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UFWDA eNews September 2016

   From UFWDA Newsletter Editor;
 Welcome to this edition of eNews and to readers who've recently joined us. I've just recognized that this edition did not publish earlier this month as scheduled, so here's a belated September edition. As summer and holiday memories fade for those in the northern hemisphere, the pending elections may be diverting attention from opportunities to be a part of various 'advisory' groups, as several have needed to call more than once for candidates. Another reason may simply be a general reluctance to volunteer?

- Peter Vahry; editor

     Read More....

http://ufwda.bmetrack.com/c/v?e=A036A3&c=48E9&t=0&l=16163C58&email=0EnQ6xbRWFPP9CaHGkYR0Aif8GG0Zxj9
 

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SFWDA contributes $1,000 to the inaugural 2016 Share Trails Challenge.

   Each year we contribute a portion of our annual proceeds to other fellow nationwide stewardship organizations through. This we have a more direct mission to support our partners with the Blue Ribbon Coalition, now referred to as Share Trails.

  These folks work tirelessly to fight for our access across the entire nation and have been a great resource for us here locally in the South. We are currently working their representatives, lawyers, and consultants to ensure success on our Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway project.

Learn More on DBBB
http://www.sfwda.org/dbbb

SFWDA contributes $1,000 to the inaugural 2016 Share Trails Challenge....

SFWDA contributes $1,000 annually to BRC, and now to the Share Trails Challenge for 2016

  Sharetrails.org / BlueRibbon Coalition is nearly 30 years old and to celebrate we want to try something new, our first ever online Fundraiser Challenge. We really need your help to make it work!

 


  Here's what you can you do to help........

   Our goal is to promote Sharetrails.org and the preservation of access through social media like we've never done before. We want this to go viral! Please accept our challenge to participate and by all means share, share and share! Show the preservationists and extreme environmentalists that you care just as much as they do about public land and support your rights to access by joining, donate and sharing. 


JOIN

  We've grown at a rate of about 15% over the past 7 quarters but we are still at a relative disadvantage in numbers because our starting point is far behind groups who oppose access. Preservationists groups succeed largely because of their numbers, not because of the merits of their arguments. As the only multi modal 50-state organization that fights for your rights to access we need to grow. More members increase our ability to stand up for access and makes us harder to ignore. Accept our challenge and join us - and bring along your friends who care about access. DONATE:  We have received a generous match from Inland Empire Four Wheelers for the specific purpose of bringing onboard our first land use rep and ambassador for the Eastern United States, Randy Block. Please help us fund this position by donating to this fundraiser. 


DONATE 

CHALLENGE YOUR FRIENDS:  Here's how it works. Go HERE to download and print a copy of our Sharetrails Challenge sign (or make your own). Then take a photograph or video holding the sign (interesting backgrounds are a bonus!) and share it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the #sharetrailschallenge hashtag. Tell everyone how you are answering the challenge!  Post your photo and comments to social media, send to your friends, tag them and challenge them to join and match your support for Sharetrails/BRC’s vision (to ensure that your posts show up in the feeds above, be sure to make your post public and also post it on the Sharetrails/BRC Facebook page). 

POST ON

SHARETRAILS/BRC
FACEBOOK PAGE

 

Learn More....

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BFG will again award $4,000 through it's annual OUTSTANDING TRAILS PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING TRAILS PROGRAM

It's that time of the year again....$4,000 can go a LONG WAY for your club and OHV Trail. You must earn it but read up on the details and let us know if SFWDA can help point you in the right direction to benefit another local club again.

The BFGoodrich® Tires Outstanding Trails program was established in 2006 to raise awareness for responsible use and preservation of off-road trails while providing support in the trails’ conservation efforts. Through 2015, the Outstanding Trails program has recognized over 40 off-road trails and clubs across North America. The program has provided more than $150,000 in grants in support of the various trails conservation efforts.Trails are nominated for uniqueness, terrain type and enthusiast following.

