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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Volunteer Appreciation Weekend at Stonyford OHV Area – January 18-19, 2020

Volunteers at 2019 Summit Valley Post Ranch Fire Restoration Project

The Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) is proud to be an official partner of the volunteer appreciation event at the Stonyford OHV Area on the Mendocino National Forest.  PWORA will be helping support the celebration including the dinner on Saturday night to honor all those who have worked hard to recover and reopen OHV trails damaged by the 2018 Ranch Fire.

See Mendocino National Forest News Release about the event below:

WILLOWS, Calif. – Nov. 21, 2019  – The Grindstone Ranger District off-highway vehicle (OHV) staff is hosting a volunteer appreciation weekend at the Fouts Campground Complex in Stonyford, Calif. January 18-19, 2020. This will be a fun-filled weekend (rain or shine) with special guests, motorcycle demonstrations and food.

The 2018 Ranch Fire burned approximately 288,000 acres on the southern portion of the Mendocino National Forest and became the largest wildfire in California history. The fire adversely impacted the entire OHV trail system on the Forest.

In 2019, numerous volunteers committed to post-fire recovery of the OHV areas and accomplished various tasks such as removing and installing new barriers to keep users on designated routes, replacing dozens of signs and trail markers, removing trees, repairing facilities, removing truckloads of rebar and brushing trails.

In addition, volunteers organized a work weekend to protect the Summit Valley Meadow from OHV intrusion and attended CPR and First Aid training to maintain chainsaw certifications. The volunteers helped restore 100s of miles of trails and contributed 1,078 hours, which surpassed our 2019 goal of 430 volunteer hours. 

Our volunteers go above and beyond to help sustain our forests to meet the needs of present and future generations. This is our opportunity to give back to our volunteers – past, present and new. Join the Grindstone Ranger District OHV staff to thank our volunteers for a job well done.

For more information about the volunteer appreciation weekend, please contact Recreation Technician Paige Makowski at 530-963-1328 or paige.makowski@usda.gov

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PWORA is looking forward to this important celebration.  Please RSVP to: damador@pwora.org

to let us know if you plan to attend and/or if you want to help sponsor the event.  

YAMAHA AWARDS $15,000 DOLLAR GRANT TO THE POST WILDFIRE OHV RECOVERY ALLIANCE

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Don Amador, President

Phone: 925.783.1834

Email: damador@pwora.org

Date:  10/21/2019

YAMAHA AWARDS $15,000 DOLLAR GRANT TO THE POST WILDFIRE OHV RECOVERY ALLIANCE

OAKLEY, CA – Oct. 21 – The Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) is pleased to announce it has received a Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) grant of $15,000 dollars to purchase and outfit a post natural disaster Rapid Response Trailer.  The grant was awarded as part of Yamaha’s OAI to promote responsible riding and sustainable management practices at OHV recreation areas.

The grant will be used to purchase an enclosed cargo trailer approximately 8 feet by 20 feet and to help outfit the trailer with supplies, tools, and equipment for volunteer work efforts.

Don Amador, President/CEO of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance, states, “It is truly an honor to have been selected by the Yamaha OAI to receive fiscal support for the purchase of our rapid response trailer.  This grant will allow PWORA to deliver important post fire recovery assets to public land recreation areas that have been damaged by intense wildfires or other natural disasters so that access can be restored in a timely manner.”

The primary objectives of this project are to provide a rapid response volunteer labor pool to respond to OHV areas devastated by wildfires, assist US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management with skilled volunteer labor to help quickly restore and reopen OHV areas devastated by wildfires, and support OHV recreation along with all forms of Outdoor recreation on public lands through volunteer labor efforts.

”This project on the Mendocino National Forest  is an excellent example of how local land managers and stewardship groups can deploy Yamaha OAI funds to help solve critical access challenges to public land,” said Steve Nessl  Yamaha’s motorsports marketing manager.  “Our support of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance ensures resources are available to assess trail damage and put a plan in place to restore them for public recreation.”

For more information about Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative, go to:

https://www.yamahaoai.com/

PWORA is a national non-profit 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.  For more information on PWORA please visit our website: www.pwora.org

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Post-Fire Project to Protect Summit Valley Wildlife Area

Summit Valley Meadow

Grindstone Ranger District - Mendocino National Forest

The recent post and cable armoring project at Summit Valley is a great example of how non-profit partners and volunteers can bring much needed resources to assist the Forest Service in their long-term post-wildfire rehabilitation program.

Summit Valley is a beautiful meadow complex located on the east side of the Mendocino National Forest in California and the designated parking area has been a highly popular picnic stop for OHV enthusiasts.

    

Pre-Project View of Burned Post and Cable Barrier

Post-Project View of New Post and Cable Barrier

       

   
The 2018 Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire, destroyed most of the post and cable delineators which prevented vehicle incursions into the sensitive meadow area.

Summit Valley Project Volunteers

On October 4-6, 2019, staff and volunteers from the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA), Overland Bound, and the Forest Service removed burnt out posts and replaced them with new 6-inch round peeler cores.  Most of the existing cable was reused and restrung through the new posts.

Pre-Staging of Project Materials

Under Forest Service supervision, project leads used the Recreation Incident Command System (RICS) to help plan for and guide the volunteer work event.   Use of RICS and pre-event project evaluation and staging of materials led to a successful completion of the outlined task.

The Stonyford OHV Area on the Grindstone Ranger District is well known as a destination recreation area for sustainable motorized activities.  It also provides important motorized access to non-motorized recreation pursuits such as hiking, fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing.

Project Volunteer Cleaning Out Pre-Existing Post Hole 

for Placement of New Post

Post-wildfire recovery and rehabilitation of recreation sites that occur in a timely manner are key factors in the reopening process.  PWORA believes that non-profit partners will have an ever increasingly important role as a force multiplier in helping federal agencies with post natural disaster repair of roads, trails, and campgrounds.

The Summit Valley project also highlights the role that non-profit organizations have in reestablishing travel management structures that protect wildlife areas and/or cultural resources.