Save Corral Bluffs!

To pay for this, they have applied for a grant of $320,000 from the Colorado State Trails Grant Program. An additional $275,000 would come from the fees housing developers pay for the creation of regional parks and another $275,000 would come from Colorado lottery proceeds.

Following is a summary of the OHV grant #31 grant proposal. This OHV/motorcycle park can't go ahead without this grant money. Click here to download a pdf of the entire grant proposal. If the grant is approved, the County plans to purchase the 522 acre Case property in August 2008 and begin trail construction in the fall of 2008. (Link to real estate contract.)

- The proposed park is in a rural residential zone, surrounded by over 500 residences and adjoining land where a new elementary school and the most expensive homes in Banning Lewis Ranch will be built

- It would cause noise, dust and exhaust pollution to neighboring residential properties and substantially decrease property values. A 10% to 50% devaluation (or more) is not unheard of for "incurable external obsolescence" caused by such things as construction of a motorcycle park next to residential areas

- They want to start small and then add more trails, add ATVs, add who knows what. Residents will be like the frog in the pot of water with the heat being gradually turned up until we're cooked.

- Dirt bikes and ATVs could increase danger of wildfire to dry grasslands and surrounding residences.

- Property owners could be vulnerable to liability claims from dirt bikers who trespass onto private property and injure themselves.

- The noise of motorcycles would be multiplied. The new park would be 7 times larger than Aztec, closer to residences and there'd be many more motorcycles.

- Residents have received no notification, whereas the County has held two private meetings for OHV supporters and solicited their donations.

- It would destroy native plant life, endanger rare plant communities and and turn beautiful scenery into a maze of OHV/motorcycle trails

- It would disturb golden eagle and owl nesting areas and habitat for mule deer, rock squirrels, coyote, jackrabbits, cottontails, porcupine, raccoons and over 70 different species of birds (link to bird list)

- It would invade a historically sensitive area containing prehistoric fossils and undiscovered Native American artifacts

- Instead of using a competitive bidding process, the county plans to tie themselves into one concessionaire who would manage the park and collect fees.

- Neighbors have witnessed motorcycle riders trespassing onto private property and chasing deer and cattle. Keeping motorcyclists on designated trails would be difficult.

- Serious injuries and deaths can occur while riding dirt bikes. The county could be named in lawsuits and that expense could fall on the taxpayers.

- Taxpayers would bear the untold burden. Increased number of vehicles pulling trailers would mean construction of a turning lane and acceleration/deceleration lanes on Highway 94 at a high cost to taxpayers. County law enforcement officials would have to spend more time dealing with noise complaints and trespassing issues.

- Public money (lottery proceeds and regional park fees) would be used to benefit only a small percentage of the citizens of El Paso County. Much of the terrain is rugged and would only serve expert motorcycle riders.

- The use of the standard planning process for a non-motorized park instead of creating a new and appropriate process for a motorized park.

- Corral Bluffs has been designated in several master plans as high priority land for conservation. For the last 10 years it has been a candidate as a regional park.

- Adoption by El Paso County of a new transparent public planning process specific to motorized parks, rather than using the existing process for non-motorized parks. Read our motion for a master planning process.

- Thorough and well-funded studies on how OHV use would affect neighbors and natural resources

- More public notice and a longer public comment period, including publishing notices in local newspapers, not one 25 miles away. If a proposed site is within 5 miles of a residents, they should receive a mailed notification at least 6 months prior to final site selection

- Public posting of alternate sites and results of studies done, including an economic feasibility study

- Use of the normal competitive bid process to find a concessionaire. Eliminate the use of no-bid contracts.

The County was approached by Aztec Family Raceway with a proposal to enlarge their business. Corral Bluffs is adjacent to Aztec. Aztec would manage the park and collect fees, which would be shared with the County. Aztec is planning to purchase 35 acres north of their current site and Waste Management has agreed to provide 365 acres of land for the park. This OHV/motorcycle park can't go ahead without this additional acreage from Waste Management. We hope that they will reconsider allowing an easement to ecologically sensitive areas.

The choice of Corral Bluffs as the site has also been justified by a broad generalization that this area is already a wasteland because of the existing dirt bike park, Waste Management landfill, salvage yards and shooting range near Highway 94. As the photographs clearly show, Corral Bluffs is very different from the view seen from Highway 94 and is NOT a wasteland.

Another misleading statement that's been used is that there are only a couple dozen residents that will be affected, as if somehow it's permissable to dump one more blight upon them. In reality, there are over 500 residences within earshot of the proposed park (see map).

The county needs to make a thorough and sincere look for alternate sites, rather than choosing land surrounded by residences and which they designated in their own master plan as "high priority land for conservation."

A large percentage of the Case property would be unusable to dirt bikes because of its environmental, historical and archaeological importance.

The only public access to this land would be on the southeast corner, through Aztec, and through easements on private property and property owned by Waste Management. A large chunk out of the middle is private property. Private property and Banning Lewis Ranch borders the rest of the Case property.

