At the crossroads: A journey through the swamp and back again

Changing community perspectives over 15 years of ATV management in Yakutat

Perception 1:So What’s the Problem?

Vegetation Loss and erosion

Perception 2: Aren’t these just . trails?

Both the environmental impacts and the evolution of the vehicles suggests roads

Braided Ruts

The effected area is often wider than roads engineered for full sized vehicles.

Perception #3 – It is my right to access these lands under ANILCA

Kawasaki Mule

60 inches wide

Toyota Truck

67 inches wide

Suzuki Samurai

57 inches wide

Kawasaki Prairie

41 inches wide

Argo

57 inches wide

Pug

56 inches wide

Polaris Ranger

60 inches wide

Perception #4 Swamp stomping is cool

Subsistence Resources – salmon

So are salmon

Salmon (Anadromous) Stream

Why Is This Bad For Salmon?

Wetland drainage = diminished flow during critical periods

This “stream” is actually diverted

water flowing down an OHV

route

Stream is now Broad Shallow Short

So we identified the local user perceptions

Perception 1: What’s the problem?Perception 2: These are just trailsPerception 3: I am guaranteed my hunting access rightsPerception 4: Off road riding is just plain fun

People began warming to the fact that we may have a problem

So . . . . . . .

What is the solution?

Solution 1: Map the extent of the problem

NPS, ADF&G, USFS & the tribe city and community through public meetings

Yakutat citizens put in a lot of hard work to enhance and protect salmon habitat

Wire tagging smolts on Tawah

Creek

Solution 2. Engage the community in active salmon management and restoration

Sufficient water Clean, cold water Correct

temperature Clean gravel

Solution 3. Educate the little ones

Salmon are a valuable part of our culture

Forest Service and CBY Fisheries staff help the Yakutat Second Grade collect and fertilize eggs for the Salmon in the Classroom project.

Beach dune habitat is very important to nesting seabirds

Both birds and habitat are especially vulnerable to OHV damage

Solution 4. educate the big ones

Collect data Location Body condition Reproduction

Look for relationships Habitat quality Habitat use Weather Vulnerability to predation Human activity

Yakutat Salmon Board and Capitol Community Broadcasting, Inc. (CCBI), 2005 Tracks in Time Video

Aired state wide annually distributed over 1000 copies including all 13 wildlife refuges

Yakutat Moose Study

Solution 5. Close old trails and restore wetlands

Solution 6. Build good trails and stream crossings for existing users

The Wilderness Society’s comments concerning Forest Service Proposed Rule on Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor

Vehicle Use (36 CFR Parts 212,251, 261, and 295) September 13, 2004 

I. Introduction   The Forest Service recognizes the magnitude of the problem. In April 2003,

Chief Bosworth identified unmanaged recreation, particularly off-road vehicle use, as one of the four greatest threats to National Forests. He described a litany of adverse impacts caused by off-road vehicles, including soil erosion, habitat destruction, damage to cultural and sacred sites, and conflicts with millions of other visitors. He has also highlighted the unchecked proliferation of unauthorized – or renegade -- ATV and dirt bike routes across National Forests and made clear that this problem is only going to get worse.

  The Chief stressed the urgency of the problem: “This is not an easy issue to

tackle, but if we wait a day, a week, or even a year, the impact on the land and the issues surrounding the problem will become even harder to deal with. We need to address this issue now.” In fact, the magnitude of this threat is even greater when one considers the role that dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other off-road vehicles play in fragmenting wildlife habitat and spreading invasive weeds – two of the other threats the Chief identified.  The agency is well aware of the wide range of impacts to the land, air and water quality, wildlife and habitat, and the experiences of millions of Americans who visit National Forests annually for nonmotorized recreation

National ruling requires an OHV Plan. Though the education is helping, it has not solved the problem

NEPA

Where do people need to go?

What is the best method and route of getting there?

Law Enforcement

Stop use that is causing damage.

Difficult to prevent

damage with existing

regulations.

NEPA

Implementation1. Design2. Get funding3. Construction

Enforcement

Special orders to protect trails and prevent resource

damage

Key IssuesIdentified so far:

Resource damage: soils, wetlands, vegetation and fish habitat

Water quality, quantity and flow regime Access: Subsistence resources and public

lands Crowding and user conflict Legal: OHV Routes in Roadless and in LUD

II Enforcement OTHERS:

Agency perspectives have changed. The first photo was a one pass trail

and ticketed in 2004 while the second photo depicts a 2010 trail to a restoration site

This causes problems in public perception

There is also a federal permit that allows for retrieval of moose anywhere on National Forest and a corresponding state permit for driving over salmon streams. This photo represents an activity is now legal for the first time since Title 16 went into effect

Conclusion

There is more awareness about the damage from ATV’s

There needs to be monitoring to determine if the new rulings are increasing or decreasing the effects on habitat

Trail building is ongoing, but expensive so additional funding is necessary

Questions?