photo by Scott Merritt, www.mowild.org
Lower Rock Creek is one of the many jewels of the Mark Twain National Forest. Unfortunately that jewel is being tarnished by illegal All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use in the area. Although most of the area is closed to motorized recreation it is still subject to illegal cross country ATV traffic. We all know the erosion, disruption, habitat damage, noise and pollution that can cause. In addition, a visit to Lower Rock Creek found that “foot traffic only” signs had been removed and saplings had even been cut down to widen access for illegal traffic.
Contact the MTNF supervisor and tell him of your displeasure at this situation. Lower Rock Creek is not the only area suffering from ATV abuse. Why is this not a bigger priority for the MTNF management? If they don’t have enough resources to do a better job, what do they need? If not, what is their excuse?
Paul Strong, Forest Supervisor, 573.364.4621
Mark Twain National Forest
401 Fairgrounds Road Rolla, MO 65401
www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain/contact/
For more information on our efforts to protect Lower Rock Creek and other areas in the MTNF contact Caroline at cpufalt@sbcglobal.net or visit our chapter website at http://missouri. sierraclub.org and plan to attend our upcoming Missouri Wilderness Conference Sept 13th.