Corps warns ATV users at Center Hill

Illegal use of all-terrain and utility vehicles around Center Hill Lake is tearing up the land and causing significant environmental damage, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The ATVs, aside from disturbing wildlife, are destroying plants and grass, which results in erosion and increased silting up of the lake's water, an official said.

Center Hill, about 60 miles east of Nashville, has no authorized ATV trails, Tim Dunn, resource manager at the lake, said in a statement released Thursday. "Use of these vehicles is prohibited on all public lands surrounding the lake," he said.

Violators could face fines up to $5,000 and serve up to six months in prison if convicted.

The vehicles have a legitimate use elsewhere by farmers, hunters and trail riders to go far into backcountry areas, the Corps says.

Around the lake, lower water levels from efforts to take pressure off the leaking dam have exposed once-submerged land. Dunn said those areas might appear to be appropriate for off-road vehicle use, but they're not.

Illegal activity can be reported to the resource manager's office (931-858-3125 or 615-548-4521) or the nationwide "Corps Watch" hot line (1-866-413-7970). Callers to the latter remain confidential and are eligible for rewards of up to $1,000 if an offender is convicted.

Source: http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080920/NEWS01/809200371/1006

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites