ELCR Newsletter - August 2020
Legislative Update - Great American Outdoors Act
Equestrian action makes a difference! Many thanks to equestrians who recently sent approximately 1000 letters to federal lawmakers urging their support for the Great American Outdoors (GAO) Act! Thanks in part to these significant efforts, on July 22, 2020 the House of Representatives voted in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act by a bi-partisan vote of 310 to 107. And in the final step of the process, on August 4, 2020, the President officially signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law.
The GAO Act, referred to as a “recreation package,” combines key elements of legislation long supported by the horse industry. This includes more resources for the backlog maintenance of public trails and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) – at $900 million per year - which supports conservation easements that promote riding. Incorporating provisions of the “Restore Our Parks Act,” the package creates a revenue stream to dedicate funds from energy development projects to support the maintenance of trails run by the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other agencies.
Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt also announced the designation of August 4th as the “Great American Outdoors Day.” In future years, every August 4th will be a free entrance day to national parks and public lands to celebrate the signing of this landmark legislation.
Is there new or pending state level legislation in your state that has the potential to enhance or reduce equine access to land, facilities or trails? ELCR is interested. Please call or write and let us know so that we can keep others in your area updated and advocating!
New Webinar Recording Now Available!
Successful Models in Developing and Maintaining Private Equestrian Trail Systems
In partnership with American Trails, this webinar discusses how three different communities have developed and maintained successful equestrian trail systems on private land. Privately owned land is the most at-risk component of our equestrian landscape. Boarding barns, competition venues, trails, hunt fixtures, and hayfields are being lost every day as a result of development, misunderstanding of liability issues by new owners of land, and rising demand for land around urbanizing areas. Access to private land for equestrian use can be a valuable asset in your community and can result in not only a viable recreational trail system but even a corridor providing equine access to public land. Access to private land is an alternative to shared access on public trails as competition from other user groups continues to expand.
Read more and view the recording here.
New Article: Conservation Easements as a Tool for Protecting Horse Land
by Laurel A. Florio, J.D. for ELCR
A conservation easement, a primary tool for land protection in the United States for over forty years, is also a valuable resource in the protection of land for equine related activities. Landowners may reap many benefits from a conservation easement placed on their property. First and foremost, the perpetual protection of the property will ensure that it will remain in its current physical state. Secondly, with the threat of development removed, the wildlife habitat and natural resource values will be enhanced. Thirdly, the landowner can be assured that the property will be enjoyed by future generations according to his/her desires for the property. And lastly, depending on the state in which the property is located, the landowner may be eligible for state, federal and estate tax deductions. This article explains what every owner of horse property should know about conservation easements. Read full article here.
New Article: On the Right Track – How a Community Based Land Use Advocacy Organization is Making a Difference in Central Florida
by Jennifer M. Keeler for ELCR
Land use watch groups continue to form in communities across the US in response to the growing concerns related to suburban and rural sprawl. ELCR always recommends that our constituents form some type of community-based organization that can keep an eye on local land use and planning, share information with members, and work both proactively and in response to issues that arise impacting equine land access. There are other grassroots-based organizations that are also working to monitor and influence land use policies at the local level. Existing Organizations that don’t focus specifically on equine lands can still be extremely helpful to the equine community’s land use needs. Good city planning can result in the protection of agricultural, equine and natural lands. This article provides a good example of community-based organization dedicated to protecting horse lands in central Florida. Read full article here.
Successful Models in Developing and Maintaining Private Equestrian Trail Systems
In partnership with American Trails, this webinar discusses how three different communities have developed and maintained successful equestrian trail systems on private land. Privately owned land is the most at-risk component of our equestrian landscape. Boarding barns, competition venues, trails, hunt fixtures, and hayfields are being lost every day as a result of development, misunderstanding of liability issues by new owners of land, and rising demand for land around urbanizing areas. Access to private land for equestrian use can be a valuable asset in your community and can result in not only a viable recreational trail system but even a corridor providing equine access to public land. Access to private land is an alternative to shared access on public trails as competition from other user groups continues to expand.
Read more and view the recording here.
New Article: Conservation Easements as a Tool for Protecting Horse Land
by Laurel A. Florio, J.D. for ELCR
A conservation easement, a primary tool for land protection in the United States for over forty years, is also a valuable resource in the protection of land for equine related activities. Landowners may reap many benefits from a conservation easement placed on their property. First and foremost, the perpetual protection of the property will ensure that it will remain in its current physical state. Secondly, with the threat of development removed, the wildlife habitat and natural resource values will be enhanced. Thirdly, the landowner can be assured that the property will be enjoyed by future generations according to his/her desires for the property. And lastly, depending on the state in which the property is located, the landowner may be eligible for state, federal and estate tax deductions. This article explains what every owner of horse property should know about conservation easements. Read full article here.
