Legislation for ALL Oregon Dunes

[Senator]

The Siuslaw National Forest, located in western Oregon, has announced that a meeting for the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Designated Routes Working Group for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (Oregon Dunes) will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010, at the North Bend Public Library, located at 1800 Sherman Avenue in North Bend.

Working Group members represent the following specific interests or organizations: Organized OHV groups, unaffiliated OHV users, outfitters and/or guide businesses, mushroom pickers, fish and wildlife advocates, conservation groups, local Tribes, local community leaders, State ATV Program, local emergency response agencies, local Parks Departments, local landowners, and the general public.

This will be the fifth in a series of six meetings of the Working Group. During previous meetings, the group reviewed and discussed background information about the Oregon Dunes and the designation of routes in Management Area 10(C), discussed criteria for evaluating alternative OHV routes that could be considered for designation, and developed initial ideas for alternative routes in the middle riding area (Umpqua Beach area) and north riding area of the NRA. The group has also participated in field tours to look at conditions on the ground in all three riding areas (north, middle and south).

The Working Group will meet from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, and the public is invited to attend. The meeting agenda will be focused on developing initial designated route proposals for the south riding area (area to the north of Horsfall Beach Road) and reviewing designated route proposals for the middle and north riding areas that were developed at previous meetings. The public is invited to attend the meeting. A public comment period will be provided at 2:30 pm.

Individuals requiring alternate format material or accommodation, or who have questions regarding the meeting can contact Ross Holloway, OHV Designated Routes Working Group Facilitator, by phone at 503-812-4056 or by e-mail at rholloway@inciplan.net.

More information about the OHV working group, meeting times and agendas can be found online at Siuslaw National Forest - Oregon Dunes NRA OHV Designated Routes

[Senator]

Panel: Keep dunes routes open

By Rachel Finney, Staff Writer
Monday, June 7, 2010


Local dunes enthusiasts can breathe a little easier after the latest meeting on off-highway vehicle routes in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

A public working group, meeting to advise the U.S. Forest Service on the issue, said Saturday it won't propose closures in the area south of Spinreel Campground.

"We didn't close any currently open designated routes," said Ross Holloway, the working group facilitator.

That conclusion came amid a day marked by testimony from local dune riders. About 20 people turned out for Saturday's two public comment sessions. No hikers, birders or other nonmotorized recreationists attended.

Melvin Lesher said he just wants Siuslaw National Forest officials to consider the economic impact of the dunes.

"That is a multimillion-dollar industry," he said.

Craig Hawkins agreed.

"We've got to be fostering, at every level across the country, economic growth," Hawkins said. "We need to be thinking bigger picture than whatever our desires are."

Supporters of dune riding proposed opening a corridor north to Winchester Bay. The area in question used to be open for OHV use, but in recent years it has been designated for hiking and other "quiet" recreation.

"The area north of Tenmile, for every one person who walks that area, we probably have 100 people with OHVs," said Rod Roberts from the Coos County sheriff's office, who both polices the dunes and rides there for recreation.

"This is not my official opinion," he said. "This is my personal opinion."

Opening that area to ATVs could have "a potential huge impact economically," Hawkins said.

Some speakers praised the working group's handling of the situation.

"You guys are really doing a nice job," said Fritz Gross, a KOA campground owner. "I realize that the Forest Service doesn't have to take your recommendations ... but I feel that our dunes are in good hands."

Apart from the public comments, Saturday's meeting focused on the details of route proposals. The working group's overall goal is to designate route proposals to satisfy the 1994 ODNRA Management Plan.

The group looked at connecting the Bull Run staging area and Bark Road route, because OHV users currently must ride miles to reach beach access. The inconvenience angers and frustrates many out-of-town visitors.

Another tough issue concerned Beale Lake. The north end of the lake is currently closed to ATV access because of a wildlife protection designation, but nobody at Saturday's meeting seemed to know what the management plan was trying to protect.

Hawkins, who uses wheelchair, said he can't enjoy the lake without vehicle access.

"Beale Lake and Snag Lake were closed for really no reason," he said.

Arrow Coyote, a working group member representing the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, suggested a compromise.

"I'm just wondering if they could make an exception for somebody who's handicapped?" she asked.

Many questions remain concerning the management plan, including the Forest Service's previous reasons for opening or closing various areas. Holloway hopes for answers at the next meeting, when Mike Harvey of the Siuslaw National Forest attends. He was on the original committee that created the management plan.

