Re: Mug bog photo, Advocate, Sept. 14.
It’s great that the countryside has developed recreation out of what was intended to be a utility vehicle: the ATV. It is fun even just to watch mud flying all over the contestants.
I worry about the ramifications, though, when this activity is carried out on lake shores, stream riparian areas, crossing shallow streams, and wet meadows in natural areas. Recreation turns into “wreckreation.” The result is utter destruction of these areas — degrading water quality, destroying fish habitat and killing fish, and killing established vegetation and introducing invasive species.
The list of ecological damage is long. Havoc created by this type of recreation on the countryside is very much evident on the May long weekend that revisits us every year.
Area destroyed is increasing every year because landscape takes more than a year to recover.
Promoters of this recreation need to promote and educate people on responsible recreation as well.
Marilou Montemayor
Red Deer