Staff reports
LAKE COUNTY >> The county, through volunteers of the Konocti Regional Trails (KRT) system, has submitted an educational grant application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s Grants and Cooperative Agreements program.
The project was conceived by KRT’s south county group to address some of the ongoing problems associated with illegal off-highway vehicle (OHV) usage along Putah Creek by highlighting the many legal OHV recreation areas that are abundant throughout the county and focusing on OHV recreation education and safety, according to Jill Ruzicka, county public information officer.
The program will reinforce responsible off-road riding, with emphasis on safety, environmental stewardship and respect for private property.
The project proposes using peer group educators, such as AMA pro Jeff Mann Jr., owner of Oasis Motocross, as well as other amateur riders to advocate responsible, respectful and safe off-road recreation.
The program will also feature:
• An OHV video using aerial video footage to showcase the many miles of OHV-sanctioned recreation areas in Lake County
• An official Lake County OHV map/brochure
• An OHV informational kiosk
• Educational programs focused on school-aged children, OHV users and non-users
• A website focused on OHV recreation
Although the initial focus was concentrated in the south county, illegal and unauthorized OHV use is rampant throughout the area, Ruzicka stated. It can severely impact water quality from sedimentation and nutrient loading; sensitive riparian areas and habitats of endangered and threatened species, such as the Clear Lake hitch, yellow-legged frog and western pond turtle; percolation rates from OHV-compacted soils; and neighborhood tranquility and quality.
Therefore, this project could benefit all areas of the county, especially along Clear Lake’s north shore ridgeline area that for many years has been considered for low-impact, non-motorized recreation, Ruzicka stated. In addition, it can provide information for other county and city departments such as law enforcement, other government agencies, community and neighborhood associations, as well as tourist and hospitality establishments that provide services to OHV recreationists.
The preliminary application can be viewed on this page: http://olga.ohv.parks.ca.gov/egrams_ohmvr/user/ReviewProjects.aspx In the grant program section, type “GCA-14” (no quotes); in the agency section, type “94-6000825” and in the project section, type “S” for education and safety.
For more information, contact Gigi Stahl at lakekrt@gmail.com.