There appears to be more suitable sites west of I-25 on buffer zones already in public ownership. There are also two other sites in El Paso County with ample acreage that would be suitable for an OHV park.

In a survey done by the Colorado OHV Coalition, (link to survey) the majority of OHV riders prefer a variety of scenery away from human activity, such as roads and buildings. The most popular places to ride are national forests (38.5%) or private lands (22.4%) compared to county lands (3.4%).

In the County Parks Department Master Plan of July 1997 (link to PDF), Corral Bluffs is highlighted as a significant landmark and high priority land for conservation. (See maps) It's mentioned as a site with historically and culturally important features that merits consideration for protection and potential inclusion within the county's system of regional parks and open space.

The Bluffs were also included on a map of proposed open spaces when voters extended the Trails, Open Space and Parks, or TOPS, tax in 2003. TOPS would be a likely buyer of this property to realize the vision of a 3000 acre non-motorized regional open space park in combination with Jimmy Camp Creek park.

Corral Bluffs is a valuable resource for Colorado citizens. The 2003 El Paso County Development Services Highway 94 Comprehensive Plan, which was developed through an analysis of the area and input from County decision-makers, landowners, and the community at large, says "Corral Bluffs is the most recognizable natural visual feature within the Planning Area. According to the Highway 94 questionnaire, the Bluffs are considered the most important natural asset in the area. Because of their distinctiveness from the surrounding landscape, they focus visual attention and create an entry point to the Planning Area. ... Strong consideration should be given to preserving this area as an open space during the platting process." (link to pages from plan)

Corral Bluffs should be made into a non-motorized regional open space park. There is no county park in Falcon and no parks in the master plan for Falcon. The nearest parks are in Black Forest and Colorado Springs. This would serve the burgeoning population of eastern Colorado Springs, in particular new developments in Banning Lewis Ranch.

The approved Banning Lewis Ranch (BLR) Master Plan (link to PDF), (the largest housing development in the history of Colorado Springs), calls for the construction of expensive homes and an elementary school right next to the proposed OHV park.

The Major Thoroughfare Plans for both the City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County call for the construction of a new arterial road parallel to Highway 94 starting at Marksheffel Road and ending at the south boundary of the proposed OHV park. This plan includes two interchanges, one of which would be where Aztec is now.

Public money would be used to benefit only a small percentage of citizens of El Paso County.

Prior to updating their Master Plan, the El Paso County Park Department mailed surveys to randomly selected county residents. Those surveys concluded that 89% of the respondents have used a county park or trail in the previous year; higher than the national average. Also the respondents indicated that their priorities are adding additional open space and the expansion of the regional trail system. The interests citizens expressed in the survey were for open space, regional multi-purpose trails, and picnic areas. Motorized recreation opportunities did not appear as a priority in the survey. The County Park Department should stop trying to serve every specialized interest in the county and instead listen to the needs of all citizens in El Paso County.

This proposal is being pushed through by County Commissioner Jim Bensberg, an avid motorcyclist and former lobbyist of the American Motorcycle Association. See the Adventure Rider message board.

Residents and landowners around the proposed park haven't received any notice from the County. Instead they learned about the proposed park either by word of mouth or through recent articles in The Gazette, The Independent, The New Falcon Herald and The Denver Post. (link to articles) Residents haven't been consulted and adequate opportunity for public comment has not been allowed.

It sounds just like what happened to the neighbors in Calhan last year when the county built the speedway at the fairgrounds. See Gazette articles on 4/6/07 , 5/27/07 and 7/16/07 Public notice was given in the form of a line in the County Fairground’s Master Plan Update saying they were planning to “reestablish 1⁄4 mile dirt track.” No mention of stock cars, mini-sprint cars, ATV or motorcycle races.

The race promoter said, “You may hear a little rumble or vibration in the windows. That’s about it. The racers will use mufflers.” Now residents put up with 80+ decibels from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. every other Saturday night from May through September. The unrelenting sound of stock cars circling the El Paso County Speedway sent one of the neighbors into a full-fledged anxiety attack.

"The county’s noise ordinance allows a maximum of 55 decibels during the day in residential and commercial areas, but it exempts motorized sporting events," Wolken said.

The $20,000 construction of the El Paso County Speedway was part of a larger plan to turn the fairgrounds into a regional park used year-round for events that could generate more revenue for the struggling fair. "Their events could generate $10,000 a year," said county parks director Tim Wolken, except they're not. Attendance at the races averages between 1,500 and 1,800 people. Race promoters rake in $10 per adult but the actual amount the El Paso County Fair Board takes in per event — $345. It makes little business sense to the fairground’s neighbors.

“We want to be a good neighbor,” Wolken said. “We’ll work with neighbors to minimize any impacts we have.” That's what he's saying about this proposed OHV park too. What have they done to be a good neighbor to the folks in Calhan? They've used empty promises to sell out the neighbors well-being.

