Keeping Our 2,000 Mile Statewide Snowmobile Trail System (SSTS) Intact and Operational

Transcription

1 Keeping Our 2,000 Mile Statewide Snowmobile Trail System (SSTS) Intact and Operational Massachusetts Trails Conference Leominster, MA November 3 & 4, 2017 Prepared by: Randy Toth and Larry Tucker Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts randy.toth@sledmass.com / tuckertrail@comcast.net RBT

2 OUTLINE Who Are We? Our Statewide Snowmobile Trail System (SSTS) Operation and Maintenance of the SSTS Volunteers Needed! Making it All Work Getting and Keeping Volunteers RBT

3 WHO ARE WE? Caring and Sharing Folks Darwin Was Correct But He Didn t Go Far Enough From All Walks Of Life Destined to Ride Forging New Friendships Enjoying The Great Outdoors RBT

4 WHO ARE WE? Folks Who Enjoy the Winter Snowmobiling SAM represents the over 13,000 registered Massachusetts snowmobilers who contribute over $65 million dollars annually to the state s economy. SAM s vision is for a seamless trail system running from Connecticut through VT/NH into Canada and from NY to east of Worcester. SAM and its 31 member clubs, founded in 1969, are completely self funded: Dues Assessments ($70 Regular or $55 Early Bird) Fund Raisers (raffles and annual Sno-Expo at the Big E Fairgrounds) Local Club Events A large portion of club expenditures go back to public and state lands. SAM constructs, maintains and grooms trails on state & private lands used by skiers, snowshoers, hikers, cyclists, walkers and horseback riders. SAM operates an extensive fleet of groomers to provide a safe and satisfying recreational opportunity. RBT

5 WHO ARE WE? Folks Who Care SAM is Committed To Enhancing Safe Snowmobiling in Massachusetts, Promoting Snowmobiling as a Safe, Fun Family Recreation and being a leader in safety and education: Safety Courses Magazine - On The Trail with SAM Website sledmass.com and Facebook, Twitter, etc. Central Office Monthly SAM Delegate Meetings Statewide Trail Map and Mobile Trail Map App with point to point navigation. SAM members are: Environmentalists - Who care deeply about our state parks and forests. Conservationists - Who help preserve/maintain our state parks and forests. Families - Who love being outdoors together. Friends - Who love the adventure of riding together. Volunteers - Who spend many hours building and maintaining trails and bridges in our parks for all to share. Hearty Soles - Who believe the fun and adventure doesn t stop for the winter season. Caring Folks - Who will respond to a call for help 24/7. RBT

6 WHO ARE WE? Part of Our Community Available 24/7 for winter emergency search & rescue support. SAM volunteers have assisted state agencies, municipalities and rescue personal on many occasions. Responded to a request by the Massachusetts Governor s Command Center to aid utilities in the restoration of power following the Blizzard of 2013, by providing the specialized equipment necessary to reach remote sections of power lines along the Massachusetts South Shore. Provide additional eyes on the ground to monitor water supplies, power lines, etc. (New York State even has a formal homeland security program in place.) Hired Environmental Police Officers to help out in problem areas. Maintain a positive working relationships with the DCR, DF&W, the Trusties of the Reservations and many private landowners such as the Jiminy Peak Downhill Ski Area and Bucksteep Manor. Developed a working relationship with recognized Land Trusts to preserve undeveloped lands and secure snowmobile trail easements. RBT

7 WHO ARE WE? Part of Our Community Infuse hundreds of thousands of dollars from the National Recreational Trail Program (NRTP) into maintenance & improvements on state lands. Have donated bridges and winter rescue equipment to cities and towns. Support local charity groups like: The Easter Seals Camp Sno Mo (for special needs individuals). Toys for Tots Habitat for Humanity Adlib Sports Program DCR s Universal Access Program Massachusetts Special Olympics Winter Games Have members who are Vermont State Police certified snowmobile safety instructors who teach the Vermont course in Massachusetts. Work closely with our elected state representatives to file key recreation and safety reform legislation. Are the families next door who choose motorized winter recreation as a means of enjoying the beautiful winter outdoors of Massachusetts RBT

