Each day we  in the OHV / off-road community are taking it on the chin.  The latest threat is enviro / conservationist groups using the courts to close down riding areas.  We’re facing two such threats in Cape Hatteras and Tellico.  If we lose these two battles it’s hard telling just how far the green wackos will go with their effort to squeeze us out through the court systems.   More about this later.   To read more about the following headlines go to ATV, ORV, OHV, Off-Road and Public Land Information.   Now onto the latest headlines -   

• Does Judge’s Ruling Put OHV Use At Cape Hatteras National Seashore In JeopardyJudge? - Judge Boyle, United States District Court Judge, took a simple traffic case hearing and turned it into a potentially huge ruling that could spell disaster for OHV users of this wonderful seashore park.  The judge quickly noted that under federal law, ORVs are barred from 70 miles of beach at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore until a formal management travel plan has been put into place. This is a fairly far-reaching decision by the judge and it could spell disaster for OHV enthusiasts.
• OHV Riders Are Important To Black Hills (SD) Economy - Another positive article on how we economically benefit areas where we can ride. We’re not surprised! Every place that welcomes OHV enthusiasts sees large economic rewards and with very little problems.
• Center for Biological Diversity Against OHV Use in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest  -
  Here is a great example folks of how our enemies work.  They post this supposedly factual statement and make it easy for people to “voice” their opinions in favor of what they want to happen.  Trouble it they are factually challenged and manipulative.
• Oceano Dunes (CA) ORV Park Future Still Up For Grabs - An ATV lobbying
  group has filed suit against the county over a decision it made concerning the
  Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreational Area, a bill in the State Legislature
  that could restructure how the Dunes is operated has been bounced around from
  committee to committee, and there is a “General Plan” being pushed by
  opponents of the park calling for an off-limits buffer zone that Friends of the
  Oceano Dunes, an ORV support group, says could interfere with its right to freely
  use the beach for vehicles.   Read more about all of the side battles going on with this ORV riding area.
• More Press For those Unbiased (Yeah Right!) Rangers for Responsible Recreation - These people are subversive greenies out to look reasonable but ultimately planning the end of OHV use on all public lands! If you don’t believe me, take a look at their web site.  
• Utah OHV User Speaks Up and We Like What He Has To Say!
• New Off-Road Park Opened in Texas! - Texas Hog Wallow is a newly opened
  off-road park located 1.5 miles north of the State Highway 87 and State Highway
  12 intersection in Deweyville, Texas. Read more about this new and exciting 4×4 playground!
• New OHV Trail In Maine Goes To Quebec - The Jackman Moose River Region
  in Maine is fast becoming an ATVer’s paradise with over 300 miles of designated
  ATV trails. Now ATV riders have the option to go further north and into Quebec on their newest trail.

To read in more detail about the above issues or to read about other ones, go to ATV, OHV and Off-Road information

Good Wheeling

In an article appearing in the Ashville Citizen-Times, Kirk Otey Vice Chairman of
the local Trout Unlimited, was quoted as saying, “We don’t want to ruin recreation.
We just want the water back to the way it ought to be.” Then later on he really
showed their intentions with the following quote: “We would like to see significant
changes in management of the recreation area ……..If it takes closure of the
entire recreation area to establish a new baseline for water quality, that may
be necessary.”  The truth finally came out! These groups hope to obtain a total closure of the Teliico ORV Riding Area. If you care about this ORV area you had better get involved now!

To learn more go to OHV Information

To read the entire story about the following topics please go to OHV Public Land Info and OHV & ATV Parks Info .  We’re keeping a close eye on the Tellico situation and will update you as information becomes available.  We feel that this battle is that important!  Now onto the news!

