USFS REGION 5 ISSUES EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDER DUE TO EXTREME WILDFIRE CONDITIONS

PWORA PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Sept. 7, 2020

REGION 5 ISSUES EMERGENCY FOREST CLOSURE ORDER FOR CALIFORNIA

As wildfires continue to blow-up in California and threaten the lives of visitors, including those rescued by the California National Guard on the Sierra National Forest, PWORA would like to share this news release today from the Regional Forester, Randy Moore,  at the Region 5 headquarters in Vallejo, CA.

PWORA urges the recreation community to review the news release to see what National Forests and recreation facilities have been closed during these extreme CODE RED wildfire conditions.   

Also, authorities fighting the August Complex Fires on the Mendocino National Forest issued a Red Flag Warning on Sunday afternoon that is in effect from 10 pm Monday to 8 am Wednesday. There is potential for increased fire activity and spread with heavy smoke production.

LINK TO REGION 5 NEWS RELEASE

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD799162

VALLEJO, Calif., September 7, 2020 – Most of California remains under the threat of unprecedented and dangerous fire conditions with a combination of extreme heat, significant wind events, dry conditions, and firefighting resources that are stretched to the limit. Due to these conditions, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing the following temporary closures and fire restrictions to provide for public safety and reduce the potential for human caused fire starts. They will go into effect at 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time on Monday, September 7, 2020, and will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change.

1.            Closure of the following National Forests: Stanislaus National Forest, Sierra National Forest, Sequoia National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, Angeles National Forest, San Bernardino National Forest, and Cleveland National Forest.

2.            Prohibition of the use of any ignition source on all National Forest System lands (campfires, gas stoves, etc.) throughout California.

3.            Closure of all developed campgrounds and day-use sites on National Forests in California.

“The wildfire situation throughout California is dangerous and must be taken seriously. Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior, new fire starts are likely, weather conditions are worsening, and we simply do not have enough resources to fully fight and contain every fire,” said Randy Moore, Regional Forester for the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region. “We are bringing every resource to bear nationally and internationally to fight these fires, but until conditions improve, and we are confident that National Forest visitors can recreate safely, the priority is always to protect the public and our firefighters. With these extreme conditions, these temporary actions will help us do both.”

An example of extreme fire behavior is the Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest which began on Friday Sep. 4th and grew rapidly on Saturday, Sep. 5th. The fire made a 15-mile run in a single day and burned 36,000 acres, prompting evacuations and life saving measures. The California National Guard evacuated at least 200 people from Wagner Mammoth Pool Campground and assessed them for medical needs.

The Forest Service thanks our partners and the public for their cooperation and understanding of this monumental fire threat. It is critical that all Californians and national forest visitors follow these important closures and restrictions for their own safety and the safety of our firefighters.

PWORA thanks you for your prompt attention to this public service announcement and urges you to support our firefighters and those who have been impacted by the 2020 wildfire season.  Remember we still have about 3 or more months left of our dry season before the winter rains come.

AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE TORCHES MENDOCINO NF BACKCOUNTRY

Plaskett Meadows Recreation Area - Circa 2017

Mendocino National Forest

*All Pictures are in the August Complex Fire Burn Footprint

AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE TORCHES MENDOCINO NF BACKCOUNTRY

The 2020 wildfire season continues to devastate families, private homes, and public lands in the Golden State.  One wildfire of keen interest to many backcountry trail enthusiasts is the August Complex Fire that is advancing across the northern part of the Mendocino National Forest.

Historically, this region of the Forest provides access to a lot of mid to high-elevation “deep woods” type dispersed/remote backcountry recreation for both motorized and non-motorized outdoor enthusiasts vs. the southern end of the Forest that is home to more developed OHV use, boating, camping, and fishing. 

Historic Log Springs Station - Circa 2017

Mendocino National Forest

The August Complex’s destructive path continues north from where the 2018 Ranch Fire was stopped near SheetIron Mountain.   Much of this area is a heavily wooded conifer forest that has not seen a significant fire event in some time.  This area is (or was) also prime habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl.

Most of the OHV recreation on this part of the Forest occurs on designated roads with some trail networks in the Doe Peak area that are enjoyed by dirt-bikes, ATVs, SxSs, and 4WDs.  However, the vast majority of motorized recreation opportunity is for street legal dual-sport/ADV motorcycles and 4WDs.  

Looking South from FH7 - Circa 2017

Mendocino NF

According to a Forest Service update today on the August Complex – comprised of the Hull, Doe, Tatham, and Glade fires- it sits at 221,284 acres and has 18 percent containment.

