Governor’s Task Force on All-Terrain Vehicle Trail Initiatives

ATVs on trail

ATV use is rapidly increasing in Maine, and with registrations now totaling over 70,000 annually, Governor Janet Mills created an ATV task force in 2019 that looked at a variety of issues associated with the growth in ATV use in the state, including a focus on ATV use on private land. The task force was comprised of 14 members that represented landowners, farmers, government agencies, ATV owners and retailers, and snowmobile organizations.

Maine has over 6,000 miles of trails, yet with the increasing interest in ATV riding, there are concerns regarding ATV size, riding on private land without permission, and environmental damage.

The task force looked at expanding the existing trail system with consideration to private landowners, the growing size of ATVs and their impact; discussed maintenance and trail standards for the trail system; developed a communications and outreach plan with a focus on landowner relations; discussed registration requirements based on size and value; and discussed funding for the oversight, construction and maintenance of the trail system.

The task force was charged by the legislature to submit its recommendations to the Governor on or before January 1, 2020.

ATV Task Force Report (PDF)

Public Comment

The ATV Task Force would like to thank those who submitted public comment. The task force received comments from over 1,000 people on the six Task Force objectives. The ATV Task Force has reviewed all of the submitted comments, and incorporated the input into the final report (PDF) to the Governor.

Task Force Meetings

Meetings of the ATV Task Force were open to members of the public. Below is a list of the meeting dates, locations and agendas, and meeting summaries.

ATV Task Force Members

Position Name Organization E-mail
Chair Timothy Peabody Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) Timothy.E.Peabody@maine.gov
Large Forest Landowner / Task Force Co-Chair John Bryant American Forest Management john.bryant@afmforest.com
Large Forest Landowner Matt Stedman Irving Woodlands stedman.matt@jdirving.com
Statewide Forest Products Organization Kyle Burdick Maine Forest Products Council - Baskehegan Company kyle@baskahegan.com
Statewide Small Woodlot Organization Tom Doak Maine Woodlands Owners tom@mainewoodlandowners.org
Large Farmland Owner Jim Sinclair Allen's Blueberries jsatvtf@gmail.com
Statewide Farming Organization Julie Ann Smith Maine Farm Bureau julie@mainefarmbureau.com
Utility Corridor Owner Brian Berube Central Maine Power brian.berube@avangrid.com
Land Trust Organization David Montague Downeast Lakes Land Trust dmontague@downeastlakes.org
Statewide ATV Organization Dick Howlett ATV Maine - John Raymond is the alternate northernvp@atvmaine.org
Combination ATV/Snowmobile Club David Jones Jackman Border Riders Club jackpowr@myfairpoint.net
Maine ATV Dealer Ian Bourgoin Fort Kent Powersports ianbourgoin@gmail.com
Statewide Snowmobile Organization Bob Meyers Maine Snowmobile Association snowjob@mesnow.com
Maine Dept. of ACF - ATV Program Brian Bronson Recreational Vehicle - ATV Coordinator Brian.N.Bronson@maine.gov
Maine Dept. of IF&W David Chabot Corporal - Landowner Relations (retired)