PEAK PUTTERS

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/20 ... or-damages


Ellensburg off-roader fined $2,000 for damages


CLE ELUM -- A 22-year-old Ellensburg man was ordered to pay $2,000 to help restore a Reecer Creek meadow that he extensively damaged with his pickup.

Jose Mora Villanueva, 22, was charged in U.S. District Court in Yakima with damaging the land through off-road use of a vehicle.

The case was filed in August after off-road enthusiasts reported to the Forest Service that they saw pictures of the damaged area posted on a Craigslist advertisement where Mora was trying to sell the truck.

Forest Service investigators and Kittitas County sheriff's deputies were able to locate the damaged area -- which covered about a half-acre -- and obtain a statement from Mora, acccording to court records.

Mora pleaded guilty and the case was closed last month.

The Forest Service issued a news release this week, noting a zero-tolerance policy for illegal "mudding."

"We have zero tolerance for mudding and will similarly prosecute other mudders. It is a problem every year, and leads to erosion, spread of noxious weeds, loss of water storage in the ground, and the damage remains obvious for years," said Tim Foss, trails manager for the Cle Elum Ranger District.

A Wenatchee man was sentenced two years ago to nearly two years in prison for a similar incident, according to the news release.

I gotta admit, I never have been a fan of mud. I'm not afraid to hit it but I wouldn't go somewhere just to mud.

Guess he shoulda kept his pickup, would have been cheaper probably.

Peanut wrote:The case was filed in August after off-road enthusiasts reported to the Forest Service...

...and those enthusiasts were ORV-TW?

LiftedZuki wrote:I gotta admit, I never have been a fan of mud. I'm not afraid to hit it but I wouldn't go somewhere just to mud.

Guess he shoulda kept his pickup, would have been cheaper probably.

The point isn't fun or fear. This clown was breaking the law, being extremely irresponsible, and helping everyone paint us responsible wheelers with the same bad brush. Not only does mudding in mountain meadows do unbelievable enviromental damage, it is responsible for getting trails closed to those of us who use wheeling for good, responsible family fun.

Actually I'm not sure who it was. It was brought to my attention on NWW and there was a guy who posted saying he was pretty sure he knew who it was and where - but he immediately was attacked by the nay sayers off NWW. He clammed up and disappeared. Even with PM's I wasn't able to get any information out of him. So it went stagnant for me.

So I commend the person who turned them in.
Big thank you and good job!

Oh, I really thought that was one that was in your file.

(Take credit, nobody will ever know better.)

Yup I had it, but couldn't really go anywhere with it when I couldn't get anymore information on it.

So I'm really glad that someone was able to get the information and get them turned in.

This makes me happy