Offroad Land Use in Wisconsin

To All:

I receved this from Alex Bub yesterday - interesting development in offroad land use in Wisconsin:

From: Bub, Alex [mailto:Alex.Bub@harley-davidson.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 3:53 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: New OHV trails on tribal land

FYI;

A number of things are happening in the OHV world in Wisconsin. I am working with a few other individuals in starting WOHMA, the Wisconsin Off-Highway Motorcycle Association. I have discussed the association with all 26 motorcycle clubs in Wisconsin, most of them are AMA but a few are independents. I will be at the AMA Awards banquet on November 10th where we will present what we are trying to accomplish with a state OHM association: gaining a political voice within the state regarding trail access, addressing land use issues, getting a voice on the State Trails Council, acquiring land for OHV parks and new trail construction through a OHM registration program, requesting grant for funding, etc.

John Schnorr, CEO of WOHVA, will also be presenting information on what they have been accomplishing within the state. They have delivered an agreement with the Sokaogon Chippewa Mole Lake Band for access to tribal lands for your Jeep, dirt bike, and ATV. We have been asked to help mark and build the trails, and those clubs and associations that join WOHVA will be allowed access to the trails. WOHMA will affiliate with WOHVA in order to help construct and in that process gain access to these trails.

A formal “Starting a State Association Workshop” hosted by NOHVCC will be held sometime early next year in Portage where all of the OHM club representatives, interested supporting OHV oriented businesses, and interested individuals will be invited to join in and formally start the association. In the meantime those of us working towards starting the association are already working as WOHMA; attending meetings with the USFS, the DNR, working on land use issues regarding zoning and sound issues with individual clubs (including testifying in court, thanks Rick), developing a where to legally ride your dirt bikes guide, etc.

See http://www.wohva.com for additional information on the trail initiative below.

-----------------------
WOHVA Granted Exclusive Access to Mole Lake Reservation
August 28th, 2007

The Sokaogon Chippewa (Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians) Tribal Council convened on August 1st, 2007 and passed a resolution which has a huge impact on the Wisconsin Off-Highway Vehicle Association (WOHVA) and OHV recreation here in the Badger State.

The Sokaogon Chippewa is a federally recognized Indian Tribe organized under a Constitution adopted August 25, 1938 and approved on November 9, 1938 pursuant to Section 16 of the Indian Reorganization Act; which gives the Tribal Council the authority to pass Resolutions, which (among other things) allows the Tribal Council to formally grant access to Tribal lands by Non-Tribal individuals and entities.

The Resolution (in part) reads as follows:

WHEREAS, The Tribal Council has determined that the Wisconsin Off-Highway Vehicle Association (WOHVA) actively practices environmentally sound behavior; and

WHEREAS, WOHVA has made petition for limited access to the Mole Lake Reservation for specific, scheduled events;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

The Sokaogon Chippewa Community Tribal Council recognizes and honors the Wisconsin Off-Highway Vehicle Association (WOHVA) as A Friend to the Environment; and

That the Sokaogon Chippewa Community Tribal Council authorizes access to the Mole Lake Reservation to the Wisconsin Off-Highway Vehicle Association by application and approval through the office of the Department of Forestry for the Sokaogon Chippewa Community; and

That the Sokaogon Chippewa Community Tribal Council limits this authorization exclusively to WOHVA who will act the intermediary for any group or organization wishing to coordinate access to the Mole Lake Reservation for off-highway vehicle events.

As you’ll all recognize, this is a huge leap forward for WOHVA and OHV recreation here in Wisconsin!!! With the passage of this Resolution, WOHVA becomes the only organization to have exclusive authorization to recreate on these Tribal holdings. In addition, WOHVA will act the sole intermediary for any group or organization wishing to coordinate access to the Mole Lake Reservation for off-highway vehicle events.

WOHVA’s first event on these lands will be the 4th Annual STEP Event on August 7, 8, 9 & 10, 2008. The 4th Annual STEP Event will be a jamboree style trail ride open to the first 100 motorcycles, 100 ATV’s and 100 4X4 vehicles! The event will be headquartered at the New Mole Lake Lodge and Conference Center in Mole Lake, Wisconsin (800-236-9466). Be sure to mark it on your calendar today!

Trail development will begin this fall and continue through the summer of ’08. If your club or individual members are interested in assisting with trail development please contact WOHVA at molelakeaccess@wohva.net.

Registration for the 4th Annual WOHVA STEP Event will open after January 1st, 2008 and will be strictly capped at 100 units in each vehicle group. Be sure to register early! You don’t want to be left out of this trail ride on a here before closed riding area!

This Resolution is another excellent example of how WOHVA is “Proactively Assuring the Future of OHV Recreation” here in Wisconsin. WOHVA would like to thank our members for their continued support in forwarding OHV recreational opportunities here in the Badger State and WOHVA looks forward to even bigger success stories in the future!