save the riders dunes

letter #6 latest letter sent to FS

2011-08-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

Mr. Jerry Ingersoll

Siuslaw National Forest Service Supervisor file code 1950

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

I have been pondering over this proposed scoping letter since I 1st laid eyes on it in June. The Forest service pretty much closed every trail that was not thru to open dunes and you also wanted everyone to tell you the Forest Service which trails we as riders wanted left open and to be specific, I see one problem with that, you the Forest Service didn’t give us the tools, i.e. trail numbers or names to correlate to the trails we (riders) want left open.

I / we as OHV riders feel that you the Forest Service caused these trail to exist, and now you want to close them, the Forest Service planted a very aggressive noxious weed (European Beach grass) and you also planted shore pines for stabilization, that you have let literally almost swallow up the open dunes and nearly put an endangered bird into extinction (snowy plover) and now you are having to mechanically remove the beach grass to open up nesting spots.

I /we as riders feel we should have everything opened back up to us that was available in 1972. The only areas that should be closed off completely in the NORTH riding area should be the 5 native tree islands and the rest should be opened back up, to help the Forest Service eradicate the Scotch broom also a noxious weed and the European beach grass. The Middle riding area should have all the existing trails left open thru the Native forested areas, and all the area to the south of the 3rd parking lot be left opened up again to help the Forest Service eradicate 2 noxious weeds. The South riding area should again be left completely opened up except for the native forested areas (leave existing trails open) and to also have all the areas that you have listed as wetland remove from wetland status as to they were not originally wetlands, but due to the mismanagement of the Forest Service they are now non native wetlands.

My conclusion is the Forest service NEEDS to do their job of enforcement, instead of closing off areas saying that we the riders don’t follow the rules, we as riders do follow most of the rules, except for a few bad apples and it is up to the Forest Service to educate or fine those particular bad apples instead of doing nothing, which has been the case. We as riders want all trails left open, and for the Forest Service to finally manage the dunes not mismanage them.

Sincerely,

my info went here

Jerry Ingersolls email address

2011-08-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

Comments-pacificnorthwest-siuslaw-centralcoast@fs.fed.us

Letter 5

2011-08-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

Mr. Jerry Ingersoll

Siuslaw National Forest Service Supervisor file code 1950

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

My family and others ride these 103 miles of “user created” trails that you are proposing to close, these would not be user created trails if the Forest Service had not planted these area for stabilizing the dunes, we would still have open dunes, but now that you the Forest Service have provided use riders with this unique opportunity you the Forest service is wanting to take it away because of a select few environmentalist shame on you.

The mushrooms are another issue this is a recreation area not an agricultural commercial business, and yet you the Forest Service have provided a commercial business opportunity to mushroom pickers that really only happened because you the Forest Service wanted to stabilize the dunes.

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Letter 4

2011-08-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Mr. Jerry Ingersoll

Siuslaw National Forest Service Supervisor file code 1950

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

With all the letters that you have posted at the staging areas nowhere does it mention anything about closing 103 miles of trails, what you do say is your opening up 287 acres of NON useable riding area. Why don’t you come clean and put in writing exactly what you the Forest Service is doing and that is to eventually close the dunes to OHV, well most of us are noting going to let that happen.

These trails need to be left open for OHVer’s to try and do what the Forest Service has failed to do for many years and that is to control a noxious & invasive species that the Forest Service had planted to stabilize open dunes, well now these open dunes are just about extinct.

I along with 1000’s of OHVer’s hope you the Forest Service does the right thing and scrap this proposal that’s on the table and start over and go back to the 1979 plan or even better lets go back to 1972 and open the dunes all up.

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Lettter 3

2011-08-09T06:56:00.001-07:00

Mr. Jerry Ingersoll

Siuslaw National Forest Service Supervisor File code 1950

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

The trails within the ODNRA (Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area) need to stay as trails, if you were to close off 103 miles of trails that many families enjoy at the slower pace when teaching the kids how to ride. This would put more riders into a smaller concentrated place with higher speeds; higher speeds plus new riders would/will cause more injuries.

The Forest Service is saying that they are giving us OHVer’s 287 acres, well how much of that 287 acres is ride able maybe 10% due to all the overgrown vegetation that we were not allowed to ride due to you mismanagement/ hidden agenda of the 1994 plan.

These are the #’s off of your own website

10 (A) – Non-Motorized Undeveloped – 7,830 acres (27%)

10 (B) – Off-Road Vehicle Open – 5,930 acres (21%)

10 (C) – ORV on Designated Routes – 4,455 acres (15%)

This is very misleading…we have approx.3.92 miles of designated routes thru this area which is NO more than 5 acres, so in reality 4,450 ACRES CLOSED to OHV riding

10 (D) – Developed Corridors – 1,050 acres (4%)

Another bogus number maybe 500 acres is more like it

10 (E) – Snowy Plover Habitat – 1,010 acres (3%)

10 (F) – Plant, Fish and Wildlife Habitat – 3,120 acres (11%)

10 (G) – Wetlands Emphasis – 2,540 acres (9%)

10(F) & 10(G) continue to grow into larger acreage every year due to the winter rains

10 (H) – Wildlife and Fish Viewing – 315 acres (1%)

10 (J) – Recommended Wild and Scenic River – 1,090 acres (4%)

10 (K) – Research Natural Area – 1,190 acres (4%)

10 (L) – Noise Control Buffer – 370 acres (1%)

So by calculations

OHVer’s ride able area (acres) 6,435

Closed to OHV use (acres) 22,415

And you are wanting to take away another 103 miles of trails…NOT GOOD

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Letter 2

2011-08-09T06:54:00.001-07:00

Mr. Jerry Ingersoll

Siuslaw National Forest Service Supervisor File code 1950

Oregon Dunes National Recreation area

It has come to my attention that the Forest Service is proposing to close 103 miles of trails within the ODNRA (Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area) also referred to as “user created trails.” The reason these trails exist today is because of mis-management from the Forest Service. These areas/trails that you are proposing to close only exist because of the Forest Service wanting to stabilize the sand from movement by introduction of a very aggressive European beach grass plus you have also let a noxious weed (scotch broom) take over the dunes.

The best way and the most economical way to control these invasive species are to let OHVers continue to travel these areas/ trails. Just look at the areas that you have closed off and how the invasive species have run rampant to the north of South Jetty road to the Siuslaw River.

Please reconsider the proposal that the Forest Service has put on the table and start off with a new one, that doesn’t have a hidden environmentalist agenda.

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Letter 1

2011-08-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

Mr. Jerry Ingersoll

Siuslaw National Forest Service Supervisor file code 1950

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Regarding the ODNRA (Oregon Dunes Recreation National Recreation Area) our family wants to see ALL trails, including the “user created trails”, kept open. We have been riding these dunes for several decades and have seen the loss of open dunes due to areas being closed and now they are covered with beach grass & scotch broom.

I have just recently seen the pictures from 1960 before these dunes became ODNRA and have seen how much open sand we had at that time, and what we have as of today, within the next 60 years we will have NO open sand.

Forest Service please do the right thing and go back to the table and come back with a better proposal, this is OUR PUBLIC LANDS to use.

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another great letter..

2011-07-30T08:10:00.001-07:00

Riding ATV`s at these dunes has been a person hobby of mine since I was very young. They have had a huge impact on my entire life. What these people need to understand is that to us riders, this is not just a sport but a lifestyle choice. Most of my most fond childhood memories are that of which were made at the Oregon Dunes with my family, and in my adulthood the fond memories I have with friends. Many of whom I would have not had the amazing opportunity of knowing if it weren't for meeting them at the Dunes of riding trips, or sharing the unique love for riding ATV's. The sand makes riding the fun experience it is. If they are to take away a majority of this space, this sand that we love every spec of... Then they are taking away the one thing that means the most to so many people! If they were to go through w/this it would not only make many people disappointed and saddened but I believe it could also have many serious affects as well. One for example being (Taking into considering this is a hobby of thousands of people) taking away a majority of where we ride would confine all these ATV`s and motorcycle`s (not to exclude those who choose playing in the Sand with Vehical`s other than those previously mentioned, via side by sides, etc..) into a much more concentrated area. This would cause many saftey issues. The saftey issues would not stop at that. There are many different types of riders. Ranging anywhere between Vetran riders who like the adrenaline of going fast and doing hard climbs, to beginners such as CHILDREN (Due to this being a lovely family sport). These trails they are talking about closeing off, some of them have way less traffic which make it perfect to take your children or even anyone else who would just like a relaxing slow paced (FUN!) ride or to teach a beginner how to ride. All this by doing so not having to put them out where the possibility of them being hurt could be hire. Now imagine if people didnt have that right. Would they like to put their children into a high concentrated high traffic environment where due to so many people around and so many things going on an accident could very well happen? I don't think so. PLEASE see that to US this is like any other hobby.. You like golfing, great, how about someone takes away half your course... You like bowling? How about we shut down half the lanes. Fishing? Lets close down half the river. You're talking about taking away something we LOVE. You're taking away our lifestyle. You're taking away our happiness. PLEASE do not do this!!! Everyone has that something in their life that they can go to, to escape a bad week at work, a special place they have and make a tradition with their family's to vacation at, or just the one place they can truely kick back, relaxing, fully enjoy themselves and be able to have fun!! Serving the people!? I REALLY hope you decide to do just that. Whether or not you care about riding or not I hope you can see how many people are truley passionate about this lifestyle and how much you doing this would absolutly break thousands of peoples hearts. I am urging you, PLEASE make the right decision.

Thank you!

more comments to copy, edit or add your own verbage to

2011-07-19T15:41:00.001-07:00

Mr. Ingersoll,

Hey, I know you are probably receiving a lot of emails and this may not get read, but I thought I should at least try.

My family and I ride the dunes several times a year. It is a lot of fun; and it brings revenue to those communities that we ride at. With gas, food, firewood, and even the occasional liquor store purchase :) We usually spend 200-300$ every time we go. And it is one expense that we haven't cut out because of our budget because of the fun that the entire family has.

We used to ride the Joshua Lane Dunes in Florence, but those were closed. My two kids 9 and 10 were crushed when this happened. The adults are pretty upset to, it just seems like a waste to not be able to have some sort of accesses to them. Can it be opened as a day use park, and we will pay you to use it?

Now I hear talk of closing more dunes? I just don't understand. Isn't that part of living here in beautiful Oregon. To be able to leave town and drive a few hours and ride the sand, play in the ocean, and camp out with friends and family. Riding ATV's is a true passion for people here in Oregon, and we are really hoping that there can be some compromise on why the trails and dunes need to be closed. People will pay to ride, so charge, charge, charge! Oregon can make some money and people can continue to ride and have a break from life.

Thanks for taking the time out to read this.

Sincerely,

Angie Cox

history of the 1972 to date

2011-07-13T10:32:00.001-07:00

Comments on recent events in the Oregon Dunes

The 1972 ODNRA Act

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_007083.pdf

1994 Dunes Management Plan

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_007084.pdf

This is in response to the June 9, 2011 ODNRA Scoping letter. First off I’d like to thank the Forest Service for pushing this process though public involvement, even though this was already a signed decision. I’ve read through the proposed actions and I feel that there are some excellent changes to the original 10c lands base. With that said I’d like to highlight some other issues that haven’t been addressed with the proposed action.

On March 23, 1972 Congress passed the Act declaring the ODNRA into existence, this act was signed by President Nixon on the 24th. I read through this document and noticed some fairly strong language in Section 12 about an Advisory Council being established by the Secretary of Agriculture. It was fairly specific about the make-up of this council and it appears that they wanted a local body to assist the Forest Service with the direction of these lands. I’ve have spent several hours trying to find any meeting minutes or notes. I question why this council was never established.

