To the editor:

There is illegal off-roading at Clinton Lake as Americans love this form of fast-paced and environmentally deleterious “recreation” that we see on TV commercials each day. But the off-roading explanation (Journal World, Dec. 23) for the cause of the ruinous condition of the road(s) to the Rock Creek boat ramp was misleading.

Fires, littering and illegal woodcutting, as well as off-roading, occur at Clinton Wildlife Management area. These illegal activities do not keep those of us who are safe and sane users of this amazing resource away from the benefits of outdoor activities: hiking, canoeing, kayaking, birding, fishing and hunting.

LLack of maintenance is why the road is a wreck at Rock Creek. I have used this road many times in each of the last 11 years (until its closure). I have seen it deteriorate and call with complaints each year. If Douglas County or other locales with many gravel secondary roads did zero maintenance, we would see the roads turn to useless potholes. The state of Kansas has a contract to manage this property, which is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I believe both sides share certain obligations, and I suspect that getting the resource users who ultimately pay the bills into a great spot with a good boat ramp would be part of the contract.