8 WHO ARE WE? 31 Individual Clubs Florida Mountaineers Adams Sno Drifters SNOWMOBILIERS There are Savor Kanary currently Kats 34 SAM Member Clubs Northfield Birch Hill Rangers Lunenburg Hilltown Porcupine Harvard Berkshire Snow Seekers Goshen Highlanders Worthington Ware River Coldbrook Snow Riders of the Nashaway Easy Riders Knox Trail Sno-Riders Snowbirds Leicester Sandisfield JOIN WHERE YOU RIDE! 6 RBT

9 OUTLINE Who Are We? Our Statewide Snowmobile Trail System (SSTS) Operation and Maintenance of the SSTS Volunteers Needed! Making it All Work Getting and Keeping Volunteers RBT

10 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM It Needs to be Large Snowmobilers use trails differently than other recreational folks and therefore use more trail mileage. User Hiker - Family Hiker - Casual Hiker - Serious (AMC) Mountain Biker Dirt Biker ATV Rider Horseback Riders Snowshoer Cross County Skiers Snowmobiler Family Snowmobiler Serious Average Daily Trip Length 1 mile or less 2-3 miles 8-12 miles miles miles 40 miles 5-15 miles 5-10 miles 6-12 miles miles miles RBT

11 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Over 2,000 Miles of Trails VT-Link VT-Link NH-Link Note: Groomed Trails - ~1,550 miles Other Club Trails - ~450 miles 52% increase in groomed trail mileage since 2007 CT-Link RBT

12 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Landowners Public and Private OUR VISION IS FOR A STATEWIDE INTERCONNECTED, WELL MAINTAINED AND GROOMED SNOWMOBILE TRAIL SYSTEM! 37% of SSTS 63% of SSTS City and Town Lands Unplowed Roads Public Land Parcels Trail Pass Required State Agency Lands Dept. of Conservation & Recreation Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife State Reservations Privately Held Land Individuals Farms Small Businesses Large Corporations Land Trusts OUR TRAILS ARE A RESULT OF A UNIQUE and PRIZED PARTNERSHIP! RBT

13 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Keeping Landowners Happy Landowner s Concerns are Our Concerns! Since Landowners are a prized possession we must work diligently to address any special issues or concerns to keep our trail system open and connected. When the Snow Goes We Go! We are invisible for the majority of the year. RBT

14 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Keeping Landowners Happy Partnering With Our Landowners Conservation Commissions Department of Fish and Wildlife RBT

15 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Keeping Landowners Protected We Help Protect Our Landowners 1) Commonwealth of Massachusetts Trespass Law Private Landowners Liability (MGL Ch.21, s.17c): Massachusetts law states that an owner of land who permits the public to use such land for recreational purposes without imposing a charge or fee shall not be liable for injuries to persons or property sustained by such members of the public while on said land in the absence of willful, wanton or reckless conduct by the owner. 2) Additional Protection Provided Liability Insurance Policy of $1,000,000 to help protect our landowners. RBT

16 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Keeping Landowners Protected We Help Protect Our Landowners - continued 3) 24/7 Helpline Landowners can Call Us Anytime with Problems or Concerns We Will Respond Quickly to Try and Remedy the Situation 4) We Will Go the Extra Mile Financed Additional Environmental Police Patrols When Appropriate Offered Rewards to Help Catch Offenders

17 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Rewarding Our Landowners We Also Reward Our Landowners 1) Landowner Appreciation Dinners Face to Face Way of Saying Thanks Landowners Meet Other Landowners to Enhance Networking Landowners can also be Approached to Help with Obtaining their Neighbor s Permissions for Trails 2) Landowner Cleanup Trash Pickup Yearly or As Needed 3) Special Favors? RBT