Another thing I’d like to point out is how out of date the current plan is. The plan states that it is to be revised every 10 years but no more than 15 years between revisions. This plan is over 17 years old and the 10c designated trails has not been implemented. I ask why now? There are far more important goals outlined within this plan such as an active vegetation management plan implementation. The plan lists this as a higher priority and specifically identifies more funding to accomplish removal of beach grass, scotch broom, and plantations. Remember before the plantations and invasive vegetation these areas were open sand riding areas and not trails; so I question the validity of calling these trails now, instead of dunes where OHV traffic has benefited the ecosystem by hindering the establishment of invasive vegetation.

There is also some other issues with the plan; it seems that the land designations aren’t consistent from one area to the next. There are two similar invasive vegetation created wetland areas one in the north and one in the south that that are listed under two separate land designations, while being very similar. Maybe this is because during the process of this plan the land base was evaluated by aerial photo interpretation instead of being verified on the ground. That would also be why the majority of 10c lands are plantation, beach grass, or other invasive vegetated lands and not globally significant plant communities. In fact OHV traffic will slow the invasive vegetation from overtaking more open sand lands.

To sum this up the Forest Service should seriously be looking at rewriting a management plan with the input of and advisory council before any implementation of trail closure. I think that the closures will cause more ecological damage than the existing situation. The Forest Service should be working with the State of Oregon to come to some sort of agreement about the obliteration of the foredune and filling in the wetlands so that the natural sand migration can once again continue. OHVs are a very small impact to the dunes ecosystem, the real threat is the invasive vegetation and plantations that were planted in the area during the jetty and town construction. The sad thing is that even if the Forest Service closed the ODNRA 100% to OHV use it won’t matter in the next 20 years anyway if there are no measures taken to control the vegetation and reestablish the natural processes of this ecosystem.

The OHV user group is willing and able to assist with whatever is needed to stop this invasion and help return the dunes to their natural state. The forest Service needs to repair the relationship with this group caused from the 94 Dunes plan with education and support

more comments

2011-07-09T12:50:00.001-07:00

In all the decades that area has been open for ATV / OHV access, go to it even just a couple of weeks after a MAJOR weekend of riding and it's hard to tell people have even been there.

Next, what a way to help an area that has already been in recession for over 20 years...no joke, OHV /ATV tourism is a huge help to a struggling economy of Oregon coastlands.

more comments

2011-07-09T12:49:00.001-07:00

Manage Definition: The organization and coordination of the activities of an enterprise in accordance with certain policies and in achievement of defined objectives. There are generations to come the should have the opportunity to enjoy all that this state has to offer. We once were an abundant state with lots to use and share. Now we are becoming a lock it up and preserve it state. Only to rot and decay and become a hazard to everyone. I say USE IT - not lose it!!!

more comments to copy, edit or add your own verbage to

2011-07-09T12:47:00.001-07:00

THE ROUTES UNDER CONSIDERATION ARE AMONG THE ONLY REASONS WE AS A FAMILY COME TO THE OREGON DUNES TO CAMP AND RECREATE WITH MOTORIZED USE. tHE DEMANDS FOR THESE TYPES OF ACCESS ARE GROWING AS SEEN IN ATV/UTV SALES. NO OTHER TYPE OF USAGE IS GROWING AS FAST IN THE AREAS OF SALES AND USE. THIS MAKES ADDING ADDITIONAL CLOSURES A WRONG HEADED APPROACH TO SERVING THE DEMANDS AND CHOICE EXPECTATIONS OF THE TAX PAYING PUBLIC. KEEP THESE ROUTES/TRAILS OPEN AND PLEASE INCLUDE ME IN ANY FUTURE SOPA'S. THANK YOU.

Another letter

2011-07-08T15:05:00.001-07:00

The 10 trails that are noted for proposed use are Banshee Hill and a combination of nine trails into one beach trail. This will constrict all OHV traffic into only open areas and these designated trails. Trail use is the major part of the attraction to the ONDRA and eliminating them will cause further damage to tourism and the economy of the coastal towns. More than half of the ONDRA has been put aside for environmental uses and closed areas to protect habitat. Don't let this proposal pass.

Here's some more wording you can copy

2011-06-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Please do not adopt this aggressive plan. My family loves Oregon and the public lands available to us. Riding the dunes is a family activity that we all enjoy and we are responsible riders that respect the laws and land. We also bring our money into the areas we ride in, from camping fees, fuel, groceries, restaurants and other services and goods. If we are unable to fully utilize the dunes, we may be forced to seek dunes in other states, even though we would much rather our money stay within Oregon.

Here's another one that you can add to, edit and add your own touch

2011-06-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

OHV's provide huge revenue for states through licensing, events and fuel taxes ect, Revenue for highways, local economies and other programs that are vital to our state's budgets. It is time that the people in the OHV community also benefit from these funds in the form of Land and Trail Management, not closure. To me, Management means working for the betterment and enjoyment of the people who use and largely pay for these lands, not legal fees to stop frivilous law suits generated by groups that don't have any interest in usng the land. In economic times lke this, I think that tax payer monies could be more effective by expanding responsible land use programs and Land Management technics.

Here's another one that you can add to, edit and add your own touch

2011-06-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

The closure is a crime, in a time of need and economic crisis camping and riding are a couple of the cheapest ways to go on vacation. With the closure of the trails those members of our family who cannot ride well enough to go out in bigger dunes are robbed of the experience in the dunes that they most enjoy and in the end we will stop going if not everyone can have fun.The money that is brought in to surrounding businesses is irreplaceable and the dunes should be exploited in a way to help the community instead of being closed. There are so many more options

another letter to copy, edit and add your own touches

2011-06-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

RE: 10C Designated Routes Project #34220

Dear Siuslaw National Forest District Planners,

I am writing you today to voice my concern and strong opposition to closures and reductions in OHV recreational opportunities the Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor’s Office has proposed for many areas under their jurisdiction. Specifically, we strenuously object to further restrictions being placed upon OHV recreational access and activities at the ODNRA.

Although my family resides in California we have many relatives in the Coos Bay and Florence areas who have informed us of the recent proposals made by the NFS, which have the potential of closing over 100 miles of trail, basically the entire trail system. Closing existing trails is not a solution!

Our family and relatives are avid OHV enthusiast so during the riding season we spend several weeks visiting them and most of our time in the vicinity of Florence. Our relatives there have a modest home so we usually stay in local motels and dine frequently at the nearby restaurants so as not to inconvenience them. We often all gather and camp in the much improved facilities at both the North and South locations of the ODNRA, spending our time away from camp with our ATVs and Side-by-Side UTVs enjoying the opportunities and beauty that the dunes there provide.

While camping we frequent many of the nearby local business for various supplies and dining needs. We are concerned that local businesses are not being adequately represented or considered in the decision process, many local Legislators aren’t even aware of the planning process you have undertaken. It is important that the entire community be represented and have their voices heard in all aspects of this proposal. We fear that given the current economic climate our Nation faces your decisions may negatively impact the very sector that is capable of helping to turn around this financial crisis. It is the wrong place and time to reduce the tourism and local visitation attributable to the Dunes by further restricting the areas available for OHV use.

Lost in your current proposal is the issue of those whose mobility is impaired, including Veterans like myself who incurred disabilities while serving our country and the elderly who cannot walk into or nearby most of the Dune areas.

We in the OHV Community generally support the idea of travel being limited to designated roads, trails and areas. We are also in support of a thorough environmental review and analysis during the route designation process, as well as ongoing monitoring and maintenance of the OHV infrastructure. In many cases we have voluntarily taxed ourselves in order to provide funds to agencies so they can actively and effectively accomplish these tasks. What our family and the OHV community in general cannot support is being presented with Alternatives that fail to adequately address the need to provide for motorized recreation. Our methods of travel are a legitimate use of National Forest lands.

There are many local groups willing to step up and volunteer their time to assist the NFS in performing trail maintenance and cleanup. They are willing to be self enforcing in issues such as OHV noise reduction, remaining within allowed OHV boundaries, safety compliance, education of bad actors and a host of other matters which are currently a cause of concern.

The OHV Community would in turn like to point out that these Dunes are not National Parks or Wilderness Study Areas, they are lands administered by the Siuslaw National Forest Service as a National Recreation Area and should be managed as such.

Regarding management of this National Recreation Area and the possible missed opportunities for OHV access, we would like to suggest that your agency address any legitimate maintenance, resource and environmental concerns by incorporating a training protocol into your travel plan that would train agency staff on how to effectively manage volunteer programs, apply for grants, use the challenge cost share program and learn about and apply for other funding sources.

The Siuslaw National Forest needs to provide information and educational opportunities for users so that their expectations and understanding of the area’s uses are clear. If there is an obvious opportunity to re-direct a hiking or equestrian trail where it may coincide with an established motorized route then we believe there could be an opportunity to enhance the experience for all parties concerned.

OHV use continues to increase in popularity with the American public and National Forest visitors. There is a need to provide for this legal and popular activity. Motorized use is a legitimate use of public lands yet the agency is proposing significant closures.

The agency has responded to the increase in motorized uses by proposing drastic reductions in that use, this is totally unacceptable.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

FYI . . . sent it here too!

Comments-pacificnorthwest-siuslaw-ce...oast@fs.fed.us

Mr. Jerry Ingersoll

Forest Supervisor

Letter to Jerry Ingersoll

2011-06-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Send comments to email below

Comments-pacificnorthwest-siuslaw-centralcoast@fs.fed.us

Mr. Jerry Ingersoll

Forest Supervisor

Project 34220

Designating motorized vehicle routes in the 10C Management Area of the Oregon Dunes NRA

The Forest Service has been working on this plan since 1990 and then updated it with the new 1994 Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Plan and again doing a update for 2012. Since that time the ODNRA has more than twice as many users and you are shrinking the area in which we have available to ride.

Take a look at the 1960 photo that was shown at these 10c meetings and the photos that the Forest Service is showing now and you can see for yourself how much open sand has been smoothed out by noxious weeds ie. scotch broom & beach grass. Every time you close an area the more dunes we lose, eventually there will be no more Sand Dunes within the ODNRA. Each year following the winter rains and the water recedes in the deflation plain we also lose more open riding area.

The Forest Service has plans to take away 103 miles of trails that they say are user created, at least half were created well before the 1990 or 1994 plan, all of those trails should be allowed to stay as user created trails.

The motto of the Forest Service is “Caring for the Land and serving the people”

The people you are serving are NOT the OHV user.

Name

Address

Phone # optional

You may copy my letter or use part of it and add your own ideas and thoughts and what closing the trails & the dunes means to your family

Barbara

KCST Radio - The Forest Service 10-C Travel Management Plan Chat

2011-02-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

These 4 audio clips feature Central Coast Ranger Pam Gardner and Sharon Stewart, both with the U.S. Forest Service, talking about the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area. The agency recently completed the public portion of a rulemaking process called the "designated routes" project. The ODNRA has been operating for years under the principal that all areas are open for off-highway riding unless specifically closed to vehicles. A rules change on a national level means they must now identify specific areas that are both open and closed to riding. Most of the historical areas will remain open for riding, but portions going through vegetated areas will have specific routes posted. Gardner and Stewart talked about the dunes and the rules process.

Interview Request

2011-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Daniel G Marting
Subject: dunes

I would just be interested in a verbal interview within the next two
weeks. If the weather permits on Presidents day I would love to shoot
some video of riding, family time at the dunes, and possibly some of
your thoughts about the proposed restriction. Just to let you know my
work will be published. As long as you are fine with that it could be a
nice opportunity to represent OHV users and voice some of your concerns
about more restrictions.

Dan,
You can call me anytime at the number below. I do believe it would be well worth your time to come out and feel it. The USFS has not managed the ODNRA well and have missed very important time lines and the basic charter of the ODNRA. We would not be where we are if they have had. They are underfunded and scared to death of a law suit so they manage by who is the loudest. The environmentalist has the loudest voice and by far the most money. This is our recreation, we have real jobs and not enough time or individual money to fight. We are hoping to change that and the STRD is a starting point.

