ReviewJournal.com - News - Effects of off-road use in drought told

PRINT THIS Popular

Jun. 06, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Effects of off-road use in drought told

Experts warn of environmental harm in West

By STEVE TETREAULT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Rules for off-road vehicles sought

RENO — A coalition of various interest groups is seeking to establish rules governing off-road vehicles in Nevada.

Group members say irresponsible off-highway vehicle riders are tearing up Nevada’s landscape and will force closure of public land to the popular sport if left unchecked.

The Nevada Responsible Trails Alliance plans to present recommendations today to the Nevada Legislative Committee on Public Lands in Elko.

The alliance representing sports enthusiasts, conservationists, ranchers, law enforcement officers and others hopes to persuade the 2009 Legislature to end Nevada’s status as the only Western state without a registration program for all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and similar machines.

Backers said the change is needed if damaging off-highway activity is to be controlled.

“We need badly to clean up the mess that a few people have caused,” said Gene Kolkman, alliance director and a former Bureau of Land Management manager in Elko.

Besides requiring off-highway vehicle registration, the alliance seeks support for local, state and federal land management agencies to designate back country roads and trails.

It also favors additional protection for private lands and money to enforce off-road vehicle laws.

Increasing popularity of off-highway riding combined with Nevada’s population growth is causing a host of problems, including damage to watersheds from the pioneering of new trails, disturbance of wildlife and mounting conflicts with sports enthusiasts on foot, said Larry Johnson, president of the Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife.

“Without a change in current policy, Nevada’s public lands and resources will pay the price,” Johnson said.

Charlie Cox, president of the Nevada Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, said his group supports the measures.

“Nevada is 20 years behind the times. Every state around us has a successful program,” Cox said.

“Without a program, we’re not going to solve any of the problems that exist.”

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Here's another effect of climate change: Prolonged drought coupled with the growing use of public lands by off-roaders means that soil erosion and dust pollution will only grow worse to threaten water supplies in the West, a federal expert said Thursday.

Trail use by dirt bikers and drivers of all-terrain vehicles "is having a much more profound impact than it did 10 years ago, and with future conditions predicted it is going to be worse," research ecologist Jayne Belnap told the Senate Natural Resources Committee at a hearing.

Share & Save

What is this?

Most Popular Stories

Alleging fraud, authorities raid voter group

NORM: Simpson planned acquittal party

Nevada's economy dead last

NORM: Hard-core fans ask: Has Jacko moved?

NORM: 13th Agassi slam another big hit

NORM: Letterman gives an 'A' to O.J. jury

NORM: Emeril stirring up new LV sports bar

Judge: Attacker 'gleeful'

'REALLY, REALLY CLOSE': Obama edges McCain in poll

Circle of friends surrounds lost pal

"We have drought, and we are predicted for drought for the next 30 years. We have to really think ahead about something that might not have been such a problem 10 years ago," said Belnap, who works for the U.S. Geological Survey.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman, the committee chairman, called on leaders of the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to explain how federal lands are being managed when it comes to off-roaders, a population estimated to have quadrupled in the past 25 years.

"It appears questionable to me whether either the BLM or the Forest Service has been able to keep up with the challenge of properly managing this use," said Bingaman, D-N.M.

"In some cases it appears laws are not being enforced while in others it appears the agencies are ignoring unregulated use of public lands with significant consequences for the health of public lands and communities," Bingaman said.

The BLM is mapping and designating proper trails for off-road use in districts across the West, but it will take another 10 years to finish the job, agency Deputy Director Henri Bisson said.

"It is a very long time, but we are doing the best we can with the resources we have," Bisson said. "We are going as fast as we can.

"We are moving to a place where 99 percent of lands are designated so people know where they can travel," Bisson said.

"Ten years is a long time, and I would like the schedule to be moved forward," Belnap said after being asked by Bingaman to weigh in on the matter.

Off-road vehicles increase soil erosion, and that can compromise air and water quality, which is a major issue in the West, Belnap said.

Further, dust accelerates snowpack melt and reduces the delivery of late-season water into rivers and streams.

"The dust issue really is going to be a major, major issue," Belnap said. "We are going to have profound impacts on water delivery."

"Just the presence of the roads themselves produce dust, you don't have to drive on them," she said. "But when they are driven on, we literally see many billions of pounds of dust a year coming off these trails."

"People can be responsible users and still be doing some severe impacts," Belnap said.

