United States Forest Service Discrimination
A term used frequently by the US Forest Service is “Resource Damage.” Typically Resource Damage is defined as: Human disruption of a natural landscape by damaging soil, shrubs, vegetation, trees, terrain, etc.
What resource damage means to the F.S. all depends on which user group they wish to apply it to, and unfortunately the F.S. discriminates against some groups.
For years now, mountain bikes & pedestrians have used the upper #2 Canyon & Twin Peaks area above Wenatchee as their own personal playground. These groups have created numerous “user made” trails that cut across the landscape creating what the FS calls resource damage. However, the F.S. is currently working on “Rewarding” these groups by wanting to turn this area into an “Outdoor Mecca” by adding more trails, a terrain park, parking lots, restroom facilities, and road improvements.
Now if an ATV/ORV was to go cross country and establish a new trail, they would be fined for the damage they created.
ATV/ORV groups, clubs, and individuals have been seeking access to use their street legal vehicles on F.S. roads only to be constantly told NO; the “threat” of resource damage is too great. The F.S. has tried & convicted this user group without giving them the chance to prove they are responsible & good stewards of the land, yet a mountain bike can do damage and be rewarded for it. That is simply discrimination.
Forest Service land is OUR land, its public, and we the people deserve to be treated equally. If a “non-motorized Outdoor Mecca” is established in this area, outdoorsmen who enjoy hunting this area can say goodbye to it.
I strongly urge all motorized vehicle users to stand up for each other’s user group whether you dislike a particular group or not. If we do not stand together to protect our right to use our forests, we will ALL lose.