It is a shame but no matter what else is said, in 50 to 75 years the only open sand will be where OHV rides. I will repeat this and it is backed up by so much research that it isn't funny anymore, THERE WILL BE NO MORE OPEN SAND IN THE ODNRA EXCEPT ON THE 25% THAT OHV RIDES ON. This is only one generation of people. I am 59 and I walked the dunes in 1957 and we drove a 2 wheel drive pickup right on the beach with no foredune. Please review this late 1960 Lassie movie and look at the open sand and when you come out I will show you what it looks like now. Scary is not the word for it and the USFS continues to let it happen. Their answer is there is no money to bring bull dozers in to rip out the grass and that has to be done over and over again. Giving the current national financial situation there will never be money available for this type of losing project. Even if they do, the grass will grow back unless something else keeps it out. OHV does this but they refuse to "officially" recognize it. The USFS agrees with me verbally that we do help. They did an experiment at Ten Mile where they bull dozed about 40 acres. The beach grass grew back almost immediately. They put sighs up and ask us to ride in it and guess what, we helped keep the grass off. What a concept....This was NEVER published. They manage forest, not open sand and they simply cannot or are unwilling to make the tough decisions and fight the environmentalist. If they look at the original 1972 charter there was supposed to be a group to oversee the ODNRA and that has never happen. If it had, the highly destructive European Beach grass, that the USFS planted to begin with, would not be what it is today. All we have seen is more and more closures and that has allowed more and more open sand to be overgrown and destroyed. We need to start today, not continue to chew our nails and hope this will go away. Closing more dunes with the 10C process is simply not the direction we need to go for a health dune system.

Everything is upside down and I can show you over and over areas that were clearly open sand; now is forest and wetlands. Huge swaths of ONDRA is now under seasonal water in the deflation plane. This type of environment promotes growth and mutations. OH, golly we now have a "new species" we must protect. Lets close down more sand! Oh, by the way, this area is now WETLANDS and comes under another government agency... You can see where I am going with this. It never ends. The longer this goes on the quicker the true dunes i.e. open sand dies. This is happening exponentially now. The attached and the movie clearly show old vs. new.

Now they have allowed commercial farming to be more important than recreation which is the mushroom industry on tree plantations the USFS planted in 1960's over open sand. I cannot imagine this. Isn’t this the Oregon Dunes RECREATION Area? In the 1994 plan they even say that mushrooms should not be the priority. During this 10C process which the USFS started to begin with, mushrooms ruled over and over again. For the life of me, I cannot understand that. Recreational picking, yes, commercial farming I cannot. From my understanding, there is over a million dollars in mushrooms sold to Japan per year out of the ODNRA alone. That is great and I wish them well and tell them to go for it. But the USFS is locking out over HALF of the northern dunes for the endeavor. I only asked for a few trails through this area and that, I am sure, will be pooh-poohed.

The 1994 plan was made in a vacuum and we are now living with the consequences. They have this deal about trails. It is a joke. All this area before 1960 was open sand. There are NO trails in open sand. They are so focused on forest and plants that they cannot see the forest for the trees. I will say that this last 10C work group was NOT made in a vacuum and they did a tremendous effort to get everything on the table. Hurrah and I thank them for their efforts. Maybe that huge ship is trying to slow down and make a turn. I can only hope.

I say all of this, but the OHV community is also conservationalist as well. We are family and we want the land to be kept pristine so we can use it, not lock it up. We want this for our kids and our kid's kids. We love the forest and open sand as much as anybody. We just choose to ride through it rather than hike which only the young can do especially in sand. If there was no other forest in the world then I can see stronger rules but this is a tip of the iceberg on how much forest there is. That is why this was set aside for Recreation, not farming or other uses. I truly do feel that OHV, horse riders, hikers and anybody else should be able to enjoy this wonderful treasure with minimum conflicts. There needs to be separation. We do need to protect certain areas like the dunes close to rivers, sand islands, snowy plovers and native animals. We also have to do our part with the noise we make. Shame on us. We need Law enforcement to help. I volunteer with the Dunes Patrol and have asked Sheriff Rodney Roberts if I can help and he agrees. I hope to ride with them this summer to do sound checks and enforce the 93 db.

Environmentalist do not like to hear this naked truth. It is time they did. It is time to truly understand that the ODNRA is a very special place and big enough for everybody. The trails we ride on ARE keeping the non-native plants at bay. We cannot kill big swaths of unwanted non-native plants but again we can help manage the mess.

I also do not like to beat up on the USFS. They are good hardworking folks that are just as passionate. They just need to step up to the plate and finally come to grips with the mess they, through all the greatest intentions, created. This is truly the law of unintended consequences. It is now time to change the direction, bring balance back and all of us need to work together to try and save the true dunes.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2329504977213415012#

Jody Phillips

350,000 ATV Users Each Year

2010-10-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of the top 10 most popular dunes published by ATV Sport....
The Oregon Dunes (ODNRA) is second only to Glamis!!....

350,000 ATV users frequent from Florence south to North Bend area EACH YEAR!!....get out your calculators and project the $$$$ brought into these communities by riders.....we NEED the Coos Bay/North Bend, Winchester Bay/Reedsport and Florence Chamber of Commerces to network together and fight to keep these numbers coming back year after year......the Forest Service may be thrusting a dagger into these communities revenues and your riding rights should you not get involved in public comment prior to their 10-C determination in Sept. 2011....STRD

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1. Imperial Sand Dunes (Glamis): California
2. Oregon Dunes
3. St. Anthony Dunes: Idaho
4. Killpecker Dunes: Wyoming
5. Coral Pink Dunes: Utah
6. Oceano Dunes (Pismo
7. Dumont Dunes: California
8. 8. Little Sahara: Utah
9. Little Sahara: Oklahoma
10. Silver Lake Sand Dunes: Michigan

Being from the Midwest, it’s a treat for us to spit up roost, carve bowls and spend a week racing up dune faces. It’s become a staff tradition to retreat to the Imperial Sand Dunes each year for days of hammering through the Glamis sand. It’s also become an addiction.

Sand riding provides a freedom that can’t be explained properly until you experience it for yourself. There’s not one specific way to ride in the dunes. For some, it’s drag racing up steep dune faces testing horsepower. Others make mini motocross courses or long cross-country rides around desert scrub. And that’s what makes dune riding so addictive. It’s pretty much whatever you want it to be.

For those of you in the East, it will take a long road trip to Oklahoma or the western portion of the country to experience the dunes. Midwest and West riders are luckier, however, as there are several riding areas within a reasonable distance. With the sand riding season fast approaching, scour our top 10 duning list and feed the addiction.

Advertisement If it’s your first time dune riding, we suggest you read the Tread Lightly! guide to responsible motorized vehicle use in the sand dunes. It covers rules and regulations, has how-to riding tips, and discusses what you can do to keep our riding areas open. It is available for free download at www.treadlightly.org.

1. Imperial Sand Dunes (Glamis): California
You probably aren’t shocked by the No. 1 ranking for the Imperial Sand Dunes, located near Brawley, Calif. There are more than 118,000 acres open to recreation, roughly two-thirds of the Imperial Sand Dunes. The dunes extend about 40 miles and are 5 miles wide in most places. Many visitors will choose to stage near Mammoth Wash on the north end, Gecko Campground south of Highway 78 or Buttercup near the Mexican border and south of Highway 8.
During the summer, Glamis becomes a scorcher and temperatures frequently hit 110 degrees. Traditionally, the riding season begins in October and runs through mid-April before it gets too hot to ride. Halloween and Thanksgiving are big holidays at Glamis and more than 100,000 people visit the dunes. If you don’t like crowds and you want smooth dunes, try scheduling your trip in the middle of the week and avoid those two weekends.

2. Oregon Dunes
More than 350,000 ATV users descend upon the Oregon Dunes of Coos Bay, Winchester Bay and Florence each year. For those of you looking for the tallest dunes here, check out Winchester Bay. Each year Dune Fest, a fun five-day event, takes place at Winchester and becomes the heart of the dunes. Many of the dunes ride up and through the forest at Winchester.
Coos Bay is the largest, most expansive section of the Oregon Dunes and beach riding is allowed. Bull Run is the closest area to the ocean and several fingers of dunes provide entertainment. Riders will find the tallest dunes on the eastern inland section. Florence is situated at the northern end of the Oregon Dunes and is the smallest riding area of the three. If you want to show off your ATV’s horsepower, check out South Jetty Hill. Most of the eastern portion of Florence has been closed due to noise complaints. To that end, a 93 dB limit is in place for all three of the Oregon Dunes riding areas.

3. St. Anthony Dunes: Idaho
Located just outside of Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho, the St. Anthony Dunes take our final podium spot for their unique white quartz sand and phenomenal summer riding opportunities. When other duning areas are too hot to ride, St. Anthony remains very bearable in the heat of the summer. With approximately 10,600 acres of sand to play in, there is ample variety. The dunes move nearly 8 feet each year and reach 200 to 300 feet tall. Like Utah’s Little Sahara, St. Anthony is situated at 5,000 feet above sea level.
Choke Cherry Hill is a nearly vertical dune and rises more than 200 feet. It takes a good run to make it to the top and truly tests your will. Another must is touring the massive Devil’s Dune bowl on the West end of the park. There are three main camping areas with two offering primitive camping. Sand Hills Resort is the best and has power and water hook-ups, but it is a long ride from the best dunning opportunities.

4. Killpecker Dunes: Wyoming
The Killpecker Sand Dunes consist of 10,500 acres of ridable area — the sand dunes area encompasses nearly 38,000 acres. ATV riders are restricted to the eastern portion, where unstable sand dunes make for fun riding. The Killpecker Dunes, located north of Rock Springs, Wy., might just be our top 10’s best-kept secret as its one of the least-visited in this list.
The peaks at Killpecker are sharp and provide good lift for jumping. Scout first because the backside of many Killpecker dunes are steep and small water puddles form throughout the area. At 8,000 feet above sea level, expect to loose about 3 hp per 1,000 feet, which makes climbing the largest dunes more challenging. Proper jetting is the key. Be on the lookout for oil pipes, as they run throughout the dunes.

5. Coral Pink Dunes: Utah
This may not be America’s top sand riding locale, but it’s certainly one of the most eye-catching duning areas in our top 10. Coral Pink’s tall hillclimbs, 6,000 feet of elevation, tree-lined bowls and miles of sand make this 3,000-acre north-to-south rectangle sand playlot one of our favorites.
Riders will find the most challenging dunes on the north end of the park where several steep razorbacks test your moxy. The northeast is where the Coral Pink dunes surprise with pine trees that invade the sand hills. In the middle and east portion of the dunes sits long hill climbs where you can open up your machine.

6. Oceano Dunes (Pismo):
As host to the annual Pismo Beach race — part of the World Off Road Championship Series — the Oceano Dunes offer an experience second-to-none on California’s central coast. Some of the best experiences involve riding down the Pismo Beach with the Pacific Ocean at your side. Watch out for the high tide that can suck in camping trailers and ATVs, creating a sticky situation.
Winds that blow in from the ocean create crests that run north and south and allow for some fun razorbacks to jump off. Watch out for slipfaces that are created from thin tongues of sand that tend to slide down on the leeward slopes. Riding conditions can get rough at Pismo’s 1,100-plus acres during weekends and peak summer riding, but the ocean views and vistas boost its ranking on our list.

7. Dumont Dunes: California
The Dumont Dunes are located about 30 miles north of Baker, Calif., and offer roughly 8,150 acres of dune riding. Dumont stretches to the east about 5 miles and is 1.5 miles long. Dumont is broken up into two main sections, Little Dumont and the main Dumont riding area where most OHV riders go.
At an elevation ranging from 700 to 1,000 feet, Dumont features a few very large and steep razorbacks to try and conquer along with many fun bowls. A lot of the action circulates around Comp Hill, a huge half-moon hill of sand that many drag racers have competed on. If you don’t like crowds, visit during the weekdays or hit up Little Dumont where smaller dunes provide plenty of entertainment. A $30 fee is required for a seven-day pass.