The situation sounds almost identical to Solon Springs, Wisconsin. They feel betrayed, and they’re mad as hell. That’s what local residents in northwestern Wisconsin are saying about the ATV/OHV scramble area that’s planned for their neighborhood. They’re not happy that it would be built in what’s now a bird sanctuary, but they’re even less happy that it would be built right in their back yards (in some cases quite literally), and totally without their consent.

This is the first motorized county park proposed in Colorado. Obviously a motorized park is very different from a non-motorized park and it demands a different planning process that gives much more consideration to surrounding residents. Instead, the County is moving right ahead, using the same process they use for a non-motorized park.

What should have been a public meeting was held privately on November 6th at County Park headquarters. Only support was solicited from motorcycle enthusiasts. Dissent was not welcome. Neighboring residents were not told of the meeting. (link to meeting agenda on motorcycle message board)

The County Parks Department held their second OHV Park Meeting on January 23rd, 2008 at Bear Creek Nature Center with over 70 supporters in attendance. Again, no notification to the neighbors affected. (link to 1-23-08 meeting agenda and timeline for the project)

The State Parks board meeting that was scheduled for April was fast-tracked and moved up to February.

1. The Trails and Open Space Coalition opposes the development as proposed of an OHV park in the Corral Bluffs area, and

2. Requests El Paso County research and find an alternative for the proposed OHV park, and

3. Requests El Paso County defer action on any property acquisition until full and adequate public discussion can be held on the merits of placing the proposed OHV motorcycle park on the Corral Bluffs proposed open space area or any other location.
(link to full text of resolution)

Rather than go through the normal competitive bidding process, the county plans to tie itself into one private business, Aztec Family Raceway. With the large sum of money being spent, the county could set up their own concessionaire.

In a press release issued by the County, Commissioner Jim Bensberg says, “This is a unique project which will be a model for other counties to emulate.” If this is the model, it should serve as a warning to the other counties of Colorado.

The county has predetermined what kind of facility will be developed on an already-selected site, then proposes to do the site analysis. They will hire a “national consultant” only to design trails, use county staff and local consultants to do the rest, and leave out public involvement until all of the major decisions have been made. If you compare the county's master planning process with how a master planning process should be done, it's obvious how inadequate and rushed it is. See the article Is Planning For Corral Bluffs Adequate? by James Lockhart, Conservation Chair, Pikes Peak Sierra Club Group.

The State Parks board meeting originally scheduled for April 17-18 was fast-tracked to February 22nd. The site analysis/environmental studies will be completed in about a month's time, from early March to early April. According to a March 4th memo from Mr. Wolken, this is "an extensive site analysis." How is it possible to do an extensive site analysis in a month? How is it possible to do it in winter/ early spring? Different plants pop up at different times of the year and botanists have to take the staggered growth into consideration and keep revisiting the area in order to choose high, medium, and low environmental zones.

The $40,000 allowed for studies is woefully inadequate. Proper site analysis can be very expensive. Riverside County paid $500,000 to EDAW Consultants for an initial feasibility study, then an additional $724,000 for a final study for its Laborde Canyon proposed park. For a description see http://www.clerkoftheboard.co.riverside.ca.us/agendas/2003/2003_05_06/03.12.pdf

Although the State Parks board specified they want to see the county go "the extra mile in terms of pubic participaton and transparency," in their master planning process, Tim Wolken wrote, "This process is essentially the same process we use for all County park development." In fact, it's less. The first step has been skipped. There is no Master Plan Steering Committee made up of a balanced group of OHV opponents and supporters. There has been no talk of a citizen survey or citizen open house either.

Here are the General Park Master Plan Development Guidelines
1. A Master Plan Steering Committee is formed consisting of interested citizens, stakeholders, and Park Advisory Board members.
2. Staff completes an existing conditions report including a natural resource analysis.
3. A citizen survey is distributed to determine proposed projects.
4. Staff completes analysis of public input and develops recommendations.
5. The recommendations are reviewed by Master Plan Steering Committee.
6. A citizen open house(s) is conducted to obtain additional comments.
7. Staff prepares the Master Plan report that includes a summary report, existing conditions site plan, the proposed master plan, proposed projects to be completed with associated costs, and improvement timelines.
8. Master Plan is reviewed / endorsed by Master Plan Steering Committee.
9. The EPC Park Advisory Board reviews and approves Master Plan.
10. The Master Plan is presented to the Board of County Commissioners at a work session.
11. The Board of County Commissioners reviews / approves Master Plan.