New Article: On the Right Track – How a Community Based Land Use Advocacy Organization is Making a Difference in Central Florida
by Jennifer M. Keeler for ELCR
Land use watch groups continue to form in communities across the US in response to the growing concerns related to suburban and rural sprawl. ELCR always recommends that our constituents form some type of community-based organization that can keep an eye on local land use and planning, share information with members, and work both proactively and in response to issues that arise impacting equine land access. There are other grassroots-based organizations that are also working to monitor and influence land use policies at the local level. Existing Organizations that don’t focus specifically on equine lands can still be extremely helpful to the equine community’s land use needs. Good city planning can result in the protection of agricultural, equine and natural lands. This article provides a good example of community-based organization dedicated to protecting horse lands in central Florida. Read full article here.
Questions about Horse Land Conservation?
Grappling with a particular issue about your horse land, stables or trails? Don’t know where to look for the answer? Our FAQ section is designed to quickly link users directly to the most pertinent articles, tools and templates – even when you don’t know where to start!
https://elcr.org/conservation-resources/frequently-asked-questions/
Grappling with a particular issue about your horse land, stables or trails? Don’t know where to look for the answer? Our FAQ section is designed to quickly link users directly to the most pertinent articles, tools and templates – even when you don’t know where to start!
https://elcr.org/conservation-resources/frequently-asked-questions/
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With lots more online shopping these days,
don't forget that you can easily support ELCR whenever you do your shopping at Amazon! Simply visit: smile.amazon.com/ch/52-2139677 to ensure a portion of your purchases is donated to help #SAVEHORSELAND! |
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Follow ELCR on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates!
The more people we reach, the more equine lands can be saved!
STAY CONNECTED
The more people we reach, the more equine lands can be saved!
STAY CONNECTED
ELCR Newsletter - July 2020
New Private Trails Webinar July 30th
Mark your calendars! ELCR and American Trails will partner to provide a free webinar on July 30 at 10 am Pacific Time (1 pm Eastern Time) entitled Successful Models in Developing and Maintaining Private Equestrian Trail Systems. The webinar will spotlight how three different communities have developed and maintained successful equestrian trail systems on private land.
Special thanks to our webinar sponsor Areté Structures for making this webinar possible!
For more information and to register for the webinar, click here.
Special thanks to our webinar sponsor Areté Structures for making this webinar possible!
For more information and to register for the webinar, click here.
Farms Under Threat: The State of the States Webinars
The American Farmland Trust's National Agricultural Land Network is continuing to host a series of state webinars presenting the findings from the "Farms Under Threat: The State of the States" study. These webinars are free and open to anyone with an interest in learning more: https://farmland.org/farms-under-threat-state-based-webinars/
Full study findings are available here
Previous state webinar recordings are also available here.
The remaining state webinars scheduled are as follows:
Full study findings are available here
Previous state webinar recordings are also available here.
The remaining state webinars scheduled are as follows:
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July 7 – Minnesota
July 8 – South Carolina July 9 – Colorado July 10 – Tennessee |
July 13 – Hawaii
July 14 - Arkansas July 15 - Maine July 16 - New Hampshire |
July 17 - Vermont
July 20 - Connecticut July 21 - Massachusetts July 22 - Rhode Island |
Legislative Update - Great American Outdoors Act
Many thanks to equestrians who recently sent approximately 550 letters to federal lawmakers urging their support for the Great American Outdoors (GAO) Act! Thanks in part to these significant efforts, on June 17th, 2020 the Senate voted in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act by an overwhelming, bi-partisan vote of 73 to 25.
The GAO Act, referred to as a “recreation package,” combines key elements of legislation long supported by the horse industry. This includes more resources for the backlog maintenance of public trails and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) – at $900 million per year - which supports conservation easements that promote riding. Incorporating provisions of the “Restore Our Parks Act,” the package creates a revenue stream to dedicate funds from energy development projects to support the maintenance of trails run by the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other agencies. Stay tuned for updates related to next steps to assure the bill becomes law.
Is there new or pending state level legislation in your state that has the potential to enhance or reduce equine access to land, facilities or trails? ELCR is interested. Please call or write and let us know so that we can keep others in your area updated and advocating!
The GAO Act, referred to as a “recreation package,” combines key elements of legislation long supported by the horse industry. This includes more resources for the backlog maintenance of public trails and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) – at $900 million per year - which supports conservation easements that promote riding. Incorporating provisions of the “Restore Our Parks Act,” the package creates a revenue stream to dedicate funds from energy development projects to support the maintenance of trails run by the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other agencies. Stay tuned for updates related to next steps to assure the bill becomes law.
Is there new or pending state level legislation in your state that has the potential to enhance or reduce equine access to land, facilities or trails? ELCR is interested. Please call or write and let us know so that we can keep others in your area updated and advocating!
Follow ELCR on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates!
The more people we reach, the more equine lands can be saved!
STAY CONNECTED
The more people we reach, the more equine lands can be saved!
