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Lots of good info. They recognize that OHVing is getting more popular and are looking at more camping by the trails for the OHVers.
But they also talk about incidents when the OHVers do not stay on the trails and what impact that has.
From the Proposed Plan-Identifying the need to change the current plan-
While the 1986 plan has goals and objectives for the trail system, it predates the increased developments and amounts of use in the Badin area and is lacking in specific, focused attention to the trail system there. The system of horse trails and OHV trails in the Badin area came about largely by happenstance ? without employment of proper design and construction techniques. With the tremendous increase in trail use in the Badin area, user conflicts, safety issues, and conflicts with management of the natural and cultural resources in the area have taken center stage in management of the Uwharrie. Plan emphasis on developing and maintaining a premier trail system in Badin that would accommodate high levels of use while minimizing resource impacts could serve as an economic asset to local communities.
From the Forest Supervisor-
Our focus for this program would be on improving the conditions of the horse and off-highway vehicle trails in the Badin Lake area and working to complete the Uwharrie National Recreation Trail.
From the strategic view-
Off-highway vehicles (OHV) currently have access to a
sixteen-mile trail system. There are few other known
opportunities in the Piedmont for this type of experience and
demand is increasing. OHV use on NFS lands is controversial
due to potential resource impacts and incidents when OHV
users have strayed from the authorized trail system.
There may be opportunities to optimize the OHV trail system
in ways that provide the desired experience yet moderate
impacts to the forest resources. One unmet need identified by
users is an area for OHVers to camp that has access to the
OHV trail system.
From the options-
Another issue arises internally concerning one specific area known as Daniel?s Mountain ? the largest of the new botanical proposals. This is a prime recreation area and contains OHV and horse trails. The concern is Forest Service needs to be able to make improvements to the trail system without being encumbered by ?Special Area? status. A multi-party field trip results in a recommendation to go ahead with the Special Area designation.
