NATIONAL FORESTS-OUR TRAILS ARE IN TROUBLE
- "We believe that off-highway vehicles are a legitimate use of the National Forest System. But it's a use that should be managed carefully. That's what our new rule for OHV use on national forest system lands is all about: providing access that can be used and enjoyed into the future. And if we want to sustain that use, then we've got to work together." Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth.
- Consider the following statement from the Final Rule, page 68285/6; "The overall network of routes designated for motor vehicle use would then expand. These designated routes will form a more stable base for long-term management and will receive increased maintenance, through agency resources and cooperative relationships, thereby expanding opportunities for motor vehicle users".
- Many National Forests are planning to close up to 60% of the existing trails & roads to motorized use.
- Based on a replacement cost of $34,000 per mile, these trails, proposed for closure, have an estimated value of tens of billions of dollars.
- Removal or decommissioning of a Forest trail in the past has cost between $3500 & $22,000 per mile. Current proposed closures would at a minimum cost $400 million, which could easily maintain most existing Forest motorized trails for decades.
- Based on Forest User Visitor Numbers Studies over 23% of people in the US enjoy Off Highway Vehicle recreation.
- They conservatively spend millions of dollars per year in rural communities near each existing National Forest multiple use trail system.
- They spend far more than this each year in their home areas through purchase of OHV's, recreation vehicles & supplies.
- Total footprint of all existing motorized trails in a typical National Forest is less than one tenth of one percent (0.1%)
- Motorized trails allow all types of recreation, so every dollar spent on their maintenance benefits everyone, instead of a few.
- Motorized trails provide access for the disabled & our aging population, as well as for the millions of people with foot, knee, ankle & hip problems.
- Most existing multiple use trail systems have been maintained by motorized volunteers for decades in partnership with their local Forest.
- Through OHV trail funds, motorized users provide up to 30% more funding for trail maintenance than all non-motorized groups combined.
- The massive proposed closures of multiple use trails in many Forests will concentrate use, increase impacts, reduce user satisfaction, increase maintenance costs & discourage volunteers.
- Off Highway Vehicles are used to gain access for all kinds of other recreation including camping, hiking, fishing, horse riding, hunting, rock climbing, boating & more.
Please call National Off Highway Vehicle Coalition NOHVCC at 406 454-9190 to find out more about the Forest Plan for the trails in your area.
This fact sheet courtesy of www.TrailsInTrouble.org
References many of which can be found on our resources page:
USFS Recreation Statistics Update1, Update Report No. 3, October, 2004
Cordell, H. Ken, et al. 2004. Outdoor Recreation for 21st Century America. State
College, PA: Venture Publishing Inc. 293 p.
USFS National Visitor Use Monitoring 2004
USFS Infra database
USFS OHV Rule 2005
National Forest Service Road Decommissioning: An attempt to read through the numbers (Field Notes) Author: Ryan Schaffer, Wildland CPR
Click here for printable version of the above Fact Sheet