8. Little Sahara: Utah
Little Sahara is located in the Great Basin tucked in the Servier Desert of central Utah. At roughly 12 miles long north to south and 10 miles wide, there’s ample playing area. And, with 60,000 acres of dunes, flats and trails, there’s enough variety to warrant coming back for more.
The main feature at Little Sahara, at an elevation more than 5,000 feet, is Sand Mountain. Towering 650-plus feet high, Sand Mountain tests your machine’s power as you climb to the top. On the north end of the dunes, White Sands provides large bowls for carving and jumping. Beginners will gravitate toward Black Mountain on the southwest end for smaller dune faces and more desert terrain. If trail riding is your forte, check out Black Mountain’s expansive network of trails. For those of you who like crowds, Easter weekend is big at Little Sahara.

9. Little Sahara: Oklahoma
It may not be the largest dune riding area in this list at 1,450 acres, but its location and variety puts it in the top 10. Located near Waynoka, Okla., northwest of Oklahoma City, Little Sahara is the closest duning escape for Midwest and
East riders.
This sand palace has a little bit of everything. If you are a drag racer, don’t miss out on Sand Fest each year. There are many dune faces to climb, rolling and medium-sized hills along with miles of sandy trails. The middle of Little Sahara collects water during heavy rains and can become a soft quick sand pit. For the climbers, check out Competition or Buttercup Hill. If you get lost, don’t worry, the entire park is surrounded by a fence.

10. Silver Lake Sand Dunes: Michigan
Eeking out our 10th spot ahead of New Mexico’s Mescalero Sands and Utah’s Sand Hollow is Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Michigan. The Silver Lake dunes are open April through the end of October from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Get here early Friday if you plan on riding over the weekend. The DNR has initiated a voucher system to allow up to 2,200 OHVs per day.
Though small in rideable area, there are many large hills to shoot up and race your buddies. With Lake Michigan to the West, many riders flat drag down the beach. The crowds are manageable thanks to the system the DNR put in place but, if you really want to experience the area without much company, arrive early in the week.

Email to STRD by the BlueRibbon Coalition

2010-10-19T15:55:00.001-07:00

To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add noreply@sharetrails.org to your address book or whitelist.

Dust: The next endangered species
Dust cuts Colorado River flow, scientists sayhttp://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/21/science/la-sci-colorado-river-dust-20100921
Windborne Dust on High Peaks Dampens Colorado River Runoffhttp://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=117668&org=NSF&from=news
A few years back, a study on sediment in some of Colorado's high mountain lakes was published. Apparently, a group of scientists noticed that lots of dust gets blown across the vast expanse of the Western US, some of which is deposited in snowpack and lakes once it hits the mountains of Colorado.
I briefly reviewed the study about a year ago. It was fascinating, actually. If I'm understanding correctly, these high mountain lakes contain dust from as far away as Mexico, and some of the sediment strata are hundreds of thousands of years old.
As BRC members in Arizona know all too well, dust is the latest "endangered species" hope of the radical environmental group. Dust will be another tool to "re-wild" vast areas of the US. We're already seeing dust as a pillar in some of the greenie lawsuits.
The study's findings were anything but conclusive, insofar as if humans have increased the dust sediment in the lakes, or if there has been an increase since European settlement. But that won't stop the greenies from using it to ban any kind of activity they don't deem appropriate.
I'm thinking they ought to change the term "best available science" to "best available assumptions." The scientists don't really know. Or, perhaps I should say; the science doesn't quite jibe with what the scientists think they know.

National:Conservation groups want more snowmobile regulations http://www.powersportsbusiness.com/output.cfm?ID=2653237

New Jersey:N.J. hits hurdle in curbing illegal ATV use
Sunday, October 17, 2010 http://www.northjersey.com/news/105123849_ATVs__nature_collide.html
And...Illegal use of all-terrain vehicles in N.J. remains a problemhttp://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/illegal_use_of_all-terrain_veh.html

Pennsylvania:Northumberland News...
Off-road tour provides preview for vehicle park in Coal Twp.http://republicanherald.com/news/off-road-tour-provides-preview-for-vehicle-park-in-coal-twp-1.1050365
[OHV] Park seen as 'economic engine'http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/151132332

Arizona:Supervisors to discuss trail closureshttp://www.havasunews.com/articles/2010/10/18/news/doc4cbbd7ff49dbe089267155.txt
Public opposes closing BLM land to four-wheelershttp://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2010/10/17/news/local/doc4cbbd06d2b8e9720392875.txt
Supes side with off-road groupshttp://www.havasunews.com/articles/2010/10/19/news/doc4cbd289614e88543616771.txt
How you can help:BRC Alert: ARIZONA BLM TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANNING COMMENT DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 31, 2010http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1250
Meanwhile...Off-highway patrol
Agencies team up to enforce ordinance at Nature Centerhttp://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2010/10/17/news/local/doc4cbaa1b272770596422479.txt

Colorado:Still more opposition to wilderness...District opposes '09 wilderness act billhttp://www.themountainmail.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=20568
Donation Made To Improve Public Lands
Will Help Outdoor Enthusiasts And The Environmenthttp://www.kjct8.com/news/25292908/detail.html
Red Cliff wary of forest plan
Proposal could ban unlicensed ATVs on some roads near Camp Halehttp://www.vaildaily.com/article/20101011/NEWS/101019983/1078&ParentProfile=1062

Montana:Montana Wilderness Association names new directorhttp://helenair.com/news/article_95dd4702-d1d6-11df-9788-001cc4c03286.html
Wilderness groups hail bull trout protectionshttp://helenair.com/news/local/article_fb70fad0-d68d-11df-b370-001cc4c03286.html

Washington State:Big snowmobile bash coming to Josephhttp://www.wallowacountychieftain.info/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=61&ArticleID=22429
Wallowa-Whitman forest becoming battleground for off-road-vehicle limits www.oregonlive.com/wallow-whitman_forest_becoming_battleground_for_off-road-vehicle_limits.html

Michigan:ORV ordinance being prepared for West Branch http://www.ogemawherald.com/detail/86947.html
andBridge project will put a crimp in ORV, snowmobile trails in Clare, Roscommon countieshttp://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/10/bridge_project_will_put_a_crim.html

California:Brad Thompson writes an excellent oped in the Tahoe Daily TribuneGUEST COLUMN: Reopen area to snowmobileshttp://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20101009/NEWS/101009763/1059&parentprofile=1059

Utah:Concern grows over Forest Service road closureshttp://www.sjrnews.com/Concern-grows-over-Forest-Service-road-closures

Idaho/Nevada:Group asks for extra time to digest Jarbidge planhttp://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/twin-falls/article_c304e53b-fffe-570a-934d-411476e02151.html

Virginia:The news-clip below concerns new plans on the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests.
Here is a thought for the day....
Do suppose George Washington and Tom Jefferson are rolling in their graves over having a National Forest named after them?
Proposals for national forest draw questions http://www2.newsvirginian.com/news/2010/oct/06/proposals-national-forest-draw-questions-ar-544817/

Bonus:The headline in the news-clip below caught my eye. After a quick scan, I think we may have found something that fits the bill for the Obama Administration's America's Great Outdoor Initiatives. See, the initiative is supposed to get Americans recreating outdoors, improve wildlife habitat and fix global warming. The news-clip below would indicate the President could meet his goals on recreation, wildlife and CO2 emissions by building a bunch of new nuclear power plants!
Clear cutting of timber on game lands makes for good huntinghttp://www.garnernews.net/Clear-cutting-of-timber-on-game-lands-makes-for-good-hunting

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Summary of 10-C Public Comments

2010-09-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

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Summary of Public Comments Received

Public comment during the process occurred through three primary mechanisms. First, each meeting of the Working Group included a specific time block for public comment. During this time block, individuals were invited to provide their input in the order in which they had signed-in as they arrived during the day. Second, numerous e-mails were received from interested public throughout the process. Third, a number of letters and copies of e-mails were submitted at the public meetings, either in lieu of, or in addition to oral comments.

What follows is a summary of the comments received during the process and the general sentiments expressed through those comments. More detailed summaries of comments received during the public comment periods at Working Group meetings can be found in the individual meeting notes for those meetings. Meeting notes are available through the Siuslaw National Forest web site at the following location… http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/projects/rec-plans-projects/dunes-routes/index.shtml

Copies of all written and e-mail input received are filed at the Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor’s office in Corvallis. Information on these materials is available from Frank Davis, Siuslaw National Forest Planner.

********************************************************************************

Public Comment at Working Group meetings

Saturday, October 3, Florence – Two individuals provided comments at the meeting. Both expressed their concern about the potential for further restrictions on OHV use on the NRA, and their support for continued access to the NRA for OHV users.

Saturday, November 7, Winchester Bay – Five individuals provided comments at the meeting. One person expressed concerns about OHV trail impacts on Matsutake mushroom habitat areas, and emphasized the need to protect those areas. Four individuals expressed their concerns about further restrictions on OHV use on the NRA, and their support for continued OHV access. They also emphasized the economic benefits of OHV use to local communities.

Saturday, January 23, Honeyman State Park – Nine individuals provided comments at the meeting. All expressed their concerns about further restrictions on OHV use on the NRA, and their support for continued OHV access. They emphasized the economic benefit of OHV use to local communities. They also commented on concerns about overcrowding and safety issues as OHV use increases and available areas decrease.

Saturday, April 17, North Bend – Fourteen individuals provided comments at the meeting. All expressed their concerns about further restrictions on OHV use on the NRA, and their support for continued OHV access. They emphasized the economic benefits of OHV use to local communities. Several also shared their concerns about the recent OHV closure implemented in the area around Beal Lake in the south riding area. One piece of written input was submitted by a local landowner, in addition to the oral comments received.

Saturday, June 5, North Bend – Eleven individuals provided comments at the meeting. Nine individuals expressed their concerns about further restrictions on OHV use on the NRA, and their support for continued OHV access. They emphasized the economic benefits of OHV use to local communities. They also shared concerns about the extent to which areas of the NRA that were once open sand, are becoming covered with vegetation, primarily European beach grass. One individual expressed concerns about the impact of OHV noise on local residents in the Hauser area. One individual shared information on noise monitoring and enforcement efforts. Fourteen pieces of written input were submitted (copies of e-mails), all in support of continued OHV use and riding opportunities on the NRA.

Saturday, June 26, Florence - Fifteen individuals provided comments at the meeting. Four individuals expressed their concerns about noise impacts on local residents from OHV use on the NRA, and expressed their support for stronger enforcement of existing rules. Two individuals expressed concerns about the lack of camping facilities in the area, and the potential loss of tourist income to local communities. Nine individuals expressed their concerns about further restrictions on OHV use on the NRA, and their support for continued OHV access
.

Saturday, September 11, North Bend – (to be completed)

Saturday, October 16, Florence – (to be completed)

Letters and E-Mails Received

Through September 6, 2010, 46 e-mails were received providing specific comments about OHV use and related issues on the NRA. A number of additional e-mails were received requesting information on upcoming meetings and/or the Working Group process, but providing no specific input or comments.

Of the 46 e-mails received, 29 came from individual OHV users that were forwarded through an organization called Save The Riders Dunes (STRD). Input from STRD “members” generally emphasized their experiences riding on the NRA and the importance of this activity to families. They expressed concerns about further restricting the area available to OHV use, and related impacts on rider safety (due to overcrowding) and impacts on local economies (due to reduced use). STRD “members” support continued access to the NRA for OHV use, and oppose any further restrictions on the area available to OHV users. (Note: Printed copies of most of the STRD e-mails were also submitted at the June 5 and June 26 Working Group meetings).

