Wildsight urges passage of ORV legislation

By Gerry Warner
Kimberley Daily Bulletin and Cranbrook Townsman
October 2, 2009

Wildsight is praising proposed provincial legislation it says the government is planning to bring forward in the fall sitting of the legislature that would require licensing and regulating of off-road vehicles (ORVs).

British Columbia is one of the last Canadian jurisdictions that still allows "off-trail" off-road vehicle use, despite the well-documented risks of erosion, noxious weed spread, and wildlife disturbance, says Wildsight Purcell program manager Dave Quinn.

It's also the only Canadian jurisdiction where ORV licensing and registration is not required. As a result, there are very few rules or guidelines that inform law-abiding ORV users where they can recreate, he says.

But all this could change if Kevin Krueger, BC's Minister of Tourism, Sports and the Arts gets his way, Quinn says. The Minister is about to propose new legislation governing ORV use in the province in the current sitting of the legislature, Quinn says.

"Wildsight supports the Minister's efforts to protect our backcountry and sensitive habitats from uncontrolled ORV use. We are looking forward to tools being established that allow a small percentage of ORV users - those who abuse wilderness areas - to face some consequences for their destructive activities on public land."

Quinn says there are users who regularly cut gates or build trails around gates to take their machines into closed sensitive areas such as Mause Creek, Farnham Creek and Mark Creek. This kind of behaviour has been allowed to continue for far too long, he says.

"There are a number of forces in BC that have favoured status quo management of the land and not wanted to change anything because they find it perfectly acceptable."

But this situation shouldn't be allowed to continue, Quinn says. "If we're going to keep the things we value here government has got to start doing things more proactively."

Quinn said neighbouring jurisdictions have very clear signage for areas 'open' to ORV use and clear signage that protects sensitive riparian, alpine, grassland and other wildlife habitats from the damage that can be caused by ORV use.

"People tend to see ATV tracks in the Mause Creek tarns or they see where grasslands have been torn up by motorbikes, or where new, unpermitted ATV roads have been cut into the bush, and they judge all ORV users as disrespectful."

But this isn't always the case, he says. "In reality, only a small percentage of users are doing things like this."

Quinn is hopeful new legislation will help increase public support for responsible ORV use and for ongoing trail construction and mapping that would help increase the responsible use of wilderness areas.

The Cranbrook West Recreation Advisory Committee, which brought together a variety of stakeholders from ranchers, hunters, trappers, conservation interests, and motorized recreation user groups, called for licensing and registration of ORVs in its final April 15, 2005 Recreation Management Strategy Plan, Quinn says.

"Cranbrook West recognized licensing and registration would be a critical step towards effective monitoring and enforcement of ORV use of the backcountry," Quinn says. "This legislation would require licensing and registration."

ORV damage in the backcountry is steadily increasing, he says.

"New, unpermitted and poorly-designed ORV routees are appearing off the end of nearly every Forest Service Road in the district. These routes are tearing into critical grizzly, mountain caribou, and other ungulate habitats."

"The on-the-ground results include the accelerated spread of invasive plants, erosion into watercourses and of hillsides, destruction of sensitive habitats like grasslands, alpine meadows and riparian areas, and disturbances to wildlife."

Quinn said the Rocky Mountain Forest District has more than 18,000 kilometres of logging and secondary roads with an estimated additional 30,000 to 40,000 kilometres of 'non-status' roads and trails.

"It's a world-class motorized recreation playground, no doubt about it," he says. "But with access comes responsibility. There needs to be something in place to help protect opportunities for quiet, traditional recreation such as horseback riding and hiking, and to protect sensitive wildlife and ecosystems.

"We hope this legislation passes and helps to achieve these goals."