For off-road recreationists, this could become one of the most consequential federal land-management actions in a generation. On August 24, 2026, the U.S. Forest Service published a Letter of Intent announcing plans to reconsider and substantially revise the 2005 Travel Management Rule, the regulation that has governed motorized vehicle access throughout the National Forest System for more than two decades.
For CORVA members, four-wheel-drive clubs, motorcycle riders, ATV and side-by-side users, dispersed campers, hunters, rural communities, and anyone who depends on motorized access to public lands, this deserves serious attention. And its significance extends far beyond California. National Forests across the country were required to implement the 2005 Travel Management Rule, making this a potentially nationwide change in how motorized recreation is managed.
The 2005 rule established the regulatory framework that required National Forests to designate the specific roads, trails, and areas where motorized vehicles could legally travel. Forests subsequently developed Motor Vehicle Use Maps, commonly called MVUMs, identifying routes legally available for motorized use. For millions of recreationists, that process fundamentally changed access to National Forest lands.
Now, for the first time in roughly 20 years, the Forest Service is considering major changes to the framework that produced those decisions.
Before implementation of Travel Management, many National Forests operated under systems where motorized recreation was generally permitted unless a route or area had specifically been restricted. The 2005 rule changed that approach by moving the Forest Service toward a designated-route system. Under that framework, motorized use generally became prohibited unless a road, trail, or area had specifically been designated for that type of vehicle use.
Each National Forest then went through its own travel-management planning process. Thousands of roads and trails were evaluated, mapped, designated, restricted, converted to administrative use, or left off Motor Vehicle Use Maps entirely. For the OHV community, the consequences were significant.
Historic trails disappeared from maps, long-used connector routes were lost, and access to dispersed camping areas became more difficult. In some locations, traditional recreation networks became fragmented because a single missing connector could separate otherwise usable trail systems. Routes that generations of families had used to reach campsites, scenic destinations, hunting areas, and other public-land destinations were no longer available for public motorized travel.
Because those decisions were made forest by forest, the impacts varied throughout California and across the United States. CORVA and other motorized recreation organizations participated extensively in these processes, fighting to preserve legitimate access while supporting responsible management of public lands.
Twenty years later, the Forest Service is reconsidering the underlying rule that created that system. That is why this rulemaking could be so important.
According to the Forest Service's August 24 Letter of Intent, the agency wants to modernize Travel Management regulations to allow faster local decision-making and increase recreational access, including access for motor vehicles, e-bikes, and other mobility devices.
One of the most significant concepts under discussion is movement toward a more flexible management philosophy that could differ substantially from the designated-route system recreationists have operated under for the past two decades. Such a change could provide local Forest Service officials with greater flexibility to reconsider routes, correct past travel-management problems, improve connectivity, recognize changing recreation demands, and respond more quickly to legitimate access needs.
CORVA members should understand, however, that these proposed changes do not automatically reopen closed roads or trails. Existing Motor Vehicle Use Maps remain in effect, and a route currently closed under an MVUM does not suddenly become legal because the Forest Service has announced its intent to revise the national rule.
What could change is the regulatory framework used by Forest Service officials when evaluating access in the future. For communities that lost significant access during previous Travel Management decisions, that opportunity should not be underestimated.
That will undoubtedly be one of the first questions many off-roaders ask. The answer is potentially yes, but not automatically.
Changing the national regulation would not erase two decades of individual Forest Travel Management decisions. Reopening a particular road or trail could still require site-specific analysis, environmental review, resource evaluation, public participation, and approval from the appropriate Forest Service official.
However, a revised rule could potentially provide something the OHV community has needed for years: a more workable pathway for reconsidering access.
Instead of treating additional motorized access as something that must overcome an inherently restrictive regulatory framework, future management could provide greater flexibility for forests to determine that responsible motorized recreation is an appropriate use of National Forest lands where conditions support it.
That distinction matters. CORVA has consistently argued that public-land management should focus on responsible management rather than unnecessary closure. Routes can be repaired, drainage can be improved, sensitive resources can be protected, and seasonal restrictions can be used where scientifically justified. Volunteer organizations can provide maintenance, while education and enforcement can address irresponsible behavior.
Closing access should not automatically be the first or only management tool available.
Another significant concept included in the Forest Service proposal involves limited exceptions that could allow motorized vehicles to travel outside designated routes for certain legitimate purposes. Activities under consideration include big-game retrieval, firewood collection, dispersed camping, snowmobile use, and other specifically authorized activities.
For many Western recreationists, these are not minor issues. Travel Management frequently created situations where someone could legally drive down a Forest Service road but could not travel a short distance beyond that designated route to establish a dispersed campsite, retrieve legally harvested game, or conduct another traditional activity.
The proposed rulemaking could give Forest managers greater flexibility to authorize these activities where local conditions allow. The details will be extremely important, and CORVA will be watching closely to ensure that any exceptions are practical, understandable, and capable of being implemented locally rather than buried beneath additional layers of bureaucracy.
The Forest Service is also considering changing how Class 1 electric bicycles are treated. Under existing Forest Service regulations, e-bikes have generally been classified as motor vehicles. Under the proposal, Class 1 e-bikes — pedal-assist bicycles with assistance generally limited to 20 mph — could instead be managed more similarly to traditional bicycles.
