BLM and Inyo National Forest seek public input for off-highway vehicle grants

BLM and Inyo National Forest seek public input for off-highway vehicle grants

BISHOP, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office and the Inyo National Forest are seeking input from the public on how to ensure off-highway vehicle trails are safe and well maintained on public lands throughout the Eastern Sierra during a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m.

The public must register to participate in the virtual public meeting at: https://ow.ly/kaYW50Qy0Tb. Registrants will receive a link and phone numbers to join the meeting. Please contact the BLM or USFS for reasonable accommodations to participate.

“This public meeting will give off-highway vehicle users a chance to discuss with BLM and Forest Service staff ideas for changes or improvements that can enhance outdoor recreation,” said BLM Bishop Field Manager Sherri Lisius. “The BLM and Forest Service will use public feedback to prepare grant applications to the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program for law enforcement, restoration, and ground operations and maintenance projects.”

The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program supports well-managed, off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing more than $30 million annually collected from gas tax, entrance fees and off-highway vehicle sticker registrations. Cities, counties, districts, federal and state agencies, educational institutions, federally recognized Native American Tribes and non-profit entities can apply for funds to develop, maintain and restore trails; provide law enforcement; and offer safety and training for riders. A separate Law Enforcement grant proposal seeks funding to help ensure off-highway vehicle user safety, education, and regulatory compliance.

Preliminary applications must be submitted to California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division no later than March 4 and will be available on the Division’s website from March 5-May 6 at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov, for additional public review and comment. The website will provide detailed instructions for accessing the preliminary applications and submitting comments.

Public comments must be submitted to both the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division and to the BLM Bishop Field Office or Inyo National Forest by May 6. Comments may also be emailed to Brett Holman at the Bishop Field Office at [email protected], or to Adam Leidy at the Inyo National Forest at [email protected]. For additional information about the Law Enforcement grant contact Laura James, Law Enforcement Patrol Captain at [email protected].

-BLM/USFS-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

News Staff