April 15, 2004
New ATV Trail Proposed
The Forest Service has proposed the "Willow Creek ATV Trail Expansion Project" up at South Branch Willow Creek in the northeast part of the Allegheny. I don't have a map to post right now but calling this an expansion is a bit misleading since I believe the "expansion" alone will be much longer (and spread out over much more national forest land) than the trail that exists there.
This of course has serious repercussions from a conservation point of view. The impact of ATVs on natural resources including wildlife habitat and stream quality are well documented. In truth this project is a total outrage in that regard.
The consequences are also very severe from public health and safety. This is already a major issue for the Allegheny. There have already been numerous documented injuries and at least one death on the forest due to rampant ATV use - particularly by minors. The trails are often poorly maintained and require extensive police force. Experience shows that more trails simply means more illegal use. And it also means more conflicts with other users - ATVs undermine the public's ability to use and enjoy the national forest.
It is also important to recognize that the development of these trails on private lands has really taken off and therefore public lands ATV trails are becoming unnecessary. This is why ADP has taken a position that there should be no new ATV trails in the Allegheny. The Bureau of Forestry has adopted an ATV trail moratorium on the state forests for this very reason.
The Forest Service is increasing responsiveness on these issues but they are still far, far short of where they need to be to be building more trails. And although we have not opposed these trails in the past the ATV groups have not shown a good example in responding to our concerns. For example, we raised concerns about the Tour de Forest, an ATV trail ride sponsored by the Marienville Fire Department. We didn't oppose it but asked that measures be taken to enhance public health and safety and environmental conservation. Instead we got this:
Sadly, my understanding is that one of the recent rides also had a fatality. This is unacceptable. ADP is not opposed to ATV riding in the Allegheny (though maybe we should be based on the evidence) but we do feel that there should be no new trails and riding should only be permitted so long as the ATV community shows more responsible ridership. Accountability is something that is a mandate for public lands management.
Posted by jkleissler at 05:24 PM | Comments (6)