OHV Park Master Plan Schedule:
- February 22nd - State Parks board decision to grant $20,000 for studies to be matched by $20,000 in county money
- March 3rd environmental studies initiated
- March 12th bidding process begun for trail designer
- Early April site analysis/environmental studies will be completed
- April 1 & 15th master plan public meetings to include master plan process overview, ecological, archaeological and sound abatement presentation and discussion
- April 15th trail designer to be chosen
- April 29th finalize ecological, archeological and sound abatement reports
- Early May trail designer to complete site analysis/soils review/initial trail layout
- May public meetings to review trail layout/design
- Early June finalize intial draft of master plan
- June 10th presentation of master plan to County Park Advisory board
- June 16th presentation of master plan to Board of County Commissioners
- June 17th presentation of master plan to the State Trails Committee
- June 20th presentation of master plan to the State Parks Board for final approval
- October trail building scheduled

For the February 12th County Parks board meeting, Mr. Wolken refused to put Corral Bluffs on the agenda. For the March 11th County Parks board meeting, Mr. Wolken again refused to put Corral Bluffs on the agenda. He finally conceded but put it on as an information item only and refused to make it an action item that the board could vote on. Corral Bluffs Alliance submitted a motion for how the master plan should be done, but it was dismissed before ever appearing in the record. At that meeting Mr. Wolken was also dismissive of new information presented by citizens.

The three master planning meetings in April won't be held in Falcon, they'll be held in downtown Colorado Springs, despite information provided to Mr. Wolken on appropriate sites in Falcon.

There were more open and complete public processes for Red Rocks Canyon, Homestead Ranch Park and the revised Palmer Lake master plan. How is it that planning a motorcycle park from scratch requires less public input than these?

Since 1896, Corral Bluffs has been a significant area of study for geologists and paleontologists. As described by Kirk Johnson, Ph.D., Chief Curator and Vice President of Research & Collections at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Corral Bluffs area is unique because includes some of the most extensive surface exposures and badland outcrops in the Denver Basin. Because they're on private property they've not been fully explored, but explorations to date have shown that Corral Bluffs contains one of the three best exposures of the Cretaceous -Tertiary (K-T) boundary in the Denver Basin and one of the top 25 in the world. The K-T boundary (see map) is famous because it coincides with the extinction of the dinosaurs.

A 3/28/07 article in The Gazette says Dr. Kirk Johnson "thinks a student geologist came within about 10 feet of pinpointing the thin layer of clay known as the K/T boundary near Jimmy Camp Creek in the Corral Bluffs. That thin layer of clay separates two distinct periods of time on Earth — the Cretaceous, when dinosaurs lived and became extinct, and the Tertiary, which gave rise to the age of mammals. The boundary is so important because it is a precise marker in geologic time,” Johnson said. (link to Gazette article)

In 2000, The Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) excavated a nearly complete skull of an unnamed crocodile at Corral Bluffs and they believe the potential for discovering more dinosaur bones is high. An extremely rare fossil bird feather and highly unusual salamander footprints have been found. Corral Bluffs is the best site in Colorado and one of the top 20 sites in the world for mammals from the first 1 million years of the age of mammals.

Also exposed along the upper ledges of Corral Bluffs are dozens of large horizontal petrified logs ranging up to 4 feet in diameter and as long as 50 feet. This represents one of the finest fossil forests in Colorado.

The DMNS recommends ongoing research, preservation of natural outcrops and exposed and buried fossils, and possible creation of guided trails, interpretive signage and even an interpretive center for the Corral Bluffs area. (link to letter from Kirk Johnson, Ph.D (pdf file).

Jaelyn Eberle, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History (UCM) in Boulder writes, "These rocks in Corral Bluffs span the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary (65.5 million years b.p.), which marks one of the most important evolutionary events in the history of life - dinosaurs go extinct and soon after, mammals rapidly diversify and become larger. Very few places in the world preserve this explosive evolution of mammals wherein the roots of most modern mammalian groups were born. The Denver Basin, in particular Corral Bluffs, is one such place.

"Not only is this area rich with fossils, they are exquisitely preserved, a rare combination indeed in the world of paleontology! Understanding what happened amongst mammals following dinosaur extinction at the K-T boundary is critical to understanding the origins of modern mammals, including ourselves. Much of our knowledge of this important time comes from the fossil record in the Denver Basin, especially Corral Bluffs.

"Due to the fragile nature of the fossils, human activities such as motorized vehicles driving over them will undoubtedly be destructive. If not collected properly and conserved, these fossils will be lost from scientific research and education. Given its natural beauty, unique fossils, and proximity to Colorado Springs, Corral Bluffs seems an ideal setting for educating students of all ages about the amazing prehistory of this region. Places like Corral Bluffs draw world attention to Colorado." (link to complete letter)

Peter Robinson, Curator Emeritus at University of Colorado Museum supervised field work in the Corral Bluffs area during the 1970’s 80’s and writes, "The Corral Bluffs faunal sample is the only good record of that mammal age (early Paleocene; Puercan 2, in geologic terms) in Colorado. ... One can collect what is visible at the moment, but the next heavy rain may erode more of the outcrop and expose more fossil material." (link to complete letter)

Those who have hiked in this area know of the arrowheads and pottery shards found, as well as evidence of early settlers. Considerable archeological finds were made at Jimmy Camp Creek by a team from UCCS. Prehistoric ceramics, chipped stone artifacts and groundstone, and buried fire pit features with a radiocarbon date of ca. AD 665. Archeologists suspect similar artifacts exist at Corral Bluffs.

