Forest service plan to close roads in Mark Twain forest meets opposition

ELLSINORE, Mo. -- To comply with a 2005 forest management plan and to combat illegal dumping and other unwanted activities, officials with the Mark Twain National Forest have been closing old, non-service roads across the district. The closures, however, have met with strong opposition.

"There's been a lot of interest generated because of some recent activities," said Poplar Bluff District Ranger Doug Oliver.

A road analysis was done on forest lands in 1986, Oliver said, and again in 2005.

It was decided then, "these are the roads we need for our transportation system. The rest of them are non-system roads, like the old woods roads and ridge trails," Oliver said. "Most are not gravel, and most are old skid trails that have not been legally open to vehicular traffic since at least 1986."

The closures, Oliver said, are occurring over time as staff "goes into an area to do an analysis for timber, restoration, recreation opportunities or whatever. We look at those non-system roads we have inventoried and decide whether or not we need to go ahead and close them off."

Some closed roads are being blocked with earthen berms or boulders, but not all.

One area which currently is experiencing closures is the Twin Ponds area north of Ellsinore, Oliver said.

"We have some timber sales going on up there and people are seeing the activity of us doing that and think the roads are open," Oliver said.

"I think there's also been a misunderstanding by some people who think we're closing major roads, and they don't fully understand we're closing these non-system spurs," Oliver said.

The closures, Oliver said, are mostly along older logging access trails, which never were legally open for vehicular traffic in the first place. Many of them, he said, are too narrow for a truck to pass through and could only be accessible for all-terrain vehicles, which are illegal to be off numbered roads on forest lands anyway.

To date, Oliver has received more than 2,000 complaints about the closures.

"Some of the complaints we're hearing are from people who aren't able to access areas any more," he said.

Oliver, however, said that's not necessarily the case. A computer model of the region, using a one-half mile buffer zone from every open system road, shows only about 200 acres or less which are not accessible from those roads.

"You don't have many areas that fall outside the buffer zone," he said.

Problems have sprung up along these unauthorized roads and trails, Oliver said, which creates continual problems.

"Open roads are a conduit for non-native invasive species and drug production, which costs us money to control," Oliver said.

Other problems include dumping and poaching.

Resources are being damaged in some locations, he said, by unauthorized traffic.

"Erosion and siltation in lower areas is a problem," he said.

Hunters also have expressed frustration, Oliver said, citing instances when others have driven through their hunting area illegally, ruining their hunt.

Oliver said he understands some people have "special memories of an area ... maybe someone used to hunt back in there with a kid or with their father, but there's still a lot of land you can access off the open roads."

Oliver said he wants people to understand those areas still are accessible, just not by illegal, offroad driving.

"There's still a lot of suitable areas up there along the roads that are open where you could camp, but it may not be someone's traditional campsites," Oliver said. "I understand that, but we have to try to manage the resources."

Oliver also said he's open to permitting legitimate vehicular access to certain areas through special permit, such as when a landowner's property is landlocked by forest service lands, or for access to cemeteries.

Oliver also is contemplating creating small buffer zones to leave open a small portion of some of the roads in question.

Tim Stucker of Ellsinore, who led the opposition efforts, got signatures on more than 2,700 form letters from as far away as West Plains, Mo., which he sent to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

Stucker said simply, "This is our land and these are roads we've used. They are discriminating against us."

Stucker did not respond to requests for further explanation and comments, but Emerson understands his concerns.

"These roads are very important to families that use them to get to recreational or hunting areas within the forest, as well as historical family sites," Emerson said. "Citizens who use the roads for legitimate purposes should be involved in any discussion about blocking access to the parts of the MTNF which are important to them. This is especially true when the families have offered to maintain the access roads themselves."

Emerson wants to facilitate conversation so those on both sides of the issue can express their concerns and work out their differences.

"I will continue to work to involve everyone in the process and to advocate for the public's right to enjoy the beauty and significance of the forest in Southern Missouri," she said. "I've met with the forest supervisor about these closures, and I hope we can continue to have a productive discussion with all the Missourians who are going to be affected by the closure of the many roads in this rule."