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Important Info.
We feel that some articles and information are so important that they should always be accessible. We've listed them below and hope that everyone will read them.

Tellico ORV Area Under Attack

MOAB Under Attack!

US Forest Service Abusing programs and we're losing land use!

Editorial Article about the misuse of Recreation Site Facility Master Planning (RSFMP) program

National Forests Could See Large Closures - enough said!

California OHV Funding At Risk!

Informative Article About The US Government and the Recreation Site Facility Master Plan (RSFMP) program. - a must read!

Articles of Interest To The Off Road Community

September 25, 2007
PA State Environmental Agency Closes ATV Park!
Mountain Ridge Trails Resort, an ATV park has been closed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Protection Agency, because it lacked the required permits to operate. It is expected to remain closed at least through January 1, 2008 according to its Web site. According to the state agency the operators of Mountain Ridge had been warned that erosion-control, storm-water discharge and stream-crossing permits were required to operate, according to Keith Largent of the Somerset Conservation District. They are the folks that administer the permits for the Department of Environmental Protection. LArgent was quoted as saying "I've actually been out there, and warned them of the impending doom.....They did not comply. The law's the law." On the web site the park says that it has been preparing a permit, and should have it filed soon.

Problems Brewing At Red Creek Off-Road Park In Mississippi
Neighbors of this off-road park have formed a group and have filed complaints against the park regarding noise, alcohol issues and, here comes the bad one.....environmental damage. Some local residents organized a group that hired and paid a consultant to help them make their case, which they then took to the George County Board of Supervisors. According to the complaint ATV riders in the park are riding at all hours of the night and leaving piles of trash along the Red River, a scenic waterway, which they say may now be in jeopardy.

The park doesn't seem to be making to many friends with their neighbors on Vestry Road, as the neighbors say the 1,000-acre off-road park has brought noise, litter and possible damage to the environment along the tranquil and protected Red Creek, and it is ruining their quality of life. The park typically draws up to 500 riders on a normal weekend. According to county officials' estimates, a large rally held there on Labor Day weekend, known as Mud Fest, drew approximately 4,000 people. Riders are allowed to use the park on their ATVs throughout the night, and residents would like to see the park's management put a stop to this. But the park's management has said they don't intend to do so. Local residents that live near the park said they got very little sleep the weekend of Mud Fest as thousands of ATV riders backed up traffic along Vestry Road, drank beer, and rode with loud mufflers through the early morning over the three-day weekend.

The neighbors said the problems caused by riders at the park aren't limited to the handful of weekends each year when they hold large rallies. One neighbor was quoted as saying "We don't need these people in this neighborhood." The residents have collected 132 signatures on a petition that asks for the park to close, or that there be a noise ordinance put in place to limit the park's hours of operation. Residents brought the petition to the supervisors, who have not taken action on it yet, but the park is on the agenda of their next meeting.

Another issue is alcohol. George County, where the park is located, is dry, but many of the park's clients drink beer according to the residents. The park's management was reported to say that they do their best to enforce the alcohol ban, but they do not search coolers. They reported that they advise customers who come from other counties and states that George County is dry. The use of alcohol at the park looks to have come to an end as a County Supervisor has said that current alcohol laws would be enforced. After receiving complaints about the widespread drinking in the park, deputies were dispatched and wrote dozens of tickets for alcohol during Mud Fest. A County Supervisor was quoted as saying "We told the owner that he is going to have to deal with the alcohol situation."

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality communications director Robbie Wilbur said his agency has received a complaint and is testing to see if the park's riders have damaged the environment. The park's management has handed out fliers that specify driving ATVs or trucks on the sand bars or in the water at Red Creek could result in a $1,000 fine and possible vehicle confiscation under federal law. Of all of the complaints against the park, we feel the environmental claims are the most serious. There are Federal and State standards which must be met, and these are what threaten the park the most in our eyes. The State Department of Environmental Quality has taken samples and is awaiting the results, which should be returned in a few weeks.

New Oklahoma ATV Laws In November
New ATV laws go into effect on Nov. 1 in Oklahoma and they place new restrictions on riders. Passengers will be prohibited from riding four-wheelers on public land unless the vehicles are specifically made to carry more than one person. The law will also make it mandatory for riders under the age of 18 to wear helmets. Youth ATV riders and their parents could be fined up to $25.00, if the child is not wearing a helmet.

