1.8 Million Acres in two states (AR & OK) Two separate and distinct state OHV laws One of three National Forests in Arkansas 1.8 Million Acres in two states (AR & OK) Two separate and distinct state OHV laws One of three National Forests in Arkansas Arkansas & Oklahoma • • • • • • OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma closed unless posted closed unless posted – – open unless posted closed. open unless posted closed. – – St. Francis St. Francis – – open. open. Three National Forests, two different policies. Ouachita Ozark Three National Forests, two different policies. Ouachita Ozark Arkansas & Oklahoma • • • • Arkansas & Oklahoma • OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST • separated by only five miles separated by only five miles. At one location, the Forests are At one location, the Forests are Arkansas & Oklahoma • • OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma Arkansas & Oklahoma OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma Arkansas & Oklahoma OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma - - Communication. house. revision activities. Communication. house. revision activities. OHV Planning Constraints: Time, Distance & Communications contract option explored. Contract developed, executed and managed in Contract work was completed concurrent with plan OHV Planning Constraints: Time, Distance & Communications contract option explored. Contract developed, executed and managed in Contract work was completed concurrent with plan Arkansas & Oklahoma • • • • Arkansas & Oklahoma • • • OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST • T use) in the National Forests as one of Four use) in the National Forests as one of Four . . investigate and implement a management policy for investigate OHVs Threats to National Forest sustainability. OHV revision issue. investigate and implement a management policy for investigate OHVs Threats to National Forest sustainability. OHV revision issue. The Chief identified unmanaged recreation (including The Ouachita NF identified OHV use as a major plan As part of Ouachita plan revision, the Forest set out to The Chief identified unmanaged recreation (including The Ouachita NF identified OHV use as a major plan As part of Ouachita plan revision, the Forest set out to Arkansas & Oklahoma • • • • • • OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma knowledgeable of local affairs and “savvy” about user population expectations and desires. knowledgeable of local affairs and “savvy” about user population expectations and desires. Selected local public relations firm Selected local public relations firm Arkansas & Oklahoma • • OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma T T

