Sonora, CA…The Stanislaus National Forest is hosting a public meeting to gather feedback from OHV enthusiasts on Feb. 20 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor’s office, 19777 Greenley Road, Sonora. The forest is developing preliminary applications for the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division 2018/ 2019 grant cycle. The applications to the OHMVR Division include route/ trail maintenance and repair, law enforcement activities across the four ranger districts and OHV education programs.

Past grants have provided funding for route/ trail maintenance and repairs, including clearing downed trees on more than 1,693 miles of OHV routes on Stanislaus National Forest, provided law enforcement patrols on an additional 756 miles of native surface roads on the forest, printed the free Motor Vehicle Use Maps, as well as other education, planning, development and restoration activities.

Once completed, the preliminary grant applications will be available on the OHMVR website between March 6 and April 2, 2018 for review and comment. To review the grant applications submitted by the forest, go to http://olga.ohv.parks.ca.gov/egrams_ohmvr/user/home.aspx.

The public may provide electronic comments to the Stanislaus National Forest by emailing Miguel Macias at mmacias@fs.fed.us and cc’ing the OHMVR Division at ohvinfo@parks.ca.gov. You may also send written comments, suggestions, or letters of support for the applications to Miguel Macias, c/o Public Services, Stanislaus National Forest, 19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370

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The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.