Recreational use in our National Forests has increased dramatically in recent decades, with off-highway vehicle (OHV) use as one of the fastest-growing forms of outdoor recreation. The number of OHV owners and users has risen sevenfold in less than 30 years--from about five million in 1972 to 36 million in 2002. In California alone, there are over 1,101,980 OHVs currently registered.
Uncontrolled and unmanaged OHV use has resulted in significant and ever increasing damage to our National Forests. Wetlands and riparian areas have been damaged, and severe soil erosion and the spread of invasive weeds is increasingly evident. Since National Forest visitors seeking quiet recreational experiences tend to gravitate towards the more pristine roadless and wilderness areas, they are often unaware of the problems created by OHVs in higher use areas. Unfortunately, the uncontrolled use of OHVs has also lead to impacts in areas that could be eligible for designation as a wilderness area in the future. A number of these impacted areas also border our existing wilderness areas.
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In an effort to address the problems created by OHV use, the United States Forest Service (USFS) has embarked on a five step process that will result in a system of designated OHV routes. At the conclusion of the process, cross-country travel off of designated routes will no longer be permitted.
The first step, the Forest Service OHV route inventory, has been completed in most of our northern California National Forests, and maps of unauthorized OHV routes either are or will soon be available for public review. After a period of public review and comment, Forest Orders designating routes will be issued and those not designated as open will be closed. More information on the process is available on the web site of your local National Forest.
It's important to be aware that the USFS route designation process is a public process, and that even a modest effort by you on behalf of quiet recreation can make a real impact. A day in the woods examining and reporting on unauthorized routes that may be eroding into a stream or destroying a meadow provides information that can lead the USFS to permanently close that route. For the less adventurous, simply attending a USFS open house pertaining to the route designation process and voicing your support for quiet recreation can also make an important difference.
For more information about how you can participate in the ongoing route designation process in our National Forests, please contact:
Gordon Johnson
California Wilderness Project
P.O. Box 992438
Redding, CA
(530) 945-2143
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TOC for Forest & River News, Spring 2008