That does not mean every non-motorized trail would automatically become open to e-bikes. Local restrictions, trail designations, environmental considerations, and other management decisions could still apply. However, the regulatory change could substantially expand opportunities for Class 1 e-bike access in locations where conventional bicycles are already permitted.
For hunters, older recreationists, people with mobility limitations, and riders seeking access to remote areas without using a conventional motor vehicle, this could become another meaningful change in National Forest recreation policy.
Another important part of the proposal may receive less attention, but it could provide enormous practical benefits for recreationists. The Forest Service is proposing improvements to digital mapping and public GIS information consistent with requirements of the federal EXPLORE Act.
For years, OHV users have struggled with outdated maps, inconsistent GIS information, confusing Motor Vehicle Use Maps, and differences between what appears on a recreational navigation application and what the Forest Service considers legally designated. Standardized, regularly maintained GIS datasets could allow mapping platforms such as onX, CalTopo, and other applications to incorporate more reliable Forest Service information about roads, trails, access points, and legal designations.
For recreationists navigating a National Forest System containing approximately 380,000 miles of roads and 165,000 miles of trails, accurate digital access information is more than a convenience. It is an important compliance and public-safety tool.
California recreationists understand Travel Management very well. Clubs and organizations spent years attending agency meetings, reviewing maps, submitting comments, providing GPS tracks, identifying historic routes, documenting recreation destinations, and fighting to preserve connectivity throughout California's National Forests.
But this issue is national in scope. Forests throughout the West and across the United States implemented the 2005 Travel Management Rule. That means a change to the federal regulation could ultimately influence motorized recreation from California to Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and many other states.
For OHV organizations nationwide, this rulemaking deserves close attention because the regulatory decisions being made today could establish the foundation for motorized access policy for decades to come.
It is extremely important for CORVA members to understand that this proposal is separate from the Forest Service's effort involving the 2001 Roadless Rule. The two issues may both affect public-land access, but they address different policies.
The Roadless Rule concerns millions of acres of inventoried roadless areas and restrictions involving road construction, reconstruction, timber management, and related activities within those areas. The Travel Management Rule, by contrast, governs how motorized vehicles use the existing system of National Forest roads, trails, and designated motorized areas.
The fact that the Forest Service is reconsidering both policies during the same period could represent a significant broader shift in federal land-management policy, but they are separate rulemakings with separate public-comment processes and deadlines. CORVA will continue to engage on both.
Several national environmental organizations have strongly criticized the proposed Travel Management revisions, arguing that changes could weaken protections for fish, wildlife, watersheds, and other natural resources. Motorized recreation organizations view the issue differently and see an opportunity to create a more flexible, modern system that recognizes legitimate public access while retaining local management authority.
CORVA has long maintained that responsible motorized access and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive. OHV volunteers throughout California spend thousands of hours maintaining trails, clearing fallen trees, repairing drainage, installing signs, removing garbage, restoring damaged areas, educating recreationists, and assisting public-land managers.
The answer to every management challenge should not automatically be another locked gate. Decisions should be based on actual conditions, science, recreation demand, available management tools, and site-specific circumstances.
Access creates stewardship. People protect the places they know, use, maintain, and love.
While this announcement is significant, members should understand that the process is only beginning. The August 24 Letter of Intent starts what could be a lengthy federal rulemaking process involving environmental review, proposed regulatory language, additional public participation, and ultimately a final rule.
Current estimates indicate that the rulemaking process could continue into 2028. Until a new rule is formally adopted and subsequent local decisions are made, existing Travel Management regulations and Motor Vehicle Use Maps remain in effect.
In other words, do not assume that currently closed roads or trails have reopened. They have not.
What has opened is an opportunity to influence the rules that could govern National Forest access for the next generation.
The Forest Service's August 24 Letter of Intent opened an initial 30-day public-comment period that runs through September 23, 2026. Additional opportunities for public involvement are expected as the Environmental Impact Statement and proposed regulations move forward.
CORVA strongly encourages every motorized recreationist to participate. The Forest Service needs to hear directly from the people who actually use these lands. Tell the agency about routes lost during previous Travel Management decisions and explain why connectivity matters. Describe how closures affect camping, hunting, exploring, family recreation, tourism, local businesses, emergency access, volunteer stewardship, and rural communities.
Clubs should also document the work their members perform on National Forest lands. Trail clearing, drainage repair, signing, cleanup projects, education, restoration, and volunteer partnerships demonstrate that the motorized recreation community does far more than simply use these areas — we help maintain them.
Most importantly, recreationists should encourage the Forest Service to establish a regulatory framework that allows local managers to restore, maintain, improve, and expand responsible motorized access where conditions support it.
Comments can be submitted directly through the federal Regulations.gov docket for the Forest Service Travel Management Rule:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2026-0100-0001
Click the link above, review the Forest Service Letter of Intent, and submit your comment before September 23, 2026.
Your comment does not need to be long or complicated. In fact, the strongest comments are often personal, specific, and focused on how Forest Service decisions affect real people and real places. Avoid simply saying “I support this” without explaining why. Tell the Forest Service how you use National Forest lands and what you want the revised Travel Management Rule to accomplish.
Consider including these points:
The most effective comment is your own story in your own words. The Forest Service needs to hear from the families, volunteers, clubs, businesses, hunters, campers, and OHV enthusiasts who are directly affected by these policies.
Be respectful. Be specific. Be heard.
