ORV Damage

In Utah, the BLM manages 23 million acres of public lands. As these photos show, Utah BLM is not adequately managing ORV use. There are many places that are suitable for ORVs -- even the most ambitious proposals by environmentalists would leave most ORV trails open. But there are also many places where ORV use is innapropriate and destructive, including critical wildlife habitat, riparian areas, and proposed wilderness areas. The BLM has failed to follow existing laws and designate routes which are appropriate and which minimize resource conflicts. Such mismanagement is unacceptable in the face of the exploding use of ORVs on our public lands.

Multiple user-created ORV tracks crush and destroy native vegetation, eventually denuding hillsides. Behind the Rocks proposed wilderness area. Moab, UT.
Dirt bikes tear up Ten-Mile Wash, an important riparian area that feeds the Green River, during a commercial race that took 250 riders over approximately 35 miles of fragile desert soils, riparian areas, and wilderness quality lands. Duma Point proposed wilderness area. Moab, UT.
ORV trails radically change the shape of dunes and hillsides. New trails are routinely blazed through vegetation, causing increased erosion. Behind the Rocks proposed wilderness area. Moab, UT.
Highly modified vehicles drive through life-sustaining "potholes" and, as the photo shows, leak oil, and transmission, brake, and other noxious fluids into the water, which kills the water bugs and other species that live in the potholes, and makes the water toxic to wildlife. Pritchett Canyon. Moab, UT.
One vehicle driving off-route over centuries-old soil crusts and desert shrubs invites subsequent ORV copycats, which results in a new illegal trail. Although illegal, user-created loops and spurs off of existing trails are extremely common on Utah's public lands. Pritchett Canyon. Moab, UT.
Multiple user-created ORV tracks over and through native vegetation. Poison Spider Mesa. Moab, UT.
Multiple, user-created ORV tracks. ORVers drive over and through native vegetation, crushing and killing desert plants in their path. The remaining vegetation alongside these user-created trails continues to be crushed and killed as trails are widened. Duma Point proposed wilderness area. Moab. UT.
ORVs in the Indian Creek area travel off-route at nearly every opportunity they have. Here, illegal cross-country riding has crushed cryptobiotic soils, causing damage that could last 50 to 300 years. Indian Creek proposed wilderness area. San Juan County, UT.
ORVs churn down the middle of the creek in Moki Canyon, crushing vegetation important to proper ecosystem functioning and stirring up sediment that wipes out invertebrates. BLM has a legal obligation to protect riparian areas -- not allow for their degradation. Red Rock Plateau proposed wilderness area. San Juan County, UT.
ORVs cross the creek in Arch Canyon approximately 59 times before reaching the Forest Service boundary where motorized vehicle use is prohibited. These creek crossings degrade riparian vegetation and stir up sediment in the valuable perennial waters of Arch Canyon. Arch Canyon proposed wilderness area. San Juan County, UT.
ATVs trample streamside vegetation that is critical for many species of wildlife and churn up sediment that impacts water species. Red Rock Plateau proposed wilderness area. San Juan County, UT.
The commercial Bookcliff Rattlers Race ripped up riparian soils and plants, including young cottonwoods and willows, that are important habitat for riparian-dependent species. 10-Mile Wash, a once intact riparian ecosystem, was devastated in a matter of hours during this event. Duma Point proposed wilderness area. Moab, UT.
Thousands of ORVers turn out for the Annual Jeep Safari. The new, illegal trails that are created during this event are quickly adopted by other ORV users adding to the exploding number of miles of ORV trails on public lands. Poison Spider Mesa. Moab, UT.
ORVs create conflicts with almost every natural resource and resource user on public lands. Here, an unsuspecting lizard was crushed by a group of ORVers roaring through Moki Canyon. San Juan County, UT.