Ranger: Interest Groups Can Blame Themselves for Fells Rule-Breaking

There's a "culture of non-compliance" when it comes to rules in Middlesex Fells Reservation, and the people most passionate about the area are in part to blame, according to one official.

Breaking of rules in the 2,600-acre reservation stems partly from stakeholder groups, who are more interested in focusing on the behavior of others than educating their members on Fells rules, Curt Rudge, Chief Ranger for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, said in a public hearing Wednesday.

The Friends of the Fells, the New England Mountain Biking Association and Fells Dog Owner Group—the three major activist groups when it comes to the Fells—promote their own interests and “are focused on their own goals," when they could be focusing on encouraging members to follow the rules, Rudge said.

“There certainly are a lot of uses up there—and conflicting uses.” Rudge said.

Rudge, along with other officials from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, presented a summary of a draft Resource Management Plan for the Fells Wednesday night in the McGlynn Middle School Auditorium in Medford.

The plan aims to outline management goals and recommendations for the reservation, evaluate existing conditions and create land stewardship zoning.

As it stands now, it calls for improved trail signage and maps, preserving areas that are currently trail-free, and designated areas for uses like mountain biking and off-leash dogs, according to the summary given by DCR officials Wednesday.

It also calls to eliminate some trails that are either poorly kept or redundant. There are 132 dead end trails in the Fells, and 2000 trail intersections, Rudge said.

“All of these create an environment where even the best intended user is going to be confused … it’s certainly a problem for us.” he said.

Stakeholders Express Disappointment, Skepticism

The DCR has created a designated off-leash area for dogs at the Sheepfold, but the draft resource management plan shows no intentions for designated trails to allow for off-leash dog-walking.

“I think dog owners are going to be very disappointed,” said David Monahan, a member of Fells Dog Owners Group.

While the plan does not call for off-leash dog trails, it doesn't rule them out in the future, Conservation and recreation planner Dan Driscoll said.

“Whether or not that (the Sheepfold off-leash area) will evolve to trails is a future step at this time," he said.

Mountain Bikers: Compliance Will Only Come with Change

The draft plan came with some good news to mountain bikers, as it calls to consider single-track loop opportunities in Eastern Fells and make bicycle trails part of larger strategy in Dark Hollow Area.

But Adam Glick, president of the Boston Chapter of the New England Mountain Biking Association, said he would wait until he read the entire plan to give his opinion on it.

Unless it calls for change in policy when in comes to biking in the Fells it will be difficult to convince other mountain bikers to follow the rules.

“If there’s not change, you’re not going to get compliance.” Glick said.

While working on the management plan, the DCR reviewed complaints filed from incidents in the Fells that showed no hikers filed complaints stemming from incidents with mountain bikers between 2007 and 2010, said Paul Jahnige, DCR Director of Greenways and Trails.

Stakeholders Could Come Together

There is clearly contention between preservation group Friends of the Fells and the other Fells activists, but Bryan Hamlin, Chairman of the Board at Friends, said he believed they should be able to hold collective meetings to focus on common goals.

“It should be possible to meet," he said. "We don’t have to keep cursing each other all the time."

Give Your Input

The DCR will be taking written public comment on the draft resource management plan and aims to have it finalized and approved by December or January, Jahnige said.

The plan can be found here. Comments should be emailed to rmp.comments@state.ma.us.