-08 (202) 225-4376
Pedro Pierluisi Puerto Rico (202) 225-2615
Jared Huffman CA-02 (202) 225-5161
Alan Lowenthal CA-47 (202) 225-7924
Debbie Dingell MI-12 (202) 225-4071
Lois Capps CA-24 (202) 225-3601
Jared Polis CO-02 (202) 225-2161
Raul Grijalva ex officio AZ-03 (202) 225-2435
While it may have rained all day and weather conditions were less than desirable a few very dedicated and passionate SFWDA members made their way through the gorgeous Cove trails and helped do way more than expected. The group met up early at the Trials Training Center and after a quick meeting they hit the trail. After a full day working together this small group managed to bring out a mound of trash. Just check out all the bags they filled up. Plans are now in development to improve strategies and infrastructure to do all we can at keeping this amazing area open to the public.
The team assembled at 7:30 a.m. just south of Cincinnati, OH and caravan down to the Natural Bridge area of Red River Gorge. We were on location at the work-site by 10:00. After reviewing the damaged area with the team we broke up into smaller groups to begin preparation of materials and the area to be repaired.
Concrete and pressure treated lumber were prepared a week before to act as foundation piers for a retaining wall. The retaining wall allowed us to fill the washout with locally collected rocks to act as a water break which would diffuse the rush of water into this area, yet allow it to drain through. We attached horizontal lumber ties to the vertical lumber piers with galvanized bolts. These allowed us to tie the retaining wall into the surrounding hillside for support.
Approximately 8-10 tons of local field stone was collected and dropped into the washout behind our fabricated retaining wall.
We built a water bar across the trail at approximately 60 degrees from parallel, and then a second water bar in parallel with the trail into a natural drainage channel that empties out behind our retaining wall. We felt these modifications would divert water from the damaged area and work naturally with the path water tends to take in this section.
In a couple of years time the pressure treated lumber will gray down and take on a natural look with its surroundings. The ties off the piers have been anchored into the surrounding hillside with 4 foot long pieces of ½” re-bar.
The loose field-stone acts as a break to rushing water, which will allow it to pass through the retaining wall without building so much pressure as to challenge the integrity of the retaining wall. We expect silt from water runoff to fill in some of the gaps in our field-stone and settle our water bars into place.
We feel this is a sustainable repair and should last for many years.
Three months later
* Update - After three months trail repair is still in good shape and it looks like the water is running in the direction that it was directed toward. Water bars have settle in good into the ground.
Bob speaking to our representatives at the NOHVCC day on Tennessee's Capital Hill
Congratulations to Bob Yarbrough, SFWDA past president, long time SFWDA member with the Rock Solid Jeep Club, and local Jeep Jamboree organizer for recently being appointed to the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee for the State of Tennessee. Bob also serves our OHV community on the Commissioner's Council for Greenways and Trails for the state of Tennessee. Bob will also be leading excursion rides at Dixie Run 29 again this year so if you see him be sure to say "Thanks" for all your effort. Volunteers like Bob are what the OHV community need to sustain and preserve our trail access.
Thanks for all your support through the many many years Bob!
Where to legally wheel in Georgia on public land....
This past Saturday at a local GBR event Curtis Barhart was proudly awarded the United Four Wheel Drive Assoc. "Four Wheeler of the Year" award. Curtis was proudly nominated by SFWDA and considered among other dedicated and qualified applicants but Curtis was ultimately chosen to receive this great accolade for 2015.
Thanks to a grant from Southern Four Wheel Drive Association and hard work from Ohio River Four Wheelers, a washout on old Fincastle Road in Lee County was repaired yesterday.
Both groups support Friends Of Boone and the #DBBB. Southern Four Wheel Drive Association is your regional association of off road enthusiasts. SFWDA includes individuals, clubs, member businesses, and offers national representation on Land Use and trail development as well as family events. Ohio River Four Wheelers is a great group of knowledgeable off road enthusiasts based in Cincinnati. Their strong backs and keen ideas led to this repair of beautiful Old Fincastle Rd.