Frank Adams of Mesquite, executive director of the Sheriffs' and Chiefs' Association, testified that local law enforcement officials are overwhelmed by needs created by off-roaders, particularly in large rural counties.

"With such great land masses and so few enforcement officers, it does not take a large group of individuals disobeying federal land and local laws to cause a problem," he said.

The problems are created only by small numbers of riders who are reckless and ignore instructions to stay off sensitive lands.

"We have seen pristine areas disturbed by (off-highway vehicle) riders for the thrill of an exciting ride," Adams said.

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, cautioned against restricting public land access to off-roaders, of which only a minority could be considered bad apples.

"We have those lands also for the purpose of recreating on them and enjoying them, not just to view them from afar as if they were a museum piece to be constantly coddled and protected," Craig said.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.

Leave Your Comment	8 Reader Comments
Terms & Conditions The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor. Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: John Keyes wrote on June 12, 2008 02:38 PM: The Senate Natural Resources Committee is owned by the NRDC and the other wacko groups who want to control ALL of (k)alifornia and the western U.S. OHV use is like any other use; if the public agencies would do their job and quit trying to stop all forms of recreation there would be room for everyone. If the politicians in washington d.c and sacramento would quit trying to make the entire State of (k)alifornia into a wilderness area there would be a lot of areas to recreate. If the EPA would stop using bogus science to close down areas to recreate there would be plenty of room for everyone. Brett Hayes wrote on June 11, 2008 12:11 PM: Vindictive, you make some good points, but you are missing some key elements. First of all, 90% of Off-Roaders are now part of Clubs which have adopt-a-trails, trail cleanups, and support Tread-Lightly principles. This includes assisting Police, Fire Depts, and Forest Services. In particular, the amount of hours my club spends on these functions is nearly 400-500 hours a year. There are bad apples, but bad apples exist in al parts of society. Drunk drivers, Speeders on the freeway, etc.. You also forget, your apathy, complaining, old world beliefs are the reason why trails all over US are getting closed. Your pessismism shows me you are not in a club or even part of the network. You sound like a person that needs to rejoin a club and really see whats going on before you tell us "the real truth".... hillobamacain wrote on June 06, 2008 05:20 PM: vindictive. very good reasonible post hope some of the drugstore four wheelers listen to people like you Vindictive wrote on June 06, 2008 03:41 PM: I am an off-roader myself. Been one for 35 years now. I've always prided myself in sticking to established roads and trails and minimizing my impact on the outdoors I so love. However, not everyone is onboard with this philosophy. Look at how the manufacturers advertise their "go ANYWHERE" vehicles. Why does anyone have the need to drive up and down a stream or creek? Why does anyone need to climb up a steep rock embankment, leaving eroded dirt and ugly black tire marks for others to follow, just so they can feel macho for having conquered it? I saw this coming years ago. It only stands to reason that as the sport gained in popularity, the numbers of idiots who cause most of the damage would increase. And so it has finally come to pass. And who have we to blame but ourselves? We have proven to be our own worst enemy. Too many people have the mentality that a 4WD vehicle gives them the right to tread wherever they point it, without any consideration to the lasting effects such mindless wandering causes for literally decades. So what ends up happening? Areas get closed little by little, only serving to concentrate use in the remaining areas by our growing numbers. Wise up, people. If we don't police ourselves then the powers-that-be will do it for us. Then what are you gonna do with that off-road vehicle you spent thousands of dollars for? For sure, I will be the lightning rod for those who disagree with me. But, you know, sometimes the truth hurts. Please, everyone, let's enjoy our sport in a safe, responsible manner. Chicken Lil' wrote on June 06, 2008 03:15 PM: The sky is falling the sky is falling!!! bobleon wrote on June 06, 2008 11:20 AM: It is more than a few bad apples, but taking away our rights is not the answer and the effects seem to be over stated for PC reasons jnn wrote on June 06, 2008 08:37 AM: pretty soon we will be able to do nothing but pay taxes. Can't water your lawn, wash your car, drive off road, drive an SUV, smoke indoors, wear shoes through security, bring a nail file, protect our borders without being called a bigot, etc. So glad it's land of the free home of the brave. And yes, we are more free than many, but I truley believe if a society easily gives up it's freedom, they never really deserved to have it anyway. Bob wrote on June 06, 2008 07:12 AM: I recall an area south of Anthem that was closed for "area restoration". Three years later, houses covered the restoration area. The BLM is a group of pimps. They do what they can to build thier empire. Why don't they do something about the 1200 above and below ground test explosions at the test site.