No vehicles on wetlands

Written by Homer News

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reminds all off-road vehicle enthusiasts that operating a motor vehicle in certain Beluga Lake area wetlands is prohibited. This restriction does not apply to Beluga Lake, but pertains to the wetlands east of the lake.

The Homer Airport Critical Habitat Area encompasses much of the wetland area surrounding Beluga Lake and the Homer Airport (but does not include the lake surface). These wetlands provide important habitat for many species of migratory birds, serve to store and purify runoff from surrounding uplands, and provide a place of refuge for Homer area moose.

Vehicles operating in these wetlands, even when frozen during winter, damage the wetlands and disturb wildlife. State law prohibits motor vehicles (including snowmachines and ATVs) from operating in this area.

Violations can be reported to Alaska Wildlife Troopers at 235-8239. For more information, call Fish and Game at 235-1725.

Source: http://homernews.com/stories/021010/news_3_003.shtml

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“As a rancher who leases public lands for cattle, I’ve seen my share of cut fences and rangeland damaged by ORV use. I’ve also experienced ORV trespass onto my private lands. But I’ve had no way to identify the culprits when reporting trespass or illegal ORV use to local law enforcement. Congress should require that ORVs used on public lands have visible identification plates or decals. Doing so would remove the anonymity enjoyed by ORV riders who are bent on breaking the rules.”

- Ambers Thornburgh, second-generation rancher from Oregon who grazes cattle on his private land and adjacent lands leased from the Bureau of Land Management