Several additional e-mails were received from OHV users of the NRA, expressing their support for continued access and OHV riding opportunities, and their opposition to further restrictions on OHV use in the NRA. 12 e-mails were received from adjacent landowners and residents of the Florence area, expressing their concerns about noise impacts from OHV use on the NRA, and also concerns about trespass and damage to private properties. Several e-mails were received from individuals concerned about opening up areas of the NRA currently closed to OHV use, and allowing OHV use in those areas. They expressed concerns about the potential impacts to non-OHV users in these areas.

Two additional pieces of written input were submitted at Working Group meetings. One came from an adjacent landowner, and expressed support for the designation of OHV user trails in the NRA, including trails that connect to their property. Another letter came from a local resident of the Florence area, and expressed concerns about federal lands being sold into private ownership, and not being available to the people of the United States.

Kurstin

2010-09-10T08:14:00.001-07:00

Hi im Kurstin, Im 9 years old and I went to the dunes with my dad and brother, my mom couldn't make it but it was fun any way. We went swimming , shopping, and even roasted marshmallows, but the funnest part was riding my quad on the sand. Accidents happen but thats why are careful and wear a helmet, gloves, boots, goggles, chestprotector and more. I dont like that people are trying to shut down the dunes. I love riding on the dunes , why cant we share?

Lassie Episode in the Florence Dunes / circa 1967!!

2010-08-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2329504977213415012#

Jean - Tillamook, Or

2010-07-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

We got into the sport of dune riding as a means to take our 5 grandkids out and do something fun with them. And give them some real family stricter. These kids have learned safety, how to take care of and respect their own bikes, they thrive in the out of doors. Everyone should have a great family oriented hobby, if they did maybe a lot of these kids now a days would not be so messed up if their families took the time to do fun and interesting things with them. I grew up going to Florence and playing on the dunes, I have a lot of great memories from those trips.

Dune riders put a lot of money into these towns. Think of the big and small business that this will hurt if there is no more dune riding allowed. This is just crazy to take away our rights to enjoy the land we pay taxes for.

J. Masterson

Tillamook, Oregon

Richard - Florence, Or

2010-06-30T08:59:00.001-07:00

TAXES, FEES, GRANOLA, AND GASOLINE June 26, 2010

As we all know it is expensive to be an ATV enthusiast. We buy expensive machines and then we modify them. We buy big rigs, trailers, RVs and modify them too. With that comes DMV fees, Federal, State, and local gas tax, off-road permits, etc. Last I checked most people who hike, bike, kayak, etc. don’t have as much invested in their equipment with the exception of fisherman. But that’s a whole other ballgame.

Most people who hike, bike, and kayak bring their own food, sleep in a tent and typically use established trails and campgrounds. They don’t shop much or eat out much locally. They don’t spend much period. But there is more land set aside for that type of use. They don’t want to be around the off-road community because of noise. They also don’t like to hike on the sand because it’s too difficult for most people. I’ve never seen a person biking in the dunes or on any of the trails in the Oregon Dunes Recreational Area. With that said, I know for a fact that there are plenty of other established recreation areas that already exist up and down coast of Oregon for those activities. We are only trying to keep and maintain our only recreational area on the coast that we pay an extremely high cost for in taxes and fees.

So as a

tax payer, I know that all of us who pay taxes don’t have any control of how, where, and when that money is being spent. The only way we can be heard is to use our 1^st amendment right and voice our rights as tax payers on how we want our money spent or used.

As far as the wildlife goes, I have experienced encounters with wildlife in my sand rail frequently which tells me that the wildlife is not affected and continues to live and coexist with off-road ATV noise and usage. I understand the need for those who want to use the dunes for a peaceful experience, but there are plenty of other dune locations that can be used away from the ATV areas that already exist. All we are asking for is to respectfully keep and maintain our only existing trails and riding areas. I know it’s hard for those who don’t ride to understand our way of life or for that fact even care. I think most people have an image of a beer drinking knuckle head person tearing it up and out of control with no respect for the environment. Well, we all know that’s not true. Most of us are spending time with our families enjoying the outdoors. As I have said before, we are all here because of our passions. We need to respect and understand one another’s views. So please keep in mind that this is the only place on the whole Oregon coast that is perfect for the passion of those who love to ride on the trails and sand.

I would like everyone to reflect and think about this. The off-road/ATV community is not asking for the area to only be used for off-road/ATV use only. We are only asking to keep what we already have which includes sharing it with everyone else and coexisting with the wildlife as it has since the very first off-road/ATV person started using the area. We agree that too many of us have loud exhausts and maybe go in areas that are sensitive but that is an issue that the forest department need to do more of by spending our tax dollars in the right way. By the three E’s: education, engineering, and enforcement. Plus these issues are not just in the off-road/ATV community. They also exist in the camping, hiking, bird watching, biking, hunting, fishing, and boating communities too. People trespass, use land without paying the proper fees or permits, etc. So just remember our taxes, fees, and voices are the only tools we have to defend our rights. So I leave you with this, as you know once you lose something it’s hard to get it back.

Respectfully,

Richard Contreras

Chad - Elma, Wa

2010-06-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

I have been going down to the sand dunes with my dad & friends since I was 13 years old & am 35 now. We generally go down 2 to 3 times a year as we live on the olympic peninsula in Wash. st. otherwise the number would be higher. During this span of 22 years I have noticed 2 trends:

1. An increase in off road vehicles using the dunes as the sport has grown a lot in the last 5 or 6 years. Evidence of this is obvious with the increase in campgrounds, sand camping spots, bike shops in the local towns etc...

2. A decrease in public land available to us for off road recreational use. I have seen sections of the dunes once open to orv's closed for a number of reasons including private property closures, environmental closures, railroad closures (Coos Bay), & noise closures.

These are trends that if continued will end up making things worse like overuse of certain areas, orv injuries, noise issues, as we are slowly getting squeezed together tighter & tighter at the remaining locations open to orv use.

So I ask you to please don't make the problem worse by closing down more land to orv use when in fact it should be the other way around.

Thank you.

Chad Fishel

Elma Wa.

98541

Areas I ride are Coos Bay, Winchester Bay, Sand lakes, Florence.

Brad

2010-06-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

I've been to several of these closure meeting in the past couple years. I believe in saving land but also believe that my state of Oregon needs to maintain it's recreation areas for all to enjoy.

Whether it's us in the dunes or trails ,jet boats going up the Rogue, hiking in the Cascades, hunting in eastern Oregon or plain simply camping in a state or county park we need to save our

land for ALL!

Take,take,take.........Take more rec areas and then we can still wonder why our kids and soceity are getting fatter and unhealthy be the minute, because we can sit on our lazy ass'es and play with

electronic crap.

How about you Politician's look around and see what's wrong NO take a REAL look! If you’re my age (48) I loved camping with my dad. Now I can't get a 11 year old kid to think about camping without

WI-FI or electricty. What do you see wrong with that? Have you Politician's thought anything about trying to give something back?

Brad Lindsay

AKUNDERBIRD@GMAIL.COM

Richard - Albany, Or

2010-06-29T16:55:00.001-07:00

I am writing to express my deep concerns over the possible additional closure of OHV riding areas in the Oregon Dunes. Although I am relatively new to this sport, I have met many incredible people and business owners along the Oregon coast. We all share a passion and respect for the dunes and the unique ORV recreation they provide.

It was out of this respect and a sense of responsibility that I have joined atv clubs that promote responsible, safe riding as well as good stewardship. As such we have multiple dune and beach clean-ups each year and follow the rules of treading lightly. We also are concerned about maintaining compliance with current noise regulations.

Many of our members, as well as thousands of others, plan numerous family vacations each year to the Oregon Dunes. We spend money in the local communities. We care about these communities and businesses. We care about the riding areas. We try to give back by protecting both. We do not condone any of those who ride irresponsibly or who do not abide by the rules.

Closing more riding areas does not help the dunes or the local economy. Instead it will concentrate riding into smaller and smaller areas, increasing congestion (and the likelihood of accidents), as well as concentrating noise. I believe this will only lead to more more complaints, more regulations and more closures.

Sincerely,
Richard
Albany, OR

Dan - Estacada, Or

2010-06-25T13:48:00.001-07:00

I am writing to express my concern over the possible closure of more OHV dune riding areas in Oregon. As with many riders, this has become a family activity for us. My children have grown up in the sport, and have developed a strong love of our beautiful Oregon Coast and the dunes. We take 6 or more trips to the Florence area each year, staying 4 to 10 days at a time. This means we spend quite a bit of money into the local economy there, from food, gas, entertainment, atv parts, etc.

If more riding areas are closed, we will likely give up riding in those areas. If dozens of riders and families like us do the same, it will have a devastating impact on those local economies. I'm sure that those small cities rely more on OHV tourism than anything else.

In addition to the economical impact, there is a safety issue in closing more riding areas. This has become an increasingly popular sport (which will only continue to add to the economy). The more riders in smaller areas increases congestion. And those smaller areas will feel the impact of higher OHV traffic - which I believe goes against the desire to further protect the environment.

Responsible riders care about the environment and want to do our part in preserving it. However, closing more riding areas is not the way to do it. The impact of such closures are too negative. And I believe that what is hoped to be achieved by closing more riding areas will not happen because riding in currently restricted areas is not even enforced. Adding more regulations without enforcement of the current regs is meaningless.

I believe parties on both sides can work together to find a way to protect our beautiful dunes and preserve the economy and the sport, without the negative impact of closing more areas to riders.

Sincerely,

Dan

Estacada, OR

Cynthia - Estacada, Or

2010-06-25T12:41:00.001-07:00

To: ODNRA OHV Designated Routes Working Group

We have been riding OHV's at the Oregon Dunes for more than 10 years, primarily out of Florence. This has become a family activity, and a major part of our lives. It is a way for us to enjoy the beauty of the Oregon coast while participating in a sport that we have become passionate about. Over the years, we have come to know, love and respect the local communities, and have met many wonderful people and have developed life long friendships. It has also been a way for us to teach our children about safety, responsibility and respect for the environment.

We have found that those opposed to OHV riding on the dunes typically have a biased, one-sided view of the people involved in the sport. They paint everyone with the same brush - as being irresponsible, and having total disregard for the environment. The truth is that the MAJORITY of the people involved in OHV riding are very responsible, and care very much about our environment. The majority of riders follow the rules and regulations, and try to encourage others to do the same.

Unfortunately, as with EVERY sport and activity, there are people that are not always responsible. But again, that can be found in EVERY sport and activity, not just OHV riding. Closing more of the dunes to OHV riding will NOT stop these irresponsible people. They will keep doing what they are doing. Enforcement of the current regulations is what is needed, not adding more closures and regulations. We believe the enforcement agencies need to partner with those of us in the sport that ARE responsible, and work together to protect the restricted areas from damage. Many of us belong to groups that are more than willing to become pro-active (ie: Buggyfreaks), not only in areas like beach clean-up projects, but in helping our enforcement officers target the abusers.

Closing more of the dunes will have an extremely negative impact on local economies. The responsible riders will likely stop going to places where our riding is restricted. We put a LOT of money into the local economies. Many businesses in dune riding areas rely on OHV riders for their livelihood. An alternative solution to closing riding areas needs to be found. Fencing, better signage, better enforcement of current regulations and riding restrictions would be a start.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Daniels

Estacada, Oregon

Robert - Bend, Or

2010-06-24T13:40:00.001-07:00

To whom it may concern,

I wanted to write a short letter telling you why i think closing MORE of OUR dunes down will affect my family. I grew up in the Coos Bay/North Bend area and currently live in Bend, Oregon. I grew up out on the sand dunes with my dad and mom and all of there friends when there were no atv's other than an occasional 3 wheeler. We would take long trail rides in an old 72' chevy blazer, take trips from boxcar hill to the beach and have bbq's. It was some of the greatest childhood memories.

