Cromer Ridge Area

Notice: The Cromer Ridge area (Cromer Ridge, Livingston I-75 exit 49, Hwy 909) is closed to off-highway vehicles (OHV) and all-terrain vehicles (ATV). There are no designated OHV/ATV trails in this area.

Beginning in October 2007, some roads in the Cromer Ridge area will be temporarily gated to prohibit motorized access and allow natural recovery of the land. It is illegal to tamper with or go around these gates.

Public vs. private land - The national forest system (NFS) lands of the Daniel Boone National Forest are intermingled with private land ownerships. The national forest boundaries are marked on the ground to determine where public meets private land.

Under Kentucky state law, OHV/ATV use is prohibited on private land without permission from the landowner. On open public roads, motorized use is limited to motor vehicles and operators in full compliance with the Kentucky Department of Transportation. State regulations require street legal motor vehicles that are properly equipped, licensed, and insured. Vehicle operators must have a valid state driver's license.

Project Summary
In the Cromer Ridge area, many years of illegal motorized use have resulted in severe soil erosion problems with cumulative adverse effects on wildlife, vegetation, and water quality. Widespread and repetitive off-highway vehicle traffic has scarred the landscape and degraded the land value. Historic sites, including cemeteries, have been significantly impacted.

In 2006, a watershed restoration project began in an effort to reduce some of these impacts. A few goals of the project include:

This Cromer Ridge watershed project is being conducted in partnership with the following partners:

This work was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act through the Kentucky Division of Water to the Daniel Boone National Forest (Grant # C9994861-05).

Impacts at Cromer Ridge


Above: A playground area that has eroded to bedrock.	Above: This is an aerial photo of a typical playground area.

Above: A sediment plume from the OHV areas can be seen in Woods Creek Lake.	Above: Soil loss on a typical trail section.

Improvements


These road improvements are designed to reduce erosion. Vehicles must stay on the gravel surfaces.

Fields were planted in native grasses to provide habitat and food for wildlife. Motor vehicles are prohibited in these areas.

Cromer Ridge Watershed Restoration Project