Corps proposal would limit use of vehicles off-road

[donner]

Not an ATV rider, but i know several people here are.

Corps proposal would limit use of vehicles off-road


The widespread use of off-road vehicles around Oklahoma's lakes exacerbates soil erosion and leads to increased sedimentation in the reservoirs. Both cause problems to the natural habitat.
To address these problems, officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Tulsa District have proposed a policy that would provide limited exceptions to its prohibition of off-road operation of motorized vehicles.

"It's always been a violation of the rules to operate motorized vehicles off the roads," said John Tennery, a natural resource management specialist with the Corps' Tulsa District. "But there are legitimate reasons to allow the use of vehicles off designated roads."

In the development of this policy, Corps officials are accepting public comments for off-road vehicle use at all 38 of its Tulsa District Lakes. The district covers all of Oklahoma and parts of southern Kansas and northern Texas.

Under the provisions of the proposed policy, the operation of motorized vehicles on Corps of Engineers roadways would be governed by the prevailing state and local laws.

Off-road operation of any motorized vehicle -- golf carts, all-terrain and sport utility vehicles, and motorcycles -- would be prohibited except in designated areas or by special permit. Volunteers approved locally to perform certain work and contractors working for the government would be eligible for permits that would exempt them from the prohibition.

Under the proposed policy, the disabled could apply for permits that would allow off-road access to lakes for specific areas


and periods of time. Permits would require medical documentation or the standard blue placard and must be approved by local lake managers.
According to the policy proposal, lake managers would work with local officials and homeowners associations to identify areas where lake access is limited and additional access points could be established without damaging the environment or impacting protected shorelines.

The public comment period closes April 21. Tennery said the agency hopes to implement the policy before the summer recreation season begins. The full text of the policy may be read online at www.swt.usace.army.mil. Comments may be submitted to Tennery at [email protected].

 

[Glocktogo]

The Corps is going to do whatever the Corps wants to do. However, the one question I'd be asking them is to provide statistical data on the percentage of soil erosion and reservoir sediment increase that can be directly attributed to the use of ORV's. They will not be able to do so because (a) they have no idea what that would be and (2) the reason they wouldn't know is beacuse it would be statistically insignificant.

While I would support restrictions in certain areas due to noise concerns and disruption of wildlife areas, I believe they should set aside at least one ORV area per lake for the enjoyment of the taxpayers who use ORV's. Using soil erosion and sedimentation as an excuse to ban most if not all use of ORV's on Corps controlled land is silly at best.

 

[crg1372]

The corps should have at least one or two designated ORV trails on all of their land, espicially those areas that are open to hunting. Many of those areas have large breeding wild hog populations on them. Not sure how many hunters are willing to drag one of them out for a couple of miles.

 

[Glocktogo]

The corps should have at least one or two designated ORV trails on all of their land, espicially those areas that are open to hunting. Many of those areas have large breeding wild hog populations on them. Not sure how many hunters are willing to drag one of them out for a couple of miles.

Yes, but those hogs are not contributing to any habitat damage or other environmental concerns. After all, they're not taxpayers!

 

[crg1372]

Yes, but those hogs are not contributing to any habitat damage or other environmental concerns. After all, they're not taxpayers!

Actually, they're contributing tremendous amounts of habitat damage.

 

[white92coupe]

They have been writing big tickets for the last year at Texoma. The corp has someone there multiple times a day at the beach where my parents lake house is. The new head of the corp is implementing some stupid laws/restrictions.

 

[Glocktogo]

Actually, they're contributing tremendous amounts of habitat damage.

I was being facetious. The Corps wouldn't care about the habitat damage done by hogs because they don't regulate the use of Corps land by hogs. But, they certainly can and will regulate people just fine!

 

[264killer]

i allowed some people to run 4 wheelers if they would not spin their wheels and tare up my the grass in my pasture. i had to tell them to leave, then they came back & did more damage. i pad locked the gate

 

[Hawgman]

The various government and interest groups won't be content till our lives consist of nothing more then getting up in the morning, go to work, come home, watch tv, go to bed and that's it. Oh, and on the weekends we can sit in the park and stare at the pond and trees.

 

[sesh]

The various government and interest groups won't be content till our lives consist of nothing more then getting up in the morning, go to work, come home, watch tv, go to bed and that's it. Oh, and on the weekends we can sit in the park and stare at the pond and trees.

I agree but while there is still the privilege of using the land, we need to be mindful of how we and others are using it, don't give them excuses to shut it down.