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Snowmobile Trespass: Eroding
the Wilderness
by Adam Rissien and Phil Knight - Winter 2001
As the use of snowmobiles for backcountry recreation increases
exponentially, the damaging effects of this high-impact sport
are becoming more and more obvious. The quiet, natural character
of our favorite wild places is threatened by irresponsible
use of these machines. Ever more powerful snowmobiles are
able to go faster, further and up steeper inclines, allowing
easy access to the most remote wildlands. New "sleds"
can go from zero to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds, and well
over 100 mph. Greater numbers, higher speeds and bigger ranges
mean that there is more competition among snowmobilers for
"fresh tracks." Ongoing backcountry patrols by volunteers
with Native Forest Network and other groups have found substantial
evidence that snowmobilers regularly ride into Wilderness
areas and places closed for wildlife security. Wilderness
and other off-limits areas provide not only quiet places for
non-motorized recreation, but essential wildlife habitat as
well. Violation of Wilderness and wildlife habitat by law-breaking
snowmobilers threatens the very integrity and spirit of the
wilderness.
The Environmental Impacts of Snowmobiles
Pollution
Due to their inefficient 2-stroke engines, snowmobiles emit
large amounts of air pollution. Snowmobiles emit 55 times
more hydrocarbons than an automobiles. According to the National
Park Service, on an average day with 700 snowmobiles entering
Yellowstone, 7 ton of hydrocarbons (HC) and 19 tons of Carbon
Monoxide (CO) are emitted in the park. On a peak day with
2,000 snowmobiles entering Yellowstone, about 20 and 54 tons
of HC and CO, respectively, may be emitted. This compares
to about 3 tons of HC and 18 tons of CO from automobiles on
an average day during a peak summer month.
Wildlife Disturbance
Montana's Lolo National Forest recently published the Stateline
Snowmobile Environmental Assessment which analyzed the effects
of these machines. It found that wolverines dens can be severely
impacted, causing stress and jeopardizing the survival of
the young. Snowmobiles were found to disturb grey wolves as
well.
"Winter recreation may be the single largest threat
to wolverines. Fifteen years ago, you couldn't get a snow
machine into these areas. There are snow machines coming out
now that can go virtually anywhere. If we don't protect these
(denning) sites, we may not have wolverines." - Jeff
Copeland, Idaho Fish and Game Dept. Wolverine Researcher
The Forest Service states that increased winter recreation
within the Stateline analysis area could degrade air, soil
and water quality, damage vegetation, and result in a lack
of areas devoid of human noise. Snowmobiles can damage tree
stems, break trunks and remove bark. They also may negatively
impact aquatic life. Snowmobile exhaust contains ammonium,
nitrate and sulfate ions which, when mixed with water, create
acids. These acids may stress tree seedlings and can impact
seedling germination, growth and survival.
Researchers have observed other snowmobile impacts to wildlife.
Compacted snowmobile trails give bobcats access through deep
snow to remote lynx habitat and allow them to compete with
lynx for snowshoe hares, the sole food of the lynx. Pocket
gophers rely on extensive networks of tunnels under the snow.
The tunnels provide not only protection from predators and
the elements but also allow them to forage for vegetation.
When snowmobiles collapse these tunnels, the gophers become
trapped and have to burrow out, exposing them to predators
and using crucial winter survival energy.
Land Managers Promote Motorized "Recreation"
With snowmobilers' increasing disregard for land use regulations,
it is clear that "self policing" is not a solution.
Federal land managers often turn a blind eye to trespass and
the negative effects of these obnoxious machines. Some government
agencies, state land managers in particular, actually have
programs in place to promote motorized use.
Example: Montana Wildlife Agency Funds Motorized Use
According to the Montana Wilderness Association, The Montana
Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks' (MDFWP) Trail Grants
Program has paid for the widening and blasting of trails in
Wilderness Study Areas such as the West Pioneers. Wilderness
Study Areas (WSAs) are protected by law to maintain oustanding
fish, wildlife and wilderness characteristics. Yet MDFWP has
widened trails to allow for ATV and snowmobile use, with no
public input and no environmental analysis. On Montana's Lewis
and Clark National Forest, MDFWP provided funds to expand
snowmobile, ATV and dirt bike facilities. MDFWP also gave
money to the Great Falls Snowmobile Club for snowmobile facilities
in the Little Belt Mountains. Another Snowmobile Club was
awarded money to groom snowmobile trails in the Middle Fork
Judith WSA. MDFWP funding to promote snowmobiling has increased
use in the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area of the Flathead
N.F. by 1000 per cent.
Motorized vs Quiet Trails
Far more people use trails for non-motorized activities such
as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dogsledding than
for motorized recreation. The Sierra Club reported in June
of 2000 that in Montana there was annual use by 508 cross
country skiers per mile of trail as opposed to 263 snowmobilers
per mile of trail. Yet the trail miles open to various uses
do not reflect this. In Montana, 24,257 miles of trail are
open to motorized use, while only 8,055 miles were open solely
to nonmotorized use. Motorized use conflicts directly with
nonmotorized recreation and can completely ruin a backcountry
experience for a hiker, snowshoer or skier. The noise and
stench of a snowmobile lingers long after the machine has
passed, and their tracks may be visible for months.
Solutions
Increased Patrols Needed
As pressure builds to increase snowmobile use, more violations
of Wilderness boundaries are inevitable. The Forest Service
must increase its monitoring and enforcement efforts and issue
substantial fines to lawbreakers. More funds need to be dedicated
to law enforcement patrols to protect Wilderness and other
closed areas. One solution could be designating closed buffer
zones around areas which see frequent violations. It is also
essential for citizens to keep track of and report violations
by snowmobilers. We are compiling a record of trespass by
snowmobilers to deomnstrate the severity of the probems and
to inspire legislators and law enforcement officers to act.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Do you like to travel in the backcountry in winter? Get
involved with the Native Forest Network's volunteer snowmobile
monitoring project. We are focusing efforts this winter
in the Great Burn roadless country of Idaho and Montana.
We seek evidence from any other area where violations occur,
anywhere in the U.S. Check National Forest travel maps for
closed areas, take photos, mark locations on maps, write
down evidence you see (such as tracks in the snow). Contact
us for Snowmobile Trespass Report forms!
- Do you read news reports? Collect articles describing
law breaking by snowmobilers and about snowmobilers getting
rescued after being stranded in Wilderness areas (a common
occurance). Send them to us, with dates and source listed.
- Contact your representatives in Congress and tell them
that snowmobile violations are a serious concern. Ask them
to support appropriating more funds for monitoring and law
enforcement.
- Donate much-needed funds to our volunteer citizen monitoring
program.
FREE THE SNOW!!
Phil Knight - pknight@wildrockies.org
Adam Rissien - ariss@montana.com
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