The Red River Gorge Geological Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky | |
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RRGtoday's Featured Article Archives
Forest Service enforcing resource protection rules
in the Red River Gorge
WINCHESTER, Ky., Sept. 19, 2008
Through an initiative called "Operation Overhang," Forest Service law enforcement officers and backcountry rangers have
once again joined forces in an effort to prevent damage to the fragile biological and cultural resources in the Red River
Gorge. These officials have spent the past two weekends making direct contact with forest visitors who are camped
illegally in cliff overhangs, or rock shelters.
In Daniel Boone National Forest, camping and fire-building is prohibited within 100 feet of the base of a cliff or rock
shelter. The same regulation also prohibits camping within 300 feet of any developed road or official Forest Service trail.
"This is the third year that we have conducted Operation Overhang," said District Ranger Dave Manner. "The operation is
intended to educate forest users about the impacts that illegal camping has on sensitive plants and animals associated
with cliff habitat, as well as the impacts on cultural heritage sites in the area."
According to Patrol Captain Kim Kipp a total of 64 citations, three arrests and 45 written warnings occurred. "Many of
the violations were a result of camping in rock shelters, but citations were also issued for campfires in rock shelters,
camping within 300 feet of a road or trail, drinking in public and possession of drugs," said Kipp.
Many of the rock shelters in the Red River Gorge contain valuable evidence of historic and prehistoric people that once
thrived in this unique area. Disturbance from fire-building, digging and repeated foot travel can destroy cultural remains.
"For archaeologists, these remains provide significant information and links to the past," said Forest Archaeologist Chris
Jenkins with the Daniel Boone National Forest. "These sites have a story to tell, but once the integrity of a site is
destroyed, the story that the site could have told is lost. It's like trying to read a book with pages missing."
In addition to archaeological significance, the rock shelters in the Red River Gorge provide habitat for the rare
white-haired goldenrod, a plant found nowhere else in the world except the Red River Gorge. The repeated foot trampling
of this plant by illegal campers in rock shelters has significantly impacted this species population in some locations.
During a 2006 inventory conducted in the Red River Gorge, over two-thirds of the rock shelters that were monitored had
evidence of illegal camping and fire-building. Many of these user-developed sites are void of vegetation from years of
repeated use and impact.
According to federal regulations, damaging or removing any natural feature or other property of the United States is
prohibited. The regulations also prohibit damaging or removing any plant that is federally listed; digging or damaging
archaeological sites; and removing or damaging artifacts, fossils or other paleontological resources. Any violation of
these prohibited activities can be punishable by a fine up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
These regulations are applicable to documented activities in the Red River Gorge. A Forest Supervisor's Order on the
Daniel Boone National Forest specifies further restrictions. Visitors are encouraged to contact the Gladie Cultural
Environmental Learning Center in the Red River Gorge at (606) 663-8100 with information or questions regarding cliff
protection policies and other camping regulations.
Forest Service Order No. 12-01-05 prohibits the following activities within the Red River Gorge Geological Area:
1. Camping within 300 feet of any developed road |
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