Transcript TXTEAMM TeXas Trails Education And Motorized Management

TXTEAMM
TeXas Trails Education And Motorized Management
OHV Park 101
Or
Everything you’d want to know about
running an OHV park
( almost! )
I have the land and I know that there are a
lot of offroaders who want to use it, but…
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Should I just open my gate and let them build the trails themselves?
How do you build trails for offroading?
What about the liabilities?
How much do I charge?
What kinds of rules do I need – and how do I enforce them?
What about an office? restrooms? signs?
Where will they park to unload? How much room do I need for that?
How do I keep track of them once they’re on the property?
And the list goes on and on…if the questions seem overwhelming,
don’t despair…
Just remember these few simple ideas
about offroad recreation…
• Other states have been
doing this for years.
There is no need to
“reinvent the wheel”.
• They need trails – to suit
a variety of age/skill
levels.
• They should be
considered “tourists”.
They want & need the
same things all other
tourists want.
• You’ll need to give them
rules and regulations
specific to your land/trails.
• As with any other sector
of the public, they need
management.
• Most are very family
oriented – they are not all
“beer swilling Bubba’s”.
There are many state and national
organizations to help you…
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Recreational Trails Division
Funding through federal gas tax rebate grant program
Recreational Grants Division
Funding through recreational and community development
programs/grants
OHV Program
Provides assistance in developing, managing and advertising
OHV recreational opportunities
Funding through state decal program grants
Inland Fisheries Division
Provides assistance and approval for Local River Access
Plans (LRAPs)
The NOHVCC is a national non-profit organization
with state representatives. They are devoted to helping
promote a positive image and future for off-highway
vehicle recreation. A virtual storehouse of information
for operating, maintaining and supporting
motorized recreation of all kinds.
Tread Lightly! Principles
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T - Travel and Recreate with Minimum Impact
R – Respect the Environment and the Rights of
Others
E – Educate Yourself, Plan and Prepare Before You
Go
A – Allow for the Future Use of the Outdoors
(leave it better than you found it!)
D- Discover the Rewards of Responsible Recreation
Other national groups include:
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The American Motorcyclist Association
(AMA)
Can provide political, statistical, legal and funding information
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The ATV Institute of America (ASI)
Can provide free safety training for ATV users
ATV safety training is required for all public land users in Texas
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Keep America Beautiful
Has a state affiliate, “Keep Texas Beautiful”
Provides organization for litter pick-up, free trash bags,
advertising in local newspapers
The Basic Six
1. Land, what kind and how much
2. User group, M/C’s, ATV’s, 4x4’s or any
combination of these three
3. Trails
4. Rules and Regulations
5. Infrastructure
6. Legal issues
First and foremost, consider the
type of land you are using…..
And just how much of it you want to
devote to offroad use….
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Off highway motorcycles (OHM’s) and ATV’s
need the most acreage
4x4’s need less acreage but more elevation
change
All three disciplines will need more acreage than
each one individually
OHM’s and ATV’s can sometimes use 4x4 trails,
but rarely is it vice versa
Some land needs more
management than others……
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Sand dunes have
open riding, no trails
No trails to follow
means more
management of the
individual
The need for stricter
rules and regulations
Other land can almost help
manage itself…
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Trails systems help keep
users contained
Thickly wooded/desert
cactus areas can keep
trailblazing to a minimum
Long, scenic trails help
keep users satisfied and
coming back
You must balance the user groups with the type
and amount of land you have available
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OHM’s travel quickest
of all users, prefer to
utilize single tracks
ATV’s can travel
either slow or fast,
prefer to utilize
double tracks
Both these user
groups need long
trails
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4x4’s travel slow,
leave the largest
“footprint” of all
4x4’s need/want
drastic elevation
changes
Can utilize shorter
trails if topography is
sufficient
Trails and Trail Systems
• The trails should be designed by professionals
for maximum sustainability and to minimize
liability
• Trails should be always be marked with the
proper signage
• Trails should be mapped
• Trail users can be utilized as a volunteer labor
force
• Trails can be rated for skill level
• Trails can be utilized by both motorized and nonmotorized users ( horses and hikers love OHV
trails! )
Rules and Regulations are:
• to insure the safety
of your visitors
• to limit your liability
• to maintain the
proper use of the
land
• tailored to the user
groups, land
management
practices and legal
requirements
• in written form
• signed by all users,
especially for
minors
• kept on file
• enforced when
necessary
• have definite
consequences for
non-compliance
• posted near the
office check in area
or at the trailhead
Minimum Infrastructure
• Office/check-in area
From a minimum of a drop box near a gate to a check –in office
with a retail outlet attached.
• Good fencing or some other type of containment method
• Restrooms
This can be as minimal as portable restrooms - to restrooms
with showers attached.
• Marked trails system (except in sand dunes)
Mapped and/or marked with signage
• Staging area
This is an area designated for loading and unloading.
Size will depend upon type of vehicles and usage patterns.
*** Maximum infrastructure is limited only by your budget and
creativity – but don’t price yourself out of your market!
Texas’ New OHV Trail & Recreational Area
Program
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SB 1311 adopted by 79th Legislature of Texas
Established a decal program to be administered
by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. (TPWD)
Funds gathered to be used for establishing OHV
recreation sites, maintenance of a public system
of trails, improving existing trails and recreational
sites and education on the responsible use of
OHV’s
Cost $8 first year, annual renewal in September
Required for use on all public lands or lands
purchased or developed under either the RTF or
state grant program.
TeXas Trails Education And
Motorized Management
(TXTEAMM)
Is recognized by :
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.