by Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager

About 30 to 40 ATV riders participated with the annual work weekend at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey on May 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2003. The work weekend was sponsored and funded by the Nebraska Off Highway Vehicle Association (NOHVA).

Prior to the weekend, NOHVA officers Dan Nitzel of Grand Island, Gary Gibbs of Columbus and Ron Kubalek of Lincoln inventoried areas that they thought needed to be addressed and suggested a list of recommendations to District Ranger Patty Barney of the Bessey Ranger District near Halsey Nebraska. The Bessey Ranger District is one of only two areas in Nebraska where designated recreational trails exist for ATV and dirtbike riders. NOHVA members, non-members and local riders participated in the work days.

The primary objectives of the work days included blocking un-authorized ATV and dirtbike routes with fences and trees, cleaning of cattle guards on the Dismal River trail and updating existing signing on the existing OHV routes. Un-authorized routes and hill climbs where resource damage

as evident were over seeded and raked by hand. Over 100 pounds of seed was placed on damaged areas, ten rolls of fence put up, about 70 new signs erected and 100 updates to existing signs were completed during the weekend. About 30 or 40 un-authorized routes were blocked, seeded and raked.

As in previous years and again this year, NOHVA donated signs and materials, and NOHVA members and friends of NOHVA provided volunteer labor for various trail maintenance and resource damage repair at Bessey. So far this year, voluntary NOHVA membership fees and donations have funded about $2500 in funds to purchase signs, seed, fence and a sound meter to help with the operation of ATV and dirtbike trails at Bessey.