"Nonmotorized" trails in borough hit hard by ATVs

As the Mat-Su Borough's recreation specialist, Warren Templin would love to be putting in new trails and developing new opportunities. Instead, he and his crew have to spend much of their time and money cleaning up after people who can't read signs.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have become more and more of a problem for users of nonmotorized trail systems, and despite numerous signs posted at trails throughout the borough that tell users of the nonmotorized statues, people still ignore them.

"It's just a case of a some people not caring," Templin said. "We have problems with four-wheelers on all of our nonmotorized trails it seems."

Some of those trails include Lazy Mountain, Matanuska Peak, the Butte, Crevasse Moraine, Lake Lucille and ski trails around the local high schools. Four-wheelers tear up the trail, often making it unusable for hikers and runners.

"They don't realize how much damage they are causing," Templin said. "For example, the damage they did to the soccer fields was $11,000. My crew spent six days of labor fixing it, but there will always be ruts now. Plus we have to reseed next spring."

Templin said the Wasilla High School ski and running trail is one of the worst when it comes to people tearing it up on four-wheelers. At Matanuska Peak, his crew installed guard rails to keep the four-wheelers out, but now people just back up their trucks, pop a ramp down over the guard rail and back their four-wheelers right onto the trail -- right beside a sign telling them that there are no motorized vehicles allowed.

"The real problem is that these people like to get on the trails when they are really messy and wet, and that's when they do the most lasting damage once it dries," Templin said. "Plus, it leads to a serious erosion problem of the trails."

So what's the best way to keep four-wheelers off nonmotorized trails? There is no easy answer, Templin said.

"Whenever utilities dig, it creates open space that people on four-wheelers make into a new trail," Templin said. "I don't know how they'd do it, but the utilities are going to have to come up with a way to dig and not turn it into a freeway, and like I said, I don't know how you'd do that."

Templin's crew has tried to put up physical barriers, and in some spots, it is working. But for how long is the real question.

"We put a staircase up the top of the Butte, so at least at the very top, we ensure it is nonmotorized," Templin said. "I'm waiting to see how they are going to tear that up, though."

Templin said one alternative -- one he hopes doesn't happen -- is segregating trails into specific uses.

"I really, really hope to keep them multi-use, because that's the best alternative," Templin said. "We are headed to a point we are going to have to segregate the trails, but I hope not. I like to see everyone sharing the trails, together, responsibly."