Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Summer is here and it’s going to be great! Summer riding is one of the best times to enjoy the trails. The days seem to last forever, the trails are so nice up north, camping is a blast with friends and just getting out there makes it all worth while to be an ATV rider in our State.

The 2004 Legislation session is complete and what was passed into law the last days of the session takes a totally new approach to the OHV/wetland issue. It uses as a standard the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) regulations (MSS Chpt 103G.2241). Under the WCA approach, OHVs will have to adhere to wetland impacts on all types of wetlands, not just the type 3,4, 5, and 8s. Meaning, instead of focusing on the activity, it focuses on the impact. Under this new approach OHVer's will clearly need to use their judgment when they are out riding this summer.

Don’t shoot yourself in the foot or hang yourself with the WCA regulations. Use your best judgment at all times when riding this summer. Guaranteed you’ll make the front pages if you are found guilty of the WCA regulations. Don’t even give the anti-access groups or certain media the opportunity. Keep it tight and ride right.
Many thanks go out to our Lobbyist Ray Bohn and all the work he and many others have done this session in getting this done when so many things went undone. Take this opportunity to drop Ray Bohn a small thank you as well as your Elected Officials that help make these changes to our riding privileges a reality. Even if they did not vote in our favor of new legislation, let them know you are paying attention on future issues. Unfortunately, we were unable to move forward on other OHV language even though much of it was non-controversial. We hope to be able to move forward on that legislation in the next session.

Keep checking the ACTION ALERT notice toward the top of our homepage. Although we like to keep you up to date on issues that effect your riding privileges, we’d also like to keep you informed of other events you may be interested in throughout the summer.

John and Mike did a great job keeping the data up-to-date when it mattered and lots of the membership became very active in responding to alerts as well. Great Job!

Parents, make sure your kids get a little ATV training over the summer. Check the list of ATV Classes being offered. A little education can go a long way to enjoying the summer months.

Make sure your ATV’s are registered always check the DNR website for up-to-date information regarding trails, and most importantly, keep an eye on the weather and pick those ticks.

ATVAM continues to be a very pro-active organization for motorized recreation. Without a doubt, our trails are valuable, and anti-access groups would like nothing better than to have them taken away, (they are working on it every day). Continue to make 2004 a great year by making a difference. You do more by riding correctly in the eyes of a non-rider then any laws will.

Remember: Show a non-rider a ride, a rider a club, a club to ATVAM.

ATVAM Executive Board

PS, Please be sure to say a prayer for our troops this Memorial Day. It’s because of them that we continue to enjoy our freedoms daily and without our service people life as we know it would be very different.