NEWS/ISSUES

The Statewide Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Economic Impact Study will provide vital, data-driven evidence to demonstrate how motorized recreation powers local and state economies.

Current Project Status: Survey Development with NMSU

• Academic Partnership: New Mexico State University (NMSU) is currently developing and refining the official survey instrument to ensure rigorous data collection and accurate economic modeling.

• Fall 2026 Distribution Plan: As soon as the survey goes live, NMOHVA will step in to lead distribution. We will deliver the survey directly to our followers, member clubs, and the broader motorized community online.

• In-Person Outreach at Fall Events: NMOHVA leadership and volunteers will also bring the study directly to riders at upcoming events, rallies, and trail gatherings throughout this fall to collect input on spending, travel habits, and trail usage.

Why Your Participation Matters

When land management agencies conduct travel management reviews or consider route closures, recreational decisions heavily weigh economic impacts. Without state-specific data, the economic power of OHV recreation is frequently underreported in federal planning processes.

This study will equip advocates with hard evidence showing:

1. Rural Economic Reliance: Direct spending on fuel, food, lodging, equipment, and services that support small businesses near BLM and Forest Service trail networks.

2. Policy & Planning Leverage: concrete metrics to present to state legislators, county commissioners, and land managers during land-use evaluations.

3. Grant & Funding Support: Justification for allocating state OHV user fees toward trail maintenance, safety enforcement, and infrastructure improvements.

How You Can Prepare

• Watch for the Launch: Keep an eye on your email inbox and our social channels for the official NMSU survey link arriving later this season.

• Visit Us at Fall Events: Stop by the NMOHVA booth at upcoming fall gatherings to complete the survey on-site and speak with board members about local access issues.

• Spread the Word: Help us reach every corner of the New Mexico riding community by sharing the survey with your local clubs and riding groups once released.

Wilderness Study Areas were originally established under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 as temporary, interim designations intended to hold public lands while Congress evaluated their potential for formal Wilderness designation.

However, nearly 50 years later, millions of acres across the West—and dozens of areas across New Mexico—remain locked in "interim management" status. This protracted limbo restricts vital off-highway vehicle (OHV) access, limits trail maintenance, and hinders proactive forest and rangeland management.

• Interim Restrictions Become Permanent: While non-designated WSAs were never intended to be managed as permanent Wilderness, land management agencies often manage them with strict restrictive overlays, closing historical routes and preventing multi-use recreational opportunities.

• Release of Non-Suitable Lands: Many of these study areas have repeatedly been evaluated and deemed unsuitable for formal Wilderness designation. Yet, without congressional action or updated management reviews, access remains frozen.

How You Can Get Involved

Preserving access requires continuous action from riders, drivers, and recreationists across New Mexico.

• Stay Informed: Sign up for news updates and action alerts at NMOHVA.org.

• Submit Comments: When public comment windows open for regional Travel Management Plans, submit specific, localized feedback regarding your favorite trails and routes.

• Support the Fight: Consider renewing your NMOHVA membership or making a tax-deductible contribution to support our joint advocacy and legal efforts.

Representatives from the New Mexico Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA) recently presented before the state legislature's Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee. The presentation outlined the framework of a new legislative bill set for introduction during the upcoming spring legislative session, aimed at modernizing and streamlining paved road and state highway access for off-highway vehicles (OHVs).

Why Current Highway Access Laws Need Updating

Under current New Mexico statutes enacted in 2016, local municipalities and counties can pass ordinances permitting Off-Highway Vehicles (ATVs and ROVs/side-by-sides) to travel on local paved roads. However, significant connectivity gaps remain:

• State Highway Disconnects: County and municipal paved-road ordinances do not extend to state highways or interstates managed by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT).

• Fragmented Trail Systems: Riders frequently face short stretches of state highway connecting trail networks or entering rural communities for fuel, supplies, and lodging where legal travel remains prohibited without individual State Transportation Commission exceptions.

