Mendocino National Forest receives off-highway vehicle program grants

Print
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST – Thanks to many partners and supporters of the Mendocino National Forest Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) program, the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation and the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission recently approved grants for over $1 million of funding to continue to provide the public with outstanding OHV recreation opportunities on the forest.


The OHV Commission met in early December in Sacramento to review and vote on more than 160 grant applications from Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, city police, county parks and county sheriff departments.


The Mendocino National Forest received approval for all 11 grant applications submitted to the State, including $283,000 for trail maintenance, $276,000 for operation and maintenance of OHV-related facilities, $291,000 for law enforcement and $494,000 for eight separate restoration projects.


"This grant funding from the state will assure that the Mendocino National Forest can continue to provide basic visitor services, trail maintenance, resource protection and law enforcement at the level the public has come to expect," said Forest OHV Manager Jeff Applegate.


Applegate added, "This marks the 26th year that the forest has successfully competed for California OHV Trust Fund Grants to assist us in managing OHV recreation."


The forest has become known throughout the state for providing top-notch, year-round OHV recreation opportunities on more than 252 miles of designated OHV trails, 10 acres of open riding areas and more than 1,100 miles of roughly graded roads open to off-highway vehicle use.


Along with providing a variety of outstanding riding opportunities and support facilities, the forest is known for its balanced approach to off highway motor vehicle recreation, which includes on-going resource conservation and restoration projects and enforcement of federal and state laws related to motor vehicle use and resource protection.


"Without State OHV funding assistance, sustaining the critical balance between OHV recreation opportunities and responsible management of our natural resources would be very difficult, especially in light of the phenomenal growth we are experiencing in OHV use on the forest," Applegate said.


For more information on OHV recreational opportunities, the Mendocino National Forest offers free OHV maps. These maps are available at the forest Headquarters in Willows and the Upper Lake Ranger District, Monday through Friday; and at the Stonyford Work Center, Monday through Saturday. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


{mos_sb_discuss:2}