Learn More & Apply Today;

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/outstanding-trails-program.page

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Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests inviting everyone to their Collaborative Learning Workshop

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests inviting everyone to their
Collaborative Learning Workshop


When

  • Thursday June 16, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM EDT

 
Where

  • North Hall Community Center
    4175 Nopone Road
    Gainesville, GA 30506


Please join the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests as we embark on an exciting new path, kicking off with this Collaborative Learning Workshop. 
We hope this workshop will be a catalyst for building community capacity to work together to realize shared goals - in any arena - and also to awaken and strengthen our communities' connection to our public lands. This forest needs you.

Participants will gain valuable ideas and skills that can be applied to solving problems and making decisions in collaboration with other organizations, governments, and communities.
By learning collaboration techniques together, we can build a shared language and establish mutual expectations. This workshop will feature collaboration experts from across the country and across perspectives - community members, academics, and land managers - to share their experiences and knowledge with you.

Beginning this fall, we will be reaching out to partners, stakeholders and community members through a series of conversations aimed at realizing a shared vision to address complex conservation challenges across a single large landscape on the Chattahoochee National Forest.

We will need your knowledge and insights right from the start in order to plan the right work in the right places for the right reasons.
This is something new for us. We are working to build our skills and capacity for collaboration, and want to help boost yours in the process, too. 
 
We encourage you to come to learn and grow - together with us. 


Register Now!
I can't make it

If you have questions about the workshop, feel free to contact Judy Toppins (770/297-3061, jrtoppins@fs.fed.us,) or Mike Brod (770/297-3090, mbrod@fs.fed.us.)
 
Thank you for your attention and response, and I so look forward to learning and growing with you during this exciting phase in our forest's history.
 
Sincerely,
 
Betty Jewett
Forest Supervisor
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests

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Sign up today; Unlimited Off Road Expo Volunteer Land Use Awareness Booth Volunteer

Sign up today for the Unlimited Off Road Expo Volunteer Land Use Awareness Booth Volunteer spots. 

Are you interested in the Unlimited Off Road Expo?

Would you like to help be a part of our mission to fight for our trails?

Can you help direct others how to become part of this team?

We want you to become a part of our Conservation, and Education Mission!

 
Click to View Volunteer Opportunities on VolunteerSpot

If you're available for as little as 4 hours; June 3-5 and can travel to Louisville, KY then join our SFWDA join Land Use Awareness Booth on the show floor and receive a free all access vendor pass to the event along a custom event polo shirt just for our volunteers. Sign up right now as a SFWDA booth Volunteer Representative at the UOR Expo (http://vols.pt/o89guy) on VolunteerSpot.

This 4 hour block on a 4 person team will handle the operations of the Joint Land Use Awareness booth. . Responsibilities will include talking to and interacting with attendants to support Land Advocacy. Distribute literature to folks as they pass by. Engage them by inviting a moment to watch, and learn from our featured educational videos.

We're using VolunteerSpot (the leading online Sign-up and reminder tool) to organize this event sign up.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our Sign-up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/GTYWRa
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

 
Click to View Volunteer Opportunities on VolunteerSpot

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GBR's Spring Cleanup Work Weekend at Beasley Knob OHV Trail System raised over $10,000 in RTP funds for the OHV Trail System

The Georgia Bounty Runners recently held a “Fun Run” a/k/a work weekend at the Beasley Knob OHV Trail System in Blairsville, Georgia March 18th through March 20th, 2016. 

The GBR really stepped up for a very aggressive funds-match request that the USFS needed for this weekend.  The USFS normally gets around $4,000 in matching funds with each of our regular work weekends.  Due to the addition of brand new trails and work still needed, they had the lofty goal of $7,500 matching funds for this weekend alone.

