November 5, 2024 - California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division on Monday announced $30 million in grant awards focused on safe, responsible and sustainable off-highway vehicle (OHV) experiences. The funding, part of OHMVR’s 2024 Grants and Cooperative Agreements (GCA) program, will support 129 projects by 88 local and federal agencies, districts and nonprofit organizations throughout California.
“Our grants program has built a strong base of support across the off-highway vehicle recreation landscape over the years that make lasting and positive impacts,” said OHMVR Division Deputy Director Sarah Miggins. “Collectively, all of our grantees respond to the call and deliver a wide range of services – from safety education, protection of biological diversity, conservation and responsible access to a variety of adventure on California lands.”
The selected projects focus on areas such as public education related to OHV safety, trail maintenance, resource protection and habitat restoration in OHV areas. Examples of this year’s recipients include:
- Local agencies that will receive a total of $4.4 million to fund 50 projects, such as an education and safety project with the Los Angeles Police Department relating to teaching youth to ride dirt bikes.
- Nonprofits that will receive a total of $6.6 million to fund 16 projects, including a grant that will allow the Central Coast Trail Riders Association to assist the Los Padres National Forest with trail maintenance on up to 10 miles of trail in the Pozo La Panza trail system.
- The Conservation Corps of Long Beach will receive $801,993 for a suite of restoration projects within the Angeles National Forest in the Drinkwater OHV recreation area, Green Valley and Lake Hughes areas.
- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will receive $7 million for 25 projects, such as an acquisition project that will increase OHV recreation opportunities within the Redding field office.
- The U.S. Forest Service will receive $10.9 million for 37 projects, including the construction of a staging area in the Red Mountain OHV area on the High Sierra Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest.
Here is a breakdown of the 129 projects:
- Acquisition: $194,240 (one project)
- Development: $1,354,455 (five projects)
- Education and Safety: $1,500,000 (16 projects)
- Ground Operations: $12,616,313 (26 projects)
- Law Enforcement: $6,000,000 (65 projects)
- Planning: $834,992 (five projects)
- Restoration: $7,500,000 (11 projects)
The OHMVR Division has awarded funding for grants and other assistance agreements totaling $833 million since the inception of the GCA program in 1974. The annual program provides financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations that develop, maintain, operate, expand, support or contribute to well-managed, high-quality OHV recreation areas, roads and trails. In addition, the program seeks to responsibly maintain the wildlife, soils and habitat of projects areas in a manner that will sustain long-term OHV recreation.
A complete list of 2024 awards and more information about the grants program and opportunities is available at ohv.parks.ca.gov/OHV_Grants.
Top: BLM Redding Restoration project (left) and Sierra Avalanche Center Motorized Safety project (right). Bottom (right)): BLM Arcata Ground Operations project and El Dorado CAO Ground Operations project (left). Photos from grantees.
About the California State Parks OHMVR Division
The OHMVR Division supports the operation of nine state vehicular recreation areas and assists other public and private agencies in the development of environmentally responsible OHV recreation in California. Its mission is to provide safe, enjoyable and sustainable OHV recreation while protecting California’s natural and cultural resources. For more information about the division, including grant opportunities, please visit ohv.parks.ca.gov.
Source: CA. State Parks
