Bulldog Canyon OHV Management Area

This management area was established in the late 1980's as an area where OHV use would be allowed but controlled. The original proposal for the area was to close it to all motorized vehicle use because of the resource damage from off-road travel. Working with local four-wheel drive club members, a system was developed for allow-ing continued motorized use of the area on des-ignated routes for indi-viduals who obtained a permit to enter the area.

Three entrances and two designated routes were developed. This system has worked well in restoring resources within this area while not eliminating the opportunity to access the area with a motorized vehicle. The three entrances to the Bulldog OHV Area were recently redeveloped using the Arizona State OHV Recreation Fund. Numerous side roads that were closed within the area have been naturalized using volunteer groups. These roads were closed to reduce the road density in the area.

When the Bulldog OHV Area was established, one of the primary purposes of the project was to educate the public about responsible OHV use. This was accomplished by requiring the users to obtain a permit to enter the area and utilizing the contact with the user to discuss proper use and environmental concerns.

This area had been the only formally designated OHV area on the forest for many years until the Mesa Ranger District recently designated for the following reasons, to establish control over motor vehicle use where none existed previously; to insure that OHV use remains as an accepted and encouraged use in the areas; and to establish a positive public image of OHV use to replace the current negative image.