"We have to make sure people understand that this is a work in progress," Holloway said.

Outdoors Writer Rachel Finney can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 237, or at rfinney@theworldlink.com.

Link: Panel: Keep dunes routes open

[Senator]

Next Meeting:

Saturday, June 26, 8:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Meeting at the Florence Events Center
Located at 715 Quince Street in Florence, OR.

Also, has everyone here hooked up with SaveTheRidersDunes (STRD) on facebook yet? I admit I'm brand new to Facebook, and I never thought I would give in and get on there. But, this effort is really moving forward rapidly on facebook now and I have to give that credit where credit is due. It's spreading like a virus!

Link: Save the Riders Dunes Info | Facebook


The notes from the June 5th meeting are not available yet but it was a productive meeting. Some good news from that one is that the USFS is beginning to take into account the economic impacts of different decisions. Also, the anti-OHV folks seem to have very little complaint with what the working group calls the middle riding area (Winchester Bay) and the Southern riding area (Coos Bay). So for now at least, it looks llike those two areas don't have too much on the chopping block. Unfortunately, the mushroom pickers, the birders, a local councilman (Mark Tilton), liberal fish and wildlife representatives, and basically everyone else is trying very hard to snatch a lot of riding area in Florence. Also Mark Tilton has "suggested" to the working group that he "wouldn't mind" drafting the working groups recommendation and bringing it back for the working group to approve...THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. Mr. Tilton is extremely anti-OHV and letting him draft the recommendation would be like asking the fox to count the hens and bring back a report. Keep your eye on that and be very aware of how devistational it could be.

[Senator]

Reminder that a pivotal meeting in this process is this Saturday in Florence. Get your ass there!

Saturday, June 26, 8:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Meeting at the Florence Events Center
Located at 715 Quince Street in Florence, OR.

[Senator]

The public comment portion of the meeting was all about noise. It is an issue, and a serious one. Very little of the working group's time was spent on it though. The working group has noted the concern and will, in due diligence, pass it along to the USFS as a part of their report. The meeting was primarily about what to do about designating trails, specifically in the souther riding area (Coos Bay), since that was the plan for this meeting.

Highlights:

The issue of Mark Tilton heading up a subcommitte to draft the key issues report was supposed to be discussed as an agenda item but wasn't. This could either mean the idea is being slipped by us or is being rejected. If the former occurs, we're eff'ed so hopefully it's the latter.

A member of the USFS involved in creating the 1994 Managment Plan was there to give insight on the original intentions of the plan. This was valuable for a few reasons. First it gave the working group an idea of what was possible, probable and unlikely as far as the mechanics of moving forward with the process of how to designate trails without too much red tape. In my opinion, this clarifies what options can and can't work based on USFS protocol and has already allowed the working group to dismiss some potential complications. It also laid out the notiion of NOT OVERCOMPLICATING the process, lest it be rejected altogether. All valuable stuff.

Probably the most people showing up for public comment to any of the working group meetings so far. Unfortunately the size of the pro-OHV folks isn't growing...the newcomers are all noise haters, OHV haters, and haters in general. This is bad, especially if it's a sign of who will show up when the working group submits their recommedation to the USFS, they draft ideas and open it to public comment for real. Then we'll be playing for keeps.

It cost my family $196 for us to attend this meeting. That's money out of our pocket that we could have spent on any number of other things in an ever increasingly tight budget. This is the 6th meeting we've gone to and the first three we commuted from Seattle to attend. You do the math. If I don't start seeing some additional support from other OHV users, I will begin reallocating these funds. The time has come for everyone, especially you Oregonians, to stop caring with your keyboard and actually do something to get involved. Hopefully tomorrow I will be less disgusted with the lack of concern by my fellow riders and apologize for these harsh comments. But maybe I won't.

[glamy]

Yeah, when billions of barrels of oil are spewing into the gulf there worried about noise & plants! I respect what your doing Senator, i hear your frustration but the only thing i can suggest is you throw 100 million dollars at it like meg witman and hope it goes away! Otherwise, sharpin up the dykes and get ready to cut their fences down for your right to party! Oh , keep your guns clean & stock up on plenty of ammo before they take that away too!!!

