Environmentalism, Politics, and 4wheeling

Many of you know I'm an avid 4-wheeler. Its a fun and challenging hobby, and it includes a great community of people.

For some reason, there is growing pressure from environmentalists, hikers, and some politicians to ban ORV use, eliminate or downsize ORV parks, and forbid the creation of new parks. Many believe ORV use is a scourge on our federal and DNR land and must be eliminated.

Well I'm going to point out two flaws this logic:
1) Its not that much worse than hiking and biking trails, especially in comparison to logging, development, and wildfires. 10 miles of 4ft wide mtn bike trails is just as damaging as 5 miles of 8ft wide 4x4 trails
2) By taking away ORV parks, you've just invited wheelers into your own backyard. Instead of wheeling on sanctioned trails, they'll be wheeling on YOUR trails.

Nevertheless, there are groups that won't be happy until 4x4 is illegal. They claim trash, mud and damaged trees as reasons. We respond by having bi-annual cleanup parties where hundreds of people show up to clean up the trails. We also advocate through 4x4 clubs responsible wheeling, going on legitimate trails etc.

But all this effort of closing Reiter is only going to make things worse

Where are the wheelers going to go if Reiter is closed?
Are they going to just sell their $8,000-90,000 rigs and find a new hobby? No.
Are they going to drive hundreds of miles to wheel every weekend? No.
Are they going to find trails off secluded DNR/Forest service road? DING DING DING!

So now, you environmentalists and politicians have moved a contained area, wheeling within a 40,000 acre Park, to a bunch of random 'Fight club-esque' places that no one reveals so they don't get shut down.

Don't believe me? North Fork was the only ORV park in Whatcom county. It was shut down in 2005. Do you think everyone went to canada or walker valley? HA. I'll just say that there is a large contingent of trails wheeled every weekend in Whatcom county, ranging from near Bellingham all the way out to Mt. Baker.

Are work parties to cleanup trash created in these areas? NO
Are there work parties to create culverts and safe water passages? NO
Is there any coordination between clubs to make a manageable trail system that leaves a small footprint on sensitive areas? NO

And there you go, you've just moved a contained group that exists in one area to a fragmented mess spread around western Washington. And the only way to totally eliminate this is by gating off everything. If that happens, then say goodbye to hiking and biking trails, as the trail-heads will be miles from the gate. But heck, even then singletrack can get around gates, it just become unrealistic.

So this is my message to any environmentalist reading this: You WANT to support ORV parks.
When you support ORV parks....
....you're supporting a managed system of trails that are being maintained and patrolled by fellow ORV users and law enforcement.
....you're supporting people who have vested interest in keeping that land clean and enjoyable by all.
....you eliminate or drastically reduce the problem of illegal wheeling in the forest where YOU might be hiking/biking/climbing.

This is my message to politicians who make the policies: Supporting complete ORV parks will help stop illegal dumping, and illegal trail systems
1) Rate trails. To me, it seems like DNR would be more legally sound if they rated trails. If some dumbass gets his rig stuck, flops, etc and there is ample signage to say its difficult, then I'd think they'd be covered in a lawsuit.
2) With rated trails, don't make all of them watered down, if the trails aren't hard for those with 90k buggies, they will go elsewhere.
3) Use the vast 4wheeling community to build, manage, and maintain trails. This is working successfully at walker valley.
4) Create a framework for funding so the 4wd community can allocate funds from their own fundraisers into grants to build trails in ORV parks.
4) get NOVA funds back into the proper places

I find ORV parks to be very similar to Ski resorts, in both environmental impact and trail design. So why can't we get just a few good ORV parks in this area? And why don't we have use fees at ORV parks?