NOHVCC’s webinar series continues– join us on September 30!

USFS Risk Assessment Guidance

Anyone who organizes or participates in events or performs volunteer efforts on National Forests should join us for our September 30 webinar. Sandy Bearden, Safety Manager, United States Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region will describe the new Forest Service guidance that will impact the way volunteers and others assess risk in projects. This webinar will allow you to hear directly from the Forest Service about any new expectations, as well as provide an opportunity to have questions answered.

After years of planning, an off-road vehicle park in Oakland County, Holly Oaks ORV Park, is moving forward. As part of a long-term goal of the Statewide Trail ORV Plan, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources wanted to create an opportunity for legal, public off-road vehicle recreation in southeastern Michigan. Oakland County was selected as a prime area to develop such an opportunity because it has the highest percent of licensed ORVs in the state, but no legal public riding areas. The park will be a joint State-County project, operated by Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR) in partnership with the DNR via a 20-year operating agreement (with a10-year renewal). The park, consisting of former and active sand and gravel mines, is located off I-75 (at Grange Hall) and Dixie Highway across from Groveland Oaks County Park and Campground.

In late 2017, the California Coastal Commission approved a large expansion of dust control measures at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area without complying with the California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA). Friends of Oceano Dunes sued to block the approval and won that battle in Feb. 2020.

We know you've been patiently waiting to see what we have been planning for you for October 2-4. W e're excited to finally share the details plus other exciting Bantam news!

Ford Motor Company will reveal the all-new Ford Bronco 4x4 family on Monday, July 13 across Disney’s Media Networks – marking the first-ever, prime-time product reveal roadblock across Disney’s broadcast, cable, digital and streaming properties, including ABC, ESPN, National Geographic and Hulu.

The newly relaunched Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) magazine has featured United 4WD Associations and its programs. Download your copy by visiting this link

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) faces a crucial time as the program is at risk of going dormant without Congressional approval before September 30, 2020.

The 10th anniversary celebration of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival will need to wait until next year. Despite the Festival’s plan to postpone the event until October if the Coronavirus did not permit the Festival to be held in June, the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association (FBJA) must put the brakes on the 10th anniversary event. Unfortunately, Cooper’s Lake Campground, where the event is held, must close for the remainder of the year due to the repercussions of COVID-19.

The good news is that some of this week’s updates are places opening back up and not being closed due to the coronavirus. Although USFS Region 5 has announced that most developed recreation sites will remain closed through May 15, the individual forests are slowly opening motorized roads and trails as seasonal road and trail closures are lifted.

It is five years since UFWDA last surveyed four-wheelers and we invite you to again take part.