The following message can be found in it's entirety on the web site
of the Jackson Hole Conservation
Alliance.
Snowmobile-Skier Conflict Grows in Yellowstone NP
The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance is concerned about the rapid growth
of winter recreation on federal lands in Greater Yellowstone and is working
to restore some balance to winter recreation opportunities in the region.
Ever increasing winter recreational use on Greater Yellowstone's public
lands has led to conflicts between user groups, primarily snowmobilers
and skiers. Questions have also been raised about the effects of snowmobiles
on wildlife and air quality. The Park Service and Forest Service are embarking
on a planning process to evaluate these issues and make management changes
as necessary. Snowmobilers are well organized and well represented. Cross
country skiers are not an organized force, and their needs will go unmet
if left unattended. Through this planning process, the Alliance can play
a crucial local role in ensuring that wildlife needs are also protected,
and that people that choose nonmotorized recreation are represented.
Our main issues and concerns with respect to increasing winter recreation
include: (1) visitor conflicts between motorized and non-motorized recreation;
(2) damage to national park and national forest resources including wildlife,
geothermal features, young tree stands, water quality, and air quality;
(3) the lack of cross-boundary management between federal agencies; and
(4) overcrowding and winter use levels that the environment cannot sustain.
Contact Information:
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
P.O. Box 2728,
Jackson, Wyoming 83001
(307) 733-9417
Web site http://www.jacksonwy.com/jhalliance/
This document was prepared by Wild
Wilderness. To learn more about ongoing industry-backed congressional
efforts to motorize, commercialize, and privatize America's public lands,
contact:
Scott Silver, Executive Director,
Wild Wilderness
248 NW Wilmington Avenue, Bend OR 97701
Phone (541) 385-5261 E-mail: ssilver@wildwilderness.org