Background
In 2005 and 2006 MRR, working with the Natural Resources Research Instutitute, the City of Duluth and University of Minnesota Envronmental Studies Interns, developed two checklists for assessing off-road vehicle effects on vegetation, soils, wetlands and streams and estimating cost of restoring damaged areas. This work culminated with a presentation to the City of Duluth on June, 29, 2006 (below). MRR's damage inventory and cost of restoration analysis resulted in immediate restoration of at least one heavily damaged riparian zone on Amity Creek, recently listed as a North Shore Endangered Stream.
2006 Off-Road Vehicle Effects Study - Duluth, Minnesota
2007 Study - Cloquet Valley State Forest
In the Summer of 2007 MRR, Friends of the Cloquet Valley State Forest and University of Minnesota Environmental Studies Interns collected similar data in three study areas of the Cloquet Valley State Forest, in Southern St. Louis County. The Department of Natural Resources is proposing that 800 miles of routes be open to ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles and four-wheel drive trucks. MRR's Off-Road Vehicle Effects and Cost of Restoration Data will provide a baseline for holding the Minnesota's DNR and the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners accountable for the future state of the forest, should the DNR proposal be implemented. Data is currrently being linked to images below.
GoogleEarth Cloquet Valley State Forest
Coming soon to this webpage is an arial view of the Cloquet Valley State Forest including existing, open and closed routes and areas and geotagged photos gathered during MRR's 2007 study.
Slide show of Summer, 2007 Off-Road Vehicle Effects and Cost of Restoration Study Photos below:
DNR Proposed Taft ATV/Snowmobile Route crosses wetlands, beaver pond & Cloquet River,
Cloquet Valley State Forest, St. Louis County, Minnesota
This anonymously provided video of ATV use on the Taft Snowmobile Trail in the Cloquet Valley State Forest, St. Louis County, Minnesota; was submitted in 1999 as evidence in opposition to this DNR proposed ATV route. Despite extensive damage to vegetation, soils and waters, nine years later, in 2008, the route continues to be used by ATVs.
Action Alert: End Gas-tax Diversions Promoting ATV, Dirt-bike Motorcycle and Four-wheel Drive Truck Use of Minnesota's state forests
Every time you buy gas for your family station wagon or farm vehicle you pump gas-tax revenue into DNR accounts to promote ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycle and four-wheel drive truckks in Minnesota's state forests.
In the DNR's own words, "the actual effect of ATV trail designation is to transfer [gas-tax] funds from the state to local clubs.
Protect Minnesota's state forests from gas-tax fueled DNR ATV routes.
MRR Roads Not Ruts! Campaign
