Federal Lands: Enhanced Planning Could Assist Agencies in Managing Increased Use of Off-Highway Vehicles

In May 2010, the Forest Service published guidance to assist Forest Service employees responsible for managing OHV use and implementing individual forests' Motor Vehicle Use Maps. The guidance identified four key areas to be addressed: education, engineering, enforcement, and evaluation. For each of these areas, the guidance identifies desired outcomes and key tasks that can be performed to help achieve those outcomes. For example, a desired education outcome is widespread adoption of safe and responsible OHV use and key tasks that could help achieve this outcome include developing an education plan that identifies key audiences and effective delivery methods. In March 2013, the Forest Service finalized performance measures that will be tracked on a forest-by-forest basis each fiscal year beginning in FY13. For example, one performance measure is whether or not the forest has developed and implemented an education or communication strategy.

BLM's "2020 Travel and Transportation Management Vision" document, dated April 2013 includes performance measures and timeframes for conducting travel management planning for off road vehicle use. For example, as of 2012, BLM had completed 151 travel management plans on more than 36 million acres, and identified an additional 447 travel management plans that will need to be completed, covering more than 212 million acres. By 2020, BLM has a goal of completing 79% of these needed plans, covering 159 million acres. BLM's "2020 Travel and Transportation Management Vision" document acknowledges the importance of implementing these plans once they are developed by setting a goal of implementing each plan within 2 to 5 years after it is finalized. Such implementation includes signing, enforcement, monitoring, route rehabilitation or restoration, and communication of travel management decisions to OHV users through maps and responsible-use education.

BLM officials provided several examples of enhanced communication with the public. Specifically, BLM field offices have been directed to develop sign plans for OHV areas as travel and transportation management plans are completed. For example, the Barstow Field Office in California is planning to install up to 22 new informational kiosks in their popular OHV area to provide more information to the public. BLM officials also described using partnerships with stakeholder groups to increase awareness of responsible OHV riding among hunters, fishermen, and recreational shooters. In one such partnership with the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, BLM worked with OHV users on Montana to build new fences, install information kiosks and signs, and create a numbering system for trails in a popular OHV area.

The Forest Service developed a web-based interactive map system which includes more features than their paper-based Motor Vehicle Use Maps. For example, the web-based maps include rivers, lakes, and topographic lines and allow users to search for trails by the type of motorized travel they plan to do. Forest Service officials voluntarily choose to input information into the web-based system. As of May 2013, Forest Service officials said that information for 29 Forests had been entered into the web-based system and information is being added for more than 50 additional forests.

According to a Forest Service official, actions have been taken in five Forest Service regions to assess the fine amounts for OHV-related violations. Two regions determined that OHV fines were appropriate and three regions identified U.S. district courts within their regions with low fine amounts for OHV-related violations. All three of these regions petitioned the relevant U.S. district courts for increases, which were granted in some cases.

In 2010, BLM headquarters requested information from all BLM state offices about fine amounts for OHV-related violations. According to BLM officials, all state offices responded and when the data was analyzed, BLM determined that, in many cases, the fines were too low to provide an effective deterrent. In January 2012, BLM headquarters issued guidance instructing state offices to request revisions to the fine amounts. Subsequently, fine amounts in the U.S. District Courts of Alaska, Central California, Colorado, and Utah were updated as requested, and requests are pending in other District Courts around the country.