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] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]