Here is the League of Women Voters national position: LWVUS Position: Natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems. Resources should be conserved and protected to assure their future availability. Pollution of these resources should be controlled in order to preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem and to protect public health. The LWV Duluth Chapter supports the limited system of management for OHVs (Off-road vehicles including ATVs, motorcycles and 4 wheel drive trucks) use in the Cloquet Valley State Forest which is located in St. Louis County. This would insure that OHVs stay on marked trails under a limited system in this state forest. The league supports holding public hearings on the draft plan. In state forest land classified as limited: OHV use is prohibited on state land and on county administered land within the boundaries of a state forest, except on designated OHV roads and trails. Counties may adopt a resolution to modify the above restrictions on county-administered land within state forest boundaries. Motor vehicles may operate only on forest trails or other areas that are posted and designated open. Persons lawfully engaged in hunting big game or constructing hunting stands during October, November and December, retrieving big game during September, or trapping during open seasons, may use ATVs off forest trails in a manner consistent with the general operating restrictions. This was posted in the LWVMN Capitol Letter, it is a different forest in MN but a similar issue. Environment/Trails and OHVs LWVUS Position: Natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems. Resources should be conserved and protected to assure their future availability. Pollution of these resources should be controlled in order to preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem and to protect public health. Gwen Myers, Action Committee Co-chair, (952) 545-8696 Mississippi Headwaters State Forest As the session began in January, the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Coalition* did not consider the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest (MHSF) a legislative issue. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forest reclassification process was proceeding apace and, given the unique nature of the forest and the level of local organization in the area, we expected that the DNR would close MHSF to ATVs and other Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). The arguments for closing this forest are many. It borders the first segment of the Mississippi River on both sides from Itasca State Park nearly all the way to Bemidji, which is a magnificent, semi-wilderness part of the river, a hidden treasure alternating from boreal forests to vast wetlands rich in the history of north central Minnesota. The region is habitat for trumpeter swans, wolves, fur bearers and an incredible diversity of waterfowl in its wild rice lakes, sedge meadows and bog lands. Jack pine and red pine forests intermingle within the wetlands, making for an amazingly rich ecosystem. Add to this the fact that ATV damage in MHSF is extreme. Campgrounds are rutted and damaged, e.g., Coffee Pot Landing and Pine Point. ATVs are riding in the river in a number of locations, e.g., Stumphges Rapids. Designating ATV trails has not stopped the illegal riding in other areas, unfortunately, and cannot be expected to do so in this area. Further, this is an internationally recognized river, an important symbol of Minnesota. MHSF contains the most pristine stretch of the Mississippi River in Minnesota. It is in the interest of all Americans to protect this last remaining stretch of wild Mississippi for future citizens. It now appears that the DNR, under Gov. Tim Pawlenty's newly appointed DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten, is not impressed with these arguments. As explained to a local group recently, it appears that the DNR will designate three river ATV trail crossings: County Road 5, Stumphges, & Coffee Pot. Two of these crossings (Stumphges & Coffee Pot) are in areas that have suffered egregious ATV damage. Coffee Pot, which has been a "closed to motorized use" area, has been repeatedly desecrated by illegal ATV use; now it is being proposed as an ATV crossing! Local groups have been complaining to the DNR for years about how Coffee Pot has been destroyed by ATVs hill climbing, ATVs riding in the river, and ATVs generally trashing this nice campsite on a designated canoe route. The DNR's response, apparently, is to open this closed area to ATV traffic. * We must set a precedent of good stewardship for this internationally recognized river, an important symbol of Minnesota. * Closing the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest to ATV use will provide the necessary buffer for a quiet experience through the headwaters of this special river. * Currently, OHV damage in MHSF is extreme. Campgrounds are rutted and damaged, e.g., Coffee Pot Landing and Pine Point. ATVs are riding in the river in a number of locations, e.g., Stumphges Rapids. Designating ATV trails has not stopped the illegal riding in other areas, unfortunately. * The importance of keeping these waters unpolluted and preventing further soil erosion dictates the need to keep ATV machines out of the river, off of the river banks and out of the Forest. * The Mississippi Headwaters State Forest is a narrow corridor. It contains the most pristine stretch of the Mississippi River in Minnesota. It is in the interest of all Americans to protect this last remaining stretch of wild Mississippi for future citizens. * It will difficult for DNR enforcement to strictly monitor any portion of this area because this part of the Mississippi is so remote. Classifying the MHSF "closed" would greatly aid in protecting the river itself. Again your comments and thoughts are needed if we are to be successful in getting this valuable asset closed to ATV traffic. Complete information on the DNR plan is on their website; scroll down to the West Central Group. Information on all the state forests in this group is available. Thanks to the Jack Pine Coalition for much of this information.