• You Just Cannot Please the Enviro-Wackos! Look At What Is Going On In California - California has a state system of OHV recreation areas that is authorized by a 36 year-old law, which is set to expire on December 31, 2007. To keep the OHV program and riding areas going the law needs to continued, but that is where problems come in. No one wants to end the program as everyone sees it’s end as a losing proposition but the enviro-wackos are asking for the world! Any of the talked-about agreements to preserve the OHV riding program are going to increase all associated off-road fees (double entrance fees at the eight state parks and more than triple OHV vehicle permits). This would raise an additional $30 million dollars for operating the OHV parks, trail maintenance, and to ensure the environment is protected as much as possible. While we are never in favor of off-roaders being exploited financially, we understand that at times fees will need to be increased.  What we have problems with are the demands the enviro-wackos are placing on the ORV parks!  You won’t believe it. 
• Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests (Oregon) Next Up On OHV Travel Plans List!- The Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests make up 2.5 million acres  and right now ORVs can drive anywhere they want as long as it’s not in a prohibited area and doesn’t damage resources.  The good news is that we’ll still be bale to use these forests.  The bad news is that the rules of use are going to change in a couple of years.  ORV use will be restricted to designated trails and specified areas. The Forest Service will be holding a series of public meetings in central Oregon in the next couple of weeks to talk with people who use the forests about some proposed changes.   Go to the meetings and have your voice heard!
• Tellico News Hits The Major Media - CBS News ran with this supposedly unbiased article from the Christian Science Monitor on July 3rd.  I think the title says it all “Off-Road Vehicles Rev Up Controversy”.  How did we rev up this controversy? We’re just using the Tellico ORV area as always when along comes some enviro-wackos to cause problems in an attempt to rob us of one of the places where we are able to ride. The title should have been “Enviro-Extremists Cause Problems for ORV Users” I think the first sentence of the piece says it all as far as their perspective on trying to supposedly be fair and balanced! 
• Quest For New Hampshire ATV Park Ends In Disaster for Owners - Larry and Sharon Boisvert purchased 525 acres of land in southern New Hampshire in an attempt to turn it into a private ATV park. Their dream instead turned into a nightmare filled with political and legal battles that will finally end when the land is sold at auction next week!  Learn how things unraveled for the Boisverts. 
• Petition In Support of Creating an OHV Park in Rhode Island - The push has started to open an OHV park in Rhode Island by members of RIOHVA (Rhode Island Off Highway Vehicle Assoc.). Go and sign their petition and offer them support. We need all of this we can get across the country.
• Proposed ATV Park in the Adirondacks (NY) Is Opposed By Environmentalists - What a surprise!  We have some private landowners proposing to place an ATV park in a remote area of New York and the enviro-wackos are coming out against them. The landowners, Richard and Kathy Mohring, cited a lack of public land for ORVs (this has been a growing problem in New York for years) has submitted a proposal for a motocross, ATV and campground park on 738 acres in Johnsburg and Thurman counties.  These folks applied to the Adirondack Park Agency for approval of the park’s plans in April, but a conservation group immediately opposed the project and asked for it be located somewhere else. The enviro-wacko group’s, Residents’ Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, Executive Director Peter Bauer has been reported to have said that Rpm’s at Glen Creek would severely damage the environment and ruin the rural aesthetics for those living in the area.   Read more about this on-going off-road park battle.
• A New Watchdog Group Formed Against “Outlaw” ORV Riders - Just what we need another watchdog group, but hey they are reportedly only against outlaw ORV riders.   Yeah, we’re really going to believe that one!   Remember the tactics of the enviro-wackos: sound reasonable, only be against those breaking the rules, then
  go after total elimination. That is how these people operate! The conservation
  group, PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) has launched a
  campaign to toughen enforcement against off-road riders who”carve up delicate
  ecosystems” (no they’re not biased). The group is formed of former public lands rangers and administrators and is called Rangers for Responsible Recreation.   Take a look at their Rangers for Responsible Recreation and what they had to say.  Then you decide if they are for or against us.
• New Trail Opened in MI’s UP and Northern Wisconsin - Finally some good news!  The Pioneer Multi-Use Trail was officially opened to ATVs on June 30.  A rider can go east of Iron River and actually ride an ATV to trails that start north of Green Bay, Wis.  Thank you to all of those involved in getting this trail established.

To read in more detail about these offroad issues and others go to ORV, ATV & OHV Information

Tellico ORV Area is now under attack!  They’re trying to close down a large portion of the trails and drastically limit the types of trails to be used!  According to the Southern Environmental Law Center and some conservationist groups, The U.S. Forest Service is violating multiple federal and state laws (and its own regulations) by failing
to prevent dirt/mud from eroded trails (ORV trails) from polluting the streams
in the Tellico River watershed in the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina
and Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee.  They are calling for drastic changes to the ORV area. 

Go to OHV, ATV, and ORV Information to read more about this devastating news!