I have received this from Eric Nielsen who is working to oppose the
proposed ATV park in Clayton County.  If you have questions about this
project, please contact me at [log in to unmask]  There has been some
discussion about this proposal on this list previously.

Jane Clark

Please make your feelings known to:
Arnie Sohn
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone (515) 281-5814
[log in to unmask]


Fellow Iowa Environmentalists  --  In my capacity as the organizer and
webmaster of noatvpark.org, I would request that you and your organization
help us stop the proposed All Terrain Vehicle "park" on the quiet banks of
the Turkey River near Elkader, in Clayton County.  The park is proposed on
the banks of some of the most remote and pristine canoeing waters which our
state has to offer.

Our online petition drive is detailed in the press release excerpted at the
end of this email.  Please take the few moments to sign the petition at
www.noatvpark.org , and forward this to any and all potentially interested
colleagues (without recourse to spamming, naturally).  I would also
appreciate it if this information were forwarded to related listservs; I
certainly could not have found all of them.

If you have further questions, please feel free to email me directly.  I
would also greatly appreciate any reports of our efforts which appear in
the
mainstream media, as I am also sending out that press release today.

Many thanks!!

Eric Nielsen, [log in to unmask]
www.noatvpark.org
(This email is intended as professional communication between organizations
with similar environmental politics.  If you have recieved this email in
error, please jot me a note and I will immediately remove you from my list
of environmentalist organizations!! )

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Fight Against ATV Park on the Turkey River Goes Online

Opponents of a proposed ATV "park" near Elkader have set up a website to
collect names on a petition against the plan. The site, www.noatvpark.org,
provides a means for people outside of Clayton County to learn about the
Iowa Department of Natural Resources plan to purchase about 200 acres for
use by all terrain vehicles.

Eric Nielsen, a former Elkader resident currently living in West Branch,
organized the development of the noatvpark.org website on behalf of a broad
base of non-residents who have enjoyed the natural recreation of Clayton
County. Noatvpark.org supporters dispute claims by ATV park advocates who
often suggest that park development would lure increasing amounts of
tourist
dollars into the area. "It is a fact," Nielsen commented, "the noise and
activity of the machines will be driving some tourists away. We believe
that
a broad range of natural recreation will bring a much wider variety and
greater number of tourists than type-specific recreation such as an ATV
'park.' "

Nielsen urged people to visit the website and add their names to the list
of
park opponents before January 24, when the petition will be presented to
the
DNR at a 7 p.m. public meeting at the Elkader Opera House. "I'm hoping
anybody who has ever enjoyed a quiet afternoon on the river will please
take
a minute from the day and click up this petition!" said Nielsen. Being an
avid canoeist, he noted that the Turkey River below Elkader is one of the
state's most peaceful and attractive canoeing streams.

Although the website has been in the test phase for about a month, it
already has attracted about 100 signatures "with no publicity at all,"
Nielsen said. He expects many more people to sign on when they hear of the
effort.

In addition to the concern over the effects on tourism, park opponents cite
potential impacts on rare plant and animal communities adjacent to the
site.
Several neighboring landowners also have voiced strong opposition, fearing
trespassing and liability problems, as well as decreasing property values.

Nielsen said the group doesn't necessarily oppose any ATV park, if that
park
could be relocated where it would not have so many negative impacts on the
Turkey River Valley and adjacent landowners.

"It may be possible that there is some location in Clayton County that
actually is appropriate for ATV activity," Nielsen said, "but that place is
certainly not along the banks of the Turkey River!" Other natural areas
also
must be avoided, Nielsen added. He quoted Iowa OHV Association
recommendations that such parks be located in heavily disturbed areas,
".such as old strip mines."

For site maps and more information, visit www.noatvpark.org.

CONTACT: Eric Nielsen, 13956 Plato Rd., West Branch, IA 52358

319/643-3141 [log in to unmask]

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