California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division has recommended $3.45 million in grant awards aimed at enhancing safe, responsible and sustainable off-highway vehicle recreation. Photo courtesy of California State Parks

SACRAMETNO, CA (MPG) - California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division has recommended $3.45 million in grant awards aimed at enhancing safe, responsible and sustainable off-highway vehicle recreation across the state.

The funding, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program, will support nine projects led by cities, federal agencies and nonprofit organizations in California.

The recommended projects prioritize off-highway vehicle recreation safety education, trail maintenance, habitat restoration and resource protection.

Some of the highlighted grant recipients include, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship awarded $164,405 to maintain approximately 48 miles of motorized trails in the Plumas National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest awarded $103,270 to complete the remaining mile of the Big Boulder single-track trail re-route as part of the Downieville Trail Network.

State Parks will forward the applications to the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration for final approval once the recommended agencies fulfill specific federal requirements.

Grant programs such as the Recreational Trails Program help advance California’s Outdoors for All Initiative, by providing funds to local, state, federal and nonprofit organizations to develop motorized and non-motorized recreation trails (paved, non-paved and backcountry) and trail-related facilities projects as well as acquire trail corridors.