environmentalimpactsfromsnowmobileuse-Winter.PDFVIP

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM SNOWMOBILE USE Scientific evidence indicates that over-snow vehicles (OSVs) produce significant impacts on animals, plants, soils, air and water quality, and the ecology of entire winter ecosystems. OSV impacts to wildlife and wildlands represent a negative cycle where one impact leads to and compounds the next, and where the synergistic impacts cascade into major, long-term, and potentially cumulative adverse impacts. While the severity of OSV impacts will differ depending on the site-specific characteristics of an area, OSV use clearly impacts any winter ecosystem on which it occurs. WHAT’S INSIDE  Impacts to wildlife Snowmobile noise and activity disturbs wintering wildlife - causing stress, elevated energy expenditures, and changes in habitat use. In turn, these impacts can displace wildlife from their preferred habitat or even reduce an animal’s chances of surviving the winter.  Impacts to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems Pollution from snowmobile exhaust accumulates in the snowpack and is released during spring snowmelt, elevating the acidity of nearby surface waters.  Soil and Vegetation Damage Snowmobiles cause significant damage to land cover through direct physical injury to plants and increased erosion in areas with inadequate snow cover. Snowmobiles compact the snow, affecting vegetation growth and development later in the year.  Impacts to air and water quality Snowmobile exhaust contains dangerous levels of airborne toxins including nitrogen oxides,