Here we go Dune Fanatics, the time of reckoning is here. If you value your privilege to ride in the Dunes you need to pay attention to this update of the Travel Management Rule for the ODNRA. It is our time to make our voices heard and do our part to protect the riding areas we love so much...
File Code: 1950
Date: January 14, 2008
The Siuslaw National Forest is seeking public input to the proposed Travel
Management Project (the Project), which will implement the recently enacted
Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 21). This project is guided by the Siuslaw
Forest Plan, as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan. To make an informed
decision about this project, we need your help. Your comments can help us
develop and consider other ways of achieving the goals of the project.
Need
There is a need for a designated and managed system of areas, trails and
roads to accommodate motorized vehicle use on the approximately 630,000-acre
Siuslaw National Forest. Motorized use on roads is the primary means of
access for the vast majority of Forest visitors. Much of the work that
occurs on the National Forest is also highly dependent on motor vehicle use
and access on roads. Off road motorized use is popular and an important
form of recreation for many individuals, families and groups. Currently,
unregulated motorized use and ever increasing growth in the size, power and
versatility of off road vehicles, along with increasing numbers of users has
led to a series of problems. These include but are not limited to: natural
and cultural resource damage, user conflicts (i.e., among motorized users
and non-motorized users), impacts to nearby residents and Forest neighbors,
and safety concerns (i.e. motorized mixed use).
Proposal Description, Location and Extent
This proposal implements the recently enacted Travel Management Rule (36 CFR
212) on the Siuslaw National Forest. It is intended to provide for
motorized use on the Forest, while minimizing the potential for resource
damage resulting from that use. The process will identify all the locations
on the Forest where motorized vehicles, both street-legal and
non-street-legal, will be allowed to operate. One outcome of this process
will be the production of a Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) showing the
locations where motorized vehicles may operate. Areas not shown on the MVUM
will be, by definition, closed to motorized use. In accordance with the
rule, the MVUM will be reviewed and updated annually.
The proposal falls entirely within the Siuslaw National Forest. Most of the
Forest is currently open to Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use except for: 1)
Wilderness, undeveloped areas, Special Interest Areas, Oregon Silverspot
Butterfly habitat, Cascade Head Experimental Forest, Research Natural Areas,
and 2) other locations specified in the Siuslaw National Forest Plan
Standards and Guidelines (Forest Plan pp. IV-22&23) as well as 3) locations
specified in the Oregon Dunes Management Plan (pp. III-33 - III-49) which
amended the Forest Plan. Except for areas, trails and roads shown on the
Motor Vehicle Use Map, the Travel Management proposal will non-significantly
amend the Siuslaw National Forest Plan from "motorized use open, unless
designated as closed" to "motorized use closed, unless designated as open".
In reality, due to steep terrain and dense vegetation, changes in
opportunities for motorized use on the Forest will be minimal as a result of
this amendment.
This proposal is narrowly focused. Many decisions regarding motor vehicle
use on the Forest have already been made. Prior decisions such as those
made in the Oregon Dunes Management Plan (1994) to allocate large blocks of
land as open or closed to motorized use, as well as those that have
implemented the recommendations of the Siuslaw National Forest Roads
Analysis Report (2003) and earlier decisions to close or decommission roads
will not be revisited.
It is proposed that motorized mixed use will not be allowed on the Key Road
System except Key Roads connecting campgrounds and day-use staging areas on
the ODNRA. These connectors, as well as, gravel Non-Key Roads that do not
have past decisions to be closed to motorized use will be analyzed for
motorized mixed use. The 2003 Roads Analysis which provides information
useful for making informed decisions about road management can be found on
the Siuslaw National Forest website
(
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/projects/forestplanning/roadanalysis/index.shtml).
The proposal will non-significantly amend the Plan to close two small areas
totaling about 300 acres near Florence currently used for off-highway
motorized travel. A series of problems related to OHV use has developed or
worsened at the approximately 250-acre Joshua Lane area (Section 34, T.17S.,
R.12W.) since the Forest Plan was completed in 1990. The problems include:
OHV noise disturbance, especially at night, in nearby residential areas;
trash; increasing public access through a residential neighborhood; trespass
onto adjacent ownerships that are either private or closed to OHV use; and
damage to a sensitive plant community.
