According to the newspaper (June 2), this is the FIRST TIME SINCE 1895( when the agency was created), that the PGC has posted any type of game lands off-limits to recreation.
Prior to this action, there were letters to the editor in the Lancaster morning paper re: the damage done by the bicyclists.The bike race focused attention on the problem- local people seemed especially annoyed that the area was converged on by 500 bike riders, many from "far away". One letter to the editor (entitled "HORSES LEAVE THEIR MARK") also discussed the large number of horse trailers(31) he had observed in the parking area of State Game Lands 211 in Dauphin Co and that he was alarmed by the heavily trampled small trails going into the Stony Creek. He also noted that he had never observed any horse people participating in trail maintenance activities.
The game commissioner took the newspapers reporters on a tour of the damage, and described these problems:
1. Trails were widened more & more by riders skirting the mud, sending silt into small streams-killing fish & aquatic life.
2. Trails turning into quagmires due to spring seeps pounded into mud holes by horseshoes & bike tires. He said that these small "seeps" are important habitats which are being destroyed.
3. The game commissioner said that without intervention, former foot trails will turn into knee-deep ditches within 5 years.
4. "Homemade" new trails- former deer trails being made by new usage and cutting trails
5. Highly erodable areas, such as stream crossings will require professional help, as well as keeping traffic off.
5. Money collected from hunting licenses each year go toward the purchase and maintrenance of game lands- and the bicylists and equestrians are GUESTS. He said the primary purpose of the game lands is public hunting & trapping and the preservation of wildlife habitat.
So far, it is reported that the agency is not invoking a state-wide closure- the game commission is dealing with the problems on a case-by-case basis. Similar problems do exist on a "hand-full" of other gamelands across the state. He said it is not their intent to prohibit bicycling on SGL.
Two addresses PA riders / trail groups can write to re: "who should use state game lands", and how we can all partcipate in maintenance etc .
Roger Lehman, Chief
Office of GameLands Planning & Development
PA. Game Commission
2001 Elmerton Ave.
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797
For SE PA riders:
Bruce Metz, Land Management Supervisor
PA Game Commission, SE region
RD 2, Box 2584
Reading, PA 19605
My references for this information come from the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal- May 19th, June 1, June 2.