Los Padres Seeks Public Comment On OHV Grant Application

Los Padres National Forest officials today announced that recreation managers are seeking public comments on proposals for the State of California Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant program. The Los Padres National Forest is proposing to submit grant applications supporting OHV management activities on the national forest. The grant proposals include projects for operations and maintenance, law enforcement, restoration, planning, and development. The State is using an Internet-based “On-Line Grant Application” process as the means to apply for grant funding. Preliminary applications are due March 7, 2016. This will open a month-long public review and comment period which runs from March 8 to April 4, 2016. The final grant applications are due May 2, 2016.

Forest officials are providing an opportunity for interested parties to discuss and provide input into the development of the grant applications and provide comments for the preliminary applications. An OHV public open house will be held Thursday, February 4, 2016, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Los Padres National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 6750 Navigator Way, Suite 150, Goleta, CA 93117. After March 8, preliminary applications will be available for public review and comment online by visiting the California State OHV Grants and Cooperative Agreements program at http://www.ohv.parks.ca.gov. Hard copies may be requested by contacting Jeff Bensen at (805) 961-5744.

Comments should be submitted via email to http://www.ohv.parks.ca.gov and also mailed to Los Padres National Forest, 6750 Navigator Way, Suite 150, Goleta, CA 93117, Attention: Jeff Bensen.

The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation and the Los Padres National Forest have maintained a successful partnership for more than 28 years, with funding assistance for well-managed OHV recreation on National Forest lands.