Halsey Update

By Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager

          For the time being, things seem to be going rather well for ATV and dirtbike riders at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey.  There have been some very positive actions occur that will not only help ATV and dirtbike trail users but should assist the Forest Service in managing trails. 

          We had a great turnout of ATV and dirtbikers at the Forest Service workshop that was held in Grand Island in February.  From the meeting, several results were achieved.  A new chapter for Halsey was formed and officers elected.  National trails leaders explained to us (trail users) what to expect from upcoming decisions concerning trails at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey.  The workshop also helped the Corp of Engineers discover resources for developing a new OHV park at the Harlan County Reservoir. 

          We were somewhat disappointed that other off-road vehicle trails groups were not represented at the workshop.  Trails groups absent were jeep and hummer enthusiasts.  It is my concern that with them not present at this free workshop, they may not understand the consequences of the upcoming Travel Management Plan on Federal lands. 

          When this article is at press, we will be working on our volunteer trail work days at Halsey.  I cannot express in words how pleased I can be about the progress of the new Halsey Chapter.  Chuck McCarty and crew are getting right after the program.  More people who ride at Halsey are joining NOHVA to support our common goals of helping keep trails open and promoting responsible trail use.  All of the Halsey Trails Chapter officers attended the Forest Service Workshop and fully understand the consequences of our failure to help the Forest Service with trails at the Nebraska National Forest. 

          Our greatest challenge this year at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey is to see that trail users become educated about their role to help keep existing trails open to the public.  Due to more budget cuts from the Federal Government, the Forest Service’s job is going to become even more difficult.  We need to organize riders to help the Forest Service with managing trails.  Groups like our own are going to have to fund trail improvements and provide volunteer labor.  We have to educate off roaders to stay on existing trails and not to make new routes.  We have to educate off roaders about the importance of safe and considerate trail use. 

Over the years I have witnessed trail users become abusive to Federal land managers.  Some people have presented an attitude that “since this is public land, and I’m a tax payer, I should be able to do what ever I want”.  The fact of the matter is that land managers are just that, managers.   As managers, they have to answer to a lot of different people, many of whom that are not friends of off-roaders.  Additionally as managers, they have to follow laws and policies that dictate how federal lands will be managed and protected.  We off-roaders need to face the fact that the land managers have difficult jobs and we need to help them and co-operate with them so that we can be allowed the privilege of using our public lands. 

          When I first started riding my ATV at Halsey in 1987, the entire area was basically open to cross country travel.  Cross country travel is riding off the existing trails and roads.  You were lucky to see anyone else there anywhere on a Saturday afternoon.  That has all changed.  On any given weekend if the weather is decent, there could be hundreds of people using trails at Halsey.  If all of these people were allowed to travel cross country,  the grassy hills would suffer a considerable amount of damage. 

Other considerations have come been introduced to land managers since 1987, new environmental rules and management rules for federal lands have come in to play.  Some of the new rules specifically address resource damage caused by motorized vehicles.    

The landscape at the Nebraska National Forest is basically grass covered sand dunes.  According to geologists, the Nebraska sandhills region are inactive migrating sand dunes.  Migrating sand dunes are dunes that are open with no grass cover and they spread with the prevailing wind.  At one time the sand hills in Nebraska were open and spreading east south eastward.  The geologists explain that at this time, the sand hills region is experiencing a cool and wet period.  This cool and wet weather is causing the sand hills to stay covered with grasses.  A warmer, dryer climate or human caused activity could cause the grass covering to open up and the dunes could one again become migrating.  With this in mind, the reason why the people of the Nebraska sand hills region are concerned about off-road use is obvious.  The grass covering the dunes have very short root structures and are easily uprooted.  Whether we like it or not, we as off-roaders need to be aware of the damage we could cause. 

Off road vehicle users need to know that people are now fined for traveling off of existing routes or cross country at Bessey. 

While I have been mainly talking about sand dunes, off-roaders need to be aware of the damage that could be caused from riding in the Dismal River.  Oil and gasoline could escape from a motor vehicle.  People can also be fined for leaking oil into water and could be required to pay for cleanup expenses. 

Cooperation, not confrontation is the future to being allowed the privilege of using trails at the Nebraska National Forest.  The facts of the matter are that land mangers now have the authority to pretty much shut us completely out at Halsey and other Nebraska National Forest lands.  But fortunately for us, they don’t want to.  They understand the need and the benefits to the public by allowing us to use the land for motorized recreation. 

People who do not understand this situation and sound off half-cocked with juvenile statements in public, such as on the Internet or at public meetings make matters worse by alienating land mangers.  To get things done in this world people need to be civil and responsible.  Anymore it seems everyone is watching, and people need to be aware of this when making comments.  We need to remember that we as off-roaders need to treat land managers the same way we would like to be treated. 

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This page was updated on Sunday, March 01, 2009