Motorized Recreation on Federal Lands Considerations and Management Challenges

The growing and diverse nature of recreation on federal lands has increased the challenge of balancing different types of recreation with each other and with other land uses. Motorized recreation on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS) has been controversial, with issues centring on access and environmental impacts. Congress, as well as the Administration, has addressed motorised recreation on these federal lands. The use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on FS and BLM land is governed by a number of authorities, including law, executive orders, agency regulations and policies, land management plans, and area-specific decisions. Both agencies decide the extent of allowed OHV use in particular areas through their planning processes. This book examines the considerations and management challenges for motorised recreation on federal lands, with a focus on National Park Service lands.