ATV group's plan for trails explained
Toolbox
By Gordon Dritschilo Staff Writer - Published: October 25, 2009
CASTLETON — Danny Hale told a collection of trail managers that the best way to keep ATVs away from where they don't belong is to give them a place where they do belong.
The executive director of the Vermont All-Terrain Vehicle Sportsmen's Association addressed the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council's third annual trail symposium Saturday, discussing the use of ATVs on state land.
The issue was in the news last week as the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources considered a rule change that would let the agency authorize the use of ATVs on state land.
"The rule itself is to allow petitions for use on state land," Hale said. "It does not directly allow ATV use on a piece of real estate. That's not what the rule is about."
Hale said that opening any specific trail to ATVs will still require the authorization of the commissioner.
"All we're asking is the ability to connect private trails," he said. "We're not asking to create new ATV trails on state land. We're not interested in any more state land than we need, a, because of the work it's going to take to get it and, b, the scrutiny we're going to be under when we get it."
The issue arose, Hale said, when VASA wanted to put an eight-foot wide trail along the shoulder of a state highway in Island Pond. He said the 500-foot trail would connect two 15-mile private trails.
While the Vermont Agency of Transportation can allow such a trail within its right-of-way, Hale said the trail went 18 inches beyond the right-of-way, into Department of Fish and Wildlife lands where ATVs cannot be authorized.
"This is not the camel's nose under the tent," he said.
One attendee at the symposium argued there was an important issue of precedent at stake.
"Just because you say you don't want to build new trails, that doesn't mean others in your organization won't," he said.
He went on to say that the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, on which VASA is largely modeled, has done well for the relationship of snowmobilers and the rest of the state and asked if VASA was "maturing" in the same way. Hale said he hoped VASA had the same credibility as VAST
"We've worked with the Vermont Land Trust," he said. "We've worked with several large timber companies. We've done stuff with the Catamount Trail and Green Mountain Club."
Hale said the group had more than 600 miles of trails on private land managed by local clubs. Landowners retain complete control he said, shutting down the trail at will, and find uses for the trails ranging from access roads to cross-country skiing.
"A lot of ATVers like to go up muddy roads and stream banks," another attendee said. "Are they OK with a nice track that doesn't cause erosion?"
Hale replied that they have managed to put muddy stretches on trails that safely satisfy that urge.
"If it's dirt and water and it's not near a brook, it's just dirt and water," he said.
Giving the riders what they want in a managed way, he said, keeps them from looking for it in a damaging one.
"The fact is, there's going to be ATVs in this state," he said. "If you've got an issue or a problem or opposition, I'm here to help with that. A managed ATV system is what you need to have. Prohibition is not going to work, it's just going to create more problems."
gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com
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