CORVA participated in Travel Management planning throughout California when these decisions were originally made, and we intend to be fully engaged as the Forest Service determines what comes next.
Over the coming months, CORVA will review the Forest Service proposal, monitor development of the Environmental Impact Statement, coordinate with our state and national recreation partners, and advocate for policies recognizing motorized recreation as a legitimate and important use of America's National Forests.
There will be technical details to work through, organized opposition, additional rounds of public comments, and no instant reopening of every road that disappeared from a Motor Vehicle Use Map over the past 20 years. But the significance of this opportunity should not be minimized.
For two decades, the OHV community has operated under a Travel Management system that fundamentally reshaped motorized access throughout the National Forest System. Now the Forest Service is reconsidering that framework.
This could be huge — not just for California and not just for CORVA, but for off-road recreationists across America.
Twenty years ago, the Travel Management Rule changed the future of motorized access on our National Forests. Now we have an opportunity to help determine what the next twenty years will look like.
CORVA will be there — protecting public lands FOR the people, not FROM the people.
The U.S. Forest Service has completed a nationwide review of its regional offices and Research and Development facilities as part of a broader agency reorganization. The review resulted in a decision to retain 41 additional research facilities while closing or consolidating 23 locations across the country.
For CORVA members, the most important point is that this announcement does not close National Forests, OHV areas, roads, trails, campgrounds, staging areas, or recreation sites. It also does not, by itself, change a Motor Vehicle Use Map, eliminate a designated OHV route, or alter an existing travel-management decision. The Forest Service describes this primarily as a facilities and cost-management decision, not a reduction in its scientific mission.
However, because research, staffing, environmental review, wildfire recovery, and local technical expertise all play important roles in how California's National Forests are managed, CORVA believes the implementation of this restructuring is worth watching carefully.
According to the Forest Service, the agency is facing a major long-term facilities problem. The Forest Service owns more than 16,000 facilities and maintains more than 500 leases and space-occupancy agreements nationwide. Approximately half of those facilities are reportedly rated in poor condition, while the agency has accumulated more than $3 billion in deferred maintenance.
At the same time, approximately one-third of Forest Service office space falls below the 60% utilization standard established by the federal USE IT Act. In practical terms, the agency is paying to maintain and lease a large amount of office space that may be partially vacant, underused, deteriorating, or no longer necessary for the way employees perform their work.
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden described the issue as one of spending too much money on underutilized square footage rather than putting those resources directly toward employees and agency work. That distinction is important. The stated purpose of this restructuring is to reduce spending on buildings and redirect more funding toward staff, research, and mission delivery.
When the Forest Service announced the restructuring process in March 2026, it initially identified 20 Research and Development facilities for retention and 57 for further evaluation. As the review progressed, a total of 64 locations were evaluated. Following that review, the Forest Service determined that 41 additional facilities would remain open, while 23 facilities were identified for closure or consolidation.
According to the agency, the locations selected for closure generally had little to no staffing. That is an important detail because the Forest Service says employees assigned to affected locations will not simply disappear with the buildings. Instead, employees will transition to other Forest Service facilities within their local commuting areas.
Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz has stated that the consolidations will result in no forced staff reductions associated with these facility decisions and that the agency intends for the affected work to continue without interruption.
The Forest Service estimates that the consolidation will produce more than $8.8 million in annual lease savings and more than $8 million in deferred maintenance savings. Together, the agency identifies more than $16 million in cost savings connected to these decisions.
The larger goal is to put more agency funding toward what the Forest Service calls "mission delivery" rather than maintaining buildings it no longer needs. From CORVA's perspective, that could be a positive development if those savings actually translate into greater resources for work in the field.
California's National Forests need trail crews, recreation specialists, engineers, planners, biologists, hydrologists, wildfire recovery teams, law enforcement personnel, permit administrators, volunteer coordinators, and researchers. Saving money on underutilized office space makes sense if those dollars strengthen those functions. The concern would arise if facilities consolidation eventually becomes a reduction in the agency's ability to actively manage public lands.
The Forest Service says the facilities being retained generally fall into several categories. Some will serve as future state offices or service centers under the Forest Service's developing state-based organizational model. Others provide primary space for the National Forest System, operate under zero-cost arrangements, contain important research laboratories or infrastructure, or are part of the Forest Service's Experimental Forest network.
The agency has specifically stated that the facilities decision is intended to address building and maintenance costs and does not eliminate the scientific work being conducted in the field, in laboratories, or through partnerships. The Forest Service says its place-based Research and Development programs will continue throughout the country.
That commitment will be particularly important for California, where land-management decisions are often driven by complex combinations of wildfire, drought, watershed conditions, recreation pressure, threatened and endangered species, forest health, and infrastructure concerns.
These facility decisions are part of a much broader Forest Service reorganization. The agency has indicated that it is beginning a transition toward a more state-based organizational model, with certain retained facilities eventually serving as state offices or service centers.
The Forest Service is also moving forward with previously announced changes involving regional offices in Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Portland. Employees affected by those changes are also expected to continue working from other local Forest Service locations.
For California, the development of a state-based structure could eventually become more significant than the closure of individual research buildings. If properly implemented, having decision-making and technical resources organized closer to the states and landscapes they serve could improve coordination with local governments, recreation organizations, rural communities, volunteers, permittees, and other stakeholders.
However, the effectiveness of that model will depend on whether authority and resources actually move closer to the forests or simply become concentrated in fewer administrative offices.
