The Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado is benefiting from a partnership between Tread Lightly! And Noble Energy, Inc. The groups held a kickoff event last Friday at the Main Draw Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area near Greeley, Colo.

In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service’s Pawnee National Grassland office, Noble Energy employees alongside volunteers from a local Boy Scouts troop completed the first of three important projects installing new fencing and a new information kiosk that will serve local and visiting OHV enthusiasts.

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, has given out more than $95,000 in GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) for the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative in the first quarter of 2015.

Yamaha contributed to eight projects supporting the program’s dedication to safe, responsible riding and open sustainable access to land, trails and riding areas for OHV users.

(Photo courtesy Four Wheeler Network)

More than 50 volunteers deserve some recognition for giving back to the industry during the Easter Jeep Safari.

Volunteers constructed nearly a half mile of fencing on Moab’s popular Sevenmile Rim Trail to more clearly define the trail and reduce impact on surrounding areas. As well, the volunteers erected a buck and rail fence at Wipe Out Hill, designed to provide some aesthetically pleasing environmental protection without obstructing the scenic view.

On March 1, nearly 250 volunteers braved the rain to help pick up more than 10 tons of trash detracting from the beauty of the popular Table Mesa Recreation Area north of Phoenix. The cleanup project is part of a larger effort to ensure continued access to public lands in Arizona by promoting outdoor ethics.

The initiative – Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona – is supported by a coalition of partners including the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Game and Fish Department, US Forest Service and Tread Lightly!, a national nonprofit organization that promotes responsible outdoor recreation through ethics education and stewardship programs.

Tread Lightly!, the national nonprofit supporting outdoor recreation, has launched the www.JoinTreadLightly.org URL to encourage increased membership in support of its 25th anniversary this year.

JoinTreadLightly.org is a direct link to the organization’s new member page where individuals can sign up for a range of memberships from $25 to $250 per year.

According to Tread Lightly!, 90% of funds raised go directly to supporting its mission of promoting responsible recreation through ethics education and stewardship initiatives.

“Tread Lightly!’s work impacts both land and water and is representative of nearly every form of outdoor recreation,” says Lori McCullough, Tread Lightly!’s executive director. “Growing our member base is a priority that will help Tread Lightly! continue to expand our reach and do more good for the recreational activities that we all enjoy.”

Photo credit: Dale Tallman Jr.

Approximately 25 riders and supporters were on hand Saturday to celebrate the reopening of phase one of the Rattlesnake Bay OHV Trails in Mississippi’s DeSoto National Forest, according to a report from the American Motorcyclist Association.

Prior to Satorday’s reopening, these trails had been “temporarily” closed for more than 11 years. The Friends of Rattlesnake Bay off-highway-vehicle group joined U.S. Forest Service officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 9.5-mile section of trails.

It’s taken a lot of work from organizations like the American Sand Association (aSa) and many committed volunteers, but 40,000 acres of currently closed sand dunes are being reopened for off-road recreation.

The aSa, in conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management, is looking for volunteers to start the process of removing the closure stakes in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Specifically, th small central closure near Gecko Campground and the 160 acres in Buttercup. According to the aSa, the Buttercup project will also call for assistance with the re-installation of the critical habitat closure near the US/Mexico border.

While the threat of ATV trails closing gets a lot of attention, we are very pleased to report that the U.S. Forest Service has reopened 31 miles of ATV trails in Mississippi. The Rattlesnake Bay ATV Trails are located in the DeSoto National Forest.

Area riders can thank the Friends of Rattlesnake Bay, which worked to serve as a strong and unified voice for the trail users.

According to a report from the American Motorcyclist Association, the U.S. military can’t spend any money expanding a Marine base into the Johnson Valley off-highway vehicle riding area in California until the Navy files a report on off-highway riding with Congress.

On Jan. 2, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 4310), triggering a hold on spending and a 90-day deadline for the military to report to Congress on how its proposed expansion of a Marine base at Twentynine Palms, Calif., would affect off-highway riding at Johnson Valley.

The language was inserted into the bill by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) with support from Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.).