18 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Takes lots of Equipment and Personal Most Clubs Own Grooming Equipment and Groom Trails There are over 140 groomers currently in operation: 54 are multi-tracked vehicles with commercial drags. (i.e. Tucker Snow-Cats, Piston Bullies, LMCs) 86 are snowmobile based with commercial or homemade drags. (i.e. Skandics, Bearcats, Wide Tracks, VKs) These groomers operate 24/7 whenever snow conditions permit. The state has approximately 3 groomers which are occasionally used. Volunteers Groom Over 45,000 Trail Miles Each Year RBT

19 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM Some Unique Concerns Unsustainable Legacy Trails Old farm roads build in the 1800s went straight up and down hills regardless of the terrain. This approach, along with hundreds of years of erosion, has led to a number of trail treads which are now worn down many feet below the surrounding land making trail maintenance difficult and never ending. Climate Change or Where Did Our Old Fashioned Winters Go? With warmer winters and less snowfall, our seasons got shorter and protruding rocks from uneven trail surfaces seemed to have grown significantly, necessitating changes to long standing trail maintenance practices. We need a smoother trail base to operate with less snow cover. RBT

20 OUR TRAIL SYSTEM SAM s Position on Wheeled Vehicles Snowmobiling is a Separate and Very Distinct Sport Snowmobilers have experienced wheeled vehicle related damage to: o Underlying snowmobile trail base during the legal OHV riding season. o Groomed snowmobile trails due to illegal riding in wintertime. While our two sports share some similarities, there are many differences: o Snowmobiling has minimal environmental impact Trails exist only with adequate snow-cover Trails may cross lakes and ponds Trails may legally traverse wetlands without damage We recycle our trail base each year o Snowmobilers are treated differently by Statute Law and CMRs Able to cross roads legally Able to ride unmaintained roads legally o The short winter riding season minimizes conflicts with other trail users. o Many private landowners, who welcome snowmobiles, do not permit wheeled vehicles on their land. o The maturity / history of snowmobiling helps with a more positive public perception of the sport. RBT

21 OUTLINE Who Are We? Our Statewide Snowmobile Trail System (SSTS) Operation and Maintenance of the SSTS Volunteers Needed! Making it All Work Getting and Keeping Volunteers RBT

22 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Volunteers Needed Local Club Responsibilities Trail Operation & Maintenance o Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Public / Private Landowner Permissions Conservation Commission Permits City Council or Town Select-Board Approvals o o o o Landowner Liaison Keep the Landowner Happy Winter - Trail Grooming and Maintenance Trail Permit Sales Local Trail Maps and Signs Recreational Trails Program Grant Writing Equipment Maintenance o Routine Maintenance / Upgrades / Emergency Repairs Maintain Corporation Status (501c3 nonprofit) o Financial / Legal / Taxes & IRS / Insurance (personnel & equipment) Funding Dues & Special Events (Dinners, Raffles, etc.) RBT

23 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Volunteers Needed Local Club Responsibilities - Continued Communications o o o o Monthly Club Meetings Monthly SAM Meetings (mandatory) Social Media (Website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) Newsletter (paper or electronic) Community o o Charity Events Backcountry Search & Rescue and Security Watch Local Legislator Liaison and Legislation Support thru SAM RBT

24 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Volunteers Needed State Association Responsibilities Trails Development, Maintenance and Support o Trail Passes - Development, Distribution and Tracking o SSTS Map & Mobile App - Development and Maintenance o Grooming Support - Reimbursement Fund Management o Trail Liability Insurance - For Clubs, Members and Landowners o National Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant Writing and Lobbying Washington to Keep the Program o SAM Land Acquisition Fund - Administration Communication o Monthly Delegate Meetings o Annual Meeting o Social Media - Website, Facebook, Twitter, etc. o Magazine Community o Charity Sponsorship - Camp Sno-Mo (Easter Seals) and Toys for Tots o Youth Group Sponsorship - Kids grow up Too Fast & Move Away Funding - Dues & Special Events (Annual Sno-Expo, Raffles, etc.) RBT

