To All Off Road Enthusiasts and Interested TIGeR Team Members.

Thank you for showing an interest to help save our OHV roads and trails.

As off road enthusiasts we are now faced with the most important task in history in order to preserve our riding experience. Our trails/roads are endangered of being closed due to inaccurate maps and lack of funding from the United States Forest Service (USFS).

We need your help to save our OHV roads and trails. Under the new Travel Management Rule, the USFS is required to create a designated system of roads and trails on all national forests and grasslands. The final outcome of the rule will be the production of a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).

The MVUM will be the document for enforcement. If a route is not on the map, IT IS CLOSED!

There are at least two ways for the agency to arrive at the publication of this map.

1. The first approach allows the forest to use existing decisions involving routes that are either open or closed from which they may directly create the MVUM, placing them in full compliance with the Travel Management Rule.

2. The second approach allows the forest to use public collaboration with GPS in identifying and recommending those routes for designation and to include information on important historical roads and trails that are not designated to a data base so they may be considered for future consideration.

For our purposes the most important approach involves the second approach outlined above and here is where we can help.

· COHVCO is in the process of obtaining from the Forest Service the official baseline "system" trail maps for each National Forest. The maps should show all of the roads and trails which will be considered for OHV use. In some cases this trail/road inventory cataloged may not be complete and they do not have the funds or manpower to fill in the missing gaps validating MVUM accuracy. We can assist by collecting GPS data to help fill these gaps and by providing information on existing, well documented, important, historical roads and trails that do not appear on the agencies baseline inventory of roads and trails. Our role in this instance is to help build this database so that the routes we identify, although not currently open, may be considered under future travel management decisions.

· The second role that we can play involves participation in active Forest Travel Management planning. The Gunnison National Forest is a prime example of this approach. Some forests will go directly to the publication of the MVUM, however forests like the Gunnison will be open for GPS data information to be considered in conjunction with the development of their new Travel Management Plan. As you can see, these routes you identify can be open as a part of the plan. Once the plan is completed then the MVUM will be published.

Each forest and/or Ranger District has determined what its deadline to create the MVUM will be.

To do this, COHVCO has created the TIGeR Team concept so you can help.

COHVCO has teamed up with the USFS to develop a process to help provide the missing data for those maps. To accomplish this enormous task COHVCO is asking for help from ALL OHV (Dirt Bike, ATV, 4x4 and Snowmobile) roads and trail users. We are in the process of establishing TIGeR (Trail Inventory Gap Resolution) Teams for each of Colorado's Seven Forests. These teams will be responsible for collecting missing trail/road data.

Volunteers are needed ASAP for TIGeR Teams across the state.

If you are skilled in one or all four of the following we need you help:

• · "On the ground" knowledge of the trails/roads in a specific area. This includes Dirt Bike, ATV, 4x4 and snowmobile trails/roads

• · A basic understanding of GPS Skills.

• · Verbal/written skills to collaborate with Forest Service Personal.

• · Team members must have time available due to fast approaching deadline dates imposed by the USFS.

Training will be provided to the entire team as to the specific data collection process. A helpful tool in understanding the process is in the form of a DVD that you can order by contacting the NOHVCC (National Off Highway Vehicle Organization) at 1-800-348-6487 or e-mail them at . COHVCO is also in the process of putting together a schedule of training workshops, visit: cohvco.org

A Google group has been set up to support the activities of the TIGeR team. It is a private group that requires an invitation to join. If you are interested in becoming part of the TIGeR Team project please fill out this survey and forward it to or or . After your completed survey is received you will be sent an invitation via email to join the TIGeR team Google group.