The call went out and we raised over $10,000 in matching funds with the help of SIXTY-FIVE GBR attendees!  This is one of the highest turn-outs we’ve ever had doing the work at Beasley Knob.

beasley-knob-ohv+chatahoochee-sign.jpg

We started with a meeting with Teressa Brown, Forestry Technician with the Forest Service, at 1:00 PM at her office in Blairsville on Friday for pre-planning.  We discussed how the OHV area weathered the wet winter closure.  She indicated they had not been able to get out much over the trails because all of the rain so conditions were unknown.  She did say some of the other areas had many downed trees and for us to “bring out the certified sawyers”.   We discussed that three new gates had been installed and people have been making there way around the gates, so one of our big tasks would be to block these illegal by-passes at the new gates.   She said she would have a few tools (one post-hole digger, shovel and a rock bar) and supplies (bags of sackret, posts, boards, screws to fasten the boards, etc.) at strategic locations for the work.  Unfortunately both of the Forest Service’s gas powered augers were out of commission!   Oh no!

After the meeting we headed over to the campsite.  Since the area was still locked from the winter closure we had to install a specially coded combination lock at the gate so everyone could get in/out without much problem.  Next, Rita and I set-up camp at the Satterfield Pay Station off Windy Hill Rd., as others arrived, we set-up plans for work parties to start evaluating the trails and start clearing back the brush.  One crew led by Greg Uphole headed out 93C cutting back the brush off the trails and cleaning out water bars.  Another crew, led by Kerry Vanderpool worked Trail 93 where they had to cut two trees off the trail.

On Saturday morning, we had a parking area full of vehicles!

65 Attendees Supported this RTP Weekend Workday Event

We had a driver’s meeting and went over the game plan.  I also gave a short safety briefing giving instruction on proper wear of safety equipment, care for distances around the sawyers and hospital location / reporting in case of an emergency.  Then we split out in to five groups.

 My group started at the Satterfield pay station going back towards Windy Hill Rd.  We cut the grass, cut back the brush and picked up the trash as we walked.  A group of us went to the new gate and installed short fences on both sides of the new gate blocking ghost trails going around gate.  We then went to the Blue Rock pay station cutting brush off the road. We then cleared brush off the pay station area and off trail 93.

  A second group, led by Kevin Sutz, started at the parking lot of 93D and went up Nicholson Gap down to F.S. road 117.  They covered the complete trail 93G, Beasley Knob Mountain trail, down to F.S. road 117. They had to chainsaw three trees off the trail and move a small one out of the way.  They went to the new gate to stop the illegal bypass around the gate.  At the new gate they used a vehicle winch to pull some big rocks into the ghost trail opening. After that they found some posts and installed them behind the rocks they added a cross bar to keep ATVs or other vehicles from trying to drive over the rocks.  They collected trash, cleaned water bars and cut back branches and tree limbs that were growing over trails          .

Another group led by Ralph Payne rode 93B cutting back brush and clearing water bars.

Our forth group led by Dave Logan rode trail 93D.  They cut back brush and cleaned out water bars.  They ran into a huge tree blocking 93D. The tree’s root ball pulled up and over blocking the trail.  The root ball was over 6 feet tall and the tree at its base was over 4 feet in diameter, impossible for them to move.  They changed their route going on another trail and back tracked to the other side of this tree.

The fifth group led by Paul Fon traveled trail 93C cutting back brush and cleaning out water bars.  His group also had to cut two trees off 93C, one tree at two different locations.

 Since we could not finish all work on Saturday a group of us stayed overnight and finished the needed work on Sunday.  This group repaired part of the fence behind the sign at the Satterfield pay station.   We also cut the grass and cut brush, back clearing the camp and parking areas.

GOOD CLEAN-UP!!!

Thanks,

G. Curtis Barnhart Jr.
Adopt-A-Trail Representative
Beasley Knob OHV Trail System

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SFWDA & OMIX ADA Grants Awarded to Friends of Uwharrie for a Comprehensive Trail Revamp in Uwharrie National Forest

2016 UNF March Trail Revamp was a
huge success!

UNF

Over the two last day weekend, a total of 224 volunteers came together as one 4WD family to complete projects on our Uwharrie OHV trail system with heavy concentration on our Daniel trail.

