HUMMER’s Recreation Rescue
OVERVIEW
HUMMER and Tread Lightly! have announced the launch of a new partnership called HUMMER’s Recreation Rescue, which will provide grants to outdoor recreation sites. The grants will be dedicated towards land use education, management and trail maintenance. At least $25,000 in grants will be given away in 2008.
HUMMER’s Recreation Rescue was created under the umbrella of Tread Lightly!’s Restoration for Recreation program. Restoration for Recreation is designed to keep the great outdoors beautiful, healthy and open to the public by providing much needed resources for trail maintenance, education and communications initiatives to allow for environmentally sustainable outdoor recreation.
HUMMER is a division of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer. HUMMER is a premium off-road vehicle manufacturer with sales in 37 countries and a product line-up that consists of the H2, H2 SUT, H3, H3x, and award-winning H3 Alpha. Information on HUMMER products is available at www.hummer.com.
TO VOLUNTEER
As part of this "rescue effort," we will need dedicated, hard working volunteers who want to make a difference for their sport and the great outdoors. Volunteers will be needed to re-seed, install signage and kiosks, build trail enhancements and do other important tasks. Check each project for volunteer opportunities.
PROJECTS SELECTED
Bald Mountain Project, Sierra National Forest, California
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Before
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After
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The Bald Mountain project entails the improvement and stabilization of an existing four wheel drive trail. A half-mile section of the trail receives heavy run-off during storm events, leading to trail erosion. This section is located where stream bank restoration is also necessary. Several “cheater routes” will also be restored. Finally, a brochure and map of the trail will be created to guide public along this restored designated route.
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Volunteer Work Day for Bald Mountain Project: Completeted
Friday, August 1, 2008
The smoked cleared for a beautiful day in the Sierra Nevada Mountains as 35 volunteers and Forest Service employees worked together to build barriers and create a water diversion to reduce erosion on a section of the Bald Mountain OHV Trail.
Pictures From the Work Day
SOME SUPPORTERS OF THIS PROJECT: The volunteer day is part of a larger Bald Mountain project funded by HUMMER. Some great clubs and organizations are stepping in up to the plate, including: Clovis Independent Four Wheelers, Mountain Toppers Four Wheel Drive Club of Fresno, California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc, California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs Safety and Education Foundation, Inc., 4x4Him Christian Wheelers, Californians for Public Access, Inc, (Cal Access), Northern California Land Rover, and Lock and Low Four Wheel Drive Club of Visalia.
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"Four Wheel Drive Way" Trail Designation, Ocala National Forest, Florida
The Ocala National Forest begins implementation of the Travel Management Rule on July 1, 2008. At this time Off Highway Vehicles will only be permitted on designated roads and trails, or they face a fine. The routes that are designated open need to be mapped and signed well. This project includes the purchase and installation of the necessary signs and materials to show approved routes on the ground for 81 miles of four wheel drive trails. The new route system will be called "Four Wheel Drive Way." The funding will also produce a map depicting the designated routes.
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Volunteer Work Day for Ocala Project: Completed
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Despite high temperatures, thunderstorms, and hoards of bugs, nearly 70 volunteers helped sign a new designated route in Florida as part of HUMMER’s Recreation Rescue.
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Kane Creek Trailhead, Moab, Utah
The project will take place at the Kane Creek trailhead staging/parking area, which serves many popular BLM trails, both motorized and non-motorized. The area receives heavy use by ATV and motorcycle riders, as well as jeepers and mountain bikers. Unfortunately it has become unorganized, often congested, and is seeing damage from unregulated use. This project will build and install protective fencing (potentially hundreds of feet) at the Kane Creek trailhead/staging area. The fences would be constructed of wood and designed to keep vehicles from driving up a bank onto the adjacent county road and also to define the parking area. An information kiosk will also be designed and erected at the site and will contain information on safety, responsible use, BLM rules, maps, and brochures.
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Volunteer Work Day for Moab Project:
September 27, 2008 National Public Lands Day
Tread Lightly! is seeking volunteers to help with a project in Moab, Utah on National Public Lands Day-- Saturday, September 27.
On the volunteer work day we will be building and installing a new kiosk that will contain information on safety, responsible use, BLM rules, maps, and brochures. We will also be repairing some range fence and erecting a sign or two. And, we will likely need volunteers to do a thorough clean-up of the staging area and trails. Moab Friends-For-Wheelin’ are organizing this event with the Bureau of Land Management.
MFFW will provide lunch and trash bags. Please bring gloves and plenty of water.
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008
Time: 9:00am
Work site meeting place directions: Drive south through Moab on Main Street, and turn right on Kane Creek Blvd at the McDonalds. After about 0.7 miles, bear left at the “Y”. Continue for another 3.75 miles. At this point, the road changes from paved to gravel. After a couple hundred more feet, you will see a large dirt parking area on your right. This is the worksite.
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Road and Trail Dust Abatement Study, Phoenix, Arizona
There are few practical studies that provide needed information on dust abatement. The issue of successful dust abatement for clean air is a multi-faceted issue involving engineering, education, and lately, enforcement. Currently, information is lacking on which dust suppressants work in western environments, their lifespan and costs. The Phoenix District BLM will conduct a follow up dust suppressant test, building on a test recently completed. This test will compare three dust suppressants to determine the lowest cost product on a ’per vehicle trip’ basis that keeps dust levels within county standard.
The Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (AZOHVC) has agreed to provide vehicles and personnel to assist BLM in conducting the next round of tests.
The success of this study will provide the framework for continued OHV use near Phoenix and any other city in the nation with dust issues. The solutions are primarily for the western US, but could be applied anywhere. A kiosk will be erected at the test site explaining area rules and regulations and a summary of the dust suppressant project.
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Volunteer Opportunities for Dust Abatement Project:
TBD
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