Effects of off-road use in drought told
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.
"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.
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
