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CLICK HERE TO
TAKE THE ARIZONA TRAIL USER SURVEY
Or visit
https://websurvey.asu.edu/mrIWeb/mrIWeb.dll?I.Project=AZTRAILS
Please forward this email to other Arizonans interested in trails.
Forward this message to a friend
This
study is part of an effort to develop plans for the State Trails Program
and the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Program. The survey is being
conducted by the Arizona State Parks Board and Arizona State University
to ask for input into the trail planning process.
Your participation in this survey is very important. Your answers will
help set priorities for trail management in Arizona, and help determine
how a portion of the Heritage Fund and the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV)
Recreation Fund should be spent. The Heritage Fund comes from Lottery
revenues and the OHV Fund comes from gasoline tax dollars. Some of these
funds go directly to provide recreational trail opportunities and
facilities for all Arizona residents and visitors.
The survey will take approximately 15 – 20 minutes to complete. Your
answers to this survey are completely confidential. Your name will not
be connected to your answers in any way. Your participation in this
survey is voluntary; however, you can help us very much by taking a few
minutes to share your opinions.
If
you have taken the trails survey already, please dismiss this message.
Questions regarding this survey? Contact
trails2010@azstateparks.gov
Thank
you,
Arizona State Parks
June 24, 2008
Off-highway vehicle bill passes Arizona Senate, goes to Governor
*Long-awaited legislation that will help better manage off-highway
vehicle
(OHV) recreation and protect wildlife habitat passed the Arizona Senate
yesterday and has been sent to the Governor.
Senate Bill 1167, also known as the "Off-Highway Vehicle Bill," passed
the
Senate by a vote of 16-7, with 7 members not voting.
The bill has been transmitted to Gov. Janet Napolitano and awaits her
signature.
SB 1167 will provide long-overdue resources to better manage issues
created
by the dramatic increase in OHV use in Arizona (347 percent in the last
decade). Irresponsible riding has damaged habitat and created the
potential
for closures of some areas.
With the passage of SB 1167, revenue raised through an estimated $20
annual
user fee (exact amount to be determined through a public rule making
process) on off-highway vehicles will help provide funding for
additional
law enforcement, trail/facility maintenance and reconstruction, rider
education and information (including identification of lawful places for
operators to ride), and mitigation of resource damage from OHVs.
This "user play, user pay" approach is similar to that used by hunters
and
anglers, where sportsmen pay license fees to support their hunting and
fishing opportunities and benefits. In this case, OHV users will pay the
annual user fee to support the sustainable management of their
recreational
opportunities and resource protection.
"We're thrilled to see this legislation pass," said Arizona Game and
Fish
Commission Chairman Bill McLean. "Balancing the protection of wildlife
habitat with opportunities for responsible OHV recreation has been a
priority of the Game and Fish Commission. We worked hard on this bill
with
sponsor Rep. Jerry Weiers and the coalition of supporters, and we're
looking
forward to its implementation."
"This was drastically needed to keep up with the explosive growth of OHV
use in our state," said Mike Senn, assistant director for field
operations
for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "It provides beefed-up
tools—information/education efforts on responsible riding, trail
development
and habitat mitigation, new laws to address irresponsible riding, and
seven
new OHV law enforcement officers—to better manage OHV recreation and
protect
wildlife habitat."
The bill passed through the Arizona House of Representatives in April by
a
vote of 42-13.
Key supporters in the Legislature were Rep. Jerry Weiers (R-District 10)
and
Sen. Linda Gray (R-District 12).
The bill was supported by a diverse coalition of organizations,
including
the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, Arizona Game and Fish Department,
Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, Responsible Trails America
(Arizona
Chapter), Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife, Arizona Power Sports Industry
Association, Wildlife Conservation Council, Apache County ATV
Roughriders,
Sierra Club (Grand Canyon Chapter), Arizona Motor Sports Association,
Arizona Wildlife Federation, Drew and the Crew Motor Sports, National
Rifle
Association, Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy,
Sonoran Institute, Arizona State Parks, and Arizona State Land
Department,
among others.
When signed by the Governor, the OHV bill would become law on Jan. 1,
2009.
For additional information, visit www.azgfd.gov/ohv
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on
the
basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its
programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been
discriminated against in any of the AGFD's programs or activities,
including
employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy
Director,
5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or
with
the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington,
VA
22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation
or
this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director
as
listed above.
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