Friends of the Canyons
Observation and Response
Field Guide
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Why this field guide?
For the past years, Bear River Watershed Council has worked with a coalition of diverse user groups, including the Wasatch Outlaw Wheelers and the Utah 4-Wheel Drive Association, to restore impacts from irresponsible motorized users. The restoration efforts are making a difference.
However, without a continued presence of volunteers willing to report suspicious activity, issues, and vandalism, this effort could fail.
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Using this field guide
On each page you will find photos examples of issues such as erosion or habitat degradation. This field guide is to be used as a resource tool for determining a response to the specific issue and help make a long-term difference.
The Observation is: What you witness, any form of impact to public resources and/or suspicious activity.
Your Response Should be: If something has been destroyed or damaged, fix and restore what you can. If necessary contact Friends of the Canyons coordinator or the Forest Service for further assistance. If you see irresponsible or suspicious activity involving vehicles, note the license plate number, vehicle description, and a picture if possible. Contact the Forest Service or Cache County Sheriff with the information. If there is an immediate threat to public safety, contact the Cache County Sheriff.
How to report:
If you witness abuse contact:
• The U.S. Forest Service: 435-755-3620
• Cache County Sheriff: 435-716-9400
• Bear River Watershed Council: brwc@xmission.com
If a vehicle is involved, please note location and vehicle description (snowmobile, motorcycle, ATV) including color, rider’s clothing, and helmet colors and, best of all, a sticker number or license plate number. If possible, take a photo and GPS reading.
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| This motorcycle registration sticker is on the column. | This ATV registration sticker is on the back and difficult to see. |
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Fire rings/litter
| The Observation: Numerous fire rings, trash, and other impacts from dispersed camping or irresponsible users. |
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The Response: Clean ash, glass, aluminum cans, plastic, and other litter from fire rings. A telescoping magnet is very useful to retrieve all of the nails left from burning pallets. The magnets may be purchased at local hardware store or contact BRWC. If the fire ring is in an inappropriate area, or if there is more than one ring in the same proximity, disperse the rocks and scatter the ashes. Carry plastic garbage bags.
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Signs shot, destroyed, or removed
The Observation: Signs damaged by being shot, spray painted, run over, or completely removed. Often these signs display acceptable and prohibited modes of travel or recreational activities. |
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| The Response: Contact BRWC or the Forest Service to have the sign replaced as soon as possible. Once the sign is replaced, put an American flag sticker on it and create a small natural barrier at the base using rocks or sticks. |
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| Maintaining or replacing signs as soon as they have been vandalized is perceived as a constant presence and eventually the vandalism diminishes. If the damaged or missing sign puts the public in immediate danger, such as a missing stop sign, contact the Forest Service immediately. |
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Bio-Hazard
| The Observation: Finding areas used for latrines, port a-potties, or items on the ground such as disposable urinals, sanitary napkins, diapers, and/or bloody items. |
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Noxious weeds
| The Observation: Plants that look out of place by color, size, or shape. On federal lands alone, invasive noxious weeds are spreading at a rate of more than 4,600 acres per day (nationally). |  |
The Response: If possible, learn to identify noxious weeds. If not sure, pull the plant and bring it to the Cache County Weed Office. Prevention is the first line of defense by recognizing, reporting, and controlling new infestations before they have a chance to spread.
For more information visit: www.utahweed.org
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Attempted barrier removal
| The Observation: Barriers such as fence posts have been torn down or removed. The Response: If possible, repair and refasten the fence posts. If posts are missing, contact the Forest Service for new supplies. |
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Breaching barrier
| The Observation: A cross bar on a barrier has been removed or motorized vehicles are driving around barriers. |  |
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| The Response: If possible, find the cross bar and refasten. If not possible, use debris to block passage until the Forest Service can repair. If a barrier is being breached, contact BRWC. |  |
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Driving in spring
| The Observation: Deep ruts and torn vegetation are created from vehicles spinning out in the mud. New routes might also be created in fields or along existing roads. |  |
The Response: The ruts can be filled with natural barriers to discourage further destruction. If the area sees frequent illegal traffic and destruction, contact BRWC or the Forest Service about building a barrier around the area for restoration. If you witness people tearing up the vegetation with their vehicles, take a picture, get a vehicle description including licensing, and a description of the driver. Contact the Forest Service ASAP at 755-3620. Do not approach anybody about a problem—report it to the district!
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Unauthorized stream crossings
| The Observation: Vegetation along the bank of the stream is torn up and the stream bed is widened. |
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The Response: Use natural barriers such as rocks and logs to block both sides of the stream, please keep any debris or crossing-obstructions above the high water mark. The Forest Service can also be contacted about placing a sign. Authorized route stream crossings are legal but if there is no bridge, contact the Forest Service to see if one can or should be built. If you witness people crossing streams illegally in their vehicles take a picture, get a vehicle description including licensing, and a description of the driver. Contact the Forest Service. Do not approach anybody about a problem—report it to the district.
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Construction of bridges,
dams, shelters, and memorials
| The Observation: Structures have been built which appear to be temporary or unauthorized. Memorials of any kind are not authorized. |
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The Response: The Forest Service does allow structures to be built with written permission. If the structure you would like to remove could have possibly been built with permission, contact BRWC before removing it. If it is apparent that the structure is temporary and/or unauthorized, remove what you can and take it to the dump. Ask for the fee to be waived for volunteer efforts. Memorials should not be removed but reported directly to the Forest Service. A photo and specific location would be helpful.
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Paintball and airsoft
| The Observation: The area is littered with splattered paint, paintball shells, or airsoft pellets which are small and green. Structures such as forts and dugouts may have been constructed and barriers may have been brought in for more obstacles. A network of high-use trail systems might also exist. |  |
The Response: If possible, remove structures that have been built, and clean up what you can. Contact BRWC to organize a cleanup.
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Blocking unauthorized, user-created, routes
| The Observation: Unauthorized routes and roads have been created by users for shortcuts or other purposes. |  |
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| The Response: The idea is to deter irresponsible users and maintain or begin the restoration process. Pile logs, branches, and rocks to block unauthorized routes. If necessary obstructions can follow the entire route intermittently, spaced as far apart as needed. If possible, maintain the obstruction. |
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| Placing debris directly around
barriers and signs helps stop vandalism. Return to the site often to maintain. |
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If users scatter the barriers to access the unauthorized routes, rebuild them as soon as possible. Placing multiple barriers along the routes can discourage the users who will hopefully give up after seeing how much work it will take to clear the path. Hand saws can be used to cut more manageable-sized logs, and using a pry bar can help move large boulders. |
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Organize restoration projects
and/or litter pick up
| The Observation: Large amounts of litter or off-route, unauthorized travel. Enough work that the community is needed to make an impact. |  |
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| The Response: Contact BRWC to offer suggestions and for assistance in organization possibilities. Garbage Disposal: Garbage bags are available from the Forest Service and they can be disposed of in the dumpster at the Ranger Station. Large items can be taken to the Logan Landfill. |
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| Top: Providence Canyon watershed protection barriers.
Bottom: Planting seed for restoration effort and erosion control above Hyde Park Canyon. |
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Ask for a fee waiver for volunteer efforts. Please recycle all applicable materials. Recycling bins are located on the southeast side of Hillside Elementary, the north side of Smith’s, or on the USU campus. |
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