This is where the rubber meets the road in sustainable multiple use recreation folks. Get involved! #DBBB!
For more info on how your group can utilize our Grant program and to apply today check out our Grant Info page on our SFWDA website.
http://www.sfwda.org/grants/
For the first time in a decade, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved a license fee structure adjustment for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The increase was one of five rule amendments made by the TFWC at its January meeting, in Union City. Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses expire on Feb. 28, but the changes go into effect July 1. Now all OHV users in this are will need to purchase this High Impact Permit.
These permits must be purchased for horseback riding, bicycling, and ORV use. Youths under age 13 and persons holding a valid annual or permanent hunting license with a valid permit to hunt on these areas are exempt. At least one occupant of an enclosed vehicle must possess the proper permit(s). No permit shall be required on certain roads/trails as designated.
Here is an overview of the new fee structure and enforced regions.
Region I: Wolf River WMA
Region 2: Laurel Hill, Yanahli, Cheatham, Williamsport, Bear Hollow
Region 3: Bridgestone Firestone – Big Bottom Unit, Catoosa, Keyes-Harrison , Luper Mountain, Mt. Roosevelt, North Chickamauga Creek – Patton Unit, Pea Ridge , Skinner Mountain
Region 4: Forks of the River,NOTE: All interior trails closed to bicyclists. Will Skelton Greenway and Whaley Trail (formerly known as Bluff Trail) to the Burnett Creek Parking Area open to bicyclists. No High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit required for use of the Will Skelton Greenway/Whaley Trail.
North Cumberland, NOTE: No High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit required on Peabody Road from its junction of US Highway 25W to the Hatfield Knob Elk Viewing Tower. No High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit shall be required on US Highways and/or County maintained roads that traverse North Cumberland WMA.
- More info on permits at> http://www.tn.gov/twra/article/special-use-permits-j1
- See even more at: http://www.tn.gov/twra/article/special-use-permits-j1#sthash.opr1bip9.dpuf
For the insider scoop direct from one of our OHV4TN Representatives here is an article she published in the Examier.com
"A chat with TWRA's Chris Richardson"
I recently caught up with Chris Richardson, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's (TWRA) Special Assistant to the Director for Policy and Legislation. Many in the off-road community have wondered what the new "High Impact" permit will mean to their use of TWRA land, so I thought I would ask Chris a few questions that I have culled from the group. TWRA will be coming out with a FAQ public information sheet on the new changes in the very near future...but until then...here we go.
With the new July 1 fee increases and additions, what do you see as the biggest changes? The biggest change will be that additional user groups (horseback riders and mountain bikers) will be asked to contribute for the use and benefit of Tennessee’s Wildlife Management Areas.
Can you explain the new "high impact" user fees? The new High Impact WMA Permit will be required of those individuals riding horses, OHV’s, and mountain bikes on designated WMA’s in TN. The High Impact Permit is modeled after and will replace the North Cumberland Permit, while applying to other activities on additional lands. It is not required for those individuals who are properly licensed and permitted to hunt or fish our WMA’s.
Will these apply to all TWRA public land holdings? No. The new permit will only apply on specified areas. Those areas will be limited to lands owned by TWRA where these activities are currently permitted. It will not apply on lands that TWRA leases from other agencies.
Will these "high impact" user fees be categorized? I am not sure that I understand this question. Of those individuals purchasing the permit, I do not believe that we will be able to track the specific activity they engage in.
Where do you see the greatest opportunities for "high impact" user groups in the future? For OHV riders, the legislation passed last year creating a study committee is exciting and TWRA looks forward to being part of that process. The TWRA will continue to manage and improve the North Cumberland WMA. Additionally, the TWRA is committed to continuing to find and provide more opportunities for all Tennesseans to enjoy the outdoor recreation that Tennessee has to offer.
Source - http://www.examiner.com/article/a-chat-with-twra-s-chris-richardson
