Transcript All of the trails are wonderful! Keep up the good work!!!!

Off-Highway Vehicle
Management in Minnesota:
1984 - 2004
Laurie Martinson, T&W Director
Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
In the beginning…
1984 – 1994
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Legislature requires ATV/OHV/ORV registration.
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Dedicated funding accounts established.
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OHV grants-in-aid program begun.
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First designated OHV trails on State Forest lands.
1993 Legislature requests OHV Mgmt Study &
restricts development of ‘Motorsports Areas’.
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OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004
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The formative years,
1995 - 1999...
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OHV Program created, DNR Coordinator retained (95’).
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State forest rule revisions begun (MR 6100.1950).
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Iron Range OHVRA authorized & funded (96’ & 99’).
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Non-controversial OHV rules adopted (97’).
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Hearings held on interim State Forest Classifications (98’).
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Regional OHV System Planning begun (98’).
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Legislature amends rules to permit off-trail travel (99’).
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OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004
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Two steps forward…
2000 - 2002
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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’).
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Measured change…
2003 - 2004
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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.
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What the future holds…
2005 and beyond??
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No off-trail or cross-country OHV travel.
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Trails ‘closed’ unless posted ‘open’ to OHV.
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More road ditch closures.
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Increased public scrutiny of OHV proposals.
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More privately funded and grant-in-aid OHV
projects, including OHV Recreation Areas.
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Flattening of OHV registrations, use trends.
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OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004
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17 July 2015
OHVs in MN: 1984 - 2004
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