FORES FORES

L L istening Post” meetings in istening Post” meetings in

NATIONA NATIONA

area. area. data. media. draw data. media. draw Established goals/format for data gathering. Provided compiled results and analysis of gathered Assisted with six public “L Established goals/format for data gathering. Provided compiled results and analysis of gathered Assisted with six public “L Developed communication plan using free and paid Created exhibits/materials for use at meetings. Developed communication plan using free and paid Created exhibits/materials for use at meetings. ------Consultant developed comprehensive public involvement plan. public involvement comprehensive developed Consultant Consultant developed comprehensive public involvement plan. public involvement comprehensive developed Consultant Arkansas & Oklahoma • • OUACHITA OUACHITA Arkansas & Oklahoma T T letters letters - - OHV participant OHV participant - - mails and 12 mails and 12 - - 387 members of the public and local state 387 members of the public and local state A petition of 2.5K A petition of 2.5K Arkansas & Oklahoma • agencies attended the six “listening post” meetings. 46 groups, clubs and other organizations were represented at the meetings. signatures was delivered to the Supervisor’s Office. 104 e containing OHV comments were received. 403 user surveys were completed. • agencies attended the six “listening post” meetings. 46 groups, clubs and other organizations were represented at the meetings. • Arkansas & Oklahoma signatures was delivered to the Supervisor’s Office. 104 e OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES containing OHV comments were received. 403 user surveys were completed. learned of a National OHV policy initiative. Nationwide requirement? How to mesh our developing plan with the new During the Forest’s OHV planning process we Arkansas & Oklahoma • • OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma So, what did we learn? Arkansas & Oklahoma OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma ng Post” attendance was female). ng Post” attendance was female). aged male . Use by females, couples and families aged male . Use by females, couples and families - - is increasing (20% of “Listeni is increasing (20% of “Listeni Upper middle Upper middle - User is protective of his “ownership” the Forest. OHV used for pleasure riding and activities related to HUNTING! - User is protective of his “ownership” the Forest. OHV used for pleasure riding and activities related to HUNTING! - - - - Typical User Typical User Arkansas & Oklahoma • • OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma adults, adults, Scouting. Scouting. are used for direct are used for direct ♦ ♦ OHVs OHVs Accessing favored hunting locations. Setting up and dismantling hunting camps. Accessing favored hunting locations. Setting up and dismantling hunting camps. Large game retrieval. Large game retrieval. ♦ ♦ ♦ children and less mobile older adults visiting the Forest together. ♦ ♦ ♦ children and less mobile older adults visiting the Forest together. OHV use is a growing family activity with OHV use is a growing family activity with During hunting season During hunting season • hunting activities and related such as: • • • • hunting activities and related such as: Arkansas & Oklahoma OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma T T Resource Resource Search & rescue. Search & rescue. - - - - management. management. Timber scouting on adjacent, private lands. Administrative use. Law enforcement. Timber scouting on adjacent, private lands. Administrative use. Law enforcement. Firefighting access. Firefighting access. ------Arkansas & Oklahoma Some Needs to Consider: Some Needs to Consider: OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES Arkansas & Oklahoma T T Local economies. Local economies. - - held private property. held private property. - - Lack of OHV rider personal protective equipment. Environmental impacts of unmanaged OHV use. Impacts to adjacent and in Cultural expectations of local and visiting population. User defined Stream crossings. Aging /disabled population access to the forest. Lack of OHV rider personal protective equipment. Environmental impacts of unmanaged OHV use. Impacts to adjacent and in Cultural expectations of local and visiting population. User defined Stream crossings. Aging /disabled population access to the forest. ------Arkansas & Oklahoma Concerns to be addressed: Concerns to be addressed: OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES Arkansas & Oklahoma T T “bad apple” behavior “bad apple” behavior policing, support managing policing, support managing - - OHV trails. funds are used to improve OHV facilities. that may curtail Forest access to responsible users. OHV trails. funds are used to improve OHV facilities. that may curtail Forest access to responsible users. Self Willing to aid in design, construction and maintenance of Willing to aid in design, construction and maintenance Motivated, concerned and involved. Willing to purchase a permit and “license” sticker if Self Willing to aid in design, construction and maintenance of Willing to aid in design, construction and maintenance Motivated, concerned and involved. Willing to purchase a permit and “license” sticker if Arkansas & Oklahoma OHV Users Are: • • • • • • • • OHV Users Are: OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES Arkansas & Oklahoma newsletters, newsletters, - - eetings, newspaper articles, eetings, newspaper articles, V policy moves OHV use from V policy moves OHV use from going currently at District level to going currently at District level to - - country to designated routes and trails. country to designated routes and trails. - - cross posters, meetings, partner m identify qualifying routes and trails. routes and trails. etc. cross identify qualifying routes and trails. posters, meetings, partner m routes and trails. etc. Draft Revised Forest Plan OH Public education and interagency coordination In the analysis on In development of Forest criteria for establishing OHV Draft Revised Forest Plan OH Public education and interagency coordination In the analysis on In development of Forest criteria for establishing OHV Arkansas & Oklahoma How have we used this information? • • • • How have we used this information? • • • • OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST Arkansas & Oklahoma T T potential routes and trails. potential routes and trails. on the ground and a public education program will be implemented. on potential routes and trails. Routes trails will be finalized. analysis will be compiled into on the ground and a public education program will be implemented. on potential routes and trails. Routes trails will be finalized. analysis will be compiled into Route maps, user brochures, trail and route identification Public working groups will be formed to review and comment After final Forest plan is approved, the District OHV route Route maps, user brochures, trail and route identification Public working groups will be formed to review and comment After final Forest plan is approved, the District OHV route Arkansas & Oklahoma • • What’s To Come? • • • What’s To Come? • OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES OUACHITA NATIONAL FORES Arkansas & Oklahoma PartyParty Time!Time!