Park rangers and other peace officers in Oklahoma’s state parks and ATV areas on the Ouachita National Forest will educate people about the new laws for the next few months before strictly enforcing the new regs, according to a spokesman r the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

Now About This Unauthorized Trail Nonsense!
To all jerk-off US Forest Service spokespeople and people of the press. Listen up you political wonks and agenda pushers because I've had enough! Stop calling these trails unauthorized or illegal because you're trying to screw us over and you want us to just take it without a fight and this is your trite and manipulative way of justifying it! Those trails were all legal because when you have an "open motorized cross-country travel" (your precise term I believe) it means that you can take your motorized vehicle wherever you want! You are authorized to go wherever you desire! Only in your whacked out Orwellian world does it mean that you can go anywhere as long as you don't leave a trail. You see, to venture forth with a motorized vehicle means that you will leave a trail of where you have been. Others will see the trail and venture forth as well, thus creating a trail system, which is totally and completely legal and authorized under an Open Motorized Cross-Country Travel rule. So stop trying to slop this B.S. down our throats by calling these illegal or unauthorized trails! They were authorized and legal at the time they were made because they were made under an Open Motorized Travel rule. You know you're giving us the shaft and we know it. Stop trying to blow smoke up where the sun don't shine cause we're not buying it!

The truth about the unrestricted or open motorized cross-country travel rules that were used for all of these national ands where you are taking trails from us is all over the place. Here is a link to an article where it is mentioned briefly when the article quotes "The retiring chief of the US Forest Service's Intermountain Region says the days of unrestricted cross-country travel on public lands are quickly coming to an end." Well, my question is how can it come to an end if it was never used?

All of the trails that were made in these forests, grasslands and parks where there was an open or unrestricted cross-country travel rule are legal and authorized, and as such, when you close them down you are taking something away from us that we were using for years!

BLM Restricts OHV Use In Indian Creek Canyon (UT)
The notice reads....
"Notice is hereby given that, effective immediately, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Monticello Field Office, is restricting off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel to existing roads and trails on approximately 100,000 acres of public lands in the Indian Creek Canyon area near Monticello, UT. The public lands affected by this restriction are located in portions of T. 29 S., R. 19-21 E; T. 30 S., R. 19-22 E.; T. 31 S., R. 20-22 E; T. 32 S., R. 20-22 E. The Indian Creek Management boundary is depicted on the attached map. The purpose of this restriction is to protect riparian, soils, riparian, vegetation, visual and cultural resources that have been adversely impacted, or are at risk of being adversely impacted by cross-country OHV travel. The restriction will remain in effect until the Monticello Resource Management Plan Revision is completed."

Huge ATV Park Might Be Coming To Kentucky
What could possibly be one of the largest ATV parks in the country could be a reality in the state of Kentucky. Members from three county governments met to discuss the off road coalition in Hazard, KY. As part of a potential joint venture, Breathitt, Owsley, Clay and Perry counties would be a part of the project to build the park that would connect miles of off road trails through 5 counties that would be maintained by the group. "Finally, we've got counties working together, instead of against one another," says Perry County Judge Executive Denny Ray Noble. Judge Noble says a committee will now be formed to help move the coalition forward and to, hopefully make the park a reality.

September 4, 2007
US Forest Service Proposes Closing Some Tellico ORV Trails
As a result of a "notice of intent to sue" issued by environmental groups over water clarity issues, the US Forest Service is now proposing to close trails 2, 7 and 9, and possibly a seasonal closure of the entire ORV area! If this goes through it will be a huge win for the environmental groups and look for more concessions to come. I wouldn't be surprised if we lose this entire ORV area if this first step gets implemented.

During the ninth annual Tellico ORV area stakeholders meeting on August 24th, the US Forest Service announced its strategy for restoring water quality in the Tellico River. They identified immediate projects and future plans to counter sedimentation issues allegedly caused by the mismanagement of the Upper Tellico ORV area. All of this was in response to claims made by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of the NC and Tennessee Councils of Trout Unlimited, the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project stating that the US Forest Service is violating environmental laws. These environmental organizations filed a “notice of intent to sue” on June 28 if the US Forest Service did not effectively change its management of the ORV area in order to comply with it's own rules and the Clean Water Act. The conservationist groups requested that the Forest Service take immediate action to remedy the significant and ongoing violations of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (also referred to as the Clean Water Act) and other various federal and state water laws.

