By Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager and representative for ATVs on the Nebraska Recreational Trails Program (RTP)committee.

Only one motorized project has been funded in Nebraska using RTP funds since 1993. According to Christopher Douwes, program administrator in Washington DC, Nebraska has been allocated $2,582,488 over a period of seven years. While $774,746 (30% motorized) to $1,549,492 (60% motorized/non-motorized) of the total allocated to Nebraska could have been used for motorized recreation over the seven year period, less than $13,000 has been used.

The fund represents a refund of fuel taxes paid by Nebraska's non-highway use motor vehicles. This funding formula is calculated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). FHWA has compiled a great web site that describes details of the RTP at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrail.htm

The only grant that has been used for motorized recreation with this fund was to fund our states first and only motorized trail located at the Nebraska National Forest, Bessey Ranger District near Halsey. The trail is called the Dismal River trail. The nine mile long trail was built with volunteer labor provided by ATV riders and supplemental funds from funds paid by our organization's membership dues. Total amount of government funds used on this trail was about $13,000. The trail is open to ATVs, dirtbikes, snowmobiles, horse, hikers, bicycles, and cross country skiers and our organization work in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to maintain the trail. Last year, the trail received one of twenty "Millennium Trail" designations in Nebraska from the White House. The award designation for the Dismal River Trail was presented to the Forest Service by Governor Johanns. While other hiker/biker groups were honored for their efforts in other trails projects, no mention was made about our groups involvement with the project.

The second project that was funded with RTP funds were improvements for the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa. Funds approved in December 1999 for this badly need project were about $43,000. Our organization worked out the details of the proposal and forwarded it to Loup Power for their approval and sponsorship with our group providing the volunteer labor and most of the project implementation and management. Needless to say, we were very excited about the grant as we are always concerned about the operation of the riding area.

One year later and much to our disappointment, (last December 2000) our project was cancelled because of state recommended and committee mandated guidelines that, in my opinion, are beneficial for hiker biker trails but devastating to motorized recreation. These guidelines are not mandated by

the federal government. If the following of these guidelines continue, it is my opinion that they will pretty much lock out future motorized projects funded by RTP funds in Nebraska. The funds that were approved for our project in 1999 was redistributed to hiker/biker projects by the committee.

Getting back to our Headworks OHV park, the land is managed by the Loup Power District. This is the only area to ride ATVs and dirtbikes in the eastern half of Nebraska. The area is in need of improvements for safety reasons, rider control and as this is the only public area in eastern

Nebraska to ride ATVs or dirtbikes, it is becoming over crowded. Our group has worked in partnership with Loup Power and the Nance County Sheriffs Department since 1990 to keep the area open, and we have spent thousands of dollars of our own funds for improvements paid by riders who join our organization and generated by fund raisers held by our organization. While it is considered to be a public riding area mostly for liability considerations, less than half of the riders join our organization.

Our problem is that we feel that there is a need for more places to ride in Nebraska. We fear that the over crowding at the Headworks OHV Park could make the area hard to manage and could close. The biggest road block to us is funding. While there are RTP funds available that can be spent on motorized recreation in Nebraska, there are several problems that exist that seem to prevent these funds from being used for motorized recreation.

The RTP funds require a 20% match. We do not have that 20% match. There are several sources for this match that can include a refund of state gas taxes paid by off-highway motorized users, user fees, volunteer labor/materials match, or, in the case of hikers and bikers, direct assistance from government agencies. We can use volunteer labor as a 20% match, but we have to have a government agency sponsor us and that is very difficult. There is broad local and state government support for sponsorship, planning and management of hiker/biker trails in Nebraska. New hiker and biker trails are popping up all over the state because of careful coordination and planning by state and local governments, trail activists, and available funding. Many of these projects are paid for with funds that were supplied by fuel taxes that motorized recreation paid and funds that we could have used.

The reason why these trails exist today is because hiker, biker, and horse enthusiasts asked the state government for help. Over the last ten years, we have been asking for help as well, and so far the state has pretty much told us to "go away, your activity is not in demand nor is it acceptable". We are starting to see some welcome help from the state via Larry Voecks (state trails coordinator), but it seems his hands are tied we may need to develop some legislation that can help us.

With the exception of the U.S. Forest Service, it is the perception of most government agencies in Nebraska that there is no demand for motorized recreation trails/OHV parks and that the activity is simply unacceptable because of perceived environmental reasons. Both of these reasons are not totally accurate.

According to the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) a trade organization for motorcycle and ATV manufacturers, Nebraska has an approximate population of about 40,000 ATVs and dirtbikes. While it can be argued that most of these machines are used strictly for agricultural use, that is not true. According to a survey of farmer and ranchers conducted by the Nebraska Department of Labor concerning ATV safety, 54% of the respondents use their ATVs for recreation. Additionally, the sport is evolving into a popular family based pass time. Of the over 1500 members who belong to our organization, about 70% are family members.

As far as the environmental concerns involving ATVs and dirtbikes, it would be totally ludicrous to say that ATV/dirtbike activity does not cause some impact to the environment. Trail use by all trail users causes some impact. It is our opinion that there is some environmental damage caused by ATVs and dirtbikes in Nebraska, however, how much of that damage could otherwise be controlled IF there were public places to ride in Nebraska? Other states with ATV/dirtbike programs have credible records of stewardship of the land as well as successful ATV/dirtbike programs. Why can't Nebraska study these programs and develop a program here that would work for us? We are willing to help, and, many of us are willing to help pay for new places to ride.

One other aspect that needs consideration is that many people who own ATVs and dirtbikes in Nebraska often travel out of state to ride. Why can't we try to keep some of the money they spend on lodging, camping, food, fuel, sight seeing, etc. here in Nebraska? If there is any question concerning

the economic benefits of family based ATV and dirtbike recreation, please contact Tom Keeney in Halsey Nebraska (Keeney Motel), Sheriff Paul Kruse Nance County Sheriff or Deb Mueller Genoa Nebraska town clerk/local chamber of commerce.

All we are asking for is help from the state to find new places to ride in Nebraska. The state has supported hikers, bikers and equestrian enthusiasts extensively, but we have had little support. ATV and dirtbike riding is a great family sport, and the demand for places to ride in Nebraska is great.

We just want to get a fair shake.

Nebraskan's Say THANKS to the American Motorcyclist Association and Royce Wood, AMA Legislative Specialist!! They have sent a special letter to AMA members in Nebraska in order bring AMA members together to ask for new places to ride.

With the help of the AMA and the AMA's Nebraska membership, the above letter and included senator contact information is our latest salvo in our plan to develop a program to find, fund and manage new places for ATV and dirtbike riders to ride in Nebraska. Once again, thanks to the AMA for their support!

HELP US GET NEW TRAILS! If you have not yet called or written your state senator, please do so! The only way that OUR senator is going to find out that YOU would like to have new places to ride is for YOU to contact them. It's very simple to contact them, just send a short letter or make phone call and won't take long at all. Simply ask them for new places to ride, and if they or you have any questions, contact NOHVA! Visit www.nohva.com/newtrails to find out what you can do to help!