LINK TO AUGUST 30 AUGUST FIRE UPDATE

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CAMNF/2020-08-16-1732-Doe-Fire/picts/2020_08_30-08.23.30.739-CDT.pdf

Based on what I know of the fire and the area, the fire appears to have impacted a lot of the heavily wooded areas north of SheetIron Mountain along the M3 corridor, the Doe Peak trail system on the north side of FH7, and many dispersed camping and backcountry touring opportunities along the M2/M4/M9 route network.

Sugar Springs Campground - Circa 2017

Mendocino National Forest

PWORA’s professional staff and volunteers look forward to helping recover, restore, and reopen important public land recreation facilities damaged by 2020 wildfires.   

RECREATION ROADMAP HIGHLIGHTS IMPORT OF POST DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS

RECREATION ROADMAP HIGHLIGHTS IMPORT OF 

POST DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS

PWORA commends the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) for its outstanding work on behalf of recreation businesses, users, and other stakeholders.   ORR is comprised of 32 national trade associations that represent non-motorized/motorized recreation and natural resource management interests.  The motorized ORR members include representatives from OHV, OSV, and 4WD. 

In the recent ORR publication entitled: A ROADMAP FOR A 21ST CENTURY OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY, they highlight a number of their key strategies and success stories as they work to build support for sustainable recreation with decision-makers in Washington D.C and in state capitols throughout the country.

LINK TO ORR RECREATION ROADMAP

https://recreationroundtable.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ORR004_2020Platform_Rd7.pdf

PWORA appreciates that ORR has included post natural disaster recovery of recreation facilities as an important part of recreation management efforts as cited below in the ROADMAP.

SOUND CONSERVATION POLICIES SUSTAIN RESILIENT RECREATION LANDSCAPES

Recreation access to our lands and waters must be balanced by ensuring resource protection and sustainable outdoor experiences for generations to come.

OUR PRIORITIES:

1. Creating a plan to mitigate climate change impacts on recreation assets and gateway

communities that rely on robust outdoor recreation, and supporting quick recovery

and restoration of these assets after a natural disaster.

2. Investing in natural solutions that allow for recreation while providing buffers during

severe storms.

PWORA encourages recreation groups and land managers to review the ORR ROADMAP as it contains a number of their significant accomplishments on behalf of recreation interests and the economy.

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NOHVCC WEBINAR - PWORA ON BUILDING CAPACITY TO MITIGATE WILDFIRE IMPACTS TO RECREATION FACILITIES

On behalf of PWORA, I want to thank NOHVCC for giving us the opportunity to present a webinar entitled:  Building Capacity to Mitigate Post-Disaster Impacts to Recreation Facilities through Volunteer and Professional Services.

I believe you will find the presentation and discussions to be informative on how/why a non-profit natural disaster recovery organization is formed and the role it can play as a partner with land agencies and other stakeholders to address post-wildfire recovery projects so that units can be reopened to the public in a timely manner.

The presentation covers a number of subjects that include; collaboration with stakeholders, post-fire mitigation tools and prescriptions, organizing volunteers, providing certified training, important role for dirt-bike strike teams, use of PPE, master agreements,  human cost, economic impact, supplemental project agreements, developing relationships and building trust.

LINK TO JUNE 24, 2020 NOHVCC/PWORA WEBINAR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNnTFeen8bk

Please feel free to share with your networks and also leave a comment.

PWORA wants to thank all of our volunteer, club, industry, and agency partners and also our donors who have contributed to help us build capacity to recover and reopen recreation areas damaged by intense wildfires and other natural disasters.

Don Amador, President/CEO

Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance

555 Honey Lane

Oakley, CA 94561

Phone: (925) 783-1834

Email: damador@pwora.org

Web: www.pwora.org

COVID-19 UPDATE - PPE SHORTAGE IS REAL

COVID-19 UPDATE - PPE SHORTAGE IS REAL

Non-profits, local government, and healthcare facilities throughout the country have been trying to obtain both N95 and surgical-type face masks for the last month to help protect front-line medical workers.  PWORA has been part of that effort and continues working hard to obtain masks and other PPEs for local hospitals.

The lack of PPE in the USA is appalling and it appears to be getting worse not better.  Our friends at Harbor Freight have been doing their part to help fill in the PPE gap.  The lack of PPE is best highlighted by a message they sent out today to PWORA and other parties who have been trying to secure masks.

Here is that message.