A US Forestry supervisor, Bill Champion, said complete condition surveys will be performed on all trail segments within 100 feet of streams in the ORV area, covering an estimated 6-7 miles of the trail system. All necessary repairs and modifications to crossings, silt traps and other maintenance needs will be made to these trail areas where needed. Condition surveys also will be conducted throughout the entire trail system. Relying on the results from National Environmental Policy Act analysis, the Forest Service will then consider proposals for a seasonal closure of the ORV area as well as permanent closure and rehabilitation of the 2, 7 and 9 Trails, which many believe cause much of the sedimentation issues. The seasonal closure would most likely occur between January and March.

This is not good folks. The first act of the US Forest Service is a major rollover to the conservation groups. We can only go down from here. The conservation groups have already won major concessions without having to take any legal action. They will surely use this as a stepping stone to gain more trail closures and stricter requirements. We're already down two scores in this critical game and the enviro-groups haven't even had to use their big weapons. I don't like the looks of this one bit.

August 29, 2007
Another ORV Riding Area May Be Closed
Crossbar Ranch ORV Area in Oklahoma Faces Closure
Natural gas magnate Aubrey McClendon, a natural gas tycoon, has made an offer to purchase the Cross Bar Ranch, which is owned and operated by the city of Davis as a "Western Wilderness Adventure".

City records indicate that McClendon offered a package totaling $5 million for most of the 6,131-acre Cross Bar ranch. The offer was $3.85 million for the outright purchase of the property, plus $200,000 in donations over five years to be used at the city's discretion. The offer also included $150,000 to move the vintage ranch house from the property. The city purchased the land in 1996 for $1 million according to Sandra Webb, the interim city manager. The city markets the Cross Bar as a back-to-nature destination for camping, biking, motorcycling, ATV riding, horseback riding and photography. According to Webb, Cross Bar Ranch is not paying for itself, and if the city were to retain it, they would have to come up with ideas for further development.

The city of Davis has not responded to Mr. McClendon's offer, but it is more than likely that the offer and the city's view on it will be on the city council's agenda at the September 10th meeting. It has been reported that Webb will recommend that the council put the purchase proposal to a vote by the citizens of Davis. Webb went on to say that the original purchase of the Cross Bar Ranch was very controversial a decade ago and that officials are concerned with upsetting residents with another major transaction.

Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest ORV Travel Management Proposals To Be Presented
US Forest Service has stated that it will unveil its first proposal to regulate off-road vehicle use in the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest in September 2007 at a series of meetings. The times and locations are:

The Mercer Island meeting will take place

  • September 5 - 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
    Community Center at Mercer View
    SE 24th Street
    Mercer Island, WA

  • September 15
    10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
    Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Headquarters
    215 Melody Lane
    Wenatchee, WA

Learn more details about the ORV Management Plans

Eldorado National Forest ORV Plan Protesters Get Some Press
But barely! We get a few sentences with some snippets about our concerns and that's it. Following is the main piece of the article -

"Off-road riders are worried the government will block access to a big chunk of roads and trails in the Eldorado National Forest by early next year. "I drive motorcycles and quads. My whole family does," said protester Dennis Maloney. "They've threatened to close, right now, over half the trails and roads that we use and have access in the forest.""

Where are the facts on how many trails they want to close? Where is the details of our side of the story? Nowhere, that's where. The jerks in the press will not give us any due discourse for pleading our case. It is BS! Look at the press they give our enemies! It is extremely obvious that the press is biased and who they side with. Don't expect any help from these vermin.

St. Joe State Park (MO) Under Scrutiny of EPA
The EPA has urged the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to move the ORV riding area away from the flats during the next several years and to warn park visitors of the threat of lead mine waste, which makes up approximately 1,000 of the park's 8,200 acres. Bruce Morrison, spokesman for the EPA's Superfund Division in Kansas City, was reported as saying "We see the continued use of the park for (off-road vehicle) riding and recreation in the mine tailings as inconsistent with EPA's approach to reducing lead exposure in St. Francis County."

Soil and dust samplings taken in 2002 showed lead levels as high as 4,638 parts per million in the beach area where children play and swim, and up to 1,563 parts per million in the riding area, according to government reports. Both are above levels that would trigger an EPA cleanup if they were found in a residential yard. State and US EPA officials are expected to meet in October and the EPA will have the final say on how the mine waste is cleaned up. State officials prefer to create a trail network in the riding area, seed and fertilize some of the areas, and cover other spots with graded rock. EPA officials say the plan lacks sufficient detail to evaluate how it would prevent exposure to mine waste and lead, and protect people. Federal regulators say they don't want to close the park, but ATV enthusiasts aren't so sure.

