A man explores the Rockcastle River in Eastern Kentucky. (Mike Wilkinson/The Nature Conservancy)
It’s amazing how quickly we forget. In the not-too-distant past local residents and environmentalists were concerned about the damage done to local streams and rivers from strip mine run-off. While much of this danger has abated as strip mines closed and sites were rehabilitated, it seems as if a new danger lurks, one that many seem to be embracing. This is the damage being done to local country roads, trails, and ultimately creeks and rivers in Eastern Kentucky and all across the country by large off-road all- terrain vehicles.
It was good to see the recent economic development for Owsley County with plans for a plant to finish assembly for these types of vehicles. Economic development is surely needed in our region. But there is a disturbing underbelly to this issue. Down the backroads to a largely remote area, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has constructed a bridge over Sturgeon Creek where Little Sturgeon provides a confluence. Across the creek sits a parcel of land owned by the Owsley Fiscal Court that is being developed as an Appalachian Overland Triangle, called the beginning of an off-road paradise. What was once a pristine Appalachian farm with horses, cattle, and tobacco is now being turned into an area for roaring machines.
The county road that parallels Sturgeon Creek is a part of the DBBB Byway, a set of trails along country roads for off road vehicles. Designated for legal, road-worthy vehicles this byway stretches for miles, often through the Daniel Boone National Forest. Many, many sections have become so rough that even though I drive a four-wheel drive truck, it is impassable for me. In places along the trail and in Hollerwood and other areas, creeks are being impacted. Even small creeks provide run-off into larger bodies of water. And some of these monster machines think it is great fun to drive right up the middle of larger creeks and rivers. With tires six feet tall on some machines, this is entirely possible. It makes me sad to think of the future damage that will occur along Sturgeon Creek.
The damage is evident. Over the years of wading and fishing these waters across southeastern Kentucky, it is apparent that washed sediment is causing them to become wider, shallower, and filled with silt. Much of this is caused by ATV damage. Silting affects fish spawn and suspended sediment can even harm the gill structures of fish.
The South Fork of Station Camp Creek which lies on Highway 89 between Irvine and McKee used to be a pristine wilderness with limited access. Now it is a highway of ATV trails that crisscross the creek and mostly leave it in a constant state of turbidity.
Farms in Kentucky are required to have a water quality plan filed with the Natural Resource and Conservation Service to protect streams and bodies of water that flow through. Why should this not be required for all streams that off-road vehicles cross? The Forest Service used to have concrete pylons on crossings and this should at least be a requirement for all off-road approved trails. In many ways this destruction is the same as what was experienced by strip mines. Outrage over this practice was tremendous and in many ways another exploitation of the land.
Much more needs to be done to promote the beauty of Eastern Kentucky, and we are seeing this in the explosions of hikers, campers, sightseers, kayakers, and other outdoor enthusiasts in the Red River Gorge. Abandoned railways could be used by hikers and bikers similar to what was done on the Miami River in Ohio.
I am a fisherman wading the streams and enjoying the quiet solitude of the waters. Sam Cook wrote a book, which I possess, called “Quiet Magic.” That is exactly what the waters of Eastern Kentucky provide. Everyone is not a fisherman, but the sanctity of our small creeks, streams, and rivers needs to be preserved.
I’ll close with some powerful words from Normand Maclean, who wrote “A River Runs Through It.”
“Then in the Artic-half lie of the canyon all existence fades to a being of my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will arise.
“Eventually all things merge into one and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of these rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are words, and some of the words are theirs.
“I am haunted by waters.”
Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
