Pickett State Forest the most recent example of how improper off-highway vehicle usage can damage parks across the Upper Cumberland, but it is not the only one.
Pickett State Forest just fully reopened after several months of repair. Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry Communications and Outreach Unit Leader Megan Carpenter said the vehicles cause erosion, which damages not only roads and trails but also the surrounding environment.
“Erosion essentially takes away nutrients from the earth that is there and those are the nutrients that the plants and the trees need in order to thrive,” Caprenter said. “And then your wildlife depends on those plants and trees for their nutrition as well.”
Carpenter said Pickett State Forest is not the only park that deals with damage from OHVs, as many other parks in the Upper Cumberland fight the same battles. Carpenter said OHVs are a big part of recreational activities in the parks and that parks have to balance recreational fun while limiting damage to the environment.
“We are happy to welcome people in,” Carpenter said. “But at the same time, we have that kind of tension of we have a responsibility to manage the natural resources, but we also want to give the public the opportunity to recreate on these beautiful forests as well. So there’s always that you know, how do we balance those two things.”
Carpenter said she wants everyone to remember when they are recreating in parks that the land and resources took decades and generations to grow.
“We want those resources to be there for decades and generations to come,” Carpenter said. “So be mindful of how you are recreating and you know if there is tons and tons of mud and everything, that might not be the best day to go ride up there because you are more likely to cause damage in that kind of a situation.”
Carpenter said Pickett State Forest will keep a close monitor on OHVs and how they are affecting the park.