Black Hills National Forest ORV Management Plans In The Works
US Forest Service has stated that it will unveil its first proposal to regulate off-road vehicle use in the Black Hills National Forest in September 2007 at a series of meetings. The times and locations are:

  • September 10, 2007
    Crook County Courthouse
    309 Cleveland Street, Sundance, WY

  • September 11, 2007
    Best Western Ramkota Hotel (Rushmore Room)
    2111 North LaCrosse Street
    Rapid City, SD

  • September 12, 2007
    Wilbur S. Tretheway Pavilion
    115 South Canyon Street
    Spearfish, SD

  • September 13, 2007
    Crazy Horse Memorial (Mountain View Room)
    Avenue of the Chiefs
    Custer, SD

The meetings are scheduled from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a slide presentation on the proposal starting at 7:00 p.m. followed by public comments in small groups from 7:30 -8:30 p.m. Written comments concerning the the proposals must be received 60 days after the Notice of Intent (proposal) is published in the Federal Register, which is expected to take place in early September and be posted here.

Cape Cod National Seashore Lifts ORV Restrictions
Almost all of the approximately 9 miles of sand vehicle roads in the Cape Cod National Seashore were open as of August 23rd.

Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina Next For ORV Management Plans
The National Park Service has published a Notice of Intent to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for an ORV Management Plan at Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina. The plan will be used to guide the management and control of ORVs at the seashore for the next 15-20 years. The National Park Service will create a management plan that will reportedly provide consistency in resource protection, user conflicts, and other safety issues. In order to represent the viewpoints of all user groups interested in the outcome of the plan, the Park Service invites full participation (yeah right!) from groups and citizens in the preparation of the plan. The Park Service has announced the following public meetings in September 2007:

  • September 11, 2007
    Duke Marine Lab Pivers Island
    135 Duke Marine Lab Road
    Beaufort, NC 28516
    6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Open House
    7:00 PM - 7:30 PM NPS Presentation
    7:30-9:00 PM Open House

  • September 12, 2007
    McKinnon Center
    North Carolina State University
    South Boulevard
    Raleigh, NC 27695
    7:00 PM - 7:30 PM NPs Presentation
    7:30-9:30 PM Open House

  • September 13, 2007
    The Hut
    413 Johnston Drive
    Pineville, NC 28134
    6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Open House
    7:00 PM - 7:30 PM NPs Presentation
    7:30-9:00 PM Open House

You can submit your comments to:

Cape Lookout Park Planning or mail them to:

Cape Lookout National Seashore
Attn: Wouter Ketel
131 Charles Street
Harkers Island, NC 28531

San Bernadino County Board of Supervisors Votes To Keep Controversial Off-Road Ordinance
The vote was unanimous by the San Bernadino County Board of Supervisors to keep an extremely controversial, and what some are calling an illegal law, off-road ordinance in place despite the presence of over 100 people in opposition to the ordinance. The county statute went into effect on July 1, 2006, and created regulations against off-roaders. Over 200 people attended the meeting, both pro and anti-ordinance. The recommendation to the Board of Supervisors from code enforcement was that the ordinance was working as it was intended and that there should be no changes. Off-roaders showed up to tell them otherwise. One was quoted as saying “I have all the respect in the world for the people that live out there....We don’t ride across their property.”

The biggest issue among the off-roaders was the staging clause in the ordinance, which requires off-roaders gathered in groups of 10 or more to apply for a special $155 permit which can take four to six weeks to obtain. One landowner said that this past spring was the first one that he didn’t have an Easter vacation on his property because of having to obtain a permit for his relatives to join him. The Chief of Code Enforcement, Randy Rogers, told the board that the ordinance was a success and that since it had been implemented they have handed out over 200 warning citations, 98 court citations and made 7,890 educational contacts, where they try to educate riders on the ordinance. After four hours of public comment from both sides of the issue, the board voted 3-0 to keep the ordinance in place without any changes. Two board members were absent from the vote. Look for litigation to begin challenging this ordinance.

Archive of important offroad / OHV / Public Land articles!
Look over all of these important articles and happenings with public land battles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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