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Maryland Department of Natural Resources Proposed Off-Road Vehicle Trail System Expansion

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to expand its off-road vehicle (ORV) trail system. Three new ORV Trails are being considered: (1) one ORV Trail in Garrett County on the Savage River State Forest, in the general vicinity of St. John’s Rock-Red Dog Road, (2) two ORV Trails in Washington County, on DNR managed lands on Sideling Hill north and south.
Public comments will be taken at the September 4th starting at 1900 at New Germany State Park meeting following a presentation by DNR staff.

Comments will also be received via email or hardcopy through October 4, 2013.

Comments may be sent to:

Jack Perdue
Maryland DNR
Tawes State Office Building, E-1
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401

Or by email to: jperdue@dnr.state.md.us


http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/orv_Projects.asp

More information, including maps --

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/orv_Projects.asp


~Patrick

DAMN, the St Johns Rock trail seems to be a total PoS. Many closures, 20 permits/day, and it looks like you ride one way, turn around, and go back the same way. Also, apparently "the majority of this mileage already exists as public-access road on this site."

Now, if we can get all three, great! But if these are the three that are being considered and we have to choose one, either of the others look okay at first glance.

Ken, what are our action items at this time? aka, what can we do to help?


Thanks,

~Patrick

support this. I and Mike Twigg have been very active pushing DNR to allow us to cut in side trails both single and 2-track. This also gives us a chance to determine good metrics and measuring for user load and sustainability.

Not ideal now but it is a start.

Team - see http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/orv_Projects.asp

There will be a public meeting on Sept 4th 7pm at New Germany State Park. Please attend if possible and comment regardless.

Points to consider:
1. This is a good start but does not adequately replace the more technical trails at Green Ridge State Forest. Please encourage DNR to establish more technically challenging, but sustainable, trails for bikes, ATVs and jeeps.

2. Please encourage the DNR to establish monitoring programs so that we can reduce the subjectivity of when a trail is no longer sustainable.

3. Encourage the DNR to use volunteer labor to maintain and monitor trails. Volunteers can also establish new single and 2-track trails at little or no-cost to the DNR.

Please send us feedback if you attend the meeting or if you comment by email. Send your comments to info@mdohvalliange.org.

DNR Press Release:

http://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2013/08/21 ... dium=email