Date:         Fri, 17 Nov 2000 22:31:36 -0700
Reply-To:     Kw <kokopellis@ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kw <kokopellis@ATT.NET>
Subject:      driving thru open desert
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Phaedra says:
After 20K miles they barely show wear & didn't even lose
any air after being driven thru open desert over spiny cactus!
-----------------------------
Phaedra & Everyone who uses the desert:

The desert can be a very fragile environment and one or two passes of a
vehicle, bike or group of people can leave marks visible for many years.
These pathways often become avenue for erosion.

This is especially true in the deserts of the southwestern US where
cryptobiotic soils (symbiotic algae and lichen) hold very sandy soils in
place by forming crusts that resist water droplet erosion.  Once
disturbed, (by vehicle, bicycle, ATVs, people, animals) these soils are
prone to excessive wind and water erosion and loss from the system.  Not
to mention the quick invasion of non native weedy species in newly
disturbed areas. This invasion is evident throughout the western US just
as Kudzu is to the southeast US.

The increased use of these areas and continued expansion of trails and
disturbed areas is one result of the huge increase in numbers of people
using these areas. (i.e. Moab, Utah) It is everyone's responsibility to
not abuse the lands in your moment of recreational glory driving over
undisturbed desert with spiny cactus and other desert species.  Your
land is my land, but imagine what it would be like if everyone drove
just one track across a beautiful section of desert.  Not to mention the
potential for trampling threatened and endangered cactus or other desert
plants.  The world is no longer infinite.

Sorry I just had to say something as I have seen the changes from the
recreation boom over 20 years in the SE corner of Utah. This is a big
controversy in this state and region.

Bottom line is think about what you are doing and be nice to your
mother.

Soap box off, nomex on!!  YMMV.

All for now.
Ken Wyatt
Reclamation Hydrologist
82 westy
SLC, UT