I now am married and building a family of my own, and have recently got my wife into the dunes and building 4 wheelers. In todays world where most families rarely do a lot TOGETHER, this is something that we both love and would do everyday if we could. I don't know a lot about all of the closures other than they affect us directly when it comes to enjoying what we love to do. We go to all of the different dune recreation areas and love to explore where every single trail goes just because its new and fun. Now with all the closures it is getting certain areas so small that they are not fun for us to travel to anymore. I can't even imagine all the people who have lost there jobs, or will lose there jobs because the tourism dollars go away. I say to you that want to shut the dunes down....You are hurting that little kid who looks up to his or her parents and wants to grow up and bring there family to the dunes, and beaches to enjoy someday.

Sincerely,

Robert and Brandi Keady

Terry

2010-06-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

I would like to say a little something about the possible closures

Me and my family traveled to the Oregon dunes 4 times this year and 6 times last year
and stay for 3 to 4 days at a time we ride all three areas but really love winchester bay

we spend about $200 to $300 per trip not counting fuel we go out to dinners visit the casinos
buy the oysters and lots of ATV parts and have purchased 2 brand new quads from coos bay Kawasaki
over the last 3 years

so I feel that any closure of ridding are would greatly affect our enjoyment of the dunes
if noise is a problem why not open some area that is further away from homes

and enforce the noise law that is already in place my bikes are at 85 to 90 dB's
and try real hard to maintain that level

I do understand about areas that have cultural importance should be protected but if a trail is already
there why not leave it open as far as new trails I have noticed a few riders who cut new trails seems to me
a plane closed officer or ranger could be a big deterrent by handing out some hefty fines to the few idiots that are out there

Terry Ely

Chris - Bremerton, Wa

2010-06-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I am writing this letter with regards to the possible closure of Sand Riding area in the Winchester Bay, Florence, Coos Bay areas. I am one of the many that make the long drive from WA to spend my time and money in Oregon enjoying what you have to offer in fun and food.

Many of these areas seem to have already shrunk in size over the years. This is a growing sport and just means that more vehicles are compressed into a smaller area. Although we all strive to maintain safety it just seems to reason that more people in smaller area is recipe for trouble. Also as the areas get smaller and people do not want to come there, the local economy suffers as well. Many small businesses have staked all they have on this industry and to get people in your shop takes time, effort, and people in town.

Thank you for your time in this matter.

Chris Smalley

Bremerton WA 98312

Steven - Wichita, Ks

2010-06-21T17:18:00.001-07:00

SAVE THE RIDERS DUNES

Steven Ranney

Wichita, Ks

I want to start by introducing myself, my name is Steven Ranney and I am a resident of Wichita Kansas. This is far from Oregon but I felt it necessary to paint a picture of how far reaching these upcoming decisions will impact people from all over the country.

Members of my family have lived in Oregon for several years and during that time period I unfortunately have only had the chance to make a handful of trips to visit. My Sister and her Husband became duners shortly after they moved to the Oregon area and since then we have become closer in our relationship than we had ever been. The reason for this is because of the subject of duning is common between us. Even though we are 2000 miles apart we stay in touch almost on a daily basis not only to visit about Duning but just to stay in touch but duning is what started the trend.

As I have recently heard rumors of the possibility of dune closures it pains me to hear of such actions brought to the table. Duning is not just about idiot motor heads tearing through the dunes as sometimes is portrayed of us. Duning is a tight nit family and friends oriented activity. As you can see from all of the forum pages that have been created to follow this sport you would find that there are more people interested in having a good time with friends and family than ruining our environment by the use of off road vehicles.

Being from Kansas I can say the Oregon Dunes are the nicest place to Dune in the country. I have been to Glamis, Little Sahara in Waynoka, Oklahoma, I have seen St Anthony's Idaho but Oregon is the most picturesque and beautiful place to Dune period. To lose the Access to the Dunes for us Duning enthusiasts would be totally unacceptable and if approved to close these areas can have a lasting effect on Families and friends. Some people raise their children to play sports to keep them out of trouble but others bring them to the dunes for the fun activities and also to enjoy the outdoors as their parents did with them. Only difference is now we have the sand toys, as we call them, to enjoy as well.

My wife and I traveled to the Florence and Winchester Bay area in 2008 for a family Reunion and all we could talk about on the long 2000 mile drive home was “when can we go back”. Not just for the duning but for the enjoyment of such a beautifully rich environment that we could just sit in the dunes and take in the abundance of peace and tranquility of the Forests and lakes on one side and the open ocean on the other and all of this why we enjoy the sport that we love so much.

We enjoy the nights sitting by the fire visiting about the activities from the day or just catching up with friends and family about our lives and busy schedules that we need a break from. Never is the idea on our minds of how we want to purposely disturb the beautiful nature of the dunes or any wildlife that may reside in the area.

Both my wife and I love animals, and on breaks while duning we will stop to enjoy the wild life and scenery around. We duners understand the concerns of environmentalists and we agree that sections of our environment need preserved for generations to come but to close everything off to the duning off road enthusiast is the wrong thing to do.

Everyone in this great country deserves to be able to enjoy the natural beauty in whatever activity we choose. We don’t want everything to be our way we only ask for the same respect about our sport as some demand of us and their views.

So in closing I hope and I pray that my information can in some way help explain why closing the dune areas in Oregon would be a detrimental thing to do. I am positive that all parties involved on both sides can come to an agreement that is acceptable to everyone.

If there is anything that I may be able to do please contact me even though I am 2000 miles away I still want to help in any way possible.

Thanks for listening and reading my letter and I hope to see my Oregon Duning family soon.

Sincerely,

Steven Ranney

Oregon duning Enthusiast

Wichita, Kansas

Frank, Chasity - Prinville, Or

2010-06-21T17:16:00.003-07:00

Hello,

My name is Frank Begley and I live in Central Oregon. I have Christmas Valley, about 85 miles from my house yet I would rather drive 230 to 240 miles one way to ride the Oregon Dunes. Why? For my family and I there is no better place to ride than the Oregon dunes. We have many friends and regularly make the trek to the coast with approximatly 10-15 people in our group. The memories and joy we experiance are priceless for us. The many hundreds of pictures we have from high on the tops of dunes to the surf of the beach, and the smiling faces in them, make the dunes priceless for us. I implore you to please keep the trails open as well as the hillclimbs and all of the other aspects of the dunes that make it such a pleasure for our family and friends. When my wife and I started going to the dunes about 8 years ago, we found a piece of our lives that was missing. We now make about 12 trips a year to the coast. We enjoy riding Florence, Winchester Bay, and Coos Bay from Boxcar to Spinreel. I dont think there is much of the open riding area we havent covered. We now are going on our third straight year of the Oregon Dunes being our family vacation meeting place. A place where we get together with some of our dearest friends, who travel all the way from Boise, to spend 12-14 days of fun on the sand. We attend Dunefest every year, as well as Sandfest. We have also attended the NW Raptor Rally for the last three years. this is in addition to the other times we go to the dunes including all the holiday weekends as well as any other weekend we can sneak away. The dunes are so important to us that we have even made day trips to ride Florence, leaving about four in the morning, driving to the dunes, riding for 6-7 hours then heading home after stuffing out belly's at one of the areas wonderful restrants. We are not the ony ones that feel this way about the Oregon Dunes. One of my best friends daughter just turned three. you ask her where she wants to go and her answer is "the beach!!!" Being a "sand rat" or a "duner" is something that gets into your blood. It is incomprehenceable that there are people out there wanting to close down the little area we have to enjoy. I dont understand how people can be so selfish that they want to close down an area so many people use and enjoy. I ask that you please take our passions and the wonderful bonding and fellowship time we have while at the dunes into consideration when making your decision that effects so many families that use and enjoy the Oregon Dunes, not only for recreation, but also for bonding with their families, bonds that are not easily broken!

Sincerely,

Frank and Chasity Begley

Prineville Oregon

Eugene Register Guard 10-C Article

2010-06-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

Dune riders dread crackdownAs the Forest Service prepares to implement trail cuts made in 1994, off-highway-vehicle users brace for change

BY WINSTON ROSS

THE REGISTER-GUARD

Appeared in print: Saturday, Jun 19, 2010

FLORENCE — For 16 years, off-highway-vehicle users in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area have enjoyed something of a free pass, at least where it concerns a spiderweb of de facto trails in certain stretches of the 60-mile-long expanse of sand between Florence and Coos Bay.

No longer. The U.S. Forest Service is finally getting around to outlining the areas of the dunes that were supposed to be off-limits in accordance with a 1994 management plan. But, because riders have grown accustomed to cruising these routes unmolested, the crackdown feels like a takeaway to some of the riders.

“We keep losing and losing,” said Scott Ryland, a member of the Northwest Sand Deuces and a Florence off-road enthusiast. “We have an exploding sport that brings a lot of tourist money to the coast — we’re talking millions of dollars annually that OHVers spend — and we’re trying to protect what little bit we’ve got left.”

Ryland sits on the 15-person group that’s tasked with making recommendations to the Forest Service about how best to implement the 1994 plan — a group that’s fully aware that areas of the dunes were supposed to be off-limits to the vehicles.

But Ryland and others acknowledge that the government’s slow implementation has everything to do with the way things are today.

The Forest Service split up the dunes into several different zones in 1994. Area “10c,” which makes up about 15 percent of the dunes’ 24,000 acres, permits OHV riding but only on designated trails.

Part of what’s tricky about trying to fix the problem is that there’s widespread agreement that some of the trails in use now are appropriate, even if they haven’t been designated. They’re natural ingress and egress points to open riding areas, or they afford critical access for emergency vehicles.

That’s why it’s hard to figure out just how much space OHV users stand to lose. At this point, Ryland said, they’re already restricted to about 40 percent of the recreational area’s total acreage. Because some trails will be reopened, and others will be converted to open riding area, a different classification, there’s no way of knowing until the end of the lengthy process how exactly things might change on the coast.

Official estimates aren’t available, but Ryland guesses OHV users will lose access to about 20 percent of the routes they now use.

“It’s a big chunk,” he said. “A lot of it is in the north dunes, up around the Florence area. There’s a moderate amount between Hauser and North Bend. Winchester Bay is probably the least impacted.”

It’s a frustration for OHV users and the businesses that rely on their tourism dollars, Ryland said, but as fellow committee member Adele Dawson puts it, “this is long in coming.”

OHV use affects sensitive riparian areas and wildlife, and the noise carries well beyond designated areas, Dawson said.

“The whole town of Florence is heavily affected by the noise,” she said. “The Forest Service has just been remiss in enforcing this. The riders don’t see it that way, but it’s the reality of the situation.”

The reason it’s taken so long to get to this issue, said Sharon Stewart, the Forest Service’s dispersed recreation supervisor, is that the 1994 plan contained some lofty objectives.

Forest service officials first worked through an alcohol ban on the dunes, then an environmental analysis to designate dispersed camping sites in the dunes, in correlation with a ban on open sand camping. Large areas of the dunes also were closed to off-highway use in that period.

“There’s only so much you can do in a given time,” Stewart said. “Sadly, this last piece was kind of the final implementation.”

The result is a difficult balancing act, said Ross Holloway, who is coordinating the OHV working group. Most of the members understand that there’ll need to be new restrictions and that all of the places that are technically off-limits right now can’t stay that way.

But the devil is in the details of the report the group needs to draft for the Forest Service by the year’s end.

“There’s a great deal of fear,” Holloway said. “The OHV community feels that most of the times these processes go on, they lose.”

Ryland said his fellow riders are working to literally clean up their image, by adopting sections of the coast where they pick up trash. He also said OHV users are lobbying the Legislature to lower the required limit on the amount of noise these vehicles are allowed to make to 96 decibels, from the current statewide limit of 99. That means OHV users are trying to make themselves quieter. But it’s also to change the Forest Service’s limit — 93 decibels — which riders want to see upped to 96, so there’s a consistent level enforced.

