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The Keep the Medicine Bow WILD Plan will not only do wonderful things for the environment. It will do wonderful things for recreationists as well.
Protecting non-motorized recreational opportunities.
Hiking
Not many people like to hike through clearcuts and other places devastated by logging operations. But most people do enjoy hiking and exploring the natural beauty of wild places like Rock Creek Canyon and Laramie Peak. By protecting these places from logging operations and new roads, the Keep the Medicine Bow WILD Plan will also protect people's ability to hike and enjoy the last roadless areas of the Medicine Bow.
Fishing
Unfortunately, water quality is often degraded by irresponsible motorized use on the Medicine Bow-when off-road vehicles are driven through and along fragile riparian areas. The Citizens' Plan will protect water quality by keeping motorized vehicles on roads.
Cross-country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Often, skiers and snowshoers are frustrated by the impossibility of escaping the sights, sounds, and smells of snowmobiles. The Keep the Medicine Bow WILD Plan will protect and increase non-motorized winter recreational opportunities by asking snowmobilers to stay on roads-so that this forest might be shared and enjoyed by everyone.
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Encouraging Responsible Motorized Recreation
Considering the negative environmental impacts of off-road vehicle use, the Keep the Medicine Bow WILD position on motorized vehicles seems incredibly simple. Responsible motorized recreation occurs when vehicles, including snowmobiles, stay on roads. The Keep the Medicine Bow WILD Plan will maintain all Forest Service developed routes, so thousands of miles of roads will be open to motorized vehicles. These roads are not plowed and provide almost unlimited motorized recreational opportunities-summer or winter.
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