On September 26, 2009 the BLM, Community ORV Watch and over fifty volunteers participated in a National Public Lands Day event to help remove trash, protect 100 year-old adobe ruins, erect signs and place barriers to protect sensitive habitat and historical resources from illegal off-road vehicle activity at the Poste Homestead.
A visit today to the Poste Homestead site shows evidence of heavy ORV abuse over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Off route incursion and damage is in evidence everywhere, including on all closed routes. Virtually 100 % of the vertical mulching installed during the recent Poste Homestead clean-up was destroyed. A large number and variety of ORV’s visited the site; ground evidence is consistent with dirtbikes, quad runners, and sand rails.
Much of the work done on National Public Lands Day has now been ruined and further damage has been done to the Poste Homestead. We are outraged at the damage done. Is the pro-rider community outraged as well? Pro-OHV-rider groups and individuals frequently blame their bad reputation on a few “bad apples”. They complain that organizations like COW exaggerate the negative effects of abusive off-road riding. They say the answer to any actual problem is “education”. Here is clear example of abusive riding in a place that is clearly marked as off-limits and ORV riders, who apparently have not been effectively “educated”, have plainly ignored those limits and damaged valuable natural and community resources. These riders are outlaws who feel that they can ride with impunity and without consequences.
Incidents like this along with the regular and on-going noise, dust, trespassing and harassment of citizens who object are why the efforts Community ORV Watch and others who are negatively affected by the abusive use of ORVs goes on. Please support our efforts.
Click the “read more” link below to view pictures of the damage done by this abusive riding.
Evidence of heavy Holiday ORV Traffic into Poste Homestead site. Photo taken near BLM kiosk.
Trash discarded near trees at Homestead.
Quad runner tracks between trees near homestead ruins.
Adobe block freshly dislodged from Poste Homestead ruins.
Deep ruts from heavy ORV use on South side of Tree grove surrounding homestead ruins.
Fresh off – route tracks near interpretive sign to West of trees & ruins.
Heavy Holiday ORV use on closed route. Vertical mulching used for closure was obliterated.
Sole surviving route closure feature; ORVs just went over or around it.
Heavy Holiday ORV use on another closed route. Vertical mulching used for closure was obliterated.
Heavy Holiday ORV use on another closed route. Vertical mulching used for closure was obliterated.
Heavy Holiday ORV use on another closed route. Vertical mulching used for closure was obliterated.
Heavy Holiday ORV use on another closed route. Vertical mulching used for closure was obliterated.
ORV tracks past a lone surviving vertical mulching feature.
Rutting left by illegal ORV travel on closed route on the face of the dunes to the SW of the Poste Homestead Adobe.
Evidence of heavy ORV activity over Holiday on top of dunes adjacent to Poste Homestead site. This location was accessed via use of closed routes.
As above, but a little more to the North to try to show extent of impact.
View of heavy use on closed route looking ENE towards the Poste Homestead from top of dunes. Note fresh off – route damage in upper left quadrant of image.
Better view of off route damage described in previous image. View looking North.