Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4631142,00.html
Poll favors motorized recreation in National Forests

By Rocky Mountain News
April 18, 2006

A survey of 500 voters in Western Colorado found the majority of respondents favor motorized recreation in the state’s national forests.

The Blue Ribbon Coalition, a national trail-based recreational access group, maintains the poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, indicates three-fourths of the region’s voters reject any changes the Forest Service would impose to limit public access.

"This survey rebukes the efforts of environmental groups to restrict recreational access to public lands under the guise of protection," Brian Hawthorne, public lands director for the coalition said in a news release.

"This poll shows wide support across the political spectrum for balanced management of the region’s national forests."

A task force appointed by Gov. Bill Owens has been holding public hearings to consider if areas that currently are roadless in the forests, should remain roadless, or if they should be opened to a wide variety of uses including motorized recreational vehicles.

The recommendations will be passed on to the U.S. Forest Service.

Brian O’Donnell, public lands director for Trout Unlimited, earlier argued in favor of maintaining roadless areas saying hunting, fish and wildlife watching generate more than $1 billion a year in Colorado.

That revenue comes from licenses, jobs created by the wildlife, travel and lodging expenses and purchases of equipment.

However, this new poll by Blue Ribbon Coalition indicates 73 percent of the local residents in eight counties in or surrounding the Grand Mesa, Uncompaghre and Gunnison National Forests reject changes limiting access.

Hawthorne’s release states once residents were told about a Forest Service proposal that would more than double the area to be closed to motorized vehicles to access the backcountry -- although they still would be able to hike, bike or horseback ride on trails -- 59 percent were against adopting such a regulation.

The poll had a margin of error of 4.38 percentage points.

"This survey confirms our belief that some ‘environmental special interest groups’ are way outside the mainstream with proposals limiting public access," said Dennis Larratt, chair of the Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition.

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