Similarly, OHV-use related problems have developed or worsened in the 17
years since the Forest Plan was completed at the 50-acre Collard Lake area
(Section 2, T.18S., R.12W. and
Section 35, T.17S., R.12W.). They include: noise disturbance in nearby
residential areas; trash; user-created access to the area, for which there
is no legal right-of-way; trespass onto any of numerous adjacent,
other-ownership parcels that are closed to OHV use; and unsafe access off of
Highway 101.
To alleviate current problems and avoid worsening problems into the future,
the Forest proposes closing these small, isolated parcels. Closure of these
two small areas should have minimal impact on OHV riding opportunities in
the area because the Oregon Dunes NRA offers 12,000 acres of motorized-open
areas is only about five miles south.
Maps and information for this project can be found on the Siuslaw National
Forest website at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/projects/rec-plans-projects/travel-mgmt/index.shtmlIn addition, five open houses will be held (see attached).
Based on the needs listed above, the Forest intends to make the following
decisions in this Travel Management Project:
1. Decide where motorized use routes, trails or areas will be open. 2. Decide which motorized use routes, trails or areas will have vehicle or
seasonal restrictions.
Implementation of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Plan
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Plan (1994) includes Management
Area 10(C) - ORVs Restricted to Designated Routes. The goal for this
Management Area is to protect existing vegetated areas while providing
controlled opportunities for ORV riding and travel on designated routes
through the area to reach the beach and other areas that are open to ORV
use. (Chapter III -36). In many cases, these upland vegetation areas
contain a maze of undesignated routes. Continued expansion of user-created
trails is impacting tree islands and other stands of trees. In some areas,
this is also impacting the areas utilized for Matsutake mushroom harvest.
The Dunes Plan expected these designated routes to be established in these
upland vegetation areas within 3 years after the Plan was signed. However,
due to budgets, staffing and other Dunes priorities, these routes have not
been completely designated. These designated routes need to be identified
on the Motor Vehicle User Map (MVUM). Since the decision has already been
made in the Dunes Plan to designate routes in this area, this decision will
not be revisited in the Travel Management Project. However, the Forest
staff will begin discussions with the public regarding implementation.
Implementation of these designated routes is expected to take many years to
complete. Since the MVUM is scheduled to be reviewed and updated annually,
it will allow the progression of the implementation of these designated
routes to be displayed as developed over time.
Why Are Comments Important?
Your comments can help us design better projects, make us aware of issues we
don't know about, and in general, help us do a better job of planning.
Site-specific comments are the most helpful. For example, simply stating
that you are opposed to road closures is not as helpful as telling us which
road you would like us to leave open and why.
The Forest Service would like your comments by February 15, 2007.Written
comments should be sent to: Frank Davis, Natural Resource Planner, Siuslaw
National Forest, 4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR 97333; or by e-mail at
"comments-pacificnorthwest-siuslaw @fs.fed.us". Written comments shall
include:
(1) Your name, address, and (if possible) telephone number.
(2) Title of the proposed project on which you are commenting.
(3) Specific facts or comments along with supporting reasons that you
believe the Responsible Official should consider in reaching a decision.
Although written comments are preferred, oral comments are also accepted.
To provide oral comments or to receive additional information, contact Frank
Davis at the Corvallis office by calling (541) 750-7077 between 8:00 AM and
4:00 PM on weekdays.
Sincerely,
Barnie T. Gyant
BARNIE T. GYANT
Forest Supervisor
enclosure
Travel Management Open House Schedule
Five open houses will be held throughout the Forest. These open houses will
be held from 4 pm to 7 pm. Maps portraying the information provided in the
scoping letter will be on display. Forest Service personnel will be
available to answer your questions and receive your comments.
DATE PLACE TIME
Wednesday
January 30, 2008 Corvallis
Siuslaw NF Headquarters
4077 SW Research Way
Corvallis, OR 97333 4 pm to 7 pm
Monday
February 4, 2008 Yachats
Yachats Commons
441 North Hwy 101
Yachats, OR 98498 4 pm to 7 pm
Tuesday
February 5, 2008 Beaver
Beaver Fire Hall
20055 Blaine Rd.
Beaver, OR 97108 4 pm to 7 pm
Wednesday
February 6, 2008 Coos Bay/North Bend
BLM Office
Conference Room A
1300 Airport Lane
North Bend, OR 97459 4 pm to 7 pm
Thursday
February 7, 2008 Florence
Florence Events Center
715 Quince Street
Florence, OR 97439
4 pm to 7 pm
Logged
