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December 20, 2002
Legislation targets river off-roading
Bill would prohibit motorized vehicles in riverbeds, lakes
By JESSICA RAYNOR, Amarillo Globe News, jraynor@amarillonet.com
Proposed legislation would curb use of off-road vehicles on state rivers and lakes, but some say the ban would take away a fun, harmless pastime.
The legislation filed Thursday calls for prohibiting the operation of motorized vehicles in public fresh waters or on the bed of navigable waters above tidewater limits with certain exceptions.
Although off-roading has been common at numerous rivers and streams throughout the state, Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs said damage from off-roading has been most severe at the Nueces, Canadian and Llano rivers.
"There are no real good reasons for having off-road vehicles in Texas rivers," said Allen Spelce, spokesman for the Texas Department of Agriculture.
He listed concerns of the agriculture department about off-roading, including partial destruction of privately owned land, pollution and trash problems, elimination of fish and vegetation species, eroding riverbanks, and changing habitats of small mammals.
Charla Seibel, owner of the Canadian River Cafe, 15 miles north of Amarillo on Highway 287, doesn't agree with those impact statements.
"My mother told me about it (the legislation)," she said. "I was like, 'What, are you kidding me?' I don't understand why they would do that. If we actually had water in the river, if the state wanted to plant trees for picnic areas, that would be one thing. But this is the northern plains."
She also said that banning off-roading would affect her business, as many off-roaders stop by the riverside restaurant for a bite to eat.
It also would decrease sales at stores like Sharp's Motorsports in Amarillo, which sells off-roading vehicles like dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), said Keevin Sharp, one of the store's owners.
"It's really the only public area near Amarillo (to off-road)," he said of the Canadian River. "It's sandy. There's trail riding and hill climbing, all sorts of stuff down there. There's a lot of riding down there that's not near the water."
He said families go down to the river and camp overnight, have barbecues and learn how to off-road from experienced riders. He said his father took him down there when he was 10.
"Anyone who's ridden a dirt bike in Amarillo has gone to the river," he said.
No current laws prevent anyone from driving recklessly within the normal boundaries of the river. Public access to public water, including driving in the water or on a dry riverbed, is guaranteed under current state law.
The legislation is the result of a rare joint effort among a number of agricultural and environmental groups in Texas, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the Farm Bureau, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Wildlife Association, the Sierra Club and the Texas Water Conservation Association.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Legislation targets river off-roading
Bill would prohibit motorized vehicles in riverbeds, lakes
By JESSICA RAYNOR, Amarillo Globe News, jraynor@amarillonet.com
Proposed legislation would curb use of off-road vehicles on state rivers and lakes, but some say the ban would take away a fun, harmless pastime.
The legislation filed Thursday calls for prohibiting the operation of motorized vehicles in public fresh waters or on the bed of navigable waters above tidewater limits with certain exceptions.
Although off-roading has been common at numerous rivers and streams throughout the state, Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs said damage from off-roading has been most severe at the Nueces, Canadian and Llano rivers.
"There are no real good reasons for having off-road vehicles in Texas rivers," said Allen Spelce, spokesman for the Texas Department of Agriculture.
He listed concerns of the agriculture department about off-roading, including partial destruction of privately owned land, pollution and trash problems, elimination of fish and vegetation species, eroding riverbanks, and changing habitats of small mammals.
Charla Seibel, owner of the Canadian River Cafe, 15 miles north of Amarillo on Highway 287, doesn't agree with those impact statements.
"My mother told me about it (the legislation)," she said. "I was like, 'What, are you kidding me?' I don't understand why they would do that. If we actually had water in the river, if the state wanted to plant trees for picnic areas, that would be one thing. But this is the northern plains."
She also said that banning off-roading would affect her business, as many off-roaders stop by the riverside restaurant for a bite to eat.
It also would decrease sales at stores like Sharp's Motorsports in Amarillo, which sells off-roading vehicles like dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), said Keevin Sharp, one of the store's owners.
"It's really the only public area near Amarillo (to off-road)," he said of the Canadian River. "It's sandy. There's trail riding and hill climbing, all sorts of stuff down there. There's a lot of riding down there that's not near the water."
He said families go down to the river and camp overnight, have barbecues and learn how to off-road from experienced riders. He said his father took him down there when he was 10.
"Anyone who's ridden a dirt bike in Amarillo has gone to the river," he said.
No current laws prevent anyone from driving recklessly within the normal boundaries of the river. Public access to public water, including driving in the water or on a dry riverbed, is guaranteed under current state law.
The legislation is the result of a rare joint effort among a number of agricultural and environmental groups in Texas, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the Farm Bureau, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Wildlife Association, the Sierra Club and the Texas Water Conservation Association.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
