Welcome to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division’s Grant Programs

What we do….

The OHMVR Division manages the Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program (Grants Program). The Grants Program is an annual program that provides for well managed off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation in the State of California by providing financial assistance to eligible agencies and organizations that develop, maintain, operate, expand, support, or contribute to well managed high-quality OHV recreation areas, roads and trails. Also as important, the Grants Program seeks to responsibly maintain the wildlife, soils, and habitat of project areas in a manner that will sustain long-term OHV recreation.

In addition to the Grants Program, the OHMVR Division is also responsible for the motorized portion of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The RTP is an assistance program of the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The RTP provides funds to California to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. Click here for more information on RTP.

Did you know…

• Since the advent of the Grants Program in 1974, grant recipients have received more than $530 million statewide.
• Grants were first awarded to local agencies in 1974 and in 1979 to the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
• Approximately 80 percent of the OHV riding opportunities are outside state of California managed lands.
• Through our USFS partners, over 18,000 miles and 269,000 acres are available for OHV Recreation.
• Through our BLM partners, over 18,000 miles and 478,000 of acres are made available for OHV Recreation.

Grants Program – Quick Reference

To assist new and prospective Applicants/Grantees become more familiar with the Grants Program, the Grants Unit has put together a series of “quick reference” informational videos.  These videos are a great place to start if you are looking for some foundational information about the Grants Program:

Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program (Program Overview)

Project Type Overview:

Operation and Maintenance – What is…Ground Operations

Operation and Maintenance – What is…Acquisition

Operation and Maintenance – What is…Development

Operation and Maintenance – What is…Planning

Restoration – What is…Restoration

Education and Safety – What is…Education and Safety

Law Enforcement – What is…Law Enforcement

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Soil Conservations Standard and Guidelines

The California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division is proposing to amend the Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program Regulations and documents incorporated by reference.

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Proposed Regulatory Language
• Proposed Regulatory Language – Soil Conservations Standard and Guidelines
• Initial Statement of Reasons

Any interested person, or his or her authorized representative, may submit written comments relative to the proposed rulemaking. The written comment period ends on August 9, 2021. The Department will consider only written comments received at the Department’s office by that time.

Written comments may be sent by email, mail, or facsimile. Emailed comments can be sent to OHV.Grants@parks.ca.gov or link to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking above for information on mailing or faxing comments

No public hearing on the proposed regulations is scheduled; however, if any interested person requests, no later than 15 days prior to the close of the written comment period, that a hearing be held on these regulations, the Department will schedule a hearing. A hearing may be requested by making such a request in writing addressed to the individuals listed under “Contact Person” in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Notice of Modifications to Proposed Rulemaking 

The California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (Department) is proposing modifications to previously proposed amendments to the Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program Regulations. These modifications are in response to review by the Office of Administrative Law regarding this proposed action.

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Proposed Regulatory Language
• Proposed Regulatory Language - Appendix
• Initial Statement of Reasons

Any interested person, or his or her authorized representative, may submit written comments relative to the modification of the proposed rulemaking. The written comment period ends on November 23, 2021. The Department will consider only written comments received at the Department’s office by that time.

Written comments may be sent by email or mail. Emailed comments can be sent to OHV.Grants@parks.ca.gov or view the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking text for information on mailing comments.

Please note any comments should be restricted to the most recent modifications made to the proposed regulations. The Department is not required to respond to comments received in response to this notice on other aspects of the proposed regulations. Any comments previously submitted remain in the rulemaking file.

Previously proposed modifications to the Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program Regulations are listed below:

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Proposed Regulatory Language
• Proposed Regulatory Language - Appendix
• Initial Statement of Reasons