Richard - Florence, Or

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 US 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SAVE THE RIDERS DUNES

By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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