If this land becomes publicly-held, its archaeological resources will be protected by Colorado Revised Statue 24-80-401-410, the Historic, Prehistoric, and Archaeological Resources Act, which carries fines and jail time for those who disobey the law.

From 1867 to 1890 an estimated 10 million cattle were moved from Texas to Denver on the The Goodnight-Loving Trail. They were routinely corralled for a night at Corral Bluffs.

Corral Bluffs - This distinctive landform extends along the eastern fringes of the urbanizing area of Colorado Springs. In places, the bluffs drop nearly 400 feet, marking an abrupt transition from the elevated plains on the east to the Fountain Creek drainage basin. Erosion along this front has exposed an interesting set of rock strata and created a series of gullies where more favorable moisture conditions support the establishment of isolated juniper, ponderosa pine and other woody species. The bluffs are generally more prominent north of State Highway 94 and taper off to the south.

The natural area identified on Map I encompasses an approximately I mile wide swath of land that includes the limestone outcrops for which the area is named, as well as some of the prairie at the base and along the top of the cliffs. It also includes important wildlife habitat. Protection of this area would maintain the visual quality of this important landmark and could also provide an opportunity for a regional trail alignment along the base of the bluffs that would link Fountain Creek with the Jimmy Camp Creek Park proposed by Colorado Springs. The bluffs also have important cultural resource values, including their use by early Native Americans as a buffalo jump. Cattlemen gave the bluffs their name back in the days of open range -- the steep cliffs served as a barrier where cattle could be corralled with relatively little fence construction.

Corral Bluffs has been home for several pairs of nesting golden eagles for at least the last 20 years. Their nests are reused for generations. They need a large territory to supply a large amount of food. It is thought that eagles mate for life. The main threat to their survival is habitat destruction.

The area is also rich in other bird life and wildlife such as: hawks, falcons, swallows, roadrunners, owls, scorpions, lizards, snakes, deer, antelope, coyote, raccoons, porcupine, rock squirrels, a rare species of box turtle, and occasionally foxes. It's hard to imagine animals, birds or hikers feeling at home in a park filled with motorcycle noise and exhaust.

As Colorado Springs expands eastward, open spaces need to be preserved for animals that can easily become pests in a heavily populated area.

The globally-imperiled (G2 S2) western wheatgrass-spikerush community grows at Corral Bluffs. This community is rare and should be protected. Corral Bluffs has the unique clay soil to support it. When wet, the clay holds the moisture needed to maintain this community that would otherwise not occur in the very arid shortgrass prairie landscape.

Since Corral Bluffs is an inundated wetland or "dish", it would be threatened by accelerated erosion associated with off-road vehicles on surrounding uplands. Erosion could also increase the permeability of the clay soil, the unique part of this system, by mixing it with larger particles of silt and sand at an accelerated and unnatural rate causing a loss of system. There is no doubt that accelerated erosion could damage the wheatgrass-spikerush community.

The environment around Corral Bluffs is very fragile and easily damaged. Native grasses take years to grow in because of the altitude and dry climate. Traffic and soil compaction makes it even more difficult for plants' roots to find water. The terrain is steep, as shown in the topographical map (link to maps) and photographs. Once native plants are torn up, the land erodes and high winds, which are common to the area, make large dust clouds.

People generally live in the county to enjoy the peace and quiet of a rural lifestyle. Noise travels long distances through open spaces with no buffers. Residents 2-1/2 miles or more away already hear the motorcycles at Aztec. The county is planning to enlarge the dirt bike park to 900 acres (about 7 times its existing size) and attract many more motorcycles. They claim they'll limit noise to 96 decibels measured at 20 inches, (no mention of at what throttle), which is approximately the noise made by one lawnmower. Imagine the incessant noise of an army of lawnmowers for hours on end. Residents emphatically will NOT accept this gross violation of their property rights. It is unconscionable for anyone to even consider it.

See the noise impact map for a conservative estimate of how far the noise could travel.

Proposed hours of operation:
9AM- 7PM Saturday through Monday
1PM - 7PM Wednesday through Friday

Noise annoys wildlife. It can disturb their eating habits, interfere with their important travel routes, scare them off their nests or dens, and expose their offspring to predators. Fleeing from noise can burn animal's important energy reserves at critical times of the year.

Off-road vehicles also cause significant air pollution. An article entitled Off-Road Vehicles: Tire Tracks Across our Natural Heritage says, "according to the California Air Resources Board, off-road vehicles such as ATVs can produce 118 times as many smog-forming pollutants as automobiles."

