BLM UT UTSO Public Lands Off-Highway Vehicle Stewardship Project by NRCC

Management of public lands activities such as OHVs and trail and travel systems are a challenge for all land management agencies in Utah. Because each agency is facing the same challenge, Utah land management agencies formed a partnership called the Natural Resource Coordinating Council. To formalize this partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding was created among the Bureau of Land Management, the State of Utah and the Forest Service.

The vision statement of the group is as follows: To meet the challenges of providing for appropriate OHV opportunities on Federal, State and Trust lands as well as ensuring the protection and wise management of natural resources and the myriad recreational opportunities for now and in the future.

Working under this partnership has seen many cooperative projects completed, such as the development and implementation of awareness campaigns as evidenced by the Ride On Utah campaign in partnership with Tread Lightly!, identification of OHV hot spots across the state, sign standards, one day ride maps and shared law enforcement efforts on key recreational use weekends. To further the mission of the partnership, the following items will be the focus of the agreement.

▪ Monitor and assist in the maintenance of public lands and trail and travel systems
▪ Provide on the ground public outreach and education opportunities
▪ Plan and carry out on the ground projects statewide

With so many acres managed by several offices across the state; the establishment of this agreement under the direction of the NRCC media and technical teams will help to focus resources and establish key relationships with local agency representatives such as those at local BLM field offices and State Parks. From there, resources pooled through this agreement will be devoted to accomplish work on the ground.

Objective: The primary objective is to provide a method for the BLM to contribute resources to support the NRCC partnership with the intent to increase stewardship efforts in a long term and consistent manner on BLM managed lands in coordination with other land management agencies statewide.

Public Benefit: Coordinating efforts and combining limited resources will increase the capacity for educating, monitoring and accomplishing projects on the ground which improve the quality and quantity of recreational opportunities available to the public across the state while also increasing the awareness of and protection of sensitive resources that may be threatened by irresponsible recreation activities including the use of OHVs. With more than 200,000 registered OHVs in Utah, and approximately 80% of those along the Wasatch Front of the Salt Lake Valley, providing a central contact/source to plan and coordinate stewardship activities across agencies statewide will improve awareness of how the public, as well as agencies, can increase the number and quality of individuals and groups who may effectively assist in the management of their public lands.

Management of public lands activities such as OHVs and trail and travel systems are a challenge for all land management agencies in Utah. Because each agency is facing the same challenge, Utah land management agencies formed a partnership called the Natural Resource Coordinating Council. To formalize this partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding was created among the Bureau of Land Management, the State of Utah and the Forest Service.

The vision statement of the group is as follows: To meet the challenges of providing for appropriate OHV opportunities on Federal, State and Trust lands as well as ensuring the protection and wise management of natural resources and the myriad recreational opportunities for now and in the future.

Working under this partnership has seen many cooperative projects completed, such as the development and implementation of awareness campaigns as evidenced by the Ride On Utah campaign in partnership with Tread Lightly!, identification of OHV hot spots across the state, sign standards, one day ride maps and shared law enforcement efforts on key recreational use weekends. To further the mission of the partnership, the following items will be the focus of the agreement.

▪ Monitor and assist in the maintenance of public lands and trail and travel systems
▪ Provide on the ground public outreach and education opportunities
▪ Plan and carry out on the ground projects statewide

With so many acres managed by several offices across the state; the establishment of this agreement under the direction of the NRCC media and technical teams will help to focus resources and establish key relationships with local agency representatives such as those at local BLM field offices and State Parks. From there, resources pooled through this agreement will be devoted to accomplish work on the ground.

Objective: The primary objective is to provide a method for the BLM to contribute resources to support the NRCC partnership with the intent to increase stewardship efforts in a long term and consistent manner on BLM managed lands in coordination with other land management agencies statewide.

Public Benefit: Coordinating efforts and combining limited resources will increase the capacity for educating, monitoring and accomplishing projects on the ground which improve the quality and quantity of recreational opportunities available to the public across the state while also increasing the awareness of and protection of sensitive resources that may be threatened by irresponsible recreation activities including the use of OHVs. With more than 200,000 registered OHVs in Utah, and approximately 80% of those along the Wasatch Front of the Salt Lake Valley, providing a central contact/source to plan and coordinate stewardship activities across agencies statewide will improve awareness of how the public, as well as agencies, can increase the number and quality of individuals and groups who may effectively assist in the management of their public lands.