Glade Run Rec OHVing

GLADE RUN RECREATION AREA
OHV USER GROUP DATA AND COMMENTS 

In northwest New Mexico, a very large percentage of all trail users ride ATVs, trail or dirt motorcycles and 4X4s. Motorized off road use in this area (San Juan County) far exceeds the national average. Nationwide, 18.6% of persons 16 years old and older, ride either 4X4s, ATVs, UTVs or off-road motorcycles. But in New Mexico, those percentages rise dramatically to 25.6%. Look around, that means 1 out every 4 persons, age 16 and older, participates in motorized OHV recreation in New Mexico. And I dare suggest, those numbers are even higher in rural areas such as San Juan County.

But even if we take the 2010 census population of San Juan County, which is 130,044 persons and take out those under 16 years of age, we will end up with over 24-25,000 persons in this area that participate in motorized OHV recreation in San Juan County. If only 5% of those total OHVers choose to ride in the Farmington area, at one time, that is still 1200-1250 persons.

Now place those numbers into our primary OHV recreation areas of the Glade Run Recreation area and The Dunes. You can see how over crowded it can become quickly. And we haven’t even added in the large number of persons that travel here from other parts of the US and even other countries.

Every recreational user group contains some individuals who willfully damage our natural resources by ignoring existing regulations and laws, and disregarding conventional trail etiquette as well as common sense. These 5%ers, will break laws and damage our resources, no matter what laws are in place. I’ve seen energy packets scattered along trails, cutting of corners on trails, trails widened because hikers or mtn-bikers didn’t want to ride through mud and many more abuses.

Responsible mtn-bikers, hikers, horseriders, OHV and 4X4 users act as eyes and ears for authorities when these things happen. They observe illegal dumping and report it (often giving law enforcement license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions). With San Juan County starting to charge fees for using Dump Stations, the problem with illegal dumping in the Glade stands to increase.

Also, OHV and 4X4 users, often tell other users what trails they are allowed on or aren’t allowed on, as well as provide other useful information. They act as stewards of the recreation area. 

But still, conflicts can arise. What is the mantra and cry of other groups, “Close the trails to OHVs”….again, rather than addressing the root issues. There has been talk of wanting to adjust our recreation area to maintain certain user groups’ “Happiness Levels”. Keep in mind, the BLM Farmington RMP (2003) has already identified the Glade area as with the following characteristics:

“The sights and sounds one can expect to encounter vary from those found in an environment of paved roads, housing developments, power lines, moderate vehicular traffic, and other urban noises to areas natural in appearance with human- caused modifications subdued and blended with the natural landscape.”

How can we change the above statement so that some users don’t have to “Hear motorized vehicles” and provide a semi-wilderness experience? We can’t. The Glade has been used for over 50 years as a recreation area for motorized OHV’s, Jeeps and the local oil/gas industry has placed many well locations there. Take them both away and you take away a vital part of the local economy. If anyone wants a wilderness experience, without noise from motorized vehicles or human spoils, I can direct them to one of 106 million acres of designated wilderness areas in current existence in the United States.

And safety within areas of the Glade if we restrict uses, what happens there. The City Of Farmington has used in the past, at their Road Apple Rally Ride, motorcycles to sweep the trails after the race and provide medical/rescue response to bike riders. I’ve even seen UTV’s that carried course marshals/helpers to different points on the course. What about that now, will paramedics be riding bicycles to rescue a downed rider? Do we land Air Care in the middle of the restricted area? And what about access for oil and gas workers, as well as law enforcement personnel responding to calls for vandalism in the restricted area.

Current statistics prove, that OHV recreation is one of the largest sectors of our recreational picture. But for far too long, we have been under-represented in respect to opportunities on public lands locally. We are limited to 3800 acres Open Area in the Glade. Yes, there is The Dunes Recreation Area, but that area is not suited for typical trail riding, but more for sport hillclimbing and sanddune recreation. The Glade has been recreated by motorized OHV’s since the 1960’s. As ATV’s developed, they replaced some of the motorcycles, as well as added to the users, and the sport grew bigger. And with the invention of ROV/UTVs, the sport is growing again.

What do we, the OHV User Community ask for?

We, the OHV user group, would like to see the Glade Run Recreation Area, remain open to all user groups. Restricting areas to just one or two user groups, while denying other user groups, creates an exclusive area and squeezes the excluded user groups into a smaller area where more problems will build. It also creates a problem for access to other areas for many groups. We recommend that the 2003 RMP, in particular, Appendix C- Glade Run Recreation Area, be enforced and fully implemented. We request our trails in the “Limited Use” Area be fully inventoried and opened back up to OHV use. We also request the 38 mile UTV loop (72inch trail) be reinstated (it uses already established trails for all but approx. 1mile).

Along with these actions, signage needs to be installed on all trails (have signs every 300ft on both sides of trail to indicate usage), including directions of travel if needed, and warning signs, indicating road and other trail crossings (speed limits within 100ft of road crossings?). Master map boards should be installed, showing travel routes for different types of user groups.

Other info on trail signs, indicating trail use, difficulty and hazards might also be included.

An education program needs to be instated, perhaps in conjunction with the NMOHV Board’s Stewardship Program, that will help distribute maps, info and provide for OHVers to act as stewards to promote and develop the trail system, as well as educate those riding in the Glade. Implement a “User Fee” system for recreationalists in the Glade to help offset expenses. All users, hikers, mtn-bikers, OHVers, 4X4ers and horseriders, would pay into this system.

And more importantly, we all as users of the Glade Run Recreation Area, need to play nice. We need to realize that there are many other users in this area and that often, cooperation among groups, being friendly and courteous, trumps screaming and crying to officials to close such and such user group out. There will be noise, there will be dust, there will be times an ATV rider or motorcycle rider needs to stop and allow a horserider or mtn-biker to pass. That is trail etiquette. That along with education and proper signage, will bring better results than fighting. If there are persons violating enforceable laws or being excessively dangerous, then contact authorities.