5th Annual Off-Highway Vehicle Management Workshop is "BEST YET!"

This educational forum brought together different user groups on the design, maintenance, management, and promotion of multi-use trails.

By Corey Corbett Secretary, COHVCO
Photos by Corey Corbett

Over 60 attendees participated in the fifth annual COHVCO Off Highway Vehicle Management Workshop, June 9th through June 11th, 2005, near the beautifully scenic canyon country around Grand Junction, Colorado. This year's OHV Workshop was sponsored by COHVCO, VOC, IMBA, BLM, US Forest Service, and Colorado State Parks.

	Marking and laying out new sustainable trails designed from GPS slope and grade analysis by comparing actual "on the ground" survey.

The purpose of this workshop was to create camaraderie and a sense of understanding among different user groups in an educational forum on the design, maintenance, management, and promotion of multi-use trails in arid environments. The workshop was a collaboration of many trail users, including mountain bikers, motorized users, hikers, and equestrians. Most importantly, it was an ideal time for land managers and enthusiasts to discuss issues in a relaxed manner.

Workshop topics were dedicated to the design and construction of sustainable multi-use trail systems. This included the basic principles of trail design, criteria for the placement of trails, Trail Management Objectives, site analysis (soils, slope, vegetation, land status, wildlife and cultural issues) and a field practicum. Everyone got to spend one full day in the field laying out multi-use trails near Bang's Canyon in Grand Junction. Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado provided food and other great support.

The first day included dirt bike and ATV certifications and guided rides/hikes in and around the Bang's Canyon area. The organized rides/hikes provided an educational component to familiarize participants prior to the workshop with some of the challenges and problems of designing sustainable multi use trail systems in arid environments.

NOHVCC Exec. Dir. Russ Ehnes mounts up for a ride with other enthusiasts and agency personnel.

The most popular session was an interactive panel discussion addressing the varied needs and desires of many user groups. The panel included representatives of motorized users, hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and environmental concerns. Discussions addressed basic principles of multi-use trail design and construction while incorporating a better understanding of user's needs and desires as an essential component of sustainable multi-use trail design while also learning about successful planning and management strategies for meeting those needs. Participants came from as far away as Alabama, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho and from all over Colorado.

Corey Corbett, COHVCO Secretary and the Colorado Partner Alternate, for NOHVCC was the workshop coordinator. Corey indicated that comments received on the workshop ranged from; "the best OHV Management Workshop ever" to "we are glad to see COHVCO addressing such important OHV issues involving such a wide variety of users". Last year COHVCO was nominated for the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, "Colorado Land Stewardship Award" primarily for coordinating this type of effort.

	The workshop was a collaboration of USFS, BLM, Colorado State Parks and many trail users, including mountain bikers, motorized users, hikers, and equestrians.

For more information about COHVCO, visit: WWW.COHVCO.ORG

Conference coordinator Corey Corbett is Secretary of COHVCO; Vice Chairman and Congress Delegate, AMA District 25; Treasurer, RRMMC; and State Representative Alternate for NOHVCC:

Cell Phone 303-809-6628
Home Phone 303-933-4011
Fax 303-932-8733
12161 West Mt. Powell
Littleton, CO 80127

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For more opportunities for training on trail design, construction, and management see the National Trails Training Partnership area.