Yakima/Kittitas Forest Watch

About the Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association AKA "Yakima/Kittitas Forest Watch"

The Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association is a group of citizens that care about keeping public lands open for generations. The group uses Off Road Vehicles to patrol the trails, roads and campgrounds on public lands as they are out recreating or doing volunteer work. The group educates users and reports rule violators a long with damage they see to the proper authorities. The group patrols many areas in Yakima and Kittitas Counties. Here are some them: Ahtanum State Forest, Liberty, L. T. Murray / Wenas Wildlife Area, Manastash, Naches, Naches Pass, Naneum Ridge State Forest, Rimrock, Slab (Rankville, Ranks) and other public land areas.

Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association co-host public land work parties and helps with getting the supplies or materials needed.

AKA "Yakima/Kittitas Forest Watch" -
We also go by the name "Yakima/Kittitas Forest Watch" since we are watching more the just the ORV trails. We watch all public lands around Yakima and Kittitas Counties using open roads with our 4x4 rigs to get around.

Note:
We do not report vehicles on roads behind close signs unless we know for a fact that they do not belong there. We do not report 3rd party pictures on the internet. We do not report vehicle or traffic violations unless there is a danger. That is not what this association does. We are here to keep people on the roads/trails and to stop any damage we can to public lands.

Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association Mission Statement

The Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association's mission is mainly for Yakima and Kittitas Counties but not limited to.

Our mission is:

1. To educate the public on the rules and laws of public lands.

2. To assist public land agencies and law enforcement by reporting violators.

3. To help maintain and improve public lands.

Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association History

In September 2008 the All Wheelers Off Road Club started a group called ORV Trail Watch where we offered free camera decals to people that wanted others to follow rules as they were. The idea with the decal is to get the word out someone could be watching so do not do anything that could get the areas closed. This program was design to go nation wide like Tread Lightly. Thanks to many peoples efforts, ORV Trail Watch has grown to over 200 people over a few states.

In April 2010 the All Wheelers Off Road Club got together to form local group to watch public lands in the counties we live in and that is why we call it "Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association". By focusing on just these two counties we believe we can get a better working relationship with public land users, the local agencies that run the public lands and with local law enforcement. We have added a few more things to this ORV Trail Watch. The biggest one is what we call "Project Funds". "Project Funds" are separate accounts to collect funds for repairs and upgrades on different public land projects within the counties we serve. We keep local donations for local public land projects of their choice.

Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association membership -

Unlike ORV Trail Watch, all members of the Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association must own a 4x4 rig and live or be in a 4x4 club based within Yakima or Kittitas Counties. The reason behind this is people who live in the area know their public lands better than most and have a better understanding of the rules. This helps the reporters of violators and does not waste the time of law enforcement.

Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association members are required to Tread Lightly and follow public land rules/laws. Members must attend at least one Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association meeting and one Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association sponsored work party per year.

Benefits Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association members can get:

1. Keeping the public lands open for generations.

2. Free training on Tread Lightly, Public land rules and Laws, CPR and other type safety classes.

3. Free fun events as in trail runs, camp-outs and get togethers.

4. Get to know others that care about our public lands at the Meeting, Patrols, Gatherings and on the Members Only on-line forum.

All applications for membership must be in person and requires a valid ID. Persons applying for membership must be 16 years of age. There is a $35 family membership (includes kids still in school living at home) per year.

Anyone found doing something that could cause public land areas closures will banned from the association.

For more information for membership e-mail: info@orvtw.org

Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association Supporter Program -

This is a free program for those who live in the Yakima or Kittitas Counties that want to support the efforts of the Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association but do not want to join. No meetings, work days or membership dues but all other rules are the same as members. The "Supporter Program" is only open to those who have shown they truly care about the keeping public lands open to motorized vehicles. The "Supporter Program" benefits are the same as members but supporters do not have a vote and are not able to see the members only area of the forum.

All applications for the "Supporter Program" must be in person and requires a valid ID.

Anyone found doing something that could cause public land areas closures will banned from the association.

For more information about the "Sponsor Program" e-mail: info@orvtw.org

Forest Watch Volunteer Program -

This is a free program for those who want to show they volunteer to report people that break the rules in our Public Forest. No meetings, work days or membership dues. The "Forest Watch Volunteer" program is open to those who care about the keeping public lands open to motorized vehicles. The benefits Forest Watch Volunteers get is having Public Lands to use in the future and two FREE "Forest Watch Volunteer" decals.

NOTE: Forest Watch Volunteers are not members of the "Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association" and the "Yakima/Kittitas ORV Trail Watch Association" is not responsible for the actions of the "Forest Watch Volunteers".

Anyone found doing something that could cause public land areas closures will turned in the same as anyone else. The decals are not a free pass to break the rules.

For more information about the "Forest Watch Volunteer Program" e-mail: info@orvtw.org