Transcript All of the trails are wonderful! Keep up the good work!!!!

Iron Range
Off-Highway Vehicle
Recreation Area
Gilbert Site
Brian D. McCann
MN DNR, Trails & Waterways
What is an ‘OHV Park’?

ATV’s, dirt bikes, 4x4 jeeps & trucks.

Trails, event areas, support facilities.
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Vehicle testing, rider safety training.

User-funded, state-operated.
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Managed, monitored & controlled.
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About the Gilbert Site...

Legislatively authorized in 1996 - MN’s first.
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Approx. 1,200 acres, 500 acres usable.
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Located within Gilbert city limits (Pop. 1,910).
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Popular local recreation area.
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Aging, economically distressed mining area.
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City can’t afford to improve or redevelop.
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Roles & Responsibilities:
MN DNR

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Acquire, develop & manage the site.
Prepare Master Plan.
Establish operating rules, management
guidelines.
Advise and support Citizen’s Committee.
Explore feasibility of additional sites.
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Roles & Responsibilities:
Local Area Advisory Committee

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Elect chair, Officers, adopt Charter.
Guide planning, public participation.
Guide site design, facility development.
Monitor implementation and provide local
public forum for local input and opinion.
Identify and evaluate additional OHV sites.
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Iron Range OHV Recreation Area
Planning Process - Conceptual
DNR
Technical Team
Data Collection
Citizen’s Advisory
Committee
Data Analysis
Findings &
Recommendations
Scoping
Process
Draft/Final
Mgmt Plan
Conceptual
Design
Design / Mgmt
Consultants
Mgmt/Operating
Guidelines
Implementation
Program
8 - 11.5 Months
Source: MN DNR, Trails & Waterways, June 1996.
Public Notification
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Public Consultation
Iron Range OHVRA - Gilbert
Public Review / Approval
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Iron Range OHV Recreation Area
Planning Process - Actual
Environmental
Assessment
Worksheet
DNR
Technical Team
Citizen’s Advisory
Committee
Environmental
Impact Statement
Scoping
Process
Design/Mgmt
Consultants
Adequacy
Decision
Draft/Final
Mgmt Plan
Technical
Reports
Conceptual
Site Designs
Project
Permitting
Mgmt / Operations
Plan
Approx. 28 Months
Source: MN DNR, Trails & Waterways, July 1998.
Public Notification
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Public Consultation
Iron Range OHVRA - Gilbert
Public Review / Approval
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Public Participation

Press Releases

Meetings/Mailings
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TV, Radio & Print Media
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Comment Forms / Questionnaires
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Public Opinion Survey
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Toll-Free Phone, Fax, Email & Web Site
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Public Issues & Concerns
(Ranked in order of importance)

Site selection, legislative authorization.
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Socio-economic concerns (crime, traffic, taxes).


Uncertainty regarding site design, facility
maintenance, management & daily operations.
Environmental issues (air, water, dust, habitat).
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Complications

Citizen’s petition requesting EAW.
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R.A.I.D., Inc. threatens litigation.
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Real & personal private property inholdings.
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Discovery of St. Lawrence Grapefern triggers
an EIS - and wholesale site redesign.
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Funding subject to legislative re-appropriation.
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Comparison of Project Alternatives
Design/Development
Alternatives
Moto
Cross
Sand/Mud
Drags
Hill
Climb
Training
Areas
Obstacle
Course
Habitat
Affected
Population
'Taken'
Fulfill
Project Intent?
1. NO-BUILD
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NONE
NONE
NO
2. PREFERRED PLAN
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
65-70%
70%
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
0-5%
25-30%
44%
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
0-5%
0-5%
4%
PARTIALLY
PARTIALLY
YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
0-5%
0-5%
4%
PARTIALLY
PARTIALLY
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
0-5%
5-10%
20-23%
YES
YES
[Maps 4+5]
3. MODIFIED PLAN
BASIN A (Map 1)
BASIN B (Map 4)
4. LIMITED PLAN
OPTION #1:
BASIN A (Map 1)
BASIN B (Map 2)
OPTION #2:
BASIN A (Map 3)
BASIN B (Map 2)
OPTION #3:
BASIN A (Map 1)
BASIN B (Map 7)
Source: LSA/Reactions OHV Consulting and MN DNR, Trails & Waterways, May 1998.
NOTE: BASIN A = NE TAILINGS BASIN = 39.55 Acres
BASIN B = SW TAILINGS BASIN = 22.07 Acres
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Final Outcome
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EAW/EIS reviewed & approved.
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Citizen’s Committee adopts Alt. #4, Option 1.
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DNR Master Plan modified & approved.
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Committee shifts focus to Virginia OHVRA.
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Legal challenge filed 12/4/98, SJ granted to
DNR 6/2/99, appeal dismissed 1/18/2000 .
Citizen’s petitions calling for local referendum
rejected by Gilbert City Council.
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’Lessons’ Learned
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Public must be notified, consulted in advance.
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NIMBY is the norm - ‘compromise’ a dirty word.
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OHV recreation suffers from an undeservedly
negative image & inaccurate user stereotypes.
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Planning must be thorough, thoughtful, welldocumented, procedurally correct & legally
defensible.
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