On behalf of all of us at Harbor Freight, we want to thank all of the amazing healthcare workers and healthcare organizations who requested donations of personal protective equipment (PPE). The number of requests we received was overwhelming: over 13,000 applications from hospitals and more than 43,000 email recommendations from individuals and organizations. We only wish we had enough PPE for every one of the courageous healthcare workers and first responders caring for our communities under these most difficult circumstances.

The immediate need for PPE is beyond alarming. We hope manufacturers, suppliers and other businesses across the country with the ability to donate PPE will do whatever it takes to help.

Over the last several days, we have shipped more than 44 million pairs of nitrile gloves and hundreds of thousands of masks and face shields to hospitals in over 1,000 communities that our stores serve.

We are deeply grateful for the enormous efforts of the frontline individuals caring for those inflicted with COVID-19, the healthcare workers and caregivers supporting our communities, and for everyone fighting to limit its spread. The days ahead will be challenging, but together we will get through this fight.

With gratitude and best wishes for your health and safety,

Donations

Harbor Freight Tools

26541 Agoura Road

Calabasas, CA 91302

PWORA will continue our efforts to secure PPE and also strongly urges our members to follow STAY AT HOME orders from local and state authorities.  This is not a joke.  A growing number of our friends and family in the powersports or recreation industry have gotten the virus and some have passed away.  Please follow the Covid-19 guidelines out of respect for both the living and those who have perished.

PWORA COLLECTING MASKS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

According to Business Insider, the federal government has roughly 12 million N95 respirators and 30 million surgical masks in its national emergency stockpile, that's less than 1% of the 3.5 billion masks the Department of Health and Human Services estimates will be needed over the next year.

LINK TO BUSINESS INSIDER ARTICLE

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-you-can-help-donate-face-masks-doctors-nurses-coronavirus-2020-3

PWORA was founded to provide assistance during natural disasters and the Covid-19 crisis is just such an occasion.  Over the last few days, PWORA has been doing outreach to healthcare providers and confirms stories from 1^st responders and other news sources that there are severe shortages of masks and other PPEs.

PWORA has offered to help collect  N95, surgical, or similar-type masks that are used by the construction, painting, or other non-medical services and will deliver those masks to healthcare facilities where they are needed.

If you have unopened boxes or packages of masks, gowns, safety glasses, gloves, or goggles that you would like to donate to PWORA’s effort, please contact Don Amador at: damador@pwora.org

This crisis is going to get worse before it gets better and our healthcare professionals need our help now. 

COVID-19 MESSAGE FROM PWORA PRESIDENT

 PWORA President, Don Amador

COVID-19 MESSAGE FROM PWORA PRESIDENT 

As Covid-19 related “shelter-at-home” orders and directives remain in effect in many areas of the country, PWORA wants to assure our network of partners, volunteers, and sponsors that we continue to work with agency staff and other stakeholders via electronic transmissions to help build our capacity to help land managers recover, restore, and reopen recreation facilities damaged by previous wildfires and to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season.

PWORA understands the frustration that is felt by many outdoor enthusiasts who are seeing more local, state, and federal units shuttered to help “Flatten the Curve.” 

PWORA and other non-profit cooperators are also concerned about the current group size limits, social distancing, and proposed additional access restrictions and their effect on important volunteer trail stewardship projects that have been put on hold until government agencies are able to have staff once again work at, or out of, the office.

While a lot of agreements and planning efforts can be accomplished to some degree via telework, there is no substitute for in-person meetings, field trips, and on-the-ground collaborative trail recovery projects.

PWORA believes it is important for our network to honor Covid-19 restrictions to protect the health of ourselves and the community.  Our efforts now to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus will help shorten the length of access restrictions and allow for us to get back out in the field to do our recovery work.

Thanks for your support and stay well during these challenging times.  We will get through this.

Don Amador, President/CEO

Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance

www.pwora.org

PWORA RESPONSE TO COVID-19 - Cancelled Events and Volunteerism

PWORA Rapid Response Trailer

PWORA RESPONSE TO COVID-19 – Cancelled Events and Volunteerism

Over the last couple of months while the Covid-19 virus was in its early stage in the USA, PWORA has been continuing its work to build capacity to help restore and recovery OHV recreation facilities impacted by natural disasters.  Many of those efforts include submitting CA OHV grant applications, working on our FS Master Agreement, trail tractor training, and offering FS approved chainsaw classes.

In addition, one of those efforts was to obtain an 8.5 x 20ft. Rapid Response Trailer (RRT) to help deliver assets to help with volunteer recovery efforts.  On March 13, 2020, PWORA picked up our RRT (funded by a generous grant from the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative) and are now in the process of getting  it outfitted with logos/decals and equipment/supplies.