When most people hear "Forest Service research," they may picture scientists studying trees, wildlife, insects, wildfire, or water quality. All of those subjects can eventually influence public-land management.
Forest Service scientific research can contribute to wildfire recovery planning, forest restoration, erosion and watershed analysis, wildlife and habitat evaluations, threatened and endangered species consultation, fuel-reduction projects, environmental assessments, environmental impact statements, forest plans, road and trail management, and recreation planning.
Researchers generally are not the people deciding whether an OHV trail stays open or closes. However, scientific studies and technical information can become part of the administrative record used by Forest Supervisors, District Rangers, interdisciplinary teams, and other decision-makers.
That makes accurate, timely, and locally relevant research important to recreational access.
California contains some of the most complicated National Forest management challenges in the country. Forests including the Sierra, Sequoia, Stanislaus, Eldorado, Tahoe, Plumas, Lassen, Angeles, San Bernardino, Cleveland, and Los Padres National Forests must manage a combination of intense recreation, wildfire, drought, watershed concerns, wildlife habitat, hazardous trees, damaged infrastructure, fuels accumulation, erosion, and rapidly changing post-fire landscapes.
Consider what happens after a major wildfire. Roads may be damaged, culverts can fail, signs and barriers can burn, hillsides can become unstable, thousands of fire-damaged trees may become hazards, and watersheds may face increased erosion. Recreation infrastructure may need repair or complete replacement.
Before roads and trails can safely reopen, the Forest Service needs people with the expertise to evaluate those conditions and develop solutions. That may involve hydrologists, engineers, geologists, biologists, researchers, recreation specialists, and environmental planners.
The science behind those decisions can help determine whether a trail needs to remain temporarily closed or whether repairs, drainage improvements, hazard-tree removal, rerouting, stabilization, or other mitigation can restore access. For the OHV community, that distinction can mean the difference between a temporary closure and one that lasts for years.
California recreationists know firsthand what happens after catastrophic wildfire. Emergency closures are often necessary immediately following a fire, and CORVA understands and supports legitimate temporary closures where an immediate threat to public safety exists.
But those closures should not become permanent simply because the agency lacks the staff, funding, technical expertise, or administrative capacity necessary to evaluate and repair an area. That is why this restructuring matters.
If consolidating facilities frees up money that can be redirected toward wildfire recovery, engineering, trail maintenance, environmental review, and field personnel, California recreation could benefit. If consolidation ultimately reduces local expertise or slows the agency's ability to evaluate damaged areas, recreation access could suffer.
The issue, therefore, is not simply how many buildings the Forest Service owns. The real issue is whether the agency retains the people necessary to get the work done.
One issue CORVA will continue to watch is preservation of local institutional knowledge. California's National Forests are not interchangeable.
Someone who has spent years working on the Sierra National Forest may understand its watersheds, soils, wildfire history, OHV trail systems, recreation patterns, volunteer organizations, resource concerns, and previous management decisions in ways that cannot simply be recreated from a centralized office hundreds of miles away.
That same principle applies throughout California. Moving an employee from one building to another within the same commuting area probably does little to diminish that knowledge. But as the Forest Service transitions toward a new organizational structure, it will be important to ensure that consolidation does not gradually disconnect specialists and decision-makers from the individual forests they serve.
Science and environmental analysis are sometimes viewed by recreationists only as tools used to justify restrictions. They can also protect access.
Good site-specific science can demonstrate that responsible motorized recreation and conservation can coexist. It can identify drainage improvements instead of route closures, support trail restoration rather than abandonment, and identify an appropriate reroute instead of eliminating an entire trail.
It can also distinguish measurable environmental impacts from assumptions and demonstrate when education, enforcement, seasonal restrictions, engineering, restoration, or other mitigation measures can solve a resource problem without permanently eliminating recreation.
CORVA supports sound, transparent, defensible science because public-land decisions should be based on measurable conditions and legitimate resource concerns. Management should be the first solution, not closure.
CORVA members should also understand that this restructuring is separate from two other major Forest Service issues currently attracting attention.
It is not the proposed revision of the 2005 Travel Management Rule. The Travel Management Rule governs motorized vehicle use on National Forest System roads, trails, and areas and can have a direct effect on OHV access.
It is also not the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Those are separate policy and regulatory processes.
The closure of a Forest Service research facility does not automatically close an OHV trail, change a Motor Vehicle Use Map, eliminate a designated route, or change the legal status of land. That distinction is extremely important.
The Forest Service has also stated that this round of decisions is not necessarily the end of its broader facilities review. The agency is continuing to evaluate other buildings and facilities associated with the National Forest System and other Forest Service operations.
That means additional facility decisions could still occur. CORVA will need to watch those future decisions more closely when they involve Ranger District offices, visitor facilities, maintenance compounds, recreation operations, engineering resources, or other facilities directly connected with on-the-ground management.
Closing an underutilized research office is very different from eliminating the operational capacity of a Ranger District.
CORVA does not oppose government efficiency. If the Forest Service can eliminate unnecessary leases, consolidate nearly empty offices, reduce deferred-maintenance obligations, and put those savings toward employees and work on the ground, that is a reasonable objective.
But CORVA will be watching what happens next. The measure of success should not simply be whether the Forest Service saves more than $16 million on buildings. The real test will be whether California's National Forests have the personnel and resources necessary to maintain roads and trails, complete environmental reviews, recover from wildfire, repair damaged infrastructure, coordinate volunteer programs, process recreation projects, conduct sound scientific analysis, and reopen public lands as quickly as conditions reasonably allow.
