DNR struggling to keep up with ORV damage to off-trail ecosystems
The destruction from ORVs is spread across state forest lands in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, but even the DNR may not have a full grasp of the damage.
DNR struggling to keep up with ORV damage to off-trail ecosystems
- Thread starter eao
- Start date
heckler56
Well-known member
Yep. It boggles my mind that snowmobiles pay a larger annual fee than ORVs and that they use the combined funds for both. ORV season is 3x a snowmobile season and the ultimate damage 10x. The grooming equipment gets beat up repairing ORV damage which accelerates the wear and results in winter downtime.
hermie
Well-known member
Yeah it is crazy Heckler, what's more unbelievable is they didn't see this coming? With the new I am entitled crowd that's getting bigger by the day. Every motor sport group out there are there own worst enemies, unfortunately doesn't matter what group sledders,orv riders they all have the few but getting to be more every day that just don't care and our going to do what they want after all this is America. It's so sad and if it keeps up there won't be trails of any sort for any motor sports. Personally I do both and stay on the trail in both. I also don't modify my exhaust so I can feel cool. I don't really know what the answer is besides really big fines for those who can't do the right thing but who's going to hand them out? I barely ever see any DNR when I ride my sled or UTV.
ATV/SxS riders are getting very bold. This summer alone, I have seen many riding down the state highways (illegal) mixed with traffic and they don't even have headlights on. I followed one 2+- miles on M26 from Lake Linden thru Hubbell before I turned off at the old mill. Also early this summer seen 2 SxS's crossing the (US-41/M26) Houghton-Hancock Life bridge (no escort) in heavy traffic, shooting up M26 to Canal Rd and turned off. I was going 35 mpg and they were actually going faster.
hermie
Well-known member
I am starting to see the same thing in Vilas while all county roads are now open i have seen multiple SxS flying down hwy 155. As of now all roads that are numbered are closed but there is always those who don't care to learn the rules or just don't care what the rules are. I have seen SxS more than a couple of times at a place we eat at frequently in the parking lot. I am always thinking interesting how did you get here because I know I can't get here with my SxS without ignoring the laws. Turns out yep they just ignore the laws.
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mezz
Well-known member
County roads here it is permissible to use the side of the roadway, however, State Highways are not permitted. This has been a continual issue for the past few years & remains an issue despite the reopening of trail 3 between Dollar Bay & Lake Linden 2 years ago. These folks are not given an inch, they are just taking it plus some. It hasn't been limited to just 1 or 2 here & there, it's groups of 5 or more side by sides, atv's & dirt bikes. Go figure.
skiroule
Well-known member
This is an interesting subject. It makes me think back to when snowmobile trails were just starting to expand and see heavier use. There was a lot of handwringing by environmentalists about the potential damage that the snowmobiles were doing to the flora and the mice habitat.
While driving on M28 east of Wakefield in July around those years and looking at where the trail wove in and out of the woods along the highway during the winter, I remember thinking: “I would defy anyone to point out to me where the trail was.” The vegetation had completely overgrown the trail.
Contrast that with a lot of the multi-use trails today. They are down to bare dirt and the vegetation never seems to recover. We’ve all seen the rivers of snirt winding through an otherwise pristine white forest as a result.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-ORV. In fact, I’d love to have a nice SxS but I’m wondering if these two sports are compatible for shared trail use. It might be a call that the DNR is going to have to make someday. What do you guys think?
While driving on M28 east of Wakefield in July around those years and looking at where the trail wove in and out of the woods along the highway during the winter, I remember thinking: “I would defy anyone to point out to me where the trail was.” The vegetation had completely overgrown the trail.
Contrast that with a lot of the multi-use trails today. They are down to bare dirt and the vegetation never seems to recover. We’ve all seen the rivers of snirt winding through an otherwise pristine white forest as a result.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-ORV. In fact, I’d love to have a nice SxS but I’m wondering if these two sports are compatible for shared trail use. It might be a call that the DNR is going to have to make someday. What do you guys think?
hermie
Well-known member
Skiroule I believe some trails can be shared especially old railroad grades that vegetation doesn't normally grow anyways. In Vilas most dirt trails are actually gravel forest roads, with some dirt mixed in. With that being said I am starting to see tree roots and big rocks that never would of been exposed with sleds. I believe that the Atv/UTV clubs are going to need to step it up and repair the damage that is happening. The biggest problem is the same problem with all motorsports there are the few that won't stick to the marked trail. I will also agree with the article where they state that people are going off trail and then other people follow the trail made by the other riders. You can go a long distance without seeing any kind of marker and with so many new riders out there who don't really they are off the marked trail. This is not an excuse for them they need to learn where the trails go or stay home but we know that's not going to happen. The one thing I believe the manufacturer could do is put navigation on all machines and stop making it such a big upgrade.