COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (AP) -- Federal land managers will ban motorcycles on a popular trail system near Colorado Springs to protect the endangered greenback cutthroat trout.
The Colorado Springs Gazette reported Wednesday the Forest Service will close the trails around Bear Creek in the Pike National Forest to settle a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity.
The suit said erosion from motorcycles damages fish habitat.
Research reported last summer said the Bear Creek greenback cutthroats were the only genetically pure population left. About 750 live in four miles of the creek.
The Center for Biological Diversity praised the decision.
Don Riggle of the Colorado Trails Preservation Alliance, which advocates for motorcycle trail access, says motorcycles are being unfairly singled out. He says mountain bikes, horses and hikers cause more damage than motorcycles.
(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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