ORVs limited to 1,000 lbs on Federal lands

[Sourdough]

Got this from Bill Larry, and Craig Compeau, yesterday at lunch.  They are concerned because they use these vehicles themselves, as well as their customers.  They don't want to see any more restrictions placed on Alaskans.  There already is enough. 

BLM is quitly trying to get a regulation passed to limit Off Road Vehicles to 1,000 pounds on BLM controlled lands.  That means all Side by side UTVs, Argos, Max, and the old Ranger Tractors.  That will really mess things up in rural areas.  It's going to hurt everyone, but especially the bush.  Everyone needs to contact all our Congressional Deligation.  Murkowski, Begich, and Young.

[Dand]

I don't know my ORVs very well but I do appreciate how handy they are here in bush AK - they've transformed the country and made a lot of chores much easier. Heck launching boats, hauling fish and firewood, stuff from the airstrips is so much nicer.  But I've also seen how they can rip up the country and really cause ugly eroding gashes and gullies in the countryside. I would think the Feds should have to do some public comment and studies before arbitrarily enacting restrictions.  I know around Katmai Park and Preserve we pestered them for years to come up with an ORV study.  It took a lot of pressure for them to do the work and complete the report - it took a lot longer than we expected.  Its done now but I don't recall any weight studies.  Mainly travel routes and historical use areas / trails were documented. I'm not sure an arbitrary weight is the answer.  I would guess some of the tracked vehicles or multi tire rigs could be less damaging than a small ATV with narrow nobby tires or even a dirt bike. I have a  place out of town that is surrounded by boggy tundra. I got it 'cause I figured most of the local deadbeats aren't likely to mess with it 'cause its too hard to walk to - for them. But a few guys are using 4 wheelers in the area during moose season the last 3 years and the damage is growing fast. The most damage I can detect seems to be from some dirt bike that cuts deep sharp ruts in the peat and tundra plants. I haven't been out yet this spring but the spring runoff gets in these ruts and pretty quick the peat gets cut away to leave a muddy mucky scar that will just get bigger with a small amount of traffic. And the bad spots get worse fast 'cause folks keep widening the trail around the spot until there's a big nasty black muck area - I've seen that up around Petersville near Talkeetna.  If left alone, it can take a long time to grow back.


So I have mixed feelings for your concern. It sure is nice to be able to get deep into the country on an ORV.  Carefully used they don't do a lot of damage.  As use grows and if traffic over a particular trail is heavy, damage is inevitable.


Regardless, the Feds should be up front about their plans and work with folks instead of being sneaky.


Keep us posted on developments.

[Graybeard]

OK here in Bama you can't use them at all on federal land no matter the weight of them. They are for private land use only here.

[mechanic]

OK here in Bama you can't use them at all on federal land no matter the weight of them. They are for private land use only here.

Same in Ga.  I shot a deer on Fed. lands, and since the water was WAYYYY down, I drove my brother's Rhino across the beach to haul it out.  If I had got caught, it would have been a hefty fine.
 
Ben

[Sourdough]

The Feds own 74% of Alaska.  The State and Native Corporations own 22%.  Less than 2% is in private hands.  So anywhere we go we are likely to be on Federal Land.  I use OHVs up in the mountains where there is no bogs, all rock and gravel.  Or down in the valleys were there are mining roads and trails up every valley.  Again no bogs, just solid gravel trails and roads.  We used to run pickups back there, before restrictions were put in place with vehicle weight limits.  Miners can still use pickups, but they have to get an expensive permit.

Just one more cog in their plan to keep the general public off their land.

[corbanzo]

I see a lot of trails heavily used by thiacols that are basically a road through the woods. The good thing about track rig trails is that they stay one trail. The rigs can get through bogs and streams, so they don't get braided and cause more destruction like you see on four wheeler trails.  It would make sense to me to have an easement on fed lands to give access across public lands, and once you are out away from main road systems just drop regulations - out that far you don't have to worry about a bunch of yahoos tearing the crap out of everything because yahoos can't afford that much gas! Haha. But in all honesty I really hate "umbrella protection" where they see one little gash and put a chain on millions of acres.  The Feds don't take time to study what is best for ak, they don't know anything about us, so they just try and slap big regulations on, because that is all their blind legislation is capable of.