For the third year in a row, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) in Winnemucca have received monies from the off-highway vehicle (OHV) grant funding program. A sand dunes recreational development program that began two years ago awaits BLM approval to move forward, at risk of losing the remaining grant funding and ability to complete the project.
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Off Highway Vehicle Program Manager Nikhill Narkhede said he is concerned with one project in Winnemucca that was awarded almost $150,000 in the first round of grant funding and still has not been able to complete the project, due to governmental red tape.
The Northern Nevada ATV Association was awarded $187,000 in Humboldt County to approve the facilities at the Winnemucca Sand Dunes recreation area, a project that has faced a number of setbacks, most recently Bureau of Land Management approval to complete the project.
Narkhede said the project aims to create a more family friendly recreation area at the sand dunes that would include a restroom, covered patio areas, tables, garbage cans and an information kiosk. The project reportedly has purchased all the facilities but are still awaiting clearance from the BLM to be able to install them.
“When the money was awarded we had that support and a letter of support (from the BLM) but that has since changed from the land manager’s priorities,” said Narkhede. “They (BLM) need to give us the go ahead such that we can secure environmental clearances and hire a construction crew to install that infrastructure.”
Narkhede was planning to attend the Humboldt County Commissioners Meeting yesterday to give an overview of the program and try to encourage community support in getting this project completed, as the funding is only authorized until December.
Northern Nevada ATV Association President Tommy Swanger said the group has the grant money in place to complete the required NEPA environmental study, they are just waiting for the BLM to have staff available to oversee the people completing the assessment.
“It is a lot of money and I worked pretty hard to get it and I was surprised to get the whole amount,” said Swanger.
The project has received letters of support from the HCSO, NOS, Humboldt County Commissioners and the BLM.
The BLM was contacted and said that the person managing the project no longer worked for the BLM and that there is currently no one managing the project.
More information from the planning commission meeting on this will be printed in Saturday’s edition of the Humboldt Sun.
Narkhede said that citizens are encouraged to write a letter of support for the project and send it directly to him or to the BLM Humboldt River Field Office in Winnemucca. Narkhede is located at 901 S. Stewart Street, Suite 1003, Carson City, Nevada, 89701 or at nnarkhede@ohv.nv.gov.
For the 2020 grant year, the HCSO received $44,236 and NOS received $28,665. A total of $1,042,922 was awarded in the 2020 grant year by the off-highway vehicle grant program.
The funds awarded to NOS will be spent to continue the organization’s outdoor ethics program that allows staff to go to schools and talk about responsible OHV registration, operating with safety gear and tread lightly principles, as well as encouragement to only operate on designated trails.
The funds awarded to the HCSO will go toward continued operation of the off-highway rider safety classes free to citizens of Humboldt County.
HCSO Undersheriff Kevin Malone has led the OHV safety program for Winnemucca since 2008, with the OHV registration grant money providing a source of funding for the program, titled “Ride Safe and Smart Humboldt County.”
HCSO utilized previously awarded grant funding to purchase a side-by-side and trailer to utilize in training and to hold safety training classes and OHV registration events.
OHV safety classes are held throughout the year by HCSO for all ages 6 and up, with separate classes for various age groups and at no cost to participants. HCSO has certified instructors to teach dirt bike and side-by-side safety courses and NOS teaches ATV safety.
“In the first year it was 2018, funds were put on the ground to kickstart safety courses and the sheriff's office has been really proactive on hosting the courses and enforcing proper use of the machines,” said Narkhede. “They’ve been really supportive, not by ticketing users but asking a person who is making infraction to come in and take the safety course and learn about it. They’re really trying to keep a safe community in the whole county.”
As it is now the law for off-highway vehicles to be registered, individuals can be issued a citation for not having a registered OHV. For the first offense, individuals issued a ticket for non-registration will have the option to attend an OHV safety class in lieu of paying the citation fee.
