Trucks get less room to run

Big truck enthusiasts may find fewer places to play this summer in the Huron Manistee National Forest, according to federal officials who say wetland and other habitat damage is on the rise

"It's fair to say we are cracking down on big truck gatherings," said Ken Arbogast, the public affairs officer for the national forest.

"It's not so much the truck on a road that we are concerned about," he said. "It's the wetlands and hill climbs. Those are obviously not roads."

Forest officials report a steady increase in the number of big trucks coming to forest districts such as Baldwin, Mio and Huron Shores along Lake Huron. They often are loosely organized groups that have read about a gathering on the Internet.

Their backwoods travels are legal on any forest road, officials say, but the groups are spreading out onto critical habitat set aside for Karner Blue butterflies, churning up wetlands to go mud-bogging and ripping up steep hills for kicks. In places, their ruts can be several feet deep.

"We're the first national forest they come to," said Les Russell, the district ranger in Baldwin. "A lot of this stuff takes place in semi-primitive, non-motorized areas.

"We got some extra money this year and plan to step up enforcement."

Four-wheel drive enthusiasts say the issue gets complex. Most understand that wetlands are off limits, but some wonder if there are not small areas that might be set aside for mud-running.

The forest has miles of unmarked two tracks, paths, roads and routes. This, enthusiasts say, often results in confusion for drivers.

"We agree that those who drive in wetlands need to get busted, but we think one way to alleviate the problem is to look for historically used or well-used sites that don't qualify for legal wetland status," said Pat Brower, who is with the Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Association.

"We would like to see a dedicated four-by-four route through the forest. There isn't one now."

Forest officials say law forcement staff will be writing more tickets this summer for obvious infractions. Some two-tracks also will be closed as the season goes on.

A new forest transportation route map is expected to be released this fall for the Manistee side of the national forest. Staffers say they hope it will alleviate some of the problems. The map has been four years in the making. It will show only those routes open for travel. In many areas, that will mean fewer drivable miles.

Roughly 95 percent of the forest is within a quarter mile of a road. Russell said. Ninety-nine percent is accessible with a two-wheel drive vehicle, within a half mile from a road.

In some places, there are six or more miles of road within a square mile of forest, Russell said. The forest plan calls for three to five miles, depending on its use, with more areas tending toward three miles.

The Manistee's travel route map is the last to be completed in Michigan. The Ottawa, Hiawatha and Huron forest maps are done. All four are part of the 2005 federal initiative launched by Dales Bosworth, then chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

Bosworth listed unmanaged recreation as one of the top four threats to national forests. Motorized recreation was one major component.

"That's when we went from all forests are open unless posted closed, to forests all across the country designated routes for motorized uses," Russell said

Brower said he is concerned that law enforcement staff will start writing tickets before the new routes are clearly marked, but Arbogast assured that first year will involve extensive education for drivers. Tickets may come the second year.

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