A motor vehicle-use map in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area will be presented to interested off-road users, during a two day workshop at the Mountain Falls Golf Course, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Anyone who has questions is asked to call Ann Vance at 1-888-458-0131 or Erick Walker, Spring Mountains NRA recreation officer at 1-702-515-5440. Vance can be contacted by e-mail at avance@nohvcc.org, Walker's e-mail address is ewalker02@fs.fed.us.

Off-road vehicle use would be restricted to designated roads, under a U.S. Forest Service Travel Management Rule, enacted in 2005.

The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council is conducting the workshop in conjunction with the forest service officials from the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.

The notice of the workshop states: "the purpose of this workshop is to assist the forest service and community members to come together to better understand each other and find ways to work together as partners to steward the SMNRA OHV trails system."

Besides off-road vehicle enthusiasts, horseback riders, hikers and mountain bikers are welcome to attend. Officials will be taking comments on additions to complete the currently designated trail system.

The notice states the workshop will help forest service planners develop a better understanding of the needs of off-highway vehicle enthusiasts.

It will also help off-road users develop an understanding of the forest service travel management rule in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.

Other goals are to improve the quality and sustain-ability of trails; increase partnerships and facilitate better communications between the forest service and off-road users.

In the notice in the Federal Register, the U.S. Forest Service states, "the final rule will prohibit the use of motor vehicles off the designated system, as well as use of motor vehicles on routes and in areas that is not consistent with the designations."

The Code of Federal Regulations is implementing an executive order amended in 1977, governing use of motor vehicles off National Forest Service roads.

It directs federal agencies to ensure that use of off-road vehicles on public lands will be controlled to protect the resources of those lands, the safety of all users and minimize conflicts among user groups.

The forest service trail system ranges from paved roads to single-track trails for dirt bikes. The rule, however, notes "the growing popularity and capabilities of OHVs demand new regulations."

Current policies vary from state to state and national forest to national forest. Some national forests are designating routes after the publication of a motor vehicle use map, such as in the Spring Mountains NRA.

The forest service plan states: "The agency must strike an appropriate balance in managing all types of recreational activities. To this end, a designated system of roads, trails and areas for motor vehicle use, established with public involvement, will enhance public enjoyment of the national forests while maintaining other important values and uses on NFS lands."

The forest service expects the roughly 300,000 miles of national forest service roads currently open to highway level motor vehicle use to be designated for that purpose.

The rule provides some flexibility at the local level. The rule doesn't foresee a need for regulations designating a system of routes for non-motorized uses like bicycles and horses, according to the notice in the Federal Register.

The agenda includes a registration and continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m.

A presentation on ground rules follows at 9 a.m., then a presentation explaining the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council and the status of the U.S. Forest Service route designation.

After lunch, workshops are scheduled on understanding the forest service organizational structure, a guide to the forest service planning process and principles of effective travel management.

The Saturday session begins with continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Workshops will follow on system planning and design, volunteer and partnership development.

After lunch, workshops are scheduled on collecting route data, a presentation by Partners in Conservation with an off-road group from Lincoln County and a discussion period.