Closing an unnecessary office can save money. Losing the people and expertise necessary to manage public lands costs everyone.
California's National Forests need active management. They need scientists, engineers, recreation specialists, trail crews, local expertise, and partnerships with organizations and volunteers. They also need an agency capable of solving problems rather than simply locking gates when problems become difficult.
CORVA's position remains straightforward: Public lands should be actively managed, not managed by closure.
If this Forest Service restructuring reduces unnecessary overhead, preserves employees, strengthens science, moves decision-making closer to Western public lands, and puts more resources into California's forests, it could ultimately be beneficial.
If it results in fewer people on the ground, slower wildfire recovery, delayed environmental reviews, reduced recreation management, or a loss of local expertise, California off-roaders could feel those consequences for years.
CORVA will continue monitoring the Forest Service reorganization as it is implemented and will evaluate future changes based on what matters most to our members: responsible recreation, effective land management, and continued public access.
Because protecting access means more than keeping a gate open today. It means making sure the Forest Service has the people, science, funding, and resources necessary to keep that gate open tomorrow.
CORVA — Protecting Public Lands FOR the People, Not FROM the People.
The California Off-Road Vehicle Association is calling on our members, clubs, business partners, and the entire OHV community to participate in an important federal public-comment period that could influence how millions of acres of National Forest lands are managed in the future.
The U.S. Forest Service has formally proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, commonly known as the Roadless Rule. The proposal was published in the Federal Register on August 20, 2026, under Docket FS-2025-0001. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and supporting materials are also available for public review. CORVA strongly encourages every member who cares about responsible motorized access, healthy forests, wildfire prevention, and multiple-use recreation to submit a comment.
Public comments are due September 21, 2026.
The Roadless Rule was adopted nationally in 2001 and generally restricts road construction, road reconstruction, and certain timber activities within designated Inventoried Roadless Areas of the National Forest System.
The Forest Service is now proposing to rescind the national rule in its entirety. More than 44 million acres remain subject to the national Roadless Rule, making this a significant federal land-management decision. The proposal does not apply to the separate state-specific Roadless Rules governing Idaho and Colorado.
For California, where National Forest lands provide enormous opportunities for OHV recreation, camping, hunting, fishing, dispersed recreation, and access to remote public lands, CORVA believes our community needs to be part of this discussion.
This distinction is extremely important.
The 2001 Roadless Rule remains in effect today.
The Forest Service has proposed rescinding it. The agency must complete the federal rulemaking process and consider public comments before making a final decision. Rescission also would not automatically reopen closed OHV trails, change Motor Vehicle Use Maps, authorize cross-country travel, or approve construction of new roads.
Existing Forest Plans, route designations, MVUMs, Wilderness designations, environmental laws, and other applicable requirements would continue to govern activities on National Forest lands. Instead, the significance of the proposal is what could happen over time.
Removing the nationwide Roadless Rule could provide individual National Forests with greater flexibility when considering future decisions involving roads, wildfire mitigation, fuels reduction, forest management, emergency access, recreation, and other multiple uses.
California's National Forests are not all the same.
The Sierra Nevada, Southern California forests, North Coast, Cascades, and eastern California forests face very different conditions involving wildfire, vegetation, terrain, recreation demand, existing transportation systems, and surrounding communities.
CORVA believes these decisions should be based on current conditions, sound science, site-specific analysis, and meaningful involvement from the people and communities who actually use these lands.
California has also experienced devastating wildfires. Roads and motorized routes can serve purposes far beyond recreation. Depending on location, they can provide access for firefighters, fuels-reduction projects, prescribed fire, search and rescue, emergency response, forest restoration, maintenance, and post-fire recovery. Responsible public access and conservation do not have to be opposing objectives.
Good management can accomplish both.
This rulemaking presents an opportunity for the OHV community to make an important point:
Responsible motorized recreation is a legitimate use of our National Forests and must be considered when future land-management decisions are made.
Motorized routes provide access not only for motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides, Jeeps, and four-wheel-drive vehicles, but also for camping, hunting, fishing, sightseeing, volunteer stewardship, and people who otherwise could not reasonably reach remote areas of their public lands.
CORVA wants the Forest Service to recognize the importance of existing legal routes, recreational connectivity, emergency access, and multiple-use recreation as future forest-level decisions are made. Where environmental concerns exist, land managers should consider responsible management solutions—including rerouting, seasonal restrictions, maintenance, trail hardening, education, signage, and enforcement—before resorting to permanent closure.
This is where CORVA members can make a difference.
Federal agencies need to hear directly from the people who actually recreate on National Forest lands.
A comment does not need to be lengthy or written by an attorney. In fact, a personalized comment explaining where you recreate and why the issue matters to you can provide valuable information for the administrative record.
Tell the Forest Service which National Forest you use. Explain whether you ride motorcycles, drive a Jeep or 4x4, use a side-by-side, camp, hunt, fish, volunteer, or explore backcountry roads. If you have experienced lost route connectivity, wildfire closures, deteriorating forest conditions, lack of emergency access, or successful examples of responsible motorized management, tell them about it.
CORVA particularly encourages members to ask the Forest Service to:
CORVA is launching an advocacy effort to help our members understand the issue, personalize a comment letter, and make their voices heard.
