What impacts are created by cross-country travel of OHVs?
Past and present levels of use have contributed to the current situation where some OHV activity is occurring in areas and on routes where motorized use is prohibited. In some open areas, networks of user-developed routes continue to appear that are creating user conflicts and resource impacts. Problems do not occur equally throughout the Forest. Some of this use has occurred in riparian areas and on highly erodible slopes. In other areas use is very light and little or no effects from motorized, wheeled cross-country travel are evident. Types of impacts include the introduction and spread of invasive plants, displacement and compaction of soils, impacts to rare plants, rutting of wetlands, disturbance and displacement of wildlife and livestock, damage to cultural resources, and impacts to water quality, riparian and fisheries habitats. The majority of motorized impacts are occurring during hunting season and spring antler shed gathering, in play areas next to communities, and around p
