Arizona

Tonto National Forest has taken its controversial road show on the road.

Next stop: Payson on Wednesday.

Cyndi Tuell

People concerned about the impact of off-road vehicles in Arizona's national forests can now do something about it. Each national forest in Arizona is developing a "travel management plan" to determine which roads, trails and areas will be open to motorized vehicles and cross-country travel. This public planning process comes at a time when critical values are threatened by off-roaders, and your participation is encouraged.

Off-road vehicles are a well-documented cause of habitat fragmentation and wildlife displacement. They reduce hunt quality and decrease hunter success on public lands. Escalating, unmanaged off-road vehicle use is damaging Arizona's national forests and the ecosystem services they provide. Off-road vehicles pollute the air we breathe; damage rivers, streams, meadows, and wildlife habitat; and their noise spoils quiet recreation like hiking, camping, bird watching and hunting. They also erode soil and damage watersheds that provide clean drinking water.

Some of your numbers are misleading concerning the number of OHVs. Some are purchased for private property use, some are used on tribal lands, and I'm sure some are not registered from lack of funds or are in disrepair. Most should be excluded from paying a fee. Twenty-five dollars is a lot of money for a vehicle used maybe as little as once a year. If $2.5 million has been raised so far, where did it go? That is a huge sum. The law enforcement segment of the law should be the least of the concern. Education about ATV gear and rider protocol is the most important aspect the public is missing.

Gentlemen, start your engines. Let the furor begin.

We expect that some off-roaders will get all revved up about the long-delayed, urgently-needed plan to control cross-country travel on the Tonto National Forest.

Lynh Bui

For almost 15 years, Troon Highlands Estates residents have wanted to turn their north Scottsdale
subdivision into a gated community, saying it will improve safety.

Many of the residents who live near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve have worried about people traveling through their neighborhood to illegally dump junk or to party in the desert.

Felicia Fonseca

Unlike other Arizona forests, visitors to the Prescott National Forest can't pull off roads and travel through the landscape as they please.

Restrictions on cross-country travel to protect resources on the nearly 2,000 square mile central Arizona forest went into effect more than 20 years ago. So when the federal government directed forests nationwide to designate roads, trails and areas open to motor vehicle use in 2005, much of the work on the Prescott forest was done.

Travis Grabow

Supporters hoped a state law requiring owners to buy $25 decals to operate off-highway vehicles would raise $4 million to $6 million annually to help fund rider education, law enforcement and other projects.

What if they passed a law but didn't enforce it?

We have the answer right here in Arizona. It's called the Off-Highway Vehicle Decal Program. It took effect Jan. 1 and required every owner of an OHV to purchase a $25 annual decal to fund rider education, trail creation and maintenance, and law enforcement. But despite an estimated 400,000 OHVs in the state, just 92,000 decals have been purchased.

People who are confused about the new OHV laws or need the dust abatement actions clarified or who just want to know where to ride OHVs can get information from a new booklet published by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona State Parks Department .

The booklet contains all of the OHV management laws currently in effect in Arizona as well as a list of places to ride across the state and includes explanations about Arizona titling, registration and the OHV Decal, information about equipment and protective gear needed to ride as well as educational and training options and opportunities.