Oregon State provides a mechanism to support OHV use in the state. As users of public lands, the public knows that they need to have up to date OHV Permit on their vehicle and to have participated in the appropriate training.
These stickers are more than just a “Ticket to Ride”. They provide an estimate of the actual fuel burning vehicles that are not on public roads, but rather on off-highway routes. Whenever you purchase fuel, you are paying Oregon Taxes, which has a portion appropriated to public roads AND based on OHV Permit sales, a proportionate portion appropriated to OHV routes.
This amount of funding can be up to 10 times the funds collected by the OHV sticker fees alone. This pool of funding is controlled by Oregon Parks and Recreation. OREGON PARKS GRANT PROGRAM
Land Managers across the state, Federal, State, and County, formally request portions of this funding. But it is not just a hand out. Each of these requesters have to provide a percentage of funding of what they request. So if a request is made for $100,000, then the manager must come up with $25,000, skin in the game. This “Skin” can come in the way of real dollars, or funding equivalent. This is where NWTRA volunteer hours come in. Each and every recorded volunteer hour has a dollar value. These Volunteer dollars are and have been critical in each local land manager on getting these grants.
Additionally, the land manager must have a specific request, such as for designated equipment or projects. These grants are on a two year cycle. Morrow-Grant, Umatilla NF, and Wallowa-Whitman NF all make regular requests and have been very successful on being awarded. For the 2019-2021 Grant cycle Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman jointly requested a replacement of the much used Trail Maintenance Dozer. 2019 GRANTS
NWTRA has used the brand name “SWECO” as a short hand, but SUTTER also makes a very good unit. It is unknown which will happen, but one of them will.
This and better equipment trailers, some new chainsaws, and even few OHV’s are great news for the trails of the area.