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Off-Highway Vehicle Management in Minnesota: 1984 - 2004. Laurie Martinson, T&W Director Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources. In the beginning… 1984 – 1994. Legislature requires ATV/OHV/ORV registration. Dedicated funding accounts established. OHV grants-in-aid program begun.
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Off-Highway Vehicle Management in Minnesota: 1984 - 2004 Laurie Martinson, T&W Director Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
In the beginning…1984 – 1994 • Legislature requires ATV/OHV/ORV registration. • Dedicated funding accounts established. • OHV grants-in-aid program begun. • First designated OHV trails on State Forest lands. • 1993 Legislature requests OHV Mgmt Study & restricts development of ‘Motorsports Areas’. OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004
The formative years, 1995 - 1999... • OHV Program created, DNR Coordinator retained (95’). • State forest rule revisions begun (MR 6100.1950). • Iron Range OHVRA authorized & funded (96’ & 99’). • Non-controversial OHV rules adopted (97’). • Hearings held on interim State Forest Classifications (98’). • Regional OHV System Planning begun (98’). • Legislature amends rules to permit off-trail travel (99’). OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004
Two steps forward… 2000 - 2002 • Final forest classifications & rules adopted (00’). • Off-trail travel ban reinstated – ‘limited’ forests (00’) and‘managed’ forests (02’). • Petitions & lawsuits filed on OHV Plans (00’-01’). • Trail guidelines project begun (01’). • SE / SW MN OHV System Plans approved (01-02’). • Suit filed on Moosewalk ATV Trail; eight EAW’s ordered. • Legislature created Motorized Trails Task Force & called for audit of Motorized Trail Programs (02’). • Iron Range OHVRA @ Gilbert opens (02’). OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004
Measured change…2003 - 2004 • Task Force & Audit Reports presented to legislature (03’). • So. portion of Foothills State Forest reclassified (03’) • Moosewalk ATV Trail opens for regular use (03’). • Legislature creates OHV Damage Acct; local enforcement grants, wetland operation prohibited, ditch riding subject to local controls, and calls for state forest road/trail inventory and OHV trail designation (03’). • Wetland riding prohibitions modifed, and trail designation is exempted from rulemaking by 2004 legislature. • Appleton (County) OHV Park opens June 2004. OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004
What the future holds…2005 and beyond?? • No off-trail or cross-country OHV travel. • Trails‘closed’ unless posted ‘open’ to OHV. • More road ditch closures. • Increased public scrutiny of OHV proposals. • More privately funded and grant-in-aid OHV projects, including OHV Recreation Areas. • Flattening of OHV registrations, use trends. OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004