Preparation for this work weekend began in December. Once we were notified that we had been granted the generous funds from Southern and OMIX, we immediately began putting plans into action. Darin Touw spent the better part of three months riding trails, measuring, planning, determining re-routes, analyzing terrain and plotting GPS coordinates. He worked closely with Terry Savery, USFS Recreation Specialist and Joel Hardison, Zone Archeologist, flagging areas for guard rail installation and mulching. The three of them met dozens of times to plan, organize directives and produce mapping for the teams and determine material needs.

224 volunteers came together as one 4WD family to complete projects on our Uwharrie OHV trail system

224 volunteers came together as one 4WD family to complete projects on our Uwharrie OHV trail system

My job was to promote the event to all clubs, contact vendors and prospect sponsors via phone, email and letters to ask that they supply promotion materials to reward our volunteers. Countless numbers of hours were dedicated to this task. My posts on Facebook reached over 17,000 people in the NC, SC and VA states. I also spent a great deal of time lining up donors to cover costs of equipment. We were rewarded by receiving approximately $3500 in new tool donations from individuals and clubs for the work weekend and will continue to utilize these items for each volunteer workday in the future (this amount is not included within the figure reported for the USFS contribution). We received pole saws, augers, shovels, rakes, post hole diggers, rock bars, sockets, loppers, shears, gas cans, gloves, safety glasses, pick axes, sledge hammers, etc.

Chris Brower, our treasurer, was tasked with receiving donation checks and issuing receipts and managing our funds. He also served as our chef during the event, planning and preparing dinner for all volunteers on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. We received many compliments on his cooking and there were no leftovers!

Several weeks prior to the big event, Darin, along with several clubs, spent their weekends moving materials to the proposed job sites with the goal of having as much in place as possible to maximize work hours on the weekend. 

Volunteers from the following clubs, as well as individuals, came from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia: C.O.R.E, Mud N' Blood, Jeepers United, Triad Jeep Club, Land Rover Experience, Carolina Trail Blazers, CNC4x4, Carolina Broncos, CROC, LKN Jeepstyle, CB4x4, Olde North State Cruisers, Nomad Jeeps, Black Sheep Jeep NC, Mid Carolina Jeepers, Jeep TJ, NAXJA, True Patriot Inc., 4WP, 7 Slot Jeepers, Wicked Jeeps and Banana Slap.

We began the day with a sign-in followed by safety briefings then gave our donated gifts to our volunteers via raffle. Thanks to our generous sponsors; Warn, Teraflex, Metal tech 4x4, Texas Roadhouse, Dick's Sporting Goods, Tread Lightly, Interco Tire, Land Rover Experience, UROTC, NC4x4, Morris 4x4, Canuck's Cruisers, True Patriot, 3M, CROC, Nomad Jeeps, Marc Holbert, NAXJA, Mud N' Blood, USFS, and Food Lion, we gave away almost $4,000 in incentive gifts. Our volunteers were very surprised at the level of support and were very motivated by the drawing.

After the drawing, we broke the large crowd into teams: Rock, Brush, Straw, Signs, Loading, Railing, Gate Keepers, Photographers, Barn, and Trash. They were given a second safety briefing and a preprinted list of goals and directions along with maps marked with specific locations for each team. After equipment check out, it was off to the trails!

Our loading team consisted of two experienced volunteers, operating skid steers which were rentals donated by OMIX-ADA and Marc Holbert of Jeepers United.

An estimated 100,000 tons of rock was applied to OHV trails by our volunteers with shovels and rakes, with the goal of increasing traction, slowing erosion, controlling drainage, and protecting sensitive areas.

The addition of the rock has made a positive impact on the longevity of this trail system. During the application alone, it greatly helped our loaded vehicles navigate slick clay areas, providing the traction necessary to climb steep areas without excessive wheel spin. Rock armoring was completed on Daniel, Wolf Den, Dickey Bell, Rocky Mountain Loop and the clay shoot on Dutch John trails. This took the better part of two days with crews working from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day. The second half of rock will be applied via contractor to areas that our volunteers were unable to reach with excess material being stored to utilize during the trail season.