• Patchwork Regulations: Differences in local road definitions create confusion for residents and out-of-state visitors trying to navigate legally between dirt trail systems and paved connector routes.

Key Provisions of the Upcoming Spring Bill

The proposed legislation presented to lawmakers seeks to address these connectivity barriers while maintaining strict safety standards:

1. Designated Highway Connectors: Establishing clear statutory authority to allow short-distance, low-speed travel on designated state highway corridors to link trail systems and rural business districts.

2. Unified Street-Legal Standards: Standardizing safety equipment requirements (including mirrors, headlights, taillights, insurance, and licensing) to ensure street-legal OHVs operate safely alongside highway traffic.

3. Streamlined Local Authority: Simplifing the coordination process between NMDOT, county commissions, and municipal leaders to approve essential connector routes without unnecessary administrative delay.

Committee Reception & Next Steps

Subcommittee members engaged in productive discussion regarding rural economic development, trail-town connectivity, and traffic safety coordination with NMDOT and local law enforcement.

• Bill Pre-Filing: Final statutory language will be refined over the autumn months in consultation with legislative sponsors and state transportation officials ahead of pre-filing.

• Member Advocacy: As the spring legislative session approaches, NMOHVA will issue action alerts to help members contact their local representatives and senators in support of the bill.

Stay tuned to NMOHVA.org for future legislative updates and action alerts.

This key role acts as ORD's on-the-ground field representative, conducting site visits across New Mexico to monitor, support, and assess active Trails+ grant-funded infrastructure projects. If you or your organization have experience in outdoor recreation infrastructure, trail stewardship, or grant administration, this is an excellent opportunity to help shape sustainable recreation in New Mexico.

Key Details

• Role: Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Field Coordinator Contractor

• Contract Period: September 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

• Proposal Deadline: Thursday, August 20, 2026, by 5:00 PM MDT

   

• Travel: Extensive statewide travel required throughout New Mexico, including rural and Tribal communities.

Scope of Work & Objectives

• Project Monitoring: Conduct 35–45 site visits to inspect grant-funded trail projects, verify milestones, document observations with reports/photos, and identify implementation challenges.

• Technical Assistance & Compliance: Provide guidance on sustainable trail design, accessibility standards, maintenance, and project closeouts. Complete 20–25 midway and final report reviews.

• Regional Outreach: Convene and attend regional stakeholder meetings with local governments, Tribal entities, federal land managers, and volunteer trail groups to build regional connectivity and trail stewardship.

Preferred Experience

ORD is seeking candidates with expertise in:

• Outdoor recreation infrastructure, trail planning, design, construction, or maintenance.

• Grant administration, compliance monitoring, or public project management.

• Coordinating with local, state, federal, and Tribal partners and facilitating stakeholder meetings.

• Knowledge of sustainable trail practices and New Mexico’s recreation landscape.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, resume/CV, references, and a cost proposal (hourly rate, estimated hours, and total budget).

• Submit Proposals To: Carl Colonius, Program Manager — [email protected]

   

• Questions? Contact Carl Colonius ([email protected] / 505-570-7846) or Karina Armijo, ORD Director ([email protected] / 505-690-7897).

This grant program provides $250 in targeted reimbursement for Meta (Facebook/Instagram) marketing campaigns. Designed to be a low-friction, high-impact booster, this funding will help extend NMOHVA’s outreach across digital platforms, increasing our visibility to outdoor recreation enthusiasts and raising awareness for our ongoing trail stewardship, public land access initiatives, and community events across New Mexico.

As an all-volunteer organization, NMOHVA’s board remains committed to carefully managing our operating funds, ensuring every dollar is directed toward efforts that directly benefit our members and strengthen our core mission of protecting off-highway vehicle access in New Mexico.

We extend a sincere thank you to NMORBA for their support and dedication to growing New Mexico's outdoor recreation community!

To learn more about NMORBA and their work supporting local outdoor businesses and organizations, visit nmorba.org.