John C. Dohrenwend, adjunct professor of geosciences, University of Arizona, a geologist who has studied the world's desert landscapes for more than 30 years, characterized Factory Butte and its surrounding Caineville badlands most appropriately when he stated in a letter to the Bureau of Land Management, "these badlands may well be the best-developed badlands on the North American Continent."

The question is, "For how long?"

These badlands are bordered by Capitol Reef National Park on the west, the San Rafael Swell on the north, the Henry Mountains on the south and Canyonlands National Park on the east. Factory Butte, North Caineville Mesa and South Caineville Mesa are the dominant features.

These monoliths of sandstone and Mancos shale have been influenced by the sculpturing hands of nature for more than 100,000 years. The hands of nature have done an incredible job of forming some of the most striking and beautiful land forms under a desert sky.

Today these incredible land forms are falling victim to the unrelenting wheels of off-road extreme machines. The impact to the landscape is shocking and irreversible. The riders are restricted only by the natural barriers. And the technology of the machine is steadily finding ways to overcome these barriers.

There are many designated roads and trails in the area that offer ample opportunity and access for all. Many of the machines do not follow the roads and trails. The drivers of these off-road machines are extreme sport riders and are not there to experience the beauty of a truly remarkable area. They are there rather to get an adrenalin rush from the machine as it races over the fragile gray hills.

According to numbers generated by a tentative study conducted by Dohrenwend, as much as 50 tons of landscape will blow or wash away unnaturally each year from each acre of disturbed gray hillside broken by the wheels of the machines. This is a rate at least five times faster than the natural rate of erosion. These disturbing numbers will only increase as the machines disturb more ground.

Nature is no match for the evolving machine.

The Bureau of Land Management is aware of the destructive impact the extreme sport has on the fragile environment of these badlands. More than 20 years ago researchers working for the BLM warned that the machines severely threatened the future of this landscape.

In 1995 the district manager informed concerned citizens that a management plan was due to be released very soon and would deal with the conflict between nature and the machine. He indicated that the management plan would include an off-road play area designed to allow off-road enthusiasts the thrill they are seeking without sacrificing the entire badlands area.

Now, 10 years later, there are still no management practices in place to protect the little remaining undisturbed area.

The BLM declares that its job is to manage the land in a manner that allows for multiple use of the land. One of the phrases the bureau uses is, "Enjoy, don't destroy." And yet, the unrestricted use of extreme off-road machines does destroy and does completely eliminate other uses from the area.

Many business persons from the area have asked the BLM to protect the designated scenic byway, Highway 24, from the visual impairment generated by the machines.

They have said that tourism is a sustainable industry that cannot be outsourced. They have indicated to the Bureau of Land Management that nearly 606,000 tourists visited Capitol Reef National Park in 2004. These tourists were interested in a quality visual experience.

Most of these tourists traveled through the increasing wasteland generated by the off-road machines that extends for more than 20 miles from Hanksville to Capitol Reef National Park. Many are so offended that they hurry through the area without stopping.

The question being asked by many is "Who is the Bureau of Land Management serving?" Are they serving hundreds of thousands of visitors who annually travel along Highway 24 and the local businesses that rely on those visitors?

Or are they serving a few riders and the makers of the machines that these riders use?

A sacrifice zone appropriately sized to the use should be designated. This zone will allow the extreme machines and their riders the opportunity to express themselves. The existing roads and trails can be used by other riders to access the truly remarkable vistas of the area. And the roadless areas can be used by the plant and animal community, which does contain several threatened and endangered species, to sustain itself.

This would be a true implementation of multiple use and would be fair and right for all involved. Now is the time to implement this management strategy. Later will be too late.

Who is the BLM serving?

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Randy Ramsley is a farmer and business owner in Caineville, Utah.