Which Way Will The Forest Service Lean – OHV Use or Resources?
By John Buckley Executive Director Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center Many people in Calaveras County and elsewhere in the region understand that public land managers often face difficult choices. One major decision will be coming soon from the Forest Supervisor of the Stanislaus National Forest. Susan Skalski came to the local national forest last year to take on the lead role as Forest Supervisor. When she arrived, the Forest was already three years into a long planning process that has revolved around the question of where Off-Highway-Vehicle use should or shouldn’t be allowed in the Stanislaus Forest. For many years, noisy off-road motorcycles and all-terrain-vehicles have been driven at high speeds in many parts of the local national forest without being effectively managed by the U.S. Forest Service. These OHV riders carved out over 180 miles of unauthorized routes – causing impacts to sensitive plants, wildlife, and water quality. Noise from OHV use also often disturbs
