Bgcj5
05-09-2002, 09:26 PM
Here is a recent report I wrote to try and sway some of my former class mates here in college. I also posted it on the Loosers thread but I figured it would get some views here as well.
Andrew Kneeland
Intro To Rec
Oct 17, 2001
OHRV IN PARKS AND FORESTS
A very prominent issue in today’s society is the dilemma of how we use our parks and forest land. Some people think that it is in the best interest of the population and environment to completely shut down all parks and forest land to people who drive motorized vehicles in them. These vehicles are generally classified as OHRV (Off Highway Recreational Vehicles) and cater to a wide variety of interests. Some examples of OHRV’s consist of Snowmobiles, ATV’s, Jeeps, Dune Buggies, Dirt Bikes, and Jet Ski’s. The people who operate OHRV’s consist of the opposing side to the land closures . These people feel that they have a right to use the land to their own interests as well as any one else. So what this debate comes down to is, should OHRV’s be allowed in parks and forests.
One of the most promenite topics is the Banning of Motorized Vehicles in Yellowstone National Park. The Ban mainly applies to the snowmobiling community because during the winter there is an extremely vast trail network located inside the park. These trails don’t just lead to areas within the park they also connect to a much larger trail network outside of the park. On April 27, 2000 the National Park Service announced that 27 national parks will be closed to snowmobiling. This ban especially affected Yellowstone because it shut down the majority of the trail network in the state. The ban on snowmobiles was created because of the increasing noise and emissions issues that the parks have to deal with because of the growing popularity of the sport. As a result of the ban snowmobile manufacturers filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service on December 6, 2000. The lawsuit stated that “The federal government’s decision is badly flawed. There is no basis in fact or law to totally eliminate snowmobile use. Hundreds of thousands of cars, trucks and RV’s flow through these parks every summer and the wildlife has suffered no ill effects. Snowmobilers use the exact same roads automobiles use – except in far smaller numbers – and they have the same non-effect on wildlife.” While extremist groups argue that snowmobiles are polluting the parks with their emissions and sound; snowmobiles have always passed air quality standards and that just seemed to get looked over. But a national survey came to the conclusion that 78% of Americans believed that snowmobiles should be allowed in national parks. The manufactures in return addressed that they had willingly come out with new cleaner and quieter four stroke motors for select models. These new snowmobiles are the solution to the problem but the radical groups weren’t happy with any compromise. They wanted snowmobiles out of parks and that was the end of it. It didn’t matter that manufactures were more than willing to work with them to come up with a reasonable solution. After more than a year of debate over banning snowmobiles from Yellowstone the National government finally voted it down and said that a better solution could be created. So as of right now Manufactures and Eco groups and government officials are in the process of creating some reasonable regulations.
Another controversial topic is to allow off-road vehicles in the forests and parks. Groups like the Sierra Club and the California Wilderness Coalition are two of the primary groups advocating for the land closure. Last year the C.W.C. issues a report that was extremely unfavorable to the entire off-road community. The report stated that a variety of backcountry areas in California have been destroyed because of off-road vehicles. Environmental Groups best way of getting their information out is to publish all sorts of reports but unfortunately they only depict a one sided view. They view the off-road community as a bunch of reckless lawless hooligans. They feel that the vehicles destroy the environment by assisting in erosion and pollution. The truth of the matter is that the majority of off-roaders are in organized clubs that care a great deal for the community and the environment. There are so many clubs that do trail maintenance every month and they are all over looked for the slanderous image of reckless lawless citizens. A very small minority of people who drive off the designated trails and consume alcohol while driving created this image. These few people have caused Eco groups to rally against them and force the closure of public and private land. The purpose of public land is so that all people can enjoy it how they best see fit. The off-road community is now being limited to when and where they are allowed to pursue their recreational enjoyment. This is truly tragic because one of the best ways to explore the great backcountry of our nation is to drive out to those remote and pristine areas. Such beautiful places can be reached by driving down a trail deep into the heart of the forests. There are ponds, lakes, cliffs, trees and wild life that can be enjoyed from the trail side but people need to be able to get out to them.
So in conclusion a wide variety of land closures have occurred because of a false image of the OHRV community. Eco groups and irresponsible people have painted a reckless image and continue to try and shut down land from the public to use for their personal enjoyment. Before such extreme action is taken people need to see both sides of the story and not just the side that is the easiest and most prominent.