Ryland says he realizes no matter how much effort is put forth, the tension between riders and people who despise the activity is bound to continue.

“The environmental side is not going to be happy until we’re not there,” he said. “We’re not asking for more. We just want to hang on to what we’ve got. But the other side I don’t think is going to be happy until they’ve got it all.”

Winston Ross can be reached at 541-338-2366 or winston.ross@registerguard.com.

PUBLIC MEETING

What: A meeting of the Off Highway Vehicle Designated Routes Working Group for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area

When: June 26, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Public comment period at 2:30 p.m.

Where: Florence Events Center, 715 Quince St. in Florence

Meeting Set for 150 Miles of Proposed Trails/Roads Closure South of Oakridge

2010-06-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Citizens,

I would like to hear your thoughts on the proposed the Upper Middle Fork Watershed Restoration and Road Closure Project. The project is located in the Upper Middle Fork of the Willamette River watershed above Hills Creek Reservoir, south of Oakridge. I am writing you now so that I have the chance to incorporate your interests and concerns into the project early in the planning process.

Proposed Action:
In order to protect and build upon the success of several significant wildlife and fish habitat restoration projects in the Upper Middle Fork Willamette River and Hills Creek Reservoir watersheds, I am proposing to evaluate and close up to 150 miles of road in these watersheds (about 16% of the roads in these two watersheds). The roads would be closed to motorized vehicles but would still be available for non-motorized activities such as hiking, biking, hunting, and horseback riding.

Roads would be closed using a variety of methods that minimize the potential for negative impacts on aquatic habitats and water quality. The decision to close a particular road will be determined by the potential environmental impacts of leaving the road open balanced with potential administrative, fire suppression, and recreation and public access needs.

Purpose and Need:
The purpose for this proposal is to:
• Protect water quality and aquatic habitats by reducing impacts associated with roads.
• Improve use of terrestrial habitat by big game and other wildlife through reduction in open road density.
• Reduce the number of road miles that require regular maintenance.
• Reduce the spread of non-native invasive plants associated with roads.

There is a need for action because:
• There are many miles of roads on the District that have not been maintained or repaired to desired standards. Many roads are no longer drivable due to brush encroachment. If roads are not either maintained or closed in the near future, there is an increased risk for surface erosion, gullying, and landslides. Such conditions result in increased sediment delivery to streams and reservoirs, thereby affecting water quality and aquatic habitat, including habitat for vulnerable fish species (bull trout and spring Chinook salmon).
• High densities of open roads affect habitat use by a variety of threatened, endangered, or sensitive species as well as Management Indicator Species. Closing roads could provide wildlife species, including elk and deer, use of larger blocks of habitat free from motor vehicle use and promote more secure wildlife populations.
• Roads serve as conduits for non-native invasive plants. Managing the spread of invasive species is important for maintaining healthy native ecosystems. Closing roads reduces the potential for invasive plants to spread and displace native plants.
• Closing roads is a cost-effective way to protect resources for the long term.

Public Involvement:
I am now seeking comments from individuals, organizations, local and state governments, and other federal agencies that may be interested in or affected by the proposed action. Comments referring to specific roads will be especially helpful. Your comments will help us assess the proposed action, develop alternatives, and prepare an Environmental Assessment.

An open-house meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 16, 2010 between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the Middle Fork Ranger Station, 46375 Highway 58, Westfir, OR with the purpose of providing information about the project proposal to the public and to receive public input.

I would like to receive your scoping comments by July 6, 2010. Please send your written comments to: Diana Bus, Acting District Ranger, Middle Fork Ranger District, 46375 Highway 58, Westfir, OR 97492; FAX: (541)782-5319. You may also hand-deliver your comments to the above address during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays) or at the public meeting on June 16. Electronic comments may be submitted to comments-pacificnorthwest-willamette@fs.fed.us. All those who comment will remain on our mailing list and receive future updates on this proposal.

Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record for this project, available for public inspection, and released if requested under the Freedom of Information Act.

At this time, it is anticipated that the environmental assessment will be available for public review in September, 2010. A decision regarding this proposal is expected to be signed in December, 2010. Implementation of this proposal could begin spring 2011. A notice tracking the status of this project is in the Forest Focus, the Willamette National Forest’s Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA). The SOPA can be found on the Willamette National Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/manage/sopa/index.html.

Maps
Detailed maps will be available via the Internet at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/manage/nepa/current_middlefork.html. A large map is also available for viewing in the kiosk outside the Middle Fork Ranger Station, located at 46375 Highway 58, Westfir. If you have any questions concerning this proposal, please contact Matt Peterson at (760)937-4514 or mbpeterson@fs.fed.us.

Sincerely,

/s/ Matt Peterson

(for) DIANA BUS
Acting District Ranger

Brandon - Grants Pass, Or

2010-06-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

To Whom it may concern: 6/4/2010

When making recommendations about how to proceed managing the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, it will be important to remember the second word in the title: Dunes. It’s a neither forest, nor wetland and as such it should not be managed like either. It should be managed like Dunes.

The inconvenient truth is that the dunes are disappearing rapidly, and will continue to do so lest we take the necessary measures to help save them. The trails that are being considered are not trails that were cut and plowed for OHV use. Rather, they are merely remnants of what was once open sand. They are the place where stuff hasn’t grown…yet. Limiting OHV access in these critical areas will only cause further, and more rapid, infestation of the non native plants that are taking over our natural resource. Trees can be cut and re-grown but once a dune disappears, it disappears for good. Think long and hard about your decisions because the actions of today can mean the preservation, or disappearance, of an incredibly rare natural resource called the Oregon Dunes.

Sincerely,

Brandon Bretl
Grants Pass, OR

Kate - Grants Pass, Or

2010-06-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

June 4, 2010

Dear United States Forest Service and Working Group Members,

My name is Kate Bretl. My husband and I typically attend the working group meetings in support of OHV riders but are unable to participate in person at the June 5th meeting.

My husband and I are avid ATV enthusiasts and spend the majority of our free time riding in the Oregon Dunes. We recently moved from north of Seattle to Grants Pass and are thrilled to be closer to our favorite recreation area. In fact, we gave up two very good jobs in Seattle specifically so we could move to Oregon to be closer to the dunes. During the years we lived in the Seattle area, we visited the Oregon Dunes AT LEAST twice a month. We frequently saw vehicles with Oregon ATV permits during our commutes to and from work in the Seattle area. While at the Oregon Dunes we frequently met other OHV riders from the Seattle area and beyond.

We have spent and will continue to spend a significant portion of our allotted budget for “fun” on ATV’s, ATV parts, camping equipment, riding necessities, food, and gas in Florence, Winchester Bay, Reedsport, North Bend, Coos Bay as well as the towns we travel through along the way. We come from small businesses and realize the importance of supporting local business. We are more than happy to spend our money to support businesses in the towns mentioned above. We have invited non-OHV friends to spend time in the dunes with us. In a handful of times, they enjoyed riding the dunes so much they bought ATVs of their own.

My husband and I have multiple ATV’s. We even bought a child ATV prior to conceiving our baby who is due in December because of our passion for this sport. Through ATVing, we have met amazing friends and families from Oregon, neighboring states, across the United States and Canada. We love seeing families out enjoying the dunes, teaching their little ones how to ride and to respect the dunes.

We participate in annual organized dune clean-up efforts and often clean up garbage we come across during our rides. Of course there are individuals who are not responsible from a riding perspective and an environmental perspective but this is true for ANY group of people. No matter what the group or interest there are always irresponsible members. We witness and clean up an astounding amount of garbage in non-OHV campgrounds in Oregon, Washington or wherever our travels may take us.

The Oregon Dunes are extremely unique and precious. They are dying due to the impact beach grass and the other vegetation that has been allowed to grow. Research supports that ATV use helps keep the spread of some of this vegetation at bay to a certain degree, significantly more than in non-OHV areas of the dunes. The dunes are blowing away will be gone soon if measures are not taken to severely reduce the amount of beach grass. The beach grass prevents sand from the ocean as it traps it and does not allow sand to blow in and replenish the dunes. ATV use also helps protect Snowy Plover habitats.

The OHV community was given a certain area to enjoy the sport we love. This area continually reduces in size due to legislation and vegetation. With the popularity of the sport steadily growing, there are more and more riders on the dunes. How can you expect safety to prevail when our available riding area gets smaller and smaller? The majority of the dunes are closed to OHV use. Other users of the dunes have the lion’s share of this precious resource to enjoy yet continually encroach and limit the area set aside for OHV use. This isn’t right. There is no valid reason for our community to be punished and discriminated against.

Kate Bretl, Grants Pass, Oregon

Josh - Florence, Or

2010-06-04T07:25:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I am a father of three wonderful kids, my son is 14 and I also have two daughters who are 10 and 8. We have always been an outdoor oriented family, with both my wife and myself being active with our kids. I grew up riding atvs and motorcycles as a child with my Dad and eventually when I became old enough it was my sole transportation around the area I grew up in. I wanted to share the fond memories and valuable lessons that shaped me, with my children and the ODNRA riding areas are a very forgiving and breathtaking environment for us to do this. We live in Florence, camp at the dunes monthly or more, and ride almost weekly. The outlying trails are a dynamic aspect of the area, and we truly enjoy the opportunity to take in the unique riding opportunity that these trails provide. I have bonded with my children more during these times than any other I can think of, we are blessed to have these areas open for our enjoyment. All of my children are responsible, active, and physically fit for their ages, and I can say that riding has improved all three aspects of their lives. I ask that before any one chooses to close any more riding areas that they consider the lives and traditions that they will be impacting with those actions.

Thank you,
Josh Latham

Dillon - Florence, Or

2010-06-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

Save the Riders Dunes

There is a group forming called, Save the Riders Dunes, here in Florence and throughout Oregon. This group believes that we should be able to maintain our access to the dunes for enjoyment and pleasure as long as we are respectful of that right. There is consideration being given to restricting more areas to public access.

Years ago 90% of the Oregon Dunes was open to public access for off highway vehicles. This has been limited to 38% within the last 10-12 years. Further restrictions could cause us to be restricted from half of this. A major complaint that some people have about off road vehicles is that they are so loud. Our sand club is trying to get out information to riders asking them to keep the decibels down on their vehicles to keep the noise down. Another concern is injuries that occur on the dunes. Some laws have changed that require more education and also age requirements for riding to help with this. I think that it is a great idea to require training prior to riding and it will help with the safety concerns.

I hope that the people making this decision can see the value for families and the enjoyment that is found in the areas and seek to maintain that. It would be great if we could add back some more public access to the dunes and I really hope that we will not end up losing what we have.

Sincerely,
Dillon Payne - 7th Grader - SMS

David - Sand Creek, Mi

2010-05-27T08:15:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to let you know that my whole family Dunes. We drive 2500miles to get to Glamis to dune and for us it’s a family event. We all enjoy it and it’s our time together. Me and my family are planning trips to several other dune spots this year. It’s a DAMN shame that in a free COUNTRY, people don’t Just but out and leave well enough ALONE!! Everyone should try minding their own business just once in their lives instead of trying to rule what other people are doing!

David Bowman
Sand Creek, Michigan 49279

Scott - Seattle, WA

2010-05-26T16:23:00.001-07:00

To whom it may concern,

I travel with my family and friends 6-8 trips a year to the ODNRA’s for our vacations. This is how we relax and spend time together when we get away from work. We don’t come down to watch others ride or gather to race our egos but rather to escape from our daily lives into an area that provides a wide range of riding opportunities for all ages.

The trails at the Oregon dunes are what attracted us to the area in 1981. We rarely ride the open areas because we prefer the private experiences and scenery that the wooded areas provide. Since we are all seasoned riders, we have taught our younger riders how to ride safely and respect the un-affected areas. We’ve always discouraged any new trail making but still prefer to ride the many routes throughout the trees, bushes and grassy areas. A trail provides a better riding experience than the same old open dune ride because of the winding routes around the vegetation and the variety of challenging hills as well.

