Off-roaders must become part of the solution

Columnist Ray Grass sent mixed messages in his column on enforcing off-road vehicle rules (June 21).

My organization published the report that highlights national forests and BLM areas that are making enforcement a priority for the benefit of everyone. Grass "agrees that off-road abuse is a problem" in one sentence but says that the recommendation to not tolerate damage from off-road vehicles is one of several "troubling points."

He discredits the report for not recognizing the good work of off-roaders' self-policing efforts. But then he calls it "troubling" when we recommend that the state, BLM and Forest Service create opportunities for riders and other citizens to report illegal activity.

We have a problem on our federal public lands. Denying the problem or sowing confusion does not solve it. The answer, instead, will come from clear communication and hard work by public land agencies and all of those affected by renegade off-road vehicle riders — the entire motorized recreation community, conservationists, hikers, hunters, horsemen, etc.

Before retiring this year, Chief Dale Bosworth led the Forest Service in developing a plan to prohibit destructive off-route travel. Bosworth listed several problems caused by off-route travel: "more and more erosion, water degradation and habitat destruction ... more conflicts between users ... more damage to cultural sites."

The fact is that Utah public lands and visitors suffer more than their fair share of abuse by irresponsible and illegal off-roading. Despite the agency's good intentions, a recent survey of Utah off-roaders suggests that ending damage and conflicts caused by off-route riding will be difficult.

According to the 2002 report produced by Utah State University, half of ATV and dirt-bike riders in Utah either prefer to ride off-route or did so on their last outing. That means that the Forest Service and BLM will need as many resources and creative ideas as possible to enforce the new rules.

I think that Curtis Rozman, a rancher on the Green River, would agree. Renegade off-roaders increasingly cause problems on the land where his cattle graze. The rancher has had cattle harassed, fences cut, fences used for firewood and equipment shot by off-roaders.

Utah is not alone, unfortunately. In fact, my local paper recently ran a front-page story about a retired, one-legged police officer who suffered a hit and run by an ATV riding illegally in an area that is reserved for wildlife and traditional, muscle-powered recreation.