Crowdog
12-29-2003, 08:47 AM
State land closed to motorized traffic
SHERIDAN (AP) -- Nearly 8,000 acres of state land will be closed to motorized traffic Jan. 1-July 1 due to problems with off-road vehicles and vandalism.
The land about eight miles southeast of Sheridan, not far off U.S. 14, will remain open to those on foot, horseback or nonmotorized bikes.
"The closure is to protect the state's resources from further damage," said assistant state land director Jim Whalen. "And during this period we'll be assessing the damage and implementing a reclamation plan."
The state installed two gates last week. One will remain open so those on foot, horse or mountain bike can enter. The other gate -- wide enough to allow vehicles through -- will remain closed.
Keys have been issued to the sheriff's office and those who need to graze livestock, operate a scoria pit and drill for coal-bed methane.
The land has been plagued by vehicles driving off road, open fires, littering and illegal use of firearms.
Several people have been cited for land damage, including Wayland Justin Williams, 24, of Sheridan, who was cited in August for driving an old car to the top of a hill above a pond and then sending the vehicle racing down the steep slope into the pond.
The vehicle sank and oil and gas leaked into the pond, threatening fish and other aquatic life. Sheridan County had to pay a towing company to remove the vehicle.
State officials threatened to close the land starting last year.
Local residents formed a committee to address the problem of vandalism on public lands and launched several cleanup campaigns.
Whalen said other projects have lessened damage.
"The county and the coal-bed methane lessee improved the main road going into the parcel, which helped a lot," he said.
Whalen said additional work is needed to improve reseed hillsides scarred by motorcycles and other off-road vehicles.
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2003/12/28/news/wyoming/fb559f33a7f20b4087256e0900782a6f.txt
SHERIDAN (AP) -- Nearly 8,000 acres of state land will be closed to motorized traffic Jan. 1-July 1 due to problems with off-road vehicles and vandalism.
The land about eight miles southeast of Sheridan, not far off U.S. 14, will remain open to those on foot, horseback or nonmotorized bikes.
"The closure is to protect the state's resources from further damage," said assistant state land director Jim Whalen. "And during this period we'll be assessing the damage and implementing a reclamation plan."
The state installed two gates last week. One will remain open so those on foot, horse or mountain bike can enter. The other gate -- wide enough to allow vehicles through -- will remain closed.
Keys have been issued to the sheriff's office and those who need to graze livestock, operate a scoria pit and drill for coal-bed methane.
The land has been plagued by vehicles driving off road, open fires, littering and illegal use of firearms.
Several people have been cited for land damage, including Wayland Justin Williams, 24, of Sheridan, who was cited in August for driving an old car to the top of a hill above a pond and then sending the vehicle racing down the steep slope into the pond.
The vehicle sank and oil and gas leaked into the pond, threatening fish and other aquatic life. Sheridan County had to pay a towing company to remove the vehicle.
State officials threatened to close the land starting last year.
Local residents formed a committee to address the problem of vandalism on public lands and launched several cleanup campaigns.
Whalen said other projects have lessened damage.
"The county and the coal-bed methane lessee improved the main road going into the parcel, which helped a lot," he said.
Whalen said additional work is needed to improve reseed hillsides scarred by motorcycles and other off-road vehicles.
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2003/12/28/news/wyoming/fb559f33a7f20b4087256e0900782a6f.txt