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| The
Vroom Report The State of Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) Across America
March 30, 2004 Impacts of Off-Road Vehicles Discussed at 69th North American
Wildlife Conference Impacts Off-Road Vehicles Discussed at 69th North American Wildlife Conference - The impacts of off-road vehicles on wildlife, particularly big game animals, received significant attention from professional land managers, scientists and others at the 69th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference held March 16-20 in Spokane, Washington. Two sessions with experts discussed this issue and presented findings of scientific and other research assessing the impacts of various off-road activities, including ATV use, on elk and deer especially. The Conference is sponsored by the Wildlife Management Institute and serves as the "premiere annual forum for the continents leading scientists, managers, educators and administrators to address prevailing issues, policies and practices of professional management of wildlife and other natural resources." Researchers form the U.S. Forest Service presented a study assessing impacts of a range of off-road activities, including ATV use, horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking, on elk and mule deer in Oregon. Generally, the analysis found that elk were most adversely affected by ATV use and least affected by hiking. Elk tended to move away from ATVs more quickly than other uses and they were disturbed by ATVs (and mountain bikes) from much greater distances when compared to hikers and horseback riders. According to this study, the "[P]probability of a flight response declined most rapidly during hiking, with little effect when hikers were beyond 550 yards from elk. By contrast, higher probabilities of elk flight continued beyond 820 yards from horseback riders, and 1,640 yards from mountain bike and ATV riders." Dr. Robert Holsman of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
presented a paper assessing the impacts of off-road vehicle use
on wildlife and discussing management changes that could be necessary
to respond to growing use. Dr. Holsman explained that research demonstrates
that many impacts caused by off-road vehicles, including disturbance,
habitat degradation, spread of exotic and invasive species, soil
erosion and stream damage, adversely affect a wide array of wildlife.
Dr. Holsman also highlighted the need for a new approach to managing
off-road vehicles: "[t]he sheer number of ORV riders combined
with the potential of their machines to cause lasting ecological
damage suggests the need to revisit policies that govern ATV riding
on state, federal and provincial lands." In conclusion, Dr.
Holsman placed the growing off-road vehicle problem in the larger
hunting context: "While a poached deer represents a temporary
and singular loss of wildlife benefits, ORV disturbance and damage
are lasting and pervasive. The capacity of ecosystems to absorb
such high impact use deserves careful planning. In the final analysis,
we must recognize that just because a machine is designed to traverse
all-terrains does not mean it should always be allowed to do so." For example, while the Wayne has an extensive system of legal off-road vehicle routes, the author observed repeated use off those routes and into areas closed to ATVs and dirt bikes. The piece explains: "Illegal riders are almost never caught, not just because their machines are speedy but also because, on public land, an individual ranger or forester is typically assigned to patrol an impossibly large area, anywhere from 125,000 to 2.5 million acres." The Forest Service must address on-the-ground enforcement and management needs as part of any policy change or new policies will be worth little more than the paper on which they are printed. In addition, this piece demonstrates how many Americans seeking quiet experiences are losing access to their National Forests. Conflicts between man and machines on trails, constant noise and air pollution displace hikers, bird watches and families out for a quiet picnic. Seventy one-year-old Larry Steinbrink describes how his experience has changed: "I used to love comin' here. If I came in early, I'd always see a deer or a partridge, maybe even a fox. If there were other hikers around you'd never hear them, even in dry leaves . . . But now the Forest Service has built trails for the vehicles and they've turned it (the forest) into a racetrack . . . It isn't a forest anymore. As soon as I hear those engines, I know I'm not gonna see or hear anything natural the rest of the day." U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in BLM Off-road Vehicle Case - On Monday, March 29, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Norton v. Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA). This case concerns the management of wilderness quality lands by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Utah as well as the much larger issue of whether or not land and resource management plans required by law bind the agency's actions. In briefs and before the Court, the Bush Administration argues that land management plans, which are required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and describe how public lands may be used and under what conditions, are merely advisory -- not binding -- on the agency. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, U.S. Solicitor Edwin Kneedler told the Court " 'those plans do not impose legal obligations that are owed to the public.' Therefore, he said, courts have no authority to compel BLM to follow its own management plans. 'So the plans are largely aspirational -- they are wish lists?' asked Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 'That's basically our position,' responded Kneedler." An opinion is this case will be issued later this year. The decision could have far-reaching implications for public land management particularly if the Justices agree that land and resource management plans are nonbinding. View
Salt Lake Tribune article Contact: The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition includes conservation, recreation and other groups working to protect and restore all public lands and waters from the severe damage caused by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, jet skis and all other off-road vehicles.
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