Today, we are facing the Covid-19 crisis which is another type of natural disaster.  Covid 19 is not just restricted to forest lands in California but is impacting people, jobs, travel, schools, and other activities – including powersports related events - on a worldwide basis.

As OHV and other competition events continue to be cancelled or rescheduled, PWORA will be working with our land agency partners to identify volunteer trail days for small OHV strike teams (small groups of 3-5 people) since many jurisdictions have limits on group size during the crisis.

If you would like to support or sponsor any of PWORA’s programs or help with outfitting our RRT please make a donation at the PWORA website – www.pwora.org

Getting through this crisis is a team effort and PWORA appreciates your willingness to help serve.

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PWORA is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded to protect and restore sustainable OHV recreation from the devastating effects of intense wildfires and other natural disasters. PWORA will collaborate with a diverse array of multi-interest strategic partners to mobilize volunteers and deploy resources to mitigate post-disaster impacts to recreation areas.  Website: www.pwora.org

NEWS RELEASE - Comment on PWORA's OHV Grant Applications

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 2, 2020

Contact: Don Amador, President, damador@pwora.org

               Eric Lueder, Grant Administrator, elueder@pwora.org

Phone: 925.783.1834           

          COMMENT ON PWORA'S OHV GRANT APPLICATIONS     

      OAKLEY, CA (March 2) -  On March 2, 2020, the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) submitted OHV grant proposals to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division for areas on the Mendocino National Forest that were impacted by the 2018 Ranch Fire.

     PWORA submitted the following two grant applications; a restoration grant (G19-04-28-R01) to replace barriers on St.  John’s Mountain; and a ground operations grant (G19-04-28-G01) to construct drainage improvements on the Mason Connector Trail.

NEXT STEPS:  Public Review Process

     PWORA’s preliminary grant applications will be available for public review from March 3, 2020 to May 4, 2020 on the OHMVR Division’s website.   PWORA encourages public comments and feedback on our grant applications.  Comments must be received no later than 5:00pm (PST) on Monday, May 4, 2020.

     All comments must be submitted via the OHMVR website  or mailed to the OHMVR Division. Comments received during the public review period will be addressed in the final application submission.  PWORA will submit the final applications by June 1, 2020 after all public comments have been addressed.

CLICK ON LINK BELOW to be directed to the State Parks OHMVR Division for instructions on how to view and comment on the preliminary application.

OHMVR DIVISION GRANT WEBSITE

https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1164

     PWORA is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded to protect and restore sustainable OHV recreation from the devastating effects of intense wildfires and other natural disasters. PWORA will collaborate with a diverse array of multi-interest strategic partners to mobilize volunteers and deploy resources to mitigate post-disaster impacts to recreation areas.  Website: www.pwora.org

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NEWS RELEASE - PWORA Seeking Comments for OHV Grant Applications

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 18, 2020

Contact: Don Amador, President, damador@pwora.org

               Eric Lueder, Grant Administrator, elueder@pwora.org

Phone: 925.783.1834

                                      PWORA Seeking Comments for OHV Grant Applications

     OAKLEY, CA  (Feb. 18) –  The Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) is asking for public input for potential OHV grants proposals to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division for areas on the Mendocino National Forest that were impacted by the 2018 Ranch Fire.

     PWORA is considering applying for the following grants; a restoration grant to replace barriers on St.  John’s Mountain; and a ground operations grant to construct drainage improvements on the Mason Connector Trail.

     The OHMVR Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program supports well-managed off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing more than $35 million annually collected from gas tax, entrance fees and OHV sticker registrations. Cities, counties, districts, federal and state agencies, educational institutions, federally recognized Native American Tribes and non-profit entities can apply for funds to develop, maintain and restore trails; provide law enforcement; and offer safety and training for riders.

     The public is invited send comments and ideas to the PWORA Grant Administrator, Eric Lueder, to provide ideas for projects and opportunities that could be incorporated into the grant applications.

Send comments Eric Lueder at: elueder@pwora.org

     Preliminary grant applications will be submitted to the OHMVR Division by March 2. The public will then be able to comment on the preliminary applications from March 3 to May 4. Final applications must be submitted by June 1. For more information about the state grant process and requirements, visit the OHMVR Division website at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov.

     PWORA is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded to protect and restore sustainable OHV recreation from the devastating effects of intense wildfires and other natural disasters. PWORA will collaborate with a diverse array of multi-interest strategic partners to mobilize volunteers and deploy resources to mitigate post-disaster impacts to recreation areas.  Website: www.pwora.org

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