[Mrs. Senator]

It's OK fellas, Senator has calmed down from this weekend's disappointment

[All250R]

Hey, Im new. I signed up to post to this thread. I ride in the Imperial dunes in So Cal, and have been to the Oregon dunes once. My friends like to go and were hoping to make another run this summer possibly.

I read through the minutes and notes you've made for about 20 minutes. If I may, it's tough to get a quick grasp on the bottom line through the details. Could you post some type of summary possibly so we can get the high level and then dig into the details for more info if desired?

A potentially obtuse question then is should we postpone plans to travel up the coast to ride? If you can't even go through banshee hill, it sounds like a lot of the draw of having the naturalness of trees that makes the area appealing is gone. If that's the case staying in So Cal is a lot closer for that type of experience.

Thanks for looking into things and posting. On another note it is massively annoying for people to complain about their situations and not do anything about it. If I were in the area and invested there, the sun would stop rising before I'd not let my voice be heard about oppressive and often extremist closures. In the early 2000's just as I was re-entering the sport a huge portion of the Imperial dunes was closed. CA has the most extreme eco craze people here and it's a MAJOR battle to fight. We're just lucky the dunes are so massive it will take several more years still to completely ruin being able to enjoy the area on an ATV, but I'm sure the countdown is ticking.

Thanks again.
Jason - all250r.com

[Senator]

Originally Posted by All250R

Hey, Im new. I signed up to post to this thread.

Thanks for joining us and for contributing your input

Originally Posted by All250R

I read through the minutes and notes you've made for about 20 minutes. If I may, it's tough to get a quick grasp on the bottom line through the details. Could you post some type of summary possibly so we can get the high level and then dig into the details for more info if desired?

Sure. In 1994 the USFS completed the Dunes Management Plan. In this plan they assigned zones to different areas of the ODNRA.

10-A - Non-Motorized Undeveloped
10-B - Off-Road Vehicle Open
10-C - Off-Road Vehicle on Designated Routes
10-D - Developed Coridors
10-E - Snowy Plover Habitat
10-F - Plant, Fish, & Wildlife Habitat
10-G - Wetland Management
10-H - Plant, Fish, & Wildlife Viewing
10-J - Wild and Scenic River
10-K - Research Natural Area
10-L - Noise Control Buffer


Part of this 1994 plan was to have the routes for 10-C zones designated within three years, or by 1997. That plan went off track and here we are in 2010 ressurecting that part of the plan.

A number of complexities muddy the waters but designating these trails is the task at hand. The working group has been tasked with gathering facts, opinions, public comment, etc and reporting back to the forest servbice with a recommendation of how to proceed.

Then the USFS will begin the process of actually designating the trails (or not) in all areas zoned 10-C. Until then, all trails are technically closed, including Banshee Hill. However, the USFS has announced that it will not be enforcing any trail closures until they decide which are open and which are closed. The USFS will create a map indicating which trails have been designated open. It will be the riders' responsibility to obey, as all other will be closed.

[All250R]

Originally Posted by Senator

Thanks for joining us and for contributing your input



Sure. In 1994 the USFS completed the Dunes Management Plan. In this plan they assigned zones to different areas of the ODNRA.

10-A - Non-Motorized Undeveloped
10-B - Off-Road Vehicle Open
10-C - Off-Road Vehicle on Designated Routes
10-D - Developed Coridors
10-E - Snowy Plover Habitat
10-F - Plant, Fish, & Wildlife Habitat
10-G - Wetland Management
10-H - Plant, Fish, & Wildlife Viewing
10-J - Wild and Scenic River
10-K - Research Natural Area
10-L - Noise Control Buffer


Part of this 1994 plan was to have the routes for 10-C zones designated within three years, or by 1997. That plan went off track and here we are in 2010 ressurecting that part of the plan.

A number of complexities muddy the waters but designating these trails is the task at hand. The working group has been tasked with gathering facts, opinions, public comment, etc and reporting back to the forest servbice with a recommendation of how to proceed.

Then the USFS will begin the process of actually designating the trails (or not) in all areas zoned 10-C. Until then, all trails are technically closed, including Banshee Hill. However, the USFS has announced that it will not be enforcing any trail closures until they decide which are open and which are closed. The USFS will create a map indicating which trails have been designated open. It will be the riders' responsibility to obey, as all other will be closed.

Perfect. Thank you. I'll be keeping an eye on this.
Jason