25 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Volunteers Needed State Association Responsibilities Continued Maintain Corporation Status - Financial / Legal / Taxes / 501c3 nonprofit National and International Organization Associations o American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) o International Snowmobile Council (ISC) - US / Canada / Russia / Sweden o Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) State Sponsored Committees and Boards o Off Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee (OHV-AC) o Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board (MARTAB) State and Local Agency Partnerships o Division of Fish and Game (DF&G) o Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) o Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) o Regional, State and Local Recreational Trail Planning and Management Regional/City/Town Planning Commissions o Trustees of Reservations (TTOF) o Land Trust Partnerships to Protect the SSTS - Acquire Land and/or Easements RBT

26 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Volunteers Needed State Association Responsibilities Continued Legislation o Vintage Snowmobile Registration - ENACTED o Snowmobile Safety Education - PROPOSED Legislator Relations o State Legislators o Federal Legislators {Washington DC Fly In} RBT

27 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Volunteers Needed Our Volunteers Maintain Our Trail System Our 1,500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails need many hours of annual maintenance. The private landowners can t--don t--won t maintain these trails for us. In another era DCR maintained many snowmobile trails on state lands; but no longer has the personnel, funds or basic desire to maintain such a complex statewide snowmobile trail system. Our volunteers have jobs, families and other personal commitments commitments which negatively impact their time to volunteer more. If we don t recruit and maintain volunteers we will simply cease to exist! RBT

28 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Volunteers Needed Our Volunteers Are Very Active Snowmobilers visit DCR park and forest lands about 260,000 times per year making them one of the largest DCR wintertime visitors groups. Snowmobilers donate thousands of volunteer hours performing trail work, cleanup and grooming on public and private lands. For example one western Mass SAM Club provided the following level of volunteer support in one year. Summary (hrs) Total Public Private Summary ($) Total Public Private Trail Work Trail Work $3,200 $1,600 $1,600 Ice Storm Ice Storm $15,723 $4,205 $11,518 Grooming Grooming $1,542 $738 $ $20,465 $6,543 $13,922 RBT

29 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Volunteers Needed Types of Volunteers Needed Members Who Simply Write Checks & are Rarely Seen or Heard From o At least you got their money and can spend it wisely o Ask them for additional donations o Be thankful 80 new volunteers don t show up at a meeting or work party and all try to actively help at the same time Members Who Pitch in and Help with Things Like: Clearing Tails Digging Rocks Grooming Trails Signing Trails Processing Trail Passes Maintaining Trail Maps Writing Newsletters Repairing and Maintaining Groomers Landowner Liaison Recreational Trail Grant Writing Charity Events State, National and International Delegates Helping to Plan and Run Events (cooking, serving, cleanup, etc.) A limited and declining number of volunteers are being asked to do more work each year to improve our SSTS and keep it operational RBT

30 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Making it All Work Question: How Do We Operate and Maintain Our 2,000 Mile Trail System with A Declining Number of Aging Volunteers? Answer: 1) Force Multipliers 2) Proper Care and Feeding of Volunteers RBT

31 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Making it All Work Our Approach Uses Force Multipliers: The Federal Government s Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Is a huge help to our many clubs and is seen as an effective Force Multiplier. Partnering with other organizations such as state agencies, municipalities, planning commissions, land trusts and other user groups, to secure RTP funds and to perform mutually beneficial trail work is also a valuable Force Multiplier. By making full use of these Force Multiplier SAM and it s clubs can do much more with fewer volunteers. RBT

32 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Making it All Work Equipment Purchases Grooming Systems Large/Medium two and four tracked power units with drags Small single tracked power units with drags Multipurpose Motorized Equipment {both tracked and wheeled} Trail work crew/equipment transport vehicles and Grooming Trail Maintenance Restoration work involves use of heavy equipment {i.e. Excavators} Drainage Control New / Improved Waterbars Large Rock Removal Trail Surface Restoration Yearly Maintenance Clear Waterbars Clear Brush Small Rock Removal Drain Mud Holes Clear Fallen Trees Replace Signage RBT