The ODNRA stands apart from other destinations like Moses Lake, WA, St Anthony’s, ID and Glamis, CA because of it’s diverse, wide-spread topography and the forest-like experiences provided within.

Our riding areas have been reduced significantly over the years and we are challenged to avoid the heavily used areas to find safer riding for our families. Closing areas, especially the forested or grassy areas will only limit our options for safe areas. I hope our future generations can enjoy the same experience that we have today in the ODNRA and that the local economy can continue to benefit from our vacation dollars as well.

Save our trails and ride safely!

Scott Bates in Seattle, WA

Erin - Florence, Or

2010-05-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

I have been fortunate enough to grow up on the Oregon Coast and I am a rider so of course I would be against seeing any of our riding areas closed. Not only am I a rider against it, I also work for my family in a store that relies on the out of towners who come to town to ride to survive. The central Oregon Coast is known for its amazing riding areas. If the riding areas start to diminish people will start to find other places to ride and the economy around here will be effected more then it already has been. Having already seen enough business go under with the state of the economy it would be ashame to see anymore innocent people loose what they've worked their whole lives for because of something that is preventable.

Erin Pantalone
Florence, OR

Joe

2010-05-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

I'm a 21 year old "kid" without much say in life, but I do vote and support my country and our freedom living here. One thing I've always learned in school is to enjoy life, and of course furthering my education while I was at it; but ever since I was very young of about two years old my life has been involving motorsports with my father and the rest of my family (of 5 kids). Going to the dunes is a magical thing that I hope is never taken away from us, going up on top of Winchester Bay, OR and watching the sunset overtop of the oyster beds is something I could not describe with enough detail to anyone to make them understand my love for this sport and the nature we have to share it with.

I know my current biology professor always tells us to go out and spend our time in nature, any way that we can and enjoy this earth whether its hiking, or riding in the dunes, or even laying on the beach and listening to the waves crash. Even he, a professor almost about to retire next year feels that some want to take away nature from everyone except themselves; and I've always been taught to share by my parents.. Mother earth shares itself with us, so who decides what gets to be shared and what doesn't? I certainly believe that is for nature to decide and not us. Keep the dunes alive for all of us to enjoy, I would of never been able to have my disabled father watch the Osprey flying over the back lake catching fish and sharing it with it's mate without the ATV and sand rail we used to get him there. God bless, Joe Cook.

Dominic - Florence, Or

2010-05-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Gentlemen / Ladies:

My earliest memories growing up were riding with my dad in his Jeep on the dunes. My first vehicle was a Honda 200X that I saved money commercial fishing with my dad to buy during the 80's. In college I worked for Sand Dunes Frontier as a patrolman and on my weekends went riding on the dunes on my dirt bike. The dunes have been an integral part of my life. Throughout the years I have experienced many new laws and regulations. Creating a noise buffer, after the noise buffer the dunes closing at ten then getting to pay to be able to park. Now I understand that there is an effort to close down many of the trails and dunes that I have ridden for years. Now I have two boys of my own and there isn't anything my two and one year old look forward to more than going riding with their papa in our '53 Willy's. The most notable change in our dunes over the years is how much less area there is now to ride. The dunes have grown considerably smaller and restricting any riding is going to continue the choking of our unique and majestic National Recreation Area. If the trails and more dunes are closed you will be able to change the name of the dunes from National Recreation Area to National Forest. Our Dunes are a disappearing resource, if anything, there needs to be an effort to open more areas to take back dunes that the non-native Scotchbroom and European beach grass have overtaken. Any stretch of dunes that is not ridden on will be swallowed up by these invasive species. Our dunes are dependent on the people who not only pay to enjoy these resources, but care and keep these invasive species from taking over more dunes, our dunes NEED riders. Our dunes are dependent on people riding on them, closing dunes is killing dunes. WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR DUNES TO DISAPPEAR!!! I want my family to be able to enjoy the dunes as I did growing up, the more dunes that close the less dunes there will be. Closed Dunes = No Dunes.

Sincerely,
Dominic De Piero Flo since '76

Tyler - Eugene, Or

2010-05-26T13:30:00.001-07:00

Tyler Mart
Eugene Or
Hello- I support the save the riders dunes 100%. Riding is a great family activity that thousands enjoy here in Florence. To shut the dunes down would mean that Florence would dry up. I know this is what the people who are not native to this great city want but the riders pour thousands, maybe more, every weekend into the local economy there. My family has a place over there where we store our equipment and we spend pretty much every other weekend there. We all ride and we all take care of the dunes. Please, whomever is reading these, here us. Do not take this away from the hard working families who enjoy the dunes so much. Please do not take this away from the city of Florence economy. Thank you for you time, Tyler J. Mart

Mark, Bridgett, Morgan - Florence, Or

2010-05-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

We started riding 6 years ago and it has been a great family activity as well as a get together with our family, friends and their kids that ride. It is sad to see that we could be loosing more of our family fun along the Oregon coast. Why does this have to happen?

Are we being penalized for doing something that is fun and healthy? We are responsible people who do not ride out of the riding zones, always wear our gear, don't drink on the sand, and live the "leave it cleaner than when we got here" motto.

Perhaps a better attempt of enforcing the existing rules and regulations would be better than closing riding areas off, which of course will be a natural enticement for those who don't care where they ride.

Mark Klingler
Bridgett Klingler
Morgan Klingler

Florence Oregon

Nancy

2010-05-26T13:21:00.001-07:00

To whom this may concern,
I enjoy very much riding the sand dunes, I would hate for any more sand to be taken away from us!
For all the people that are fighting for the dunes to be shut down they need to find something better to do with their time! I believe by taking more sand away it is going to cause more accidents, look at Sand lake I like riding at sand lake but it is so small that there is more of a chance of getting hurt by running into another rider. I am very careful when riding and watch out for what is around me but other riders are not... I also believe that shutting the dunes down would create a great problem for the economy in which we ride. The people that are fighting to get them shut down are more then likely retired and could care less what impact it has on the economy in which they live! Think about it really what are the riders hurting, we bring money into the towns in which we ride Oregon and private land owners has allot of dollars invested in the area in which we ride, if the sand is taken away there will be a great impact on allot more then just the riders!!! The question is, is it worth it to just accommodate a few in the community that don't have a life! If your a bird watcher, a mushroom picker or someone that has moved into the area and don't lake the noise then maybe us riders need to create problems for you! I believe riding is not one of the problems the problem is you have nothing better to do with your time!

Sincerely a rider that enjoys the sand with the family and leaves the area in which we occupy clean and we also respect the rules while riding!!!

Nancy

Matt - N Salt Lake, UT

2010-05-26T13:20:00.001-07:00

I'm writing to protest the closing of public lands that will affect
our riding areas.

I am going to come at this from a family standpoint. Riding the dunes
is something that my family and I enjoy doing together. I have two
young children and they love taking trips to the dunes. No, they
aren't old enough to ride themselves yet, but that is the reason I am
writing. If these lands are closed down, then they will never have the
opportunity when they get older to experience these great dunes that
we now enjoy. So please, for their sake... Keep these lands OPEN!

Matt Gardner
North Salt Lake, UT

John - Clackamas, Or

2010-05-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Hi, My name is John Scott Payne , I am 25 and Originally from Northern CA. Moved to Clackamas to go to school and work. I had been riding quads since I was 13 previously. After a year of living in Clackamas, I started hearing story's from my friends and co-workers about their dune trips. So I sold my Warrior and bought a Raptor. It was after my first trip, I realized that there was a shortage of ways for new riders to meet and socialize with other riders. So I came up with a group called Milwaukies Best. It was designed for people to meet and ride with new people as well as post questions and items for sale. Our group is broadcasting on the popular net working MYSPACE. After about 4 years,We have about 500 friends. All of which are from the North West, and ride. With Milwaukies Best, I have made some of the best friends that I hang out with on a daily basis.I have made these friend ships through dune trips and having a common hobby be our bond. Dune riding is a culture with in its self, and should not have limitations , it is difficult enough with the price of gas and the lack of work these days for people to continue the Dune Culture. I am not currently working full time, but when I have the money, and the weather is decent, Im heading to the dunes to ride all my problems away.

Heather - North Bend, Or

2010-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

To whom it may concern:

I am writing this letter in regards to saving our dunes! As I speak for my family and im sure many others, if we lose our privleges to the dunes as riders and sand dune recreationists we will have no reason to stay in this area. We love our times at the dunes and it is apart of our memories as children and as adults and for our children. Spending time in the dunes is a part of who we are as south coasties! This area does not have much to offer our personality type people! Going out on the dunes does something for our soul, helps us be better people, gives us that release. It is a huge part of our economy for this area too! Look at all the ATV shops, those are mainly family owned businesses, don't take their liveihood away, that maybe all they have. People come here from all over the world to enjoy our dunes, and the riding experience. As for us tearing up the dunes, that is just not true. The dunes are just as beautiful as they were 25 years ago. I am born and raised on this coast and have spent my life on the sand. There is plenty of restricted areas for people to go if they are not into the sport of riding, like Bandon. Being out on the dunes is fun for the whole family, and it doesnt cost an arm and a leg. I bought a 4runner just so I can take my girls for a ride anytime. To see the look on their faces and the excitement that fills our 4runner is priceless!

I do believe in management of the dunes and certain regulations for safety, there are a lot of people who need rules to follow as well as consequences. I have noticed a huge change in the company of campers since new laws regarding no alcohol has been in place. It makes the feel more family orientated and I support it. I dont mind paying a small fee for my dune sticker either, I am hoping it goes towards the up keep of our staging areas, bathrooms and state park rangers to patrol.

Anyway I strongly support saving our dunes for our riders, for our coast communities, for our sanity! Please take every word I have spoke to heart because that is where it is coming from.

                                                                      Thank you for your time!
   Heather McNeil
                                                                      North Bend Or

STRD Information Letter

2010-02-26T13:05:00.000-08:00

YOUR DUNES TRAIL RIDING IS ENDANGERED!

Follow us on Facebook here: Save the Riders Dunes Facebook

Website here: http://www.savetheridersdunes.com/

Contact us here: savetheridersdunes@charter.net

Years ago over 90% of the ODNRA was open to OHV use but through the years it's been reduced to approx 38%. We cannot afford to lose another approx 15-17%! There is an advisory committee that will turn in a recommendation later this year on how to implement that plan, which makes up a lot of our riding area that is mostly trails that run through the vegetated areas.

The Forest Service has already held several 10-C Designated Route Plan meetings dealing with the Florence, Winchester Bay and Hauser/Spinreel dunes - read here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/projects/rec-plans-projects/dunes-routes/index.shtml.

We would also like to encourage everyone to join the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC), a pro-public lands advocacy organization - read here: https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/join_or_contribute/?c=1 They are also accepting donations on our behalf (you do not need to join the BRC to donate) to provide legal action if necessary to keep our riding area open - specify "BRC General Fund" and for contribution instructions type in "Oregon Dunes Account."

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IMPORTANT

To anyone that knows an OHV enthusiast, please help us out. Print this page out, make copies and pass it out to them. Email this page out to any OHV enthusiasts you have in your email address book and ask them to do the same. Pass this message by word of mouth to all riding enthusiasts and give your favorite ATV shop a copy of this....think "Pyramid Scheme"....this is a grassroots effort to keep as much riding area open for all of us.

Please don't fall asleep on this one folks. Your riding areas may be shrunk to virtually nothing that Saturday morning your family wants to go riding. Serious stuff......Thanx for reading.....SaveTheRidersDunes
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While we are presently focusing on this local 10-C dune issue, SaveTheRidersDunes is yet another platform for all pro-OHV usages in the nation. Fight for your right to Ride!

Save the Riders Dunes

2010-02-26T11:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Save the Riders Dunes ....... Blog