Off-road use of vehicles can present serious and special problems of impact on the environment and incompatibility with other users of the land. Experience has shown that off-road use of vehicles may result in one or more of the following effects:

1. Introduction of air and water pollution to areas presently removed from any such sources;

2. Excessive noise, which, in close proximity, may result in physiological effects on animals and humans, or may induce anxiety, altering animal behavior patterns, and which, in most circumstances, seriously degrades the solitude of wild areas for other users;

3. Litter: by virtue of mechanization, operators of vehicles carry more gear, with potential to leave more litter;

4. Vandalism: motorized ease of access is often coupled with increase of acts of vandalism on public and private property; and

5. Fire: illegally or improperly operated vehicles can often create a fire hazard on public or private lands.

As an article in the Denver Post says, The devastation has become a real threat to our federal forests - with meadows churned into dust bowls, wetlands that serve as natural habitats for wildlife ruined, and riverbanks collapsed into waterways. In the White River National Forest in Colorado, about 1,000 miles of illegal roads crisscross the terrain.

Former Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth says that if even 1 percent or 2 percent of ATV users go off route, "the cumulative impact is tremendous."

Irreparable damage done by dirt bikes and ATVs is very well documented. Here's a list of links to an assortment of different studies in different states.

From another article, Off-Road Vehicles Cause Conflict in California
"Many public lands in California, ranging from national forests to wilderness areas, are becoming too damaged - and in some cases too dangerous - for the public to enjoy, finds a first of its kind report. The study by the California Wilderness Coalition blames dirt bikes and other off road vehicles for damaging and despoiling the state's public lands."

Any plan to create an OHV park must consider how to contain riders in designated areas. Maneuvering a vehicle across virgin land can cause significant damage - first by virtue of the scars left on the land and secondly, by creating a "map" that will be followed by other OHV riders who will see the unauthorized trail as a permissable route for their vehicles.

From an article Just a Few Bad Apples: Research Shows Many Off-Roaders Break the Law Countless newspaper articles are peppered with myths perpetuated by off-roaders, such as: “elite environmentalists are locking the public out of public lands;” “the old and infirm need vehicles to explore the forest;” “if you give folks a place to ride their ATVs, they won’t break the rules;” and “it’s just a few bad apples riding where they’re not supposed to and causing damage.”

This article examines important social science research that debunks the “few bad apples” myth. Analysis includes a review of three state-level surveys revealing that a majority of off-roaders break the law. These studies point to the failure of this myth and show a pronounced preference and practice among off-road vehicle recreationists to travel cross-country and ride off of legal routes.

This supports the key conclusion of the Colorado study: “information and education per se – will not result in substantial behavioral change” (emphases in original).
Monaghan and Associates, a marketing research firm, conducted the 2001 study at the behest of the Colorado Coalition for Responsible OHV Riding, a coalition of off-road vehicle representatives, environmentalists and public officials. Researchers surveyed Colorado off-road vehicle riders through a series of three focus groups.

Monaghan and Associates found that the majority of off-roaders understand that staying on designated routes is “fundamental trail etiquette” and that going off trail is not “correct” off-road vehicle behavior. The survey revealed, however, that regardless of this knowledge “as many as two-thirds of adult users go off the trail occasionally.” A significant percentage of riders, 15-20%, admitted to frequently breaking the rules and riding off of legal routes often. Survey participants also stated that “others” ride off-route and cause most of the damage.

Instead, Monaghan and Associates offers the following recommendation: “In order to be successful and actually influence behavior, OHV users must be motivated to behave properly.”

While more social science research is needed to determine what will motivate users to behave properly, anecdotal research (Archie et al. 2007) argues most strongly for increasing enforcement, and especially increasing the consequences for breaking the law, through mechanisms like vehicle confiscations, increased fines, and closing areas to all motorized users when motorized trespass occurs.

Enforcement and trail maintenance would be a challenge and a major on-going expense, as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of dollars in OHV grant money requested in 2008-2009 for education, patrolling, enforcement, trail maintenance, steel restrictors, fencing and rehabilitation of damaged areas for existing OHV trails in Colorado. (link to all Colorado OHV grant applications pdf file)

Neighbors have witnessed OHV operators trespass onto private property and have had to call the sheriff's department. Even more disturbing is that neighbors have seen motorcylists chase deer and cattle, as if that were a sport. While this is just a small percentage of OHV riders, it is totally inappropriate and disrespectful behavior.

Studies by Utah State University found that nearly half of motorized users admitted that in their last ride they knowingly violated travel restrictions and went off legal routes. It is no stretch to realize it is a massive abuse.

Congress mandated that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) produce a National OHV Travel Management Map which maps every existing legal OHV trail. Why was this mapping required? Unmanaged recreation, particularly OHV use, has been identified as one of four threats to the health of America's National Forests. OHV riders traveling off designated OHV routes are causing widespread resource damage to National Forest lands. User-created trails typically result in soil stability problems, erosion, stream sedimentation, the spread of invasive species, pollution, habitat fragmentation and disturbance of wildlife including sensitive and protected species.

