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.
Last edited:
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.
mezz
Well-known member
The trail system here in the Keweenaw is a dual purpose trail which really beats up the trails in certain areas. The areas that get beat don't get graded & the issue is compounded in those areas into the winter. There clearly isn't enough money available for either the ATV or Snowmobile Clubs to keep up with it all. I was a bit dumbfounded when I saw areas in trail 3 between Tamarack & Lake Linden that were moved to avoid many of the severely damaged areas & there was no base built up with gravel nor were they graded. End result is a lot of potholes & whoops that hold water & continue to get larger with every pass through. There is no way to separate the trail use for ATVs and sleds, we are lucky to have the trails that we do have. Responsible riders would be a big help, but, sadly, there are those who choose not to be, whether they are ATV or sled riders. I am waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop with the private property owners who currently permit the use of their land for this purpose. Regardless, trail maintenance is a big issue & needs to take a higher priority with the DNR & the respective clubs responsible for the trails, this should be a collaborative effort between all involved.
skiroule
Well-known member
Yeah, Hermie, I can see where the ORVs wouldn’t really wouldn’t be adding to the dirt issue on the trails using railroad and gravel-based roads but you and Mezz make a good point about additional wear and tear on the trail.
As difficult as it is to maintain a snow-covered trail, it would seem considerably more difficult to maintain a trail during the summer. You would be moving dirt and rocks rather than snow and to rebuild a firm, smooth base before it got torn up again would be tough.
I wonder how big those gates would have to be.
We have no gated trails in our area but on the trails to the west of where I live that are on high enough ground that an ATV wouldn’t be stuck in chest-deep swamp water or mired in bottomless bog, there are a lot of signs that say “No Wheeled Vehicles”.
This is not a destination area for ORVs so 99.9% of the off-road traffic would be local and very light. Most ATVs sold in this part of the state are utility oriented and used as such. There are probably some violators but I suspect the numbers would be small.
As difficult as it is to maintain a snow-covered trail, it would seem considerably more difficult to maintain a trail during the summer. You would be moving dirt and rocks rather than snow and to rebuild a firm, smooth base before it got torn up again would be tough.
I wonder how big those gates would have to be.
We have no gated trails in our area but on the trails to the west of where I live that are on high enough ground that an ATV wouldn’t be stuck in chest-deep swamp water or mired in bottomless bog, there are a lot of signs that say “No Wheeled Vehicles”.
This is not a destination area for ORVs so 99.9% of the off-road traffic would be local and very light. Most ATVs sold in this part of the state are utility oriented and used as such. There are probably some violators but I suspect the numbers would be small.
