Issues

TPA is heavily involved in a wide range of issues ranging from fighting for multiple use access at on local issues such as analysis of q stretch of single track on local public lands to landscape level issues such as revision of the Endangered Species Act, revision of the Antiquities Act or implementation of new Forest Planning Rules.

TPA has actively intervened with the federal government in frivolous litigation challenging balanced decisions made by land managers regarding recreational usage of public lands.

TPA was also heavily involved with recent legislation releasing a Wilderness Study area and then mandating motorized usage as a characteristic of the area to be protected and preserved by law. That was a first in the nation.

TPA has also been heavily involved in several local projects with land managers where OHV opportunities were new trails were opened. Master plans with BLM & USFS

The NEWS page has more information on the wide-ranging specific issues TPA is involved with.

 

Forest Service

White River National Forest
Implemented a new Forest Level Travel management plan several years ago.  Since this time TPA has partnered on several site specific projects on the forest and have succeeded in opening more than 300 miles of new routes in the last two years with our local partners

Pike San Isabel Lawsuit Implementation
TPA is developing comments, ideas and suggestions for each Ranger District in the Pike & San Isabel National Forest to address the motorized travel management planning.  TPA’s working objective is to maximize the opportunities for multi-use recreation on the Forest.    Areas impacted might include Badger Flats, Wildcat Canyon(The Gulches).  In a related matter the future of trails in the Bear Creek Watershedhas been settled with relation to the Greenback Cutthroat Trout.

Rio Grande National Forest
The Rio Grande NF has started the collaborative process for development of a new Resource Management Plan, which will provide a general management vision for the Forest moving forward.  When this is completed, travel planning will start.  TPA is deeply involved in all aspects of the RMP development and will remain throughout the process.

GMUG National Forest
The GMUG  NF has started the collaborative process for development of a new Resource Management Plan, which will provide a general management vision for the Forest moving forward.  When this is completed in 3-5 years, travel planning will start.  TPA is deeply involved in all aspects of the RMP development and will remain throughout the process.

San Juan National Forest
The San Juan NF has recently completed development of the new Resource Management Plan for the Forest and is working on several site specific travel plans including the Rico/West Delores area.  TPA has been very involved in the development of the Resource Management Plan and remains deeply involved in each of the site specific travel plans being developed.

Forest Service Planning Rule
TPA submitted extensive input on the new USFS Planning Rule, which governs development of Forest level plans.   TPA remains involved in implementation of this new planning rule to insure new requirements are met and insuring the motorized community understands the process and when to be involved.

 

Bureau of Land Management

Royal Gorge Field Office
This BLM field office is developing a new resource management plan and TPA is involved in these efforts to insure that subsequent travel planning is not arbitrarily limited by the resource planning requirements.

Tres Rios Field Office
The Tres Rios Field Office has recently completed a new Resource Management Plan and is  working towards a new travel plan for that Field Office. TPA is involved in the many facets of this project and growing pains for a new field office in Colorado

Little Snake Field Office
The Little Snake Field Office has recently completed a new Resource Management Plan and is  working towards a new travel plan for that Field Office. TPA is involved in the many facets of this project and growing pains for a new field office in Colorado

Grand Junction Field Office
The Grand Junction Field Office has recently completed a combined Resource and Travel plan.   TPA input resulted in the reopening of more than 500 miles of routes between the draft and final version of these plans.  TPA remains actively involved in this area and has an active appeal being pursued seeking to reopen more routes on the Field Office.

Planning 2.0
BLM is in the preliminary stages of developing a new planning rule, similar to the USFS efforts.  TPA is involved in the process to insure that uses are balanced and public input is valued.

 

Other Issues

Endangered Species Act reform
TPA supports the continuation of the Endangered Species Act but the TPA is very concerned that the current process is badly out of balance when listing processes are compared to delisting process and there are several ways that on the ground benefits could be improved for species that have been or might be listed.  TPA is engaged in many species specific efforts on listing and delisting

Sage Grouse non-listing
TPA has been very involved in efforts surrounding the possible listing of the Greater Sage Grouse.  While the Greater Sage Grouse was not listed, efforts were extensive to avoid listing and implementation of these changes will be occurring over the next few years. TPA will remain vigilant to insure that implementation does not impact motorized recreation.

Legislation
TPA is heavily involved in a wide range of federal legislation including increased levels of ethanol in motor fuels, reauthorization of the recreational trails program and a wide range of federal legislation seeking to benefit trails and recreation on public lands.  TPA has partnered on numerous issues at the State level including laws addressing OHV usage on county roads in Colorado.

Wilderness
TPA is heavily involved with the never ending discussions surrounding Wilderness proposals.  TPA vigorously opposes the position that we always need more Wilderness with the facts and science that concludes that Wilderness has significant negative impacts on forest health, many species and water quality and negatively impacts many local economies.

Education
The Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA) understands that rider education on how to use the trails with other user groups is essential in preserving the “multi use“ trail concept.

The TPA will work with local Colorado motorcycle clubs and other organizations to educate all user groups (not just motorcycle riders), on trail etiquette and proper trail use. This will involve the “Stay the Trail” (www.staythetrail.org) concept developed by COHVCO, managed by The Responsible Recreation Foundation, and endorsed by Colorado State Parks.

The TPA will also work to educate the trail land managers (FS and BLM) on specific motorized issues that affect multi-use trails. These tasks will need the involvement of all motorcycle riders. The TPA intends to utilize all state clubs in this effort.

Economic Contribution Study
TPA has partnered with COHVCO to completely redo the 2001 Economic contribution study for motorized recreation in Colorado.   The 2001 study has proven invaluable in addressing OHV issues and with this complete review it will be poised to remain exceptionally valuable for the next 20 years.