Our mulch team applied 125 bales of straw, spread over sensitive areas on Daniel to promote seeding and growth of ground cover which will help slow erosion. This was completed on Daniel and Dickey Bell beginning at the newly installed guard railing, working backwards about 15 ft., hand raked at approximately 1.5 inches in depth.

Our railing teams were dispatched to Daniel, Dickey Bell and Wolf Den where they installed over 1 mile of guard railing to protect sensitive vegetation, block off illegal bypasses, barrier the trails and serve as protection in drop off areas. Many of the areas protected by new barriers are areas that were in danger of being re-routed or closed. For the immediate future, they will remain open because of this project.

Our Sign team consisted of about 20 vehicles which installed numbered trail markers, no camping signs, no vehicle signs on all trails.

Our brush team navigated steep terrain areas to cut vegetation away from signs, limbed all trees that may come in contact with on trail vehicles, and took care of downed trees and debris from winter storms.

Our trash team also collected over 100 bags of garbage from off trail areas. This was a very ambitious project with more than enough work planned for the expected number of volunteers. We are very excited to report that our volunteers more than just met our expectations, they far exceeded what we thought we could accomplish. Our 4WD family came together, working hard to support the sport and the environment that we love. Together through volunteer hours, donated equipment and sponsorship we were able to add $51,975.81 towards the maintenance of our trails from this single weekend project! Southern’s generous donation of the rock, has made a direct impact on our ability to enjoy this beautiful resource, and has aided in the protection some of our most beloved trails for future enjoyment. We appreciate your investment in Uwharrie and in us, the enthusiasts, who depend on each other and on great associations such as yours to keep us wheeling!

Please visit www.facebook.com/friendsofuwharrie for additional photographs.

Thank you for your continued support,

Robin Touw
Friends of Uwharrie, Media/Admin 

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Join us at the Uwharrie National Forest Volunteer Work Day this coming weekend

Conservation

Uwharrie National Forest
Volunteer Work Day this coming weekend
Saturday & Sunday, March 19 & 20th, 9 AM

 If you can make the time to help out this weekend come join fellow SFWDA members and prospects at  the Uwharrie National Forest our upcoming Volunteer Work Day led by District Recreation Staff Supervisor; Theresa Stevens Savery (Terry). 

 This Saturday & Sunday, March 19 & 20th we’ll be doing a lot of work and the more help we get the more we can complete.  We’re going to have several teams doing signs, armoring trails with rock, brushing back the trails, picking up trash, installing guardrail & spreading straw. 

 We’ll be meeting on Saturday and Sunday at the Badin Lake Group Camp at 9 am.  We’ll need everyone that is going to be volunteering to sign in at this location.  We will have a map and the direction for the different teams typed up for everyone to hand out when we meet up on Saturday & Sunday.  If you’re planning to take your vehicles onto the trails then you must meet us at the Badin Lake Group Camp at 9 am and get signed in and to get a special pass so we know who’s volunteering & can be on the trails. 

Free camping has been set up for volunteers from Friday, March 18th to Sunday, March 20th at Badin Lake Group Camp at all 3 campsites.  If you want to come in and set up on the Friday night so you won’t be late on Saturday morning that is ok.  Please coordinate with any folks that are already set up and try to minimize the amount of space you take up so we can maximize how many campers and vehicles can get into the group camp.  Please be respectful of all of the volunteers and their families that will be camping there and don’t get too rowdy at the campground.  Thanks a lot. 


The different type teams are listed below with the general tools they will need for their task that you could bring.  If you’ve already been assigned a team by Darin then please bring what is listed for your team and what he has already asked you to bring.  If you haven’t been assigned a team yet but have several of the types of tools listed below please bring an assortment of these tools so you’d be prepared for whichever team you’re on. 

Straw team: Rakes, gloves, scissors or small knife, wear long sleeves and pants, sunglasses or safety glasses, a bandana, & closed toe shoes (no sandals or flip flops).

