2014 TRA ILS SUMMIT

IOWA’S OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE PROGRAM

WHAT IS AN OHV?

OHV PROGRAM GOALS

• Manage OHVs as a recreational resource, includes recreational and utility vehicles

• Develop OHV parks and trails for owners of registered machines

• Develop, maintain, and promote safety education

• Remove OHVs from prohibited areas through education and enforcement

• Design trails for rider experience

WHEELED VEHICLES

GYPSUM CITY OHV PARK

• Mining area for gypsum, which is used to make sheet rock and drywall products• Land is reclaimed – vegetation, tree cover,

wildlife, fishing ponds• Land transfer was a result of tremendous

partnerships which existed and continue to grow

One of the critical factors which played into the land transfer was TRESPASSING

PARTNERSHIPS

WEBSTER COUNTY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION

WEBSTER COUNTY WHEELERS

PARTNERSHIPS

Representative Helen Miller

Senator Daryl Beall

REDEFINING THE STANDARD IN IOWA

• Implementation of a standardized sign plan• Trails specifically designed for vehicle type• Trail difficulty criteria implemented through

design• Used a professional trail designer to layout

the trails• Used a professional trail building enterprise

of the United States Forest Service to build the trails • Specialized training• Specialized trail building equipment• Premiere trail building equipment

HOW ARE WE MEETING OUR USERS’ NEEDS?

• 40-acre campground with full hook-ups – will eventually be 72 sites • Variety of trails for vehicle types and user

skill levels• Park development is currently planned to

expand to approximately 1,000 acres; potential will continue to expand as the four mining companies exhaust their use of the land• Partnership – this OHV park is being

integrated into Webster County’s recreational landscape

OPTIONS FOR MULTIUSE OF PARK

• Anglers/fishing opportunities

• Mountain bikes

• Wildlife watching – active deer herd, turkeys, birds

• Morrel mushrooms

• Partnerships – management is open to investigating all ideas