ORBA/One Voice Wins
2022
ORBA/One Voice/CNSA have been in the forefront of Forest Service planning on snowmobile issues on forests throughout California. ORBA/One Voice has provided ground breaking research on the behavior of snow under a variety of natural conditions, such as weight before and after the forces of gravity are applied to the snow.
Endangered Species Act Reform Efforts
ORBA/One Voice has been working with both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Western Governors Association to reform the Endangered Species Act and related regulations to make this act both more efficient in protecting species and avoiding unintended impacts to many activities. Recently ORBA and USA were invited to participate in the Western Congressional Caucus round table discussions addressing ESA reform and provide input from the motorized recreational community.
Electric Bicycles and Vehicles
ORBA/One Voice worked with a large number of partners to address how the USDA Forest Service funds firefighting, which was adopted and should be in the 2020 budget. We are optimistic that this should expand or at least slow the decline of recreation budgets in the future as 56% of the Forest Service budget went to firefighting last year. ORBA/One Voice remains vigilant in these discussions to ensure new funding is available for recreation on the forest.
Exclusionary Corridors for motorized usage of Pacific Crest/Continental Divide Trails
Wilderness advocates and others continue to push for motorized exclusionary corridors around trails identified under the National Trails System Act. These are proposed on the GMUG, Rio Grande, Santa Fe and numerous others in California in their winter travel plans. A California forest recently returned a successful appeal on a winter travel plan regarding designations of exclusionary corridors around the Pacific Crest Trail. Motorized usage of these routes is required by federal which does not want to be recognized by those opposed to motorized usage.
Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP)
ORBA/One Voice was heavily involved in efforts to revoke the planning effort on more than 11 million acres of desert areas in Southern California. The BLM planning efforts would have closed vast tracts of these areas, that are heavily used by the OHV community and in many areas OHV recreation had been a protected usage under previous federal legislation.
Release OHV Area from WSA
We were able to obtain release of a highly valued OHV area from its current Congressional designation as a Wilderness Study area in Northern Colorado. By utilizing language written in the Feinstein Desert Protection bill by ORBA, we were able to utilize similar language in protecting OHV areas and releasing previously closed Wilderness Study Areas to motorized recreation in Colorado.
Precedent setting Snowmobile Planning in California
ORBA/One Voice/CNSA have been in the forefront of Forest Service planning on snowmobile issues on forests throughout California. ORBA/One Voice has provided ground breaking research on the behavior of snow under a variety of natural conditions, such as weight before and after the forces of gravity are applied to the snow. We are developing an implementation guide for planners to be able to rely on best available science in the planning process to be able to conclude current management is highly effective. We are also pioneering work with partners that will allow the low cost accurate measurement of snow depth at a landscape level.
Independent Monitoring for Permits
ORBA/ One Voice has made headway on revision and streamlining of the permit issuance process with the BLM in order to make permits both more timely and cost effective. A major step in these discussions is allowing permittees to hire professional monitoring and mitigation services for events, which would significantly reduce permit costs.
Oceano Dunes
ORBA has been actively supporting efforts with a variety of California agencies to ensure that access to this area is not lost and that good scientific information about the area is relied on moving forward. At times when out of control appointed commissions fail to follow the law, litigation is the last resort and ORBA is will continue to fight to keep Oceano Dunes open.
Carnegie OHV Area
Played a key role in stopping legislation from closing a major OHV Area (Carnegie) Working behind the scenes with the Governor’s Office, State Parks and the Off-Highway Vehicle Division we were able to stop the closure and sale of the of the Carnegie State Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Area. We could not allow the State Legislature to set a precedent of selling land purchased with OHMVR Trust Funds below market value. The Governor agreed, and the bill was killed in committee.
Sponsored and engaged in major OHV events
Crawl for Christ, the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) annual conference, International Snowmobile Congress, SAND Sport Supershow, Off-Road Expo, Overland Expo, and the SEMA Show
Funded legislative campaigns that directly support OHV recreation
Holding and attending political events around the country to support candidates the support our mission of Responsible Motorized Recreation.
Continued important work with partnering organizations
SEMA, MIC, Watercraft Industry, Sportsmen, the RV and Overland Industry with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, and Tread Lightly.
Developed a Public Land Policy Group
Instrumental in building a team of land use legal experts across the country to ensure public lands are appropriately managed within the federal requirements.