Arizona BLM Mechanized Trails Care, Study, Maintenance and Development

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The principal purposes is to enter into an agreement with a broad-based organization who can work with other organizations to study and/or support development of practices and procedures which promote area care, and assist in the management of safe and environmentally sound recreation opportunities for parties interested in OHV use. Since OHV use can occur on all types of lands (and land ownership) the need for best practices, policies and procedures is necessary to provide more uniformity and recognition of the proper use of OHV. Results of funded activities will encourage a broader view of the conflicting interests and multiple uses. Stimulation of the private sector, including partners, manufacturers, dealers and owners of uniquely developed equipment will facilitate the marketplace and public land users¿ enjoyment. The recipient will promote development of equipment, practices and knowledge which can be used by federal, state, local, and individual landowners in the management of their respective lands. Recipient will be encouraged to identify and share remediation, outreach and management practices. An example could include the study, application of techniques and best practices in response to trail washout impacts resulting from heavy rain events. Prompt responses to such incidents should reduce environmental damage while re-establishing access for OHV use. Such practices can serve as guiding principles for public land advocates and managers. In an effort to improve customer service, increase operational efficiency and enhance land stewardship, resource protection and conservation, BLM seeks a partner to assist in the management and implementation of travel management plans for its lands within the State of Arizona. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has recognized a shortfall in the areas of manpower, expertise and specialized equipment to manage off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. The recreating public is not realizing the full benefits that would result from sustainable management of OHV use thus ensuring long term public access. Insufficient staffing, equipment and expertise within Arizona allows resource damage and recreation conflict to occur. This ultimately spurs the closure of areas to vehicle-dependent recreation. BLM seeks to create a sustainable management framework that includes stewardship, education, engineering and maintenance, monitoring and research. A partnership could provide BLM Arizona the assistance it needs while improving relations with a group that has been historically lacking trust and been adverse to BLM management. The main purpose of this project is to engage in cooperative management of natural resources, recreation experiences and delivery of services important to visitors of BLM-managed lands in Arizona. Several objectives for a partnership have been identified. Objective 1) BLM seeks the expedited delivery of services that would otherwise not be provided to the public. Activities conducted on BLM lands must be done in a sustainable manner that is consistent with the views of OHV users to best achieve their buy-in. BLM¿s partner would help with the aspects of land management such as stewardship, education, engineering and maintenance, monitoring and research. Objective 2) BLM desires to improve relations with recreationists, specifically by working with representative OHV groups in ways that have beneficial outcomes for the general recreating public. BLM seeks to meet its multiple-use mission while providing the public¿s desired recreation opportunities and environmental conservation for long term conservation and public enjoyment of OHV trails and areas. The recipient should be prepared to work with others to propose and or/study techniques to enhance capability of the specialized trail equipment in the marketplace and to have available necessary specialized equipment such as, but not limited to, trail-size crawler tractor equipped an articulating blade, a mini excavator and trail-width water sprayer for dust control and soil moisture conditioning in remote areas. The recipient, working with others, should be able to leverage federal funds with sub-awards or separate agreements to promote specific agreement objectives. Others could include volunteer organizations, the power sports industry, tourism industry, construction industry and diverse recreation interests. Specific projects may be identified for funding. Projects on BLM managed lands will include the opportunity to gain practical knowledge of the adequacy of on-site practices, improve best practices for environmental compliance and develop relationships between recreationists and the partners.

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