Nebraska National Forest Recreation Plan Due Soon
by Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager

Posted 12-15-03
Preface:  This article will be updated as new information is received.  Please check back for updates!!

A new motorized recreation travel plan for the Nebraska National Forest will become effective sometime in 2004.  How recreational ATV and dirtbike use will be effected by this new plan is not clear, but there will be MAJOR changes to motorized vehicle travel.  Officials of the forest service have assured me that we will be able to express our desires concerning the plan and that we will be given the chance to comment on the plan.

"My guess" is that when the proposed travel plan is unveiled, there will be significant closures of trails and land to ATVs and dirtbikes.  Access to camp grounds as far as people being able to ride directly to and from the trails and their camp sites on ATV and dirtbike riders could be changed or eliminated.  Dirtbike riders could be impacted more than all the other users.   Activities such as horse back riding and hiking will most likely be enhanced. 

Right now, there are over 300 miles of trails and open travel is allowed on about 90,000 acres.  From "hints" that I have received concerning the travel plan, all open travel on the 90,000 acres will be closed to motorized travel.  It is not known how many miles of trails will be allowed to remain open, and my guess is that we may end up with less than 5% or 10% of the existing trails remaining open to recreational ATV and dirtbike use.  There is even talk of limiting access to the hill climb as local school kids have documented the erosion caused by ATV and four wheel drive use.

Let's hope that we can convince the forest service to consider NOHVA's desires concerning ATV and dirtbike travel is described in the Halsey Update article.

As of this writing, the proposed travel plan has not been released to the public.  As soon as we receive a copy of it, I will post details concerning the plan on this web site.  NOHVA members will receive information in the mail.

Public meetings for this plan will begin the first full week of January 2004 at various locations in Nebraska.  IT WILL BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that motorized recreation enthusiasts give their opinion to the Forest Service at these meetings!!!  This will mean that we MUST have a large presence at these upcoming meetings.  If we do not show a STRONG showing, it will be perceived by the forest service that there is not much demand for motorized recreation at Bessey. 

Please remember that there is a LARGE number of people who will be demanding that the Forest Service close ALL of Bessey / Halsey / Nebraska National Forest to ATVs and dirtbikes.   Let's hope that this will not happen!    Most of the opposition to recreational ATV and dirtbike use will come from recreational horse back riders and local ranchers.  Also, there is wide opposition to recreational ATV and dirtbike use from local residents in Thedford, Dunning and surrounding area, and Nebraska ranch and farm organizations. 

Please check back with this web site concerning details of the travel plan or if you are a NOHVA member, watch the mail for more information!