Pictures of the Letters to the Editor in situ:
The Text:
Let me get this straight: Our legislators allocate $2.7 million for new ATV trail creation but pull language from the omnibus bill at the last minute that would protect public lands north of Hwy. 2? The “designated trails” provision removed was a small step that simply required off-road vehicles to use only posted and designated trails. It’s not a stretch — this signage requirement has existed south of Hwy. 2 for decades. Our legislators and governor should listen to retired Department of Natural Resources staff (“We, as retired DNR staff members, support trail designation,” Opinion Exchange, May 1), who spent their careers in the field, working to preserve and protect public lands. They make it clear that a designated-trails provision is urgently needed to keep riders on trails constructed for their use and out of sensitive areas. Illegally created trails further fragment wildlife habitat and increase the spread of invasive species.
Legislators, governor, DNR: Why bother creating things like a Climate Action Framework, which calls for conserving and enhancing biodiversity, if you won’t support and implement even the most commonsense habitat protections?
Libby Bent, Duluth
As a member of the public and taxpayer who quietly recreates on public lands and has seen the damage wreaked by off-highway vehicles such as ATV, I was heartened to learn of legislation that would better manage this type of “wreckcreation” (“We, as retired DNR staff members, support trail designation”). What Tuesday’s commentary did not mention are the greenhouse gas emissions associated with off highway vehicles (OHVs) and the cost to the public in terms of conservation officer time trying to manage OHV riders.
According to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency data, individual OHV greenhouse gas emissions are far greater than that of a passenger car. OHVs emit four times as many nitrogen oxides and seven times the methane emissions of a passenger car. This is significant because nitrogen oxides have 300 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide and methane has 30 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions are the largest source in Minnesota and with almost 1 million OHV registered with the DNR, their contributions to the climate crisis are significant. And, OHV riding is generally a discretionary activity.
Regarding enforcement, DNR data shows the average number of hours conservation officers expended enforcing OHV management for the years 2013-2023 is equal to 19,813 hours. That’s the equivalent of 10 staff years, 265 warnings or citations per month, or nine per day. The DNR staff time comes out of the DNR’s general fund and, of course, precludes the conservation officers from doing other important work.
HF 3911 was developed and championed by citizens concerned about the destruction of public lands, noise and the climate and extinction crises. Sadly, the trail signage provision of HF 3911, a commonsense measure to ensure OHV stay on designated trails constructed for their use, similar to hiking trail signage in state parks or other public lands, was stripped out of the omnibus bill. Apparently Rep. Dave Lislegard and Sen. Grant Hauschild care little for protecting public lands or quiet recreationists or ameliorating the climate and extinction crises.
Catherine Zimmer, St. Paul
The writer is an environmental scientist.