Lassie Episode in the Florence Dunes / circa 1967!!

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

Jean - Tillamook, Or

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

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