history of the 1972 to date

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Another thing I’d like to point out is how out of date the current plan is.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

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

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

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

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

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

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.