Meeting planned to gather comments on OHV system

The DNR continues to push for an off-high vehicle (OHV) plan that allows almost unrestricted use of ATVs, dirt bikes and mudder trucks on the majority of state land in Crow Wing County.

Local grassroots folks are invited to meet to prepare comments on all the OHV system plans in region 3, which includes Crow Wing, part of Cass, Wadena, Aitkin and other neighboring counties. The deadline for public comments is Friday.

As you may know, it was this same liberal DNR plan that the Crow Wing County Land & Forestry Commissioner quoted for also allowing unrestricted OHV use on county lands, compounding the negative impact for you and your neighbors. These plans do nothing to protect wild public lands for future

generations.

Please attend to discuss easy ways that you can help make a difference in this public planning process.

Where? Sportland Corner Restaurant

When? 7 pm.

Date? This Monday.

The OHV riders and the OHV industry have heavily lobbied to protect their "rights" to access public lands as they wish. Their numbers are small, but they are organized and active. You have to speak out for the "privilege" of public land use, for conserving the few remaining large areas of public land and to protect the ecosystems from aggressive motorized use.

OHVs need a place to ride. They already have destroyed all of the road right of ways. Lets take them off the road right of ways, and sacrifice a few carefully designated areas for their "sport" and restrict them from all other logging roads and trails on public lands in Crow Wing county and in Region 3.

This is not an anti-logging issue. But logging in the past 30 years has created an unsactioned, ad hoc trail system for the motorized recreation industry that spawned about 10 years ago. It is not a "traditional" use of public lands and logging trails. One idea would be to close all new logging trails once the harvest project is completed.

It's up to you. Be part of the process and make a difference. The Monday meeting is a good place for you to start.

(The authors are area residents.)