For the Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected only one of the three off-road vehicle trails proposed for state-owned lands in Western Maryland. St. John’s Rock in Garrett County’s Savage River State Forest was the single property selected for ORV use based on comments gathered during the recent public input period.
“We are thankful to the citizens who took the time to share their input through the public process both at the meetings and through our online system,” said DNR Secretary Joe Gill. “This is a great example of the department working with our professionals in the field to craft sound proposals and using public input to help guide the ultimate outcome. We also recognize the great work of the ORV Stakeholder Workgroup in helping lead us to this proposal phase and promise to continue coordinating with them to find alternative locations for this type of recreation.”
Ecologists and trail experts will work to establish paths and boundaries for ORV use to develop a system for St. John’s Rock that will have minimal impact on surrounding natural resources, DNR said. The system, slated for completion in the summer of 2014, will be monitored and its regulations enforced to ensure ecological best management practices.
“Our trails team is looking forward to implementing the new paradigm of ORV management on St. John’s Rock,” said John Wilson, manager of the Statewide Trails Development Office. “Working with our peers in land management, enforcement and information technology, we are confident that this trail, and all future ORV trails, can be well-regulated, safe and sustainable. We are committed to that end and look forward to demonstrating our plans for success.”
The other two proposals — Sideling Hill North and South trails, within the Woodmont Natural Resources Management Area near Hancock — have been withdrawn and removed from further consideration as ORV trails.
The former ORV trail at Green Ridge State Forest remains closed.
DNR will continue to fortify efforts to develop public/private partnerships on potential private land ORV trails, and further evaluate opportunities to acquire access to other private land locations for multiuse recreational facilities.
A number of ORV trails developed within the state forests in the mid 1980s had to be closed in 2011, as some of the activity began to threaten environmentally sensitive areas. With only a few small ORV trails still open, DNR began a comprehensive two-year study to assess its landholdings and develop a plan that would incorporate these trails in a manner that would have minimal impact on sensitive natural areas.
In coordination with the Upper Potomac River Commission (UPRC), the US Army Corp of Engineers (Baltimore District), NewPage, G&S Coal, Precision Rafting, the Savage River State Forest, and Garrett College, the Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI) will again coordinate efforts for another series of Savage River Recreational Whitewater Releases. ASCI has been able to foster a productive working relationship among all involved parties through the organization of paddler parking, shuttle service, put-in and take-out access, release of liability for the stake-holders, and river risk management through the removal of dangerous river debris.
The UPRC has scheduled three recreational whitewater releases from Savage River Reservoir for the 2012 season. Those releases, based ultimately on water availability, are for Sundays June 3 and July 1, and for Saturday, September 29th. The river is scheduled to be ready for activity from 9 AM until 3 PM on each of these three dates.
According to Scott Shoemaker, UPRC Superintendent, “If it were not for the efforts of ASCI to coordinate all the entities involved with this event, it just wouldn’t happen.” Mike Logsdon, ASCI Acting Executive Director indicated, “This is a perfect example of a win-win-win-. . . . . .-win situation. Boaters are happy, private vendors, like River Riders from Harpers Ferry, Cheat River Outfitters from Albright, WV, Wilderness Voyagers from Ohiopyle, PA, and Precision Rafting from nearby Friendsville are able to offer an extremely rare product to their guests. In addition, the Army Corp of Engineers, NewPage, G&S Coal, Savage River State Forest, Garrett College, and the UPRC, along with ASCI, are able to provide a public service to the taxpayers who ultimately support their services.” All direct expenses related to the shuttle service, registration of private boaters, and the removal of dangerous river debris is paid for from donations received from the boaters.
Private boaters who are able to to navigate difficult whitewater (American Whitewater Class III+/IV) are welcome to participate in this infrequent event. Others who are seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience are encouraged to contact a professional whitewater outfitter, such as Precision Rafting, Upper Yough Expeditions, or Wilderness Voyagers all located in Friendsville, Maryland.
For more information, please contact ASCI at 301.387.3250 or any of our local professional whitewater outfitters.
Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
This river’s name does not seem appropriate for this particular scene. The Savage River was anything but savage when captured in this photograph by artist Michael Petersheim. The shot is part of an exhibit of his work now on display at the Gallery Shop in downtown Oakland.
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“The Nature of Summer” display is being hosted by the Garrett County Arts Council, which will also host a reception for Petersheim at the gallery on April 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until May 18 and is open during normal Gallery Shop hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Petersheim is a native of western Maryland and grew up on farm just south of Oakland. His love of photography developed in 2004, he said, while living and studying at the University of Queensland in Australia. See story on today’s arts page. For more information, persons may also visit www.garrettarts.com or call 301-334-6580.
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Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
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