Wednesday, 29 August 2007 00:40

OHV Enthusiasts Protest new El Dorado Forest OHV Plan

Off road enthusiasts are taking their concerns over new rules proposed for the ElDorado National Forest to the protest level. Yesterday they staged a protest on Hwy 50 on over crossings to send a message to Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villavazo that they want to save access to off-road vehicle trails and roads.
Off-road riders are worried the government will block access to a big chunk of roads and trails in the Eldorado National Forest by early next year. The current preferred option, at least the Forest Supervisors Preferred Option, takes away over half of the currently available 2003 miles of roads and about 50 miles of available trails. There are concerns that the amount of travel by OHV in the Forest is adversely impacting the environment. The forest service says there has been a huge increase in off-road vehicle use over the past 30 years, and officials call it one of the key threats facing the national forests today. The protesters say they're blowing it way out of proportion. The forest service said the protest was a way for people to express their opinions and that protesters' concerns for the forest were welcome. Your comments on the plan may be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The comment deadline is September 4th.