Summer Solstice 2008, Volume 13 # 2

A few weeks ago I got a demoralizing phone call about the cover of a new coffee-table photo book about the ecological destruction caused by off-road vehicles.

In the winter of 1995-1996 the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho experienced a dramatic rain-on-snow event that caused extensive flooding and more than 900 landslides. Due to a legacy of logging and associated road-building, some areas on the Clearwater had road densities as high as 40 miles per square mile. These roads were the cause of more than half of the 900 landslides in the region that year, several of which literally carried area residents’ homes off the mountains.

The damage that off-road vehicle use inflicts on our public forests, deserts, grasslands and wetlands is certainly no secret. Even many off-road vehicle advocates admit concerns about the growing problem, fearing that the increasing degradation of public resources will further poison public opinion against them and cause land management agencies to clamp down. But while the problem is no secret, it has never gained the full attention of Congress — until now.

The first road was a trail. Paved hard and long by paw, hoof and foot, it dropped into the canyon from the north plateau etching its way along near-vertical hillsides descending to gentler slopes studded with bunch grasses, lupine, mule’s ear, sagebrush and phlox. The narrow path yielded to formidable chunks of basalt -- sharp-angled and menacing like giant rock cactuses -- buoyed by dry, sandy soil. Lichens of muted greens and grays held tight to hard surfaces.

In mid-April, the news broke in Missoula, MT that Undersecretary of Agriculture Mark Rey had been negotiating in secret with Plum Creek Timber Company on behalf of the Forest Service.  Behind closed doors for over a year, they sought to redefine road easements across public land to allow for residential development.  When county officials caught wind of the talks and informed Senator John Tester (D-MT), the backroom deal was, at least temporarily, delayed.  But with little zoning in place, the counties are in a vulnerable position.

The U.S. northern Rocky Mountains cover a huge area of relatively pristine and undeveloped land, creating unique areas of core habitat for many important carnivore and ungulate species. However, many parts of this region also have a long history of resource extraction and road building. On Forest Service lands alone, there are more than 50,000 miles of roads. Today many areas in this region are being rapidly developed and critical wildlife habitats are increasingly being fragmented.

Management of off-road vehicles (ORV) is becoming increasingly difficult as more people recreate on forestlands (including federal, state, and private timberlands). While ORVs have a disproportionate impact on the environment compared to many traditional forms of recreation, no universal set of guidelines exists for their management. Additionally, with travel planning continuing across Forest Service lands and other forestlands, a consistent set of guidelines for planning and managing ORVs is greatly needed.