Our region's part has to be completed by October 2008. By 2009, the USFS will map out roads designated for OHV use, and only those designated as such will be allowed for motorized use in the National Forests.

OHV users have been in an uproar because up to half of their routes are being "cut," but what's really being cut is the use of the illegal trails they created and have been using for the last 20 years. Trails are also closed because they've become too damaged for use and riders have abused the area and left trash. See Pueblo Chieftain article.

OHV users want the USFS to build new trails but the USFS doesn't have any funds for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for adding new trails, let alone the money to actually build them. So OHV users are looking outside the USFS for trails, hence the county, which REALLY has no money. See Denver Post article about how sheriff's office is so short-staffed deputies respond to dangerous calls without backup.

In an article by Jim Lockhart, Conservation Chair, Pikes Peak Sierra Club Group entitled "Is Corral Bluffs Financially Viable," it says, "Corral Bluffs has been touted to both County Commissioners and State Parks officials as “financially self-sustaining from user fees.” Without a feasibility study to determine such basic questions as how large a market exists and what actual operating costs will be, it is difficult to see how such statements can be regarded as anything more than wishful thinking."

OHV parks like this across the country seem to have difficulty in being self-sustaining. The Santa Clara County park (the one the county is using as a model) required substantial state grants and ran into serious financial problems when state funding was gradually reduced. See article MCP's Uncertain Future. Some trails are down to rock in many places and require time consuming repairs that cannot be performed while the park is open to the public. In addition to the time required to repair trails, a costly soil replacement program must take place, but is not possible at current funding levels.

“It is unrealistic to expect user fees to cover 100% of the funding. To do so would cause these fees to be so high that the users would simply go where they could ride for free.” Kent Nichols, Southern Arizona Off-Road Coalition, testimony before Arizona State Parks Board, January 16, 2003, regarding state parks funding for a Pima County OHV park.

An OHV park in Morrow County, Oregon has made repeated requests for state grants in recent years. http://www.prd.state.or.us/news.php enter a search for “Morrow” and scan the results to see the number of recent state awards.

"Failure to attract sufficient organized events can put a facility in a financial bind. However, it should also be a concern to neighboring landowners because more intensive uses, such as trials, enduro, and motocross events, mean more intensive impacts on them, as well as on the environment. Corral Bluffs very likely is not going to be simply a county park catering to motorized recreationists, but a business proposition, striving constantly to draw more visitorship and thereby increasing its own impacts."

They claim it will be at no expense to the County and it will generate income from competitions that will attract dirt bikers from around the country. Really?

Taxpayers would have to pay for construction of a new turning lane and acceleration/deceleration lanes on Hwy 94 to handle the extra vehicles towing trailers. Possibly also a widening of a bridge over a fork of Jimmy Camp Creek, which would be very expensive.

Brain injuries, comas and paralysis are fodder for expensive lawsuits against the county who is ultimately responsible for this “park.”
(link to brain quiz from Aztec Family Raceway site)
(link to Colorado dirt bikers talking about their injuries)
link to study by the Center for Disease Control on Nonfatal Injuries from Off-Road Motorcycle Riding Among Children and Teens

A Suffolk County report notes that liability exposure for their county owned ATV facility is a major consideration, as they self-insure and their liability laws provide no protection to municipalities. Additionally, there is no upper limit on the dollar amount that can be awarded in successful lawsuits. The county must be fully cognizant of the liability implications when deciding whether to assume the significant level of risk associated with ATV activity.

According to National Legal News, in an ATV petition briefing by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington D.C., approximately 5,800 children die each year in ATV-related accidents. About 120,000 children are permanently disabled by ATVs each year, and over 14 million children (one child out of every four who are riding ATVs) are injured seriously enough to seek emergency medical treatment.

An attorney speaking of waivers: "even if you signed a waiver or release that says that you will not hold the organizers or sponsors of the race liable, please remember that courts very rarely will hold you to that waiver. Courts understand that you do not have any bargaining power in the construction of those waivers – in other words, if you want to participate in the event, you have to sign no matter how poorly conceived the event is. It is extremely unlikely that you will be barred from bringing your lawsuit based on a waiver that you signed."

There are attorneys who specialize in dirt bike injuries. They will leave no stone unturned to get the largest settlement possible for their clients.

Freeman & Freeman, attorneys at law say, "In California, dirt bike riding and competitions are a popular past-time. Dirt bike riding can be fun. Unhappily, it can also be dangerous. Serious injuries can happen to riders in an instant turning the joy into grief. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dirt bike wreck, contact a skilled California dirt bike accident lawyer at Freeman & Freeman, LLP, for a thorough assessment of the matter. Free consultation. No fee until we win your case."

At The McClellan Law Firm in San Diego, their lawyers have successfully tried or settled a number of catastrophic injury claims involving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, and other recreational machines.

From the Kopelowitz Ostrow Firm: "As experienced personal injury attorneys, we consider the lasting impact that a severe injury or loss of a loved one will have on a family. We analyze all aspects of the accident to determine every source of liability from which we will seek compensation."