We strongly encourage you to personalize the provided letter. Two or three sentences about the National Forest or riding area you personally use can make your submission substantially more meaningful.
The official federal proceeding is:
Docket: FS-2025-0001 RIN: 0596-AD66 Federal Register: 91 FR 53827 Federal Deadline: September 21, 2026
One important deadline clarification for California members: the federal portal currently identifies the closing time as 11:59 p.m. Eastern on September 21, which is 8:59 p.m. Pacific. CORVA recommends submitting your comment well before the final day rather than waiting until the deadline.
Public access is protected by participation.
CORVA can meet with agencies, review environmental documents, submit organizational comments, and advocate at the state and federal levels—but there is tremendous value when individual recreationists stand beside us and put their own experiences into the public record.
Don't assume someone else will submit the comment for you.
Take a few minutes. Personalize your letter. Tell the Forest Service where you recreate and why responsible motorized access matters to you.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. PROTECT RESPONSIBLE OHV ACCESS.
California Off-Road Vehicle Association
Protecting Public Lands FOR the People — Not FROM the People!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your thoughts on AB 1613. Your feedback has been invaluable, and I'm pleased to let you know that CORVA has formally submitted recommendations to Assemblymember Lori Wilson based directly on the concerns expressed by our membership.
While CORVA supports the goals of improving OHV safety, education, and responsible stewardship, we also believe the legislation must be fair, practical, and workable for California's diverse off-road community.
Based on your feedback, CORVA recommended the following changes:
This process is far from over. AB 1613 will continue moving through the Senate, and there will be additional opportunities for discussion and amendments before the bill reaches the Governor's desk.
CORVA remains committed to representing our members every step of the way. We appreciate everyone who participated in our survey, emailed us, called us, and shared thoughtful feedback. Your voices have shaped our recommendations, and we will continue advocating for legislation that improves safety while protecting responsible recreation and access to California's public lands.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mike McGarity President, CORVA
⏱️ This survey takes about two minutes to complete, consists of just five questions, and is completely anonymous. Take the CORVA Member Survey
Read the Full Bill Here
Thank you for being part of CORVA and standing up for off-highway recreation in California. Your membership and your voice are what give us the standing to fight for access—and right now, we need to hear from you.
Your feedback on this issue matters more than you might think. CORVA has the ability to submit formal comments on legislation on behalf of our members and advocate for amendments when appropriate. However, we can only represent our membership accurately if we know where you stand.
We want to clarify a common misconception.
CORVA did not write, author, sponsor, or introduce AB 1613.
AB 1613 was introduced by Assemblymember Lori Wilson. CORVA's role is to represent our members throughout the legislative process. If our members support changes to the bill, CORVA can submit comments and advocate for amendments—but we need your input first.
AB 1613 would create a new California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Safety and Stewardship Program. A stakeholder group would be tasked with developing a mandatory safety and stewardship course covering:
Safe vehicle operation
Required safety equipment
Trail etiquette and responsible recreation
Environmental stewardship and resource protection
The course would be developed by mid-2027.
Beginning January 1, 2029, anyone age 16 or older would be required to complete the course and carry an operator card to legally access off-highway lands.
Importantly, this requirement would not apply only to dirt bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides.
Under the current language of the bill, the requirement would also apply to street-legal vehicles—including Jeeps, trucks, SUVs, and other licensed vehicles—when operated on designated off-highway lands.
In other words, even if your vehicle is registered, insured, and street legal, you could still be required to possess an operator card to access OHV recreation areas.
The OHV Division would have the authority to establish a course fee of up to $25, with revenues deposited into the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund. The course could be offered online.
AB 1613 passed the Assembly Transportation Committee by a vote of 9–2 in April 2026 and is currently awaiting consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Thank you for taking two minutes to make your voice heard. Together, we can ensure that CORVA continues to advocate for policies that best serve California's off-highway recreation community.
Sincerely,
Your CORVA Board of Directors
Protecting Public Lands FOR the People, Not FROM the People.
CORVA is closely monitoring a significant federal policy development that could have important implications for motorized recreation and public access on federally managed lands.
Recently, President Trump issued an Executive Order rescinding several longstanding Executive Orders that have influenced federal land management policies for decades.
Of particular interest to the off-road community is the removal of requirements commonly associated with the “minimization criteria” used in Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) route designation and travel management planning.
For many years, these criteria have played a significant role in how federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service, evaluate motorized routes and access opportunities. While intended to address resource concerns, the criteria have often been interpreted in highly subjective ways, resulting in route closures, access restrictions, and lengthy planning processes that have reduced public access across millions of acres of public land.
From CORVA’s perspective, this Executive Order presents an opportunity to revisit how public lands are managed and how recreation is considered within federal decision-making.
For decades, off-road enthusiasts have experienced the cumulative effects of route reductions, travel management plans, litigation-driven closures, and increasingly restrictive interpretations of public land regulations.
In California alone, we have witnessed:
CORVA supports responsible recreation, resource protection, and sustainable access. We also believe public lands should remain accessible to the public and that recreation should be recognized as a legitimate and valuable use alongside conservation, grazing, energy development, wildlife management, and other authorized uses.
The removal of these Executive Orders does not automatically reopen closed trails or reverse existing travel management decisions. Federal laws, regulations, environmental review requirements, and agency planning processes remain in place.
