TNF’s VIRTUAL Open House for OHV Grant ideas

Every year, each national forest applies for funding through a grant program. These forests are required to seek user/public input in order to qualify for these funds.

Sadly, these forests are not required to follow the input of the users when writing the final grant application. But we do the dance in case our particular forest does listen to our input.

The Tahoe National Forest is currently in the driver’s seat regarding the Rubicon Trail and the Fordyce Trail, among many others. It is in our best interest to give our input. The details of how to do that are below. Once the draft grant application has been filled out, there is a public review period. It’s better to get your ideas in before that initial draft than try and get them in afterwards.

There is a needed Rubicon reroute that should get funded through this grant and there may be MAJOR Fordyce work funded through this grant but more likely just Fordyce planning funds.

This year it seems the USFS is still in a covid lockdown as they are only doing a “VIRTUAL” open house.

So, here’s the info…

Tahoe National Forest invites public to provide input on annual off-highway vehicle program grant application

Tahoe National Forest is preparing its annual application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division, to request funding for trail and facilities maintenance, law enforcement and education and safety. The forest invites interested individuals and organizations to a virtual open house on Feb. 13 to learn more about the state OHV grants the Tahoe National Forest is considering applying for and how to provide input.

What: Open house to discuss Tahoe National Forest annual OHV grant proposals Where: Virtual, join on Teams

When: Feb. 13, 2025, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Annual state OHV grants provide important funds for the U.S. Forest Service to develop and maintain trails and trailheads, repair winter storm damage and restore trailside environments, as well as provide patrolling, education and monitoring of OHV areas. When finalized, the grants will be available for public review and comment on the State of California’s website ( http://ohv.parks.ca.gov ) from March 4 – May 5, 2025.

Questions, comments or letters can be submitted through the following ways:

• In-person: During the virtual open house meeting via written comments
• Email: Trails Program Coordinator Joe Chavez, joe.chavez@usda.gov
• Mail: Tahoe National Forest, Attn: Joe Chavez, Forest Trails Program Coordinator, 631 Coyote St., Nevada City, Calif. 95959
• 
  Feedback on projects and grant opportunities is requested by Feb. 24, 2025.