Rock team: Shovels, buckets, trailers or pick-up trucks that can go on the trails, gloves, heavy duty rakes, sunglasses or safety glasses, & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).

 Railing team: Sledge Hammers, Post Hole Diggers, Gloves, 1 1/4half inch drive sockets, 1 1/8 half inch drive sockets, Rock bars, shovels, ear plugs, Pneumatic Drill, sunglasses or safety glasses, & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).

 Brush team: Pole Saws, Hand loppers, Brush cutters, pruners, gloves, sunglasses or safety glasses, bug spray, after bite ointment, ethanol free fuel/oil/bar oil, wear long sleeves & pants, & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).

 Sign team:  Hammers, small step stool/ladders, pruners or loppers to clear around signs, sunglasses or safety glasses & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).

 Trash team: Gloves, trash pick-up tools & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).

 Loading team: Heavy equipment, fuel, safety gear, gloves, sunglasses or safety glasses. 

 Barn team: Skill saw, drill, Phillips drill bit, 1 1/4 in wood screws, 3 door hinges, 4 4x6 sheets of plywood, Phillips head screwdrivers, chisel, shims.  


  Bring water and food for during the day on Saturday & Sunday when you’re out on the trails.  If you’re bringing kids out with you please make sure to have appropriate shoes for them & if you have work gloves for your kids already please bring them.  Make sure they’re dressed appropriately for being out all day on the trails picking up trash, cutting brush, etc. for whatever team they are on.
Thanks a lot everyone.  

MS Forest Resources / Watershed Management
National Forest Service
789 NC Hwy 24/27 East
Troy, NC 27371
www.fs.fed.us 

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Beasley Knob - "Spring Cleaning" Volunteer Work Day

Beasley Knob - "Spring Cleaning"
Volunteer Work Day
March 19th, 2016 Beasley Knob OHV Park, Blairsville, GA

Hosted by the Georgia Bounty Runners in a continuing 22 year effort to fulfill our volunteer work hour requirements for our commitment to the RTP funds. These funds have been used at Beasly to add miles of trails all while fixing and repairing the existing trails. Beasley Knob OHV Park is the only full size vehicle OHV area in the National Forest in the state of Georgia.

We will work togther in several groups to survey the trails, and then begin clearing brush and sapplings along the trails. Some attention to the Pay Stations will be adressed too. The overall goal is to freshen up the park and trail sytems essentially preparing the park for the upcoming riding season. 

Who?
Everyone who can make the drive is requested to join and share our support. There are already about 40 GBR members signed up but many more are needed. 

What to bring?
If you have a shovel, and/or any brush clearing hand tools (shears or lopers) bring them along. No power tools or chanisaws please. Forest service reps will be on hand to supervise and use chainsaws when neccasary. 
Pack a trail lunch for everyong in your group. 

Why?
We are obligated as recipients of the RTP grant funds which are used to

What is RTP?
Recreational Trails Program. A state based grant with Federal funding from gas tax revenues. The Beasley project was awarded $500,000 in RTP funds with a pledge to matching volunteer commitments.

When & Where? 
Meet at the Beasley Knob OHV Parking area, Blairsville, GA; Satterfield entrance and be ready to head out by 9 AM (EDT). 

Trailers?
If you haul in your rig then its suggested to park near town in Blairsville at the Park & Ride then commute to the trail head so we squeeze everyone inside the parking lots. 


For complete details on Beasley Knob OHV Park, including a trail map, check the USFS's page;
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recarea/?recid=10533

Directions: 
Beginning on US 76/Highway 515 in front of the Blairsville Post Office, go east for 0.7 mile. Turn right onto Windy Hill Road, a paved road. At 0.7 mile when Windy Hill curves sharply to the left, go straight onto a gravel road. After 0.1 mile, turn left onto a narrow gravel road, Forest Service Road #851. Continue 0.8 mile to the OHV trail system parking lot.

Facebook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/439445689581745/

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