ORV Management Practices Manual: Strategy 9

Strategy 9.	Modify ORVs to Reduce Impacts
Tactic 9.1	Specify ORV Weights, PSI/Displacement, Clearance, Engine Size, or Tires
Purpose	Prevent or reduce resource damage by modifying ORV specifications or vehicle types
Description	Vegetation and soil disturbance can be minimized by encouraging or requiring use of low impact ORVs.
Costs to ORV Visitors	Moderate-High. ORV owners may have to modify existing vehicles or purchase new vehicles. These vehicles may be less effective in certain soil types.
Costs to Management	Moderate. A review of research and ORV use experience should be conducted and implications for preferred ORV specifications communicated to all ORV riders. If requirements are used, an inspection and enforcement program must be administered.
Effectiveness	Moderate-High. Low-impact ORVs have the potential to substantially reduce environmental effects.
Comments	Specifications may pertain to ORV weight, ground pressure (pounds/sq. in. or displacement), clearance, engine size, or tire type (including number, size, arrangement, and tread type). Owners of vehicles that fail to meet specifications would be given a grace period to modify their vehicles or purchase new ones. The current ban on tracked vehicles should be revisited as technological improvements appear to be producing new low impact vehicles.

Strategy 9.	Modify ORVs to Reduce Impacts
Tactic 9.2	Relate ORV Access to ORV Specifications
Purpose	Prevent or reduce resource damage by regulating ORV access within the Preserve based on vehicle specifications.
Description	Vegetation and soil disturbance can be minimized by restricting access to ORV types that have a higher potential for creating impact.
Costs to ORV Visitors	Moderate-High. ORV owners with higher impact ORV's may be prohibited from entering certain areas of the Preserve.
Costs to Management	Moderate. Managers would have to devise, implement, and operate a system that matches vehicle specifications to environmental attributes and conditions within different areas of the Preserve.
Effectiveness	Moderate-High. ORVs with a higher potential for creating impacts would be prohibited from more sensitive areas.
Comments	A formula based on specifications developed for Tactic 9.1 would be applied to rate ORVs based on their potential to cause environmental impact. Subsequent ratings could be classified and ranked from low impact vehicles (Class A) to high impact vehicles (Class F). Class A vehicles would have broader access within the Preserve than Class B vehicles and so on. Lower class vehicles might be entirely prohibited after some period of time.

Strategy 9.	Modify ORVs to Reduce Impacts
Tactic 9.3	Establish Noise Specifications by ORV Type
Purpose	Prevent or reduce wildlife disturbance and visitor conflicts by restricting ORV noise levels.
Description	If shown by research to be important, noise specifications for each type of ORV could be established (voluntary or regulatory) to reduce the potential for wildlife or visitor disturbance.
Costs to ORV Visitors	Moderate-High. ORV owners may have be purchase new mufflers or even engines in order to be in compliance with noise specifications.
Costs to Management	Moderate. A review of research and ORV use experience should be conducted and implications for noise restrictions communicated to all ORV riders. If requirements are used, an inspection and enforcement program must be administered.
Effectiveness	Low-Moderate. If voluntary, visitors may not modify their vehicles to comply with specifications.
Comments	Existing literature on noise effects to both recreationists and wildlife is sparse, new research may be needed.