OPINION: Your Letters

Written by Shirley Clements

Monday, May 18, 2009

Shirley Clements

The Fond du Lac County Board is aware that ATVs cause limestone trail damage even in winter.

It is aware the Dodge County Wild Goose Trail has winter ATV activity problems - trail damage, trespassing and speeding. Yet the board will be voting to make ATVs permanent on the new Eisenbahn Trail, a trail not built or intended for ATVs.

It is aware that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board says that ATV costs outweigh the benefits, if any. It is aware that ATVs and other trail users are incompatible, as stated by the Wisconsin DNR. Other users avoid trails with ATVs.

Two years of temporary ATV use on the Eisenbahn mean nothing, with adequate protective snow cover and ATV users on their best behavior, hoping for permanency. Permanency will bring problems because problems are inseparable from ATV activity.

If DNR funds are obtained for repairs from ATV damage, they will be meager considering the expense of limestone trails, made to a higher standard as required by the DNR. Citizens will end up paying the bulk of these needless costs. On top of that is the cost of additional law enforcement.

All who oppose ATVs on our trails need to contact board members now and attend the May 19 (Fond du Lac County Board) meeting.

If you live near the Eisenbahn or would like to use it and don't like this activity, speak up. Even if you don't use the Eisenbahn, you should care about protecting the integrity of our trail system and care because what trail will be next? Your favorite trail? The trail behind your property?

Bikers, skiers, walkers, nature lovers don't complain if you do nothing.

Preservation of our trails, spending funds wisely on maintenance and what's best for the whole are far more important for the future than potentially destructive and costly pleasures of a few.

Source: http://www.thereporteronline.com/

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Community Voices

“It’s frustrating having a hunt ruined by people riding ATVs where off-road vehicle use is prohibited. Many ATVs look the same so there’s no way to identify violators when reporting the incident to law enforcement. There should be a requirement that off-road vehicles used on public lands have license plates or large decals. Any ATV user who follows the law and land management directives on where they can and can not use these machines should have no objection to this type of identification.”

- Holly Endersby, hunter from western Idaho