Wildlife agency says ATVs causing erosion

Written by Associated Press

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Wildlife officials are looking into environmental concerns about the effects of all-terrain vehicles on a mountaintop in East Tennessee that has become a playground for off-road drivers.

A campaign and petition has been started to urge the Tennessee Wildlife Management Agency to keep the Cummings Cove Wildlife Management Agency open to recreational ATV drivers. Cummings Cove is about 1,200 acres on Aetna Mountain, between Chattanooga's Lookout Valley and Nickajack Lake in Marion County.

Dan Hicks, a spokesman for TWRA, told WTVC-TV in Chattanooga that during a tour of the area on Tuesday, they saw silt washing off the side of the mountain (http://bit.ly/yZ2Dwf ).

The agency says they are receiving pressure from the state environmental office to eliminate the erosion. Hicks said the agency can't block access to the entire mountain, most of which is private property, not public land.

Source: http://bit.ly/yYBQ52

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

State by State Momentum

Community Voices

“Once they chased our cow into a deep arroyo where it fell and broke its neck. I don't understand how anyone could think chasing livestock is fun.” As a result of the growing conflicts with off-roaders, the Gonzales family stopped their cattle ranching. It doesn't matter whether it is a plate or decal, what is important is that the identification is visible. The police could have tracked down the illegal riders if we had been able to photograph the IDs on their vehicles. I think that would have made them think twice before breaking the law.”

- Eleanor Gonzales, private property owner in Santé Fe County, NM