From Kane Law Firm: "Because of the off-road nature of dirt bikes, broken backs, cracked vertebrae, closed head injuries, broken wrists, ankles and legs are common."

Pritzker | Ruohonen has collected millions for accident victims. Each year hundreds of children die and thousands are injured in accidents involving a motorcycle, dirt bike, trail bike, moped, motor-scooter or minibike.

You don't have to look far to find unfortunate headlines of OHV-related deaths. Just a couple examples: A 5-year-old motocross rider died of neck trauma after an older biker crashed into him at a dirt bike park in Cleveland County. An Indiana man dies in ATV accident.

According to the Thumpertalk message board, in the past year there have been deaths at Metcalf and probably 12 deaths this year at Hollister, (two dirt bike parks in California). One post said, "I watched the helicopter come in three times on one Saturday. You would be hard pressed to go there on any given Sat. or Sun. and not see a kid getting a life flight ride off of that track. Not kidding."

Peace officers would have to respond more often to noise and trespassing complaints at a time when the sheriff's department is understaffed and underfunded.

An article in Washington, Off-Road Vehicle Bill Fails to Advance in State Legislature says, "According to the National Association of Counties, local and county law enforcement officials are increasingly spending their time dealing with off-road vehicle-related issues. Reckless riders are putting a burden on law enforcement officers, who aren't given the resources to keep up with the increasing amount of irresponsible and illegal behavior, and the riders are sticking taxpayers with the bill."

There is no business precedent for a county motorcycle park in Colorado. Expenses for insurance and management would have to be well planned. Not only does the county lack the resources, efficiencies, and community relations savvy to partner successfully on this project, it continues to demonstrate the inability to budget and project revenues effectively. Due to budget shortfalls, County services and facilities were withheld from 550,000 residents each Friday of the last quarter in 2007, snow removal equipment remains in ill-repair, and the patrons of Fox Run Park continue to be without toilet paper in two of the four restrooms.

The County recently sent out a public notice stating its emergency fund is depleted, it has had to inadequately fund County facilities, roads and capital equipment for an escalating backlog of $280 million, and without a significant increase in revenue it may have to eliminate some core services provided to citizens. It's no surprise there's an issue on the November ballot to increase sales taxes.

When mountain bikers learned where this proposed park was, it wasn't quite what they had in mind. Mountain bikers need separate trails because dirt bikers tear up their trails, make noise and could run them over. Dirt bikers like crawling up rocks, mountain bikers like the descent. For some mountain bikers, Corral Bluffs would be too far to drive especially when there are better sites at ski resorts, and places where they don't have to pay to ride.

ATV users also don't mix well with dirt bikes, so they'd need separate trails. Separate trails for dirt bikes, separate trails for mountain bikes, separate trails for ATVs... this property can't support that many trails.

Some foresee Corral Bluffs becoming like PMI in Pueblo, turning into a mass of trails because there are no trees or boulders to contain the riders. They don't like being confined to a small spot on the plains and don't want its destruction be used as an example to limit where they can ride in the future.

Not only do mountain bikers have different needs than dirt bikers, but law-abiding motorcyclists are at odds with those who don't stay on the trails, leave trash, cut across the track or ride in the wrong direction on the track.

Some mountain bikers and motorcyclists show concern about noise bothering the residents. One motorcyclist said he wouldn't want this park in his backyard, but would very much like to have it in someone else's. That callus indifference seems to be the prevailing attitude of supporters and those who are actively cultivating their donations.

Despite concerns voiced by mountain bikers, the county has turned a deaf ear to them too and is still moving forward with the plan that initially mountain bikes would be able to use the park 2 days a week and motorcycles the rest of the time. No quads.

Approximately half of the OHV permit sticker fees are paid by ATV users, yet there's no plan for when they'll be allowed in the park.

With all these things working against it, there are wiser uses for OHV grant money.

OHV supporters won't admit it, but they already know this park will have to be closed to dirt bikes in 5-10 years because of the noise. It's too close to town and the expensive homes that will be built at Banning Lewis Ranch right next door.

With foreknowledge of this, why is the County Park Department planning to spend a total of $870,000 to build this proposed OHV/motorcycle park?

It will need maintenance and improvements. Where will funds those funds come from?

When the park doesn't work out, it would be the County’s responsibility to pay for reclamation. Yet according to The Gazette, County Commissioner, Jim Bensberg stated he doesn't believe a reclamation bond will be necessary, but if it is, the County would find the money. With all the higher priorities they're underfunding now, we know what an empty statement that is.

In closing, destruction of Corral Bluffs isn't something we want to have to explain to our children and grandchildren. The mission of the El Paso County Parks Department says that they will "Provide responsible resource management for open space lands characterized by unique natural environments." We firmly believe that the proposed OHV/motorcycle Park is inconsistent with this mission statement and does not enhance the image of the city or county.