This is an article from the ocala star banner, I see it as the beginning of the end, but I hope not.

Forest Service closes 7,000 acres in Forest

STEVEN RAY HABERLIN
Staff Writer

OCALA — For off-road enthusiasts, the Ocala National Forest will shrink by 7,000 acres starting next month.

The USDA Forest Service announced Tuesday it will close trails in Lake Delancy and Paisley Woods to prevent further damage from off-road vehicles. The restrictions will take effect Nov. 4.

"The key is balance. We’re trying to balance recreational use with the need to protect the environment. To provide that balance, these areas just need some rest," Forest Service spokeswoman Denise Rains said.

Each year, off-road riders using Jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, four-wheelers and other all-terrain vehicles create about 20 miles of new trails inside the two areas, according to the Forest Service. As a result, wildlife, vegetation and other delicate resources have been damaged, officials said.

Rains said the Ocala National Forest is part of a shrinking list of public places that accommodate off-road riding.

Temporarily, Forest Service officials plan to close those most heavily used areas until spring, when a land-use plan is expected to be finalized and a system of designated trails likely will be reopened in Lake Delancy and Paisley Woods. The forest's Access Designation Plan would limit off-road vehicles to certain trails to protect the forest.

Until then, Forest law enforcement officers plan to patrol the restricted areas. Fines can range up to $5,000 or six months in jail, Rains said.

The closures come as the popularity of off-road activity is exploding.

"I personally don’t support any of these road closures," said Butch Williams, co-founder of Southeast Early Broncos Inc., a 25-member club that uses the forest twice a year. "It’s government land — we pay for it."

Williams said his club adheres to environmentally friendly regulations and would have rather had Forest officials work with off-road enthusiasts to solve the problem.

But Chad Scroggie, founder of the Southern Pride Off Road 4X4 Club, whose 20 members use the forest on weekends, said he understands the need to limit off-road vehicles in parts of the forest. He said the club periodically does trail cleanups and members have switched from "big-swamp" tires to all-terrain tires, which have less impact.

"It’s going to affect us, but we can live with it," he said. "We understand what’s going on (with the forest). We’re trying to save it for everybody."



Kimberly

Current Stable:
2003 Raptor - Kimberly
2003 Raptor - Dave
2001 Warrior - For Sale
1993 Warrior
1993 Suzuki LT230

 

i saw that on a web site today.

that sucks.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

There are over 500,000 {yes, half a million} acres in the ONF. 7,000 is just a drop in the bucket. Delancey aint that great of a place to ride anyways. We need to focus on the fact that the National Forests are our {off road people} land too. Call or write your congressman and remind him or her of their obligation to keep the Forests open to us too. I do believe there are more of us {off roaders}than them {enviro-nuts} so let your voice be heard. There is way more than enough land in the ONF to go around for all of us. Your congressmen will be very receptive of your voice now at election time. I'm getting ahold of my old congressman {Stearns} and our new one to be {Keller, hopefully} and let them know what we think right after election time. Do the same with yours as soon as possible and we can head off any future problems that threaten our rights to use Forest land.

 

Will this closure affect any of the area around Big Scrub?

 

Hello RideRed,

It will not affect big scrub at this time. I have heard of talk from the rangers that they will eventually close big scrub as well and move the riding area somewhere else. How much of this is true I dont know, we can only wait and see..

Kimberly

Current Stable:

2003 Raptor - Kimberly
2003 Raptor - Dave
1999 DR350SE - Kimberly
1999 DR350 - Dave
1993 Warrior - Daughter
1993 Suzuki LT230 - Daughter
30' Georgie Boy Motorhome & Trailer[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

bobcat,
what I would like to see happen, at least up here, is have the quad titling act tied to a permit for riding on numbered forest service roads. In the aplachicola N.F. by the forest service rules, is quads can go where an existing trail is, or on UNNUMBERED FOREST ROADS..problem is that to get to some good riding areas you have to run the Numbered roads for a little bit, as the areas are not all in one spot. 586,000 acres, & have to trailer down a dirt road to ride legally..
if the purpose is to make riding areas available with paying 35 bux for a title (I guess they would have to have a sticker to be able to enforce it) being granted an exemtion to ride on numbered forest service roads would open up a lot more areas to ride in...the answer is not getting a dual sport trail bike...possibly changing the provisions of making the quads street legal? there are provisions for agricultural vehicles, & logging equipment, why not for quads?

riding on "public land" may have diffrent restrictions, depending on who has jurisdiction, either Fla Forestry (dept of Agriculture) or National Forest (Federal Dept of Interior) may have diffrent ideas as where riding is legal. the bit about the forest roads is true, at least in the Aplichicola N.F. per the Forest Service..I don't know about the State lands..(except beaches..they are controlled by Chap 161..that is a no no..)

 

hey,Dak1399.

were coming up there next weekend.
steve wants to rent a camper.

 

Hello RideRed,
We are going this weekend and next weekend. I think we may ride the two wheelers some while we are out this weekend also.. Looking forward to seeing you guys. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Kimberly

Current Stable:

2003 Raptor - Kimberly
2003 Raptor - Dave
1999 DR350SE - Kimberly
1999 DR350 - Dave
1993 Warrior - Daughter
1993 Suzuki LT230 - Daughter
30' Georgie Boy Motorhome & Trailer

 

DAK61399,
i made you guys some cool raptor icons,

i need email address to send them to

 

Hey RideRed420.... I sent you guys a private message, check it out and get back to me as soon as you can regarding this weekend.

Dave and Kimberly