Sounding (the silent sports) Alarm
Causes for concern & action
NORTH SHORE ATV TRAIL WOULD FLATTEN 100 HILLS
Extensive trail reconstruction would be needed before ATVs could be allowed on the North Shore Snowmobile Trail stretching 146 miles between Duluth and Grand Marais, Minnesota, according to a draft report by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
"It would take 276 culverts, 190 'treadway alterations,' nearly 12 miles of fill and the flattening of about 100 hills to make the
trail suitable for ATVs while preventing environmental damage," according to the DNR study as reported by the Duluth News Tribune. The cost of the reconstruction, additional administration and law enforcement could cost $875,000.
When frozen and snow covered, steep slopes along the route can be easily traveled by snowmobiles. But the same slopes would be subject to excessive erosion under ATV tires, a DNR planner told the newspaper.
When not used by snowmobilers, the trail is open
to hikers, bikers and horseback riders. It runs parrallel in places and occasionally crosses the hiking-only Superior Hiking Trail. And more than 50 miles of the snowmobile trail runs through the Superior National Forest.
DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam ruled in August 2004 that the state snowmobile trail should not be opened to ATVs. But at the request of ATV'ers, lawmakers gave the DNR $55,000 to study of the issue. "Lawmakers could pass a bill allowing ATV use this spring, although
only on state and county land," the Tribune reported.
OK OF SNOWMOBILE TRAIL ALONG BWCA CRITICISED
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness has expressed disappointment with a recent USDA Forest Service decision to build a a new snowmobile trail at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The trail will replace an adjacent illegal trail through the wilderness. Environmental groups had argued for snowmobile use of an existing trail a mile south of the wilderness
boundary.
According to a press release from the friends group, the Forest Service decision "will unnecessarily impair the wilderness values of quiet and a natural landscape." The friends organization hopes "a better decision is made" during the trail review process.
GROUP CHALLENGES MOTORIZED REC FUNDING
Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation is questioning why all state residents should continue to subsidize off-highway motorized recreation to the
tune of $15 million in gas taxes every year. Snowmobile and ATV clubs receive that money to maintain trails, but MRR cites a 2003 Legislative auditor's report to argue that the clubs are "operating without oversight or accountability."
Of the 20 cents per gallon Minnesotans pay at the pump, 2.5 percent goes to motorized recreation. Meanwhile, "ATVs and dirt-bike motorcycles are causing such significant damage to Minnesota's right-of-ways that (the transportation department)
has proposed prohibiting these machines along the state's highways," according to MRR.
To further its campaign challenging public funding of motorized recreation, MRR has produced a "Toolkit for the Quiet Majority." For more information, go to www.MnResponsibleRec.org.
DNR REVIEWING AMERY-DRESSER TRAIL PROPOSAL
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has closed the public comment period for an
environmental assessment of the agency's plans to turn the former railroad grade between Amery and Dresser in Polk County into a state recreational trail. The proposed project would extend the Cattail Trail with a new 13.48-mile segment between the city of Amery and the town of Osceola about 1.5 miles southeast of the village of Dresser.
Amery, Osceola Township and Garfield Township officials are on record endorsing the trail as a non-motorized greenway (although Amery favors snowmobile
use in the winter).
Friends of the Lincoln-Osceola-Garfield Greenway sued the DNR to get the environmental assessment of the project done. The group wants ATVs banned from the trail because of concerns for safety, pollution, noise and trail damage.
Nonmotorized trail advocates as well as proponents of all-terrain vehicle use of the trail including representatives of area ATV manufacturer Polaris attended a March 9 public hearing.
Whether the DNR permits ATVs on the trail remains to
be seen. The analysis developed in the EA and the public input gathered at the hearings and in writing will be considered before a final decision is made, DNR officials said.
As part of the project, the DNR would enter into a memorandum of understanding and cooperative state trail easement with Polk County, and approve a master plan developed by Polk County for development, maintenance and operation of the trail.
| 
