>Michael A. Sawyers
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Wed Mar 30, 2011, 08:00 AM EDT
CUMBERLAND — People have until the end of April to tell the Maryland Department of Natural Resources just what they think about the possibility that the popular 16-mile off-road-vehicle trail on the Green Ridge State Forest could be closed.
Because of illegal riding, including users without the proper permit and those who take their vehicles off the designated trails, the agency is considering closing some trails and altering others. Most are in Allegany and Garrett counties.
“There are various problems with illegal riding,” said Kenneth Jolly of the state’s Forest Service. “There is marring of the forest floor, danger to rare plants, runoff into trout streams.”
The public has access to an entire study about off-road vehicle use and its problems by going to www.dnr.state.md.us. Comments can be submitted to ppeditto@dnr.state.md.us.
Recently, the agency met with users and others interested in the trails and/or the results of their use.
Jolly said the Green Ridge trail is the most heavily used in the state.
“It is closer to Maryland’s population center and it offers a degree of technical difficulty,” he said. “Besides that, it is a loop. Riders can return to the starting point without ever having to backtrack.”
“Our primary mission is to properly manage and protect the natural resources on the lands we oversee,” DNR Secretary John Griffin said in a prepared statement.
“We are also very much interested in providing sustainable recreational opportunities on our public lands for a wide spectrum of outdoor experiences,” Griffin added.
An annual $15 permit is required of riders. In 1994, there were 500 sold. A year ago, the number was 2,182.
The DNR is considering closing Poplar Lick Trail in Garrett County to protect the adjacent native trout stream of the same name.
The Burkholder Trail on the Potomac-Garrett State Forest between the North Branch of the Potomac River and state Route 135 could be relocated.
The agency will continue to monitor impacts to the Negro Mountain Snowmobile Trail before making a recommendation there.
Increased enforcement will take place on many illegal trails, including Toms Hollow and Mill Run on the Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area, the South Branch of the Casselman River, upper Sideling Hill Creek, the Savage Ravines Wildland and Puzzley Run.
The agency will also consider increasing the cost for an off-road trail permit.
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com
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