MICHIGAN CLUB UTILIZES STATE OHV STICKER $s FOR NEW SINGLE-TRACK LOOP ON NATIONAL FOREST LAND

 An unusual partnership is forged for a new trail in the Upper Peninsula; environmental assessment scientists also get an opportunity to ride OHVs!

 
      Jeff Magowan of Escanaba, Michigan proves that perseverance sometimes pays off in a big way. He spent three years applying for a grant from the state OHV sticker fund to do an environmental assessment for a new single-track loop that his local off-highway motorcycle club was proposing on National Forest land. The first two times he was denied, but that didn't stop him from trying again in 2006, and this time it worked and they got $50,000 to get the job done. "We've actually been working on this project for nearly five years," says Jeff. "And the final word will be out in the fall of 2007 when the USNFS District Ranger will be asked to sign the final approval for the trail."

      The other interesting thing about Magowan's project is that state OHV funds are being used to do a project on National Forest land, which is something that doesn't occur very often. The proposed 31-mile loop will be in the Hiawatha National Forest near the town of Rapid River in the Upper Peninsula. "Our club, the UP Sandstormers, has been working with the state OHV fund folks and the National Forest Service for several years now as we have been involved in trail work and maintenance," explains Jeff. "So our three groups had already established a relationship of sorts. We have been trying to get the word out to the powers-that-be that providing more single-track trails to the dirt bikers will help cut down on inappropriate activities such as riding off-trail and on illegal lands, and in many ways they seem to be listening. "

TAKING THE SCIENTISTS FOR A RIDE

     The UP Sandstormers, along with the NOHVCC's Lewis Schuler, went even one step further with the project once the funding became available for the environmental assessment (EA). They organized a field trip with the handful of scientists who will be doing the EA this summer, along with the USNFS District Ranger and Recreation Director, at a location about 80 miles from the proposed trail loop. The intention was to get this group to see firsthand what a good single-track trail system consists of, as well as an idea of what the various pitfalls may be. They not only observed the trail, but Schuler also put most of the group through his beginner off-highway motorcycle Rider Training Course and took them for trail ride! "Only a couple of folks declined the offer to ride, so we were pretty happy about the turnout for that phase of the meeting," reports Magowan. "I'd say some of those folks left that meeting pretty excited about the sport."

     Magowan recently gave a presentation at the NOHVCC Annual Conference in Birmingham that centered on bridging the gap between state and federal agencies when it comes to funding and maintaining OHV trails. "They don't usually work well together, but our club has proved that it is certainly possible to make it happen," he says.

For more info, check out the UP Sandstormers website at; http://www.upsandstormers.com/

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