Workshop to talk OHV concerns

A series of workshops regarding off-highway vehicle (OHV) use has been held across the region. OHV use has markedly increased over the  last decade. According to  Black Hills National Forest public affairs officer Scott Jacobson, the forest sold approximately 35,000 OHV permits in 2021, up about 5,000 from its 2020 totals.

In February 2021 the Forest held a two-day stakeholder OHV summit to discuss concerns about OHV issues. Summit participants expressed many concerns including capacity issues, unauthorized trails, dust and response by law enforcement. 

Five broad themes came out of that summit, two of which will be addressed at an upcoming workshop in Hill City. 

The Hill City workshop will cover theme three, “OHV user engagement, education, behavior and how to improve the general situation building on tread lightly and ride responsibly” and theme five, “collaborate across all political and ownership boundaries on solutions.”

It will also focus on refining the OHV Management Plan framework.

The objective of the workshop is to find specific and realistic solutions to improve the OHV experience for tourists and locals.

Jacobson says many of the issues are not unique to the Black Hills but that with all hands taking ownership  of the situation it would “make the program better for everyone involved.” He adds those actions will take time.   

 The workshops are one step in the process.

“Once the OHV collaborative public workshops are complete, we will have an Implementer’s Workshop.  This is when/where the Forest and our partners and stakeholders will determine which actions to take (from the public workshops) to resolve some of the concerns and issues that were brought forward at the OHV Summit in February  2021,” Jacobson said.

That will take place April 16 at the Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City. A Collaborative Workshop will be held in Custer April 28 with a location yet to be determined. 

The Forest lists a fall 2022 final draft proposal time frame. 

The Hill City workshop takes place April 5 at the Hill City High School Commons from 6-9 PM.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the public is encouraged to attend.