However, this action may provide federal agencies with greater flexibility to:
CORVA has long advocated for the principle that public lands should be managed for the people, not from the people.
We support science-based management, responsible stewardship, and meaningful conservation efforts. At the same time, we believe public access should not be treated as an afterthought or sacrificed through administrative processes that fail to adequately consider the social, economic, and recreational benefits that motorized recreation provides.
As implementation of this Executive Order unfolds, CORVA will continue working with federal agencies, elected officials, partner organizations, and recreation stakeholders to ensure the interests of California’s off-road community are represented throughout the process.
This Executive Order is not the end of the conversation—it may be the beginning of a new chapter in how public access is considered on federal lands.
CORVA will remain engaged at every level to ensure that future policy decisions support balanced multiple-use management while protecting opportunities for responsible off-highway recreation.
The work is far from over, but this development serves as a reminder of why staying involved in land-use policy matters. Decisions made in Washington, D.C. can have real-world impacts on the trails, roads, and recreation areas we enjoy throughout California.
Thank you for your continued support of CORVA and our mission to protect public land access for current and future generations.
Respectfully,
Your Corva Board of Directors
CORVA is extremely proud to announce that AB 1613 successfully passed the California State Assembly floor yesterday afternoon with a strong 41–17 vote and now advances to the California State Senate for continued consideration — one step closer to the Governor’s desk.
This represents a significant milestone for the future of Off-Highway Vehicle recreation, rider education, and responsible public land stewardship throughout California.
For several years, CORVA Board Members, along with our Land Use Consultant Ted Cabral, have been actively engaged in this process from the very beginning. Through extensive stakeholder meetings, policy discussions, coalition-building efforts, and direct collaboration with legislators and the California State Parks OHMVR Division, CORVA has remained at the table advocating for balanced, practical, and workable solutions that protect both public access and public safety.
OHV recreation in California is far more than simply riding trails. It represents a statewide culture of family recreation, outdoor education, volunteerism, tourism, economic impact, and stewardship across millions of acres of public land. With more than 1.2 million registered OHVs in California and millions of annual recreation visits to our deserts, forests, dunes, and trail systems, the importance of safety education and responsible land stewardship cannot be overstated.
AB 1613 recognizes something CORVA has long championed: protecting access and promoting safety must work hand-in-hand.
As California’s public lands continue facing unprecedented pressures from closures, litigation, environmental conflicts, and increasing recreational demand, the OHV community must continue demonstrating leadership in responsible recreation, rider preparedness, route compliance, and stewardship ethics. Education remains one of the strongest tools we have to preserve long-term access for future generations while reinforcing the importance of respecting trails, protecting natural resources, and maintaining California’s multiple-use public lands for everyone.
While not all of the coalition’s recommended amendments were ultimately adopted during the Assembly process, meaningful progress was achieved, including:
It is important to recognize that many of the improvements made to AB 1613 were directly influenced by years of collaborative stakeholder engagement involving recreation organizations, safety advocates, land managers, and policy experts working together toward practical implementation solutions.
Because the bill author also served as Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, the coalition’s strategy throughout the Assembly process focused heavily on maintaining productive collaboration while continuing to pursue additional clarification and implementation improvements as the bill now moves into the Senate.
CORVA still believes additional refinements are important, particularly regarding:
As the bill advances, CORVA will continue actively participating in discussions with legislative offices, Senate policy staff, OHMVR leadership, and coalition partners to ensure implementation remains practical, effective, and supportive of responsible recreation access.
This legislation is bigger than a single bill. It reflects a growing recognition that California’s OHV community is serious about safety, stewardship, accountability, and protecting the future of motorized recreation on public lands. CORVA will continue working diligently to ensure any statewide OHV education and stewardship framework supports responsible users while preserving the freedoms and opportunities millions of Californians value.
CORVA remains committed to ensuring responsible recreation voices continue to have a seat at the table as these policies move forward.
Thank you to every CORVA member, partner organization, volunteer, advocate, and stakeholder who has participated in this process and helped move these discussions forward. Your involvement matters. Your voice matters. And your commitment to responsible recreation continues making a difference statewide.
We will continue keeping the membership updated as AB 1613 progresses through the Senate process.
CORVA Board of Directors
Prairie City SVRA is more than just a riding area — it is one of Northern California’s premier OHV recreation destinations, supporting family recreation, organized competition, rider training, volunteer stewardship, and outdoor tourism year-round.
CORVA is closely monitoring proposals involving industrial development adjacent to the park, including the proposed rock quarry project that could significantly impact the Prairie City riding experience. Concerns continue to be raised regarding dust, air quality, noise, visual impacts, truck traffic, and the long-term compatibility of heavy industrial operations next to one of California’s most heavily used State Vehicular Recreation Areas.
Prairie City serves a diverse recreation community that includes riders, racers, youth training programs, camping families, and organized events that contribute to the local economy and California’s OHV culture. Protecting the long-term viability of the park requires thoughtful planning and balanced decision making that fully considers recreation impacts alongside surrounding land-use proposals.
CORVA supports responsible growth and environmental stewardship and also believes OHV recreation areas deserve meaningful protection from incompatible industrial encroachment that could diminish the public recreation experience over time.
The future of responsible recreation depends on an engaged community willing to stay informed and involved.
Join CORVA and help protect the future of OHV recreation in California.