33 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Making it All Work Trail Maintenance - Continued Bridge Construction o o Large capable of supporting Tucker Sno-Cat class groomers Small capable of supporting snowmobile class groomers Information Kiosks Construction Land Acquisition o o Outright Purchases Recreational Trail Easements RBT

34 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Making it All Work RTP & NON RTP Partnerships SAM has Partnered with Various Land Trusts to Purchase and/or Secure Recreational Trail Easements. o Franklin Land Trust - preserve a trail through Northfield to Colrain. o Common Ground Land Trust - preserve trails on 350 acres of land in Spencer. o Franklin Land Trust - preserve a trail through 36 acres of land in Conway. o Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust make an attempt to preserve a trail on 145 acres in Northfield. With DCR Forestry Personnel Managing Timber Harvest Programs. o Trail Restoration/Rehabilitation o Trail Relocation o Bridge Construction With Local Landowners to Preserve Historic Snowmobile Trails on Family Lands RBT

35 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Getting and Keeping Volunteers Recruiting New Volunteers If We Are Lucky We Get 10% Of Our Members To Actively Volunteer and Their Rewards are: A Hearty Thanks for Spending 8-10 Hours Sitting in a Groomer Staring Down the Trail Punctuated by the Occasional Need to Get out and Remove a Tree Blocking the Trail Because Our 40 Foot Long Grooming Systems Don t Back Up Easily Having to Listen to Complaints Like There Were Bumps Along The Trail or I Saw Some Branches Down Along The Trail You Should Fix That Maybe A Yearly Volunteer Appreciation Dinner! So Why Do Our Volunteers Keep Coming Back? In Simple Terms They Love Snowmobiling RBT

36 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Getting and Keeping Volunteers Proper Care and Feeding of Our Volunteers Don t o Let New Volunteers Just Fade Away! o Warmly Greet Them and Then Ignore Them o Say We'll Call You When We Need You and Never Call Engage the New Volunteers and Keep them Engaged o Don t Just Post a Work Party Date and Time on Social Media o Personalize it - Call / Ask for Help / Get a Personal Commitment o Call Again to Remind them and Reinforce the Need for their Help Volunteer Groups can sometimes Appear to be Unfriendly o Don t Assume all Your Task Leaders are Good Mentors o Assign Serious Volunteer Mentors o Make Sure they Know What they re Doing o Include New Volunteers into all of the Groups Activities o Invite them even if you might have enough help o Spend Some Time Getting to Know Them RBT

37 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Getting and Keeping Volunteers Proper Care and Feeding of Our Volunteers - continued Interview the new volunteer and show them that you care o Find out about their background and what they might like to do o Determine where they would fit in The New Volunteer may ask lots of questions and offer Suggestions o Don t always respond with But we have always done it this way o Remember to Listen You may Actually Learn Something If you Really Don t Need Help on a Particular Project: o Find out what else the Volunteer may be able to help you with o Get the Volunteer s Name and Number Don t lose it! o Actually Call Them Back!! RBT

38 OPERATION OF THE SSTS Getting and Keeping Volunteers Proper Care and Feeding of Our Volunteers - continued Be sure they know what is expected of them ahead of time o Tell them what is needed equipment / food / transportation o Make sure they have something useful to do; but don t scare them off Thank them personally and in your media o Let them know that their help really mattered o Feed them coffee and a donut o Consider a volunteer appreciation dinner or event RBT

39 Days Get Shorter. Nights Get Longer. Snow Gets Deeper. Life Gets Better. RBT

40 Committed to Enhancing Safe Snowmobiling in Massachusetts with A Vision of an Interconnected Snowmobile Trail System from Connecticut to Vermont and New York to Worcester. The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts RBT