STAY CONNECTED
ELCR Newsletter - June 2020
Farms Under Threat: The State of the States Webinars
How threatened is your state’s agricultural land? What is your state doing to protect it? A new study from our conservation partner American Farmland Trust, “Farms Under Threat: The State of the States” provides groundbreaking new data that answer these questions and more! The study findings can be viewed here.
The American Farmland Trust's National Agricultural Land Network is also hosting a series of state webinars presenting the findings for 28 states. These webinars are free and open to anyone with an interest in learning more:
https://farmland.org/farms-under-threat-state-based-webinars/
The remaining state webinars scheduled for June and July are as follows:
The American Farmland Trust's National Agricultural Land Network is also hosting a series of state webinars presenting the findings for 28 states. These webinars are free and open to anyone with an interest in learning more:
https://farmland.org/farms-under-threat-state-based-webinars/
The remaining state webinars scheduled for June and July are as follows:
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June 8 - Pennsylvania
June 9 – North Carolina June 10- New Jersey June 11- Delaware June 12- Texas June 15 – California June 16 – West Virginia June 17 – Maryland June 18 – Kentucky June 19 – Washington |
June 22 – Ohio
June 23 – Alabama June 24 – Wisconsin June 25 – Virginia June 26 – Florida June 29 – Louisiana June 30 – Illinois July 1 – Oregon July 2 – Mississippi |
July 7 – Minnesota
July 8 – South Carolina July 9 – Colorado July 10 – Tennessee July 13 – Hawaii July 14 - Arkansas |
Legislative Updates
Great American Outdoors Act 2020
Thanks in large part to advocacy on the part of the horse industry and its allies, federal lawmakers have prioritized land conservation and trails maintenance backlog issues for the summer legislative session. On May 6, 2020, the American Horse Council, American Sportfishing Association, American Trails and more than 25 other members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to pass the “Great American Outdoors Act” (S. 3422), a bill that would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide resources to address the backlog in trails maintenance projects on public lands. As you recall, members of the horse industry have submitted more than 200 letters to Congress urging support for trails legislation, especially the “Restore Our Parks Act of 2019” (ROPA) (H.R.1225/S.500).
Stay tuned for an “action alert” and next steps urging quick passage of this important recreation package once we learn more about scheduled floor time in June for S. 3422.
Thanks in large part to advocacy on the part of the horse industry and its allies, federal lawmakers have prioritized land conservation and trails maintenance backlog issues for the summer legislative session. On May 6, 2020, the American Horse Council, American Sportfishing Association, American Trails and more than 25 other members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to pass the “Great American Outdoors Act” (S. 3422), a bill that would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide resources to address the backlog in trails maintenance projects on public lands. As you recall, members of the horse industry have submitted more than 200 letters to Congress urging support for trails legislation, especially the “Restore Our Parks Act of 2019” (ROPA) (H.R.1225/S.500).
Stay tuned for an “action alert” and next steps urging quick passage of this important recreation package once we learn more about scheduled floor time in June for S. 3422.
Agreement reached on Farmland Preservation Area in Marion County, FL
Horses, horse farms and the horse industry create the character and culture that define Ocala/Marion County. The vision and mission of Horse Farms Forever is to ensure this ‘sense of place’ is protected for future generations, especially the Farmland Preservation Area located in northwest Marion County.
Recently, Horse Farms Forever expressed its concern about two proposed changes to the Farmland Preservation Area that were included in the amendment to the County’s comprehensive plan requested by the Golden Ocala-World Equestrian Center organization. The first request was to move the boundary of the Farmland Preservation Area and the second request was to apply a newly created land use designation called WEC to rural property inside the Farmland Preservation Area.
Horse Farms Forever was able to reach an agreement with the leadership of the GO-WEC organization regarding its concerns and as a result of this agreement, is enthusiastically advocating for approval of the revised amendment. This agreement will preserve the Farmland Preservation Area boundary and permit only equestrian-related uses on the property located within it.
Well done Horse Farms Forever and Golden Ocala World Equestrian Center! Join us in thanking them for their spirit of cooperation and shared respect for the integrity of the Farmland Preservation Area in Marion County, FL. https://www.horsefarmsforever.com/thank-you-go-wec-for-coming-to-the-table/
Is there new or pending state level legislation in your state that has the potential to enhance or reduce equine access to land, facilities or trails? ELCR is interested. Please call or write and let us know so that we can keep others in your area updated and advocating!
Follow ELCR on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates!
The more people we reach, the more equine lands can be saved!
STAY CONNECTED
The more people we reach, the more equine lands can be saved!
STAY CONNECTED
For previous newsletters visit ELCR - https://elcr.org/whats-new/elcr-newsletter/
Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council
P.O. Box 127, Snowmass, Colorado 81654
* 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization *
rfvhc.colorado@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/keephorsesontrails/