Members,
The Oceano Dunes District Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is a conservation program that supports receipt of an incidental take permit under the Federal Endangered Species Act for federally-listed species occurring at Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The HCP will ensure that State Parks has sufficient conservation and avoidance measures in place to sustain these sensitive species while continuing to operate the parks for public recreation and enjoyment.
From the perspective of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA), Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is far more than a recreational site. It is a cornerstone of California’s multiple-use public-lands framework and one of the last places where lawful, family-oriented motorized recreation occurs on the coast.
Oceano Dunes lies within the Guadalupe–Nipomo Dunes complex, one of the largest remaining intact coastal dune systems in California. For generations, it has provided accessible outdoor recreation while also supporting sensitive coastal species. These two realities are not mutually exclusive. They have coexisted for decades through active, on-the-ground management.
State Parks and the OHMVR Division have invested millions of dollars at Oceano Dunes in species monitoring, seasonal and permanent fencing, predator management, education, enforcement, habitat restoration, and dust control. This level of active management is comparable to — and in many cases exceeds — the measures used at coastal State Beaches that do not allow OHV recreation, such as Huntington State Beach and other non-motorized shoreline parks that also support snowy plover habitat.
Snowy plovers face pressure from many factors common to all coastal beaches, including human presence, predators, storms, and habitat dynamics. Successful protection depends on adaptive, science-based management — not simply whether vehicles are present.
Despite these efforts, Oceano Dunes has been subjected to sustained closure pressure for years through litigation-driven strategies that seek to eliminate motorized recreation rather than improve measurable conservation outcomes.
The recent court ruling underscores the need for a durable, lawful path forward. CORVA views the Incidental Take Permit and Habitat Conservation Plan process as a critical opportunity to provide regulatory certainty, align management actions with measurable biological goals, and ensure continued public access while listed species are protected and recovered.
Public participation is essential. Public comments are being accepted through January 23, 2026.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
California Off-Road Vehicle Association Welcomes Ted Cabral as Land Use Consultant
November 2025 — Sacramento, CA – The California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) is proud to announce the appointment of Ted Cabral as the organization’s new Land Use Consultant. Cabral, principal of Outdoor Recreation Strategies, brings over 25 years of proven leadership in off-highway vehicle (OHV) policy, land-use advocacy, and outdoor recreation management.
“I am deeply committed to protecting and promoting responsible motorized recreation across California’s public lands,” said Cabral. “Through collaborative partnerships and strategic advocacy, I look forward to strengthening CORVA’s role as the state’s leading voice for off-road recreation.”
We came to an agreement effective November 01, Ted will start representing CORVA at all Land Manager meetings with State Parks, US Forest Service and BLM. He will draft and coordinate official comment letters on behalf of CORVA including early planning efforts to protect motorized recreation. Ted will foster relationships with all the Friends groups in California and all our allied advocacy groups. He will leverage existing networks such as Tread Lightly, Restore Trails, BRC, Cal4Wheel, ASA among others. CORVA remains committed to ensuring successful partnerships will thrive and advance with those who share our goals of responsible recreation, land stewardship, and OHV access across California. This working relationship with Ted will reflect a mutually agreed starting point for solid collaboration which will result in a long-term impact on our land access in California.
A Veteran Advocate for OHV Access
Cabral’s extensive background includes service as a former California OHMVR Commissioner, including three years as Chair, and as a Board Member for the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). He currently serves as Legislative Action Officer for AMA District 36, where he leads efforts to support sound legislation, build coalitions, and defend access for OHV enthusiasts.
Cabral’s experience also includes leadership as President of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) and the RestoreTrails program, coordinating post-fire trail restoration and infrastructure recovery on state and federal lands. His ongoing relationships with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies will enhance CORVA’s ability to engage effectively in land-use planning and restoration partnerships.
A Strategic Approach to Advocacy
Through his firm, Outdoor Recreation Strategies, Cabral will provide statewide representation for CORVA in legislative, regulatory, and public land matters. His consulting scope includes:
Strategic Advocacy
Represent CORVA at hearings, public meetings, and agency consultations.
Maintain active involvement in CEQA/NEPA reviews, travel management, and OHV regulatory processes.
Policy & Comment Strategy
Coordinate and draft formal comment letters on proposals affecting motorized access.
Engage early in planning to shape outcomes and protect recreation opportunities.
Education & Outreach
Expand CORVA’s stewardship messaging through club engagement and public events.
Promote OHV safety, trail etiquette, and sustainable recreation practices.
Partnership Development
Strengthen relationships with local “Friends of” organizations and stewardship partners.
Foster collaboration with agencies, local governments, and allied recreation organizations.
Explore restoration and access projects with programs like PWORA and RestoreTrails.
About Ted Cabral
Ted Cabral has spent over two decades shaping OHV policy and public land access in California. His leadership extends from the Marin County Motorcycle Association to state and national policy boards, with extensive experience in program development, stakeholder engagement, and responsible recreation advocacy.
Based in Sonoma County, California, Ted’s firm, Outdoor Recreation Strategies, integrates field-level stewardship with strategic policy engagement—ensuring that the next generation of OHV leaders is mentored and equipped to carry forward the mission of responsible access.
About CORVA
The California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for responsible off-road recreation and protecting access to public lands. Through education, stewardship, and policy engagement, CORVA works to ensure that California’s off-road community continues to thrive on lands managed for multiple use.
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