Andrew Kneeland
Intro To Rec
Oct 17, 2001
OHRV IN PARKS AND FORESTS
A very prominent issue in today’s society is the dilemma of how we use our parks and forest land. Some people think that it is in the best interest of the population and environment to completely shut down all parks and forest land to people who drive motorized vehicles in them. These vehicles are generally classified as OHRV (Off Highway Recreational Vehicles) and cater to a wide variety of interests. Some examples of OHRV’s consist of Snowmobiles, ATV’s, Jeeps, Dune Buggies, Dirt Bikes, and Jet Ski’s. The people who operate OHRV’s consist of the opposing side to the land closures . These people feel that they have a right to use the land to their own interests as well as any one else. So what this debate comes down to is, should OHRV’s be allowed in parks and forests.
One of the most promenite topics is the Banning of Motorized Vehicles in Yellowstone National Park. The Ban mainly applies to the snowmobiling community because during the winter there is an extremely vast trail network located inside the park. These trails don’t just lead to areas within the park they also connect to a much larger trail network outside of the park. On April 27, 2000 the National Park Service announced that 27 national parks will be closed to snowmobiling. This ban especially affected Yellowstone because it shut down the majority of the trail network in the state. The ban on snowmobiles was created because of the increasing noise and emissions issues that the parks have to deal with because of the growing popularity of the sport. As a result of the ban snowmobile manufacturers filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service on December 6, 2000. The lawsuit stated that “The federal government’s decision is badly flawed. There is no basis in fact or law to totally eliminate snowmobile use. Hundreds of thousands of cars, trucks and RV’s flow through these parks every summer and the wildlife has suffered no ill effects. Snowmobilers use the exact same roads automobiles use – except in far smaller numbers – and they have the same non-effect on wildlife.” While extremist groups argue that snowmobiles are polluting the parks with their emissions and sound; snowmobiles have always passed air quality standards and that just seemed to get looked over. But a national survey came to the conclusion that 78% of Americans believed that snowmobiles should be allowed in national parks. The manufactures in return addressed that they had willingly come out with new cleaner and quieter four stroke motors for select models. These new snowmobiles are the solution to the problem but the radical groups weren’t happy with any compromise. They wanted snowmobiles out of parks and that was the end of it. It didn’t matter that manufactures were more than willing to work with them to come up with a reasonable solution. After more than a year of debate over banning snowmobiles from Yellowstone the National government finally voted it down and said that a better solution could be created. So as of right now Manufactures and Eco groups and government officials are in the process of creating some reasonable regulations.
Another controversial topic is to allow off-road vehicles in the forests and parks. Groups like the Sierra Club and the California Wilderness Coalition are two of the primary groups advocating for the land closure. Last year the C.W.C. issues a report that was extremely unfavorable to the entire off-road community. The report stated that a variety of backcountry areas in California have been destroyed because of off-road vehicles. Environmental Groups best way of getting their information out is to publish all sorts of reports but unfortunately they only depict a one sided view. They view the off-road community as a bunch of reckless lawless hooligans. They feel that the vehicles destroy the environment by assisting in erosion and pollution. The truth of the matter is that the majority of off-roaders are in organized clubs that care a great deal for the community and the environment. There are so many clubs that do trail maintenance every month and they are all over looked for the slanderous image of reckless lawless citizens. A very small minority of people who drive off the designated trails and consume alcohol while driving created this image. These few people have caused Eco groups to rally against them and force the closure of public and private land. The purpose of public land is so that all people can enjoy it how they best see fit. The off-road community is now being limited to when and where they are allowed to pursue their recreational enjoyment. This is truly tragic because one of the best ways to explore the great backcountry of our nation is to drive out to those remote and pristine areas. Such beautiful places can be reached by driving down a trail deep into the heart of the forests. There are ponds, lakes, cliffs, trees and wild life that can be enjoyed from the trail side but people need to be able to get out to them.
So in conclusion a wide variety of land closures have occurred because of a false image of the OHRV community. Eco groups and irresponsible people have painted a reckless image and continue to try and shut down land from the public to use for their personal enjoyment. Before such extreme action is taken people need to see both sides of the story and not just the side that is the easiest and most prominent.