March/April 1999, Volume 4 #2

Small mammals are an important component of many ecosystems, occupying an intermediate trophic position. They are prey for many reptilian, avian, and mammalian carnivores, including several sensitive species. Small mammals consume vegetation, seeds, fungi, and insects. Grazing by small mammals can stimulate plant production and substantially alter species composition of plant communities. Small mammals impact plants through seed consumption, which often destroys seeds, and seed caching, which disperses seeds.

As the battle over the motorization of public lands continues to escalate, it will be critical that activists continue to develop new and more effective means of addressing inappropriate roads and ORVs. The Clean Water Act (CWA) offers some useful and underused tools for activists. It includes four major provisions that may be helpful: state water quality plan requirements; Total Maximum Daily Load requirements; discharge permit requirements; and dredge and fill requirements. A. State Water Quality Plans