Siuslaw Forest may close some dune trails in the Oregon Dunes Natiional Recreation Area
by Jon Crowley on 04/05/10 at 6:00 am
Source: http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2010/05/03/news/doc4bdf0cc3454e8291828952.txt
A citizens committee is working on designating off-highway vehicle routes through the Siuslaw National Forest’s dunes, a project that could mean fewer trails.
That prospect alarms some people who rely on dune access for recreation or even their livelihoods.
“The ATV industry here, you’re talking multimillion dollars for Coos Bay alone,” said Rich Burkholder of Spinreel Dune Buggy and ATV Rental. “I don’t think the citizens understand. If everything keeps getting shut down, you’re not going to have a town.”
Burkholder said many people enjoy riding trails through the forest, as opposed to open dunes. As a business owner, he’s concerned that use of the dunes may decrease if there are fewer options.
According to the 1994 Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Management Plan, upland portions of the dunes are required to have designated riding routes. A series of meetings by a volunteer group is the first step toward implementing those routes.
Mike Harvey, a recreation staff officer for Siuslaw National Forest, worked on the 1994 plan. He said officials created it while “meeting our own regulations and direction from the president’s office.”
The reason for designating routes is to minimize harm to vegetation and wildlife, Harvey said.
The Designated Route Working Group, made up of volunteers with interest in the dunes, is compiling ideas on which routes to designate and what kind of impact those changes will have on wildlife and recreation.
“It’s a balancing act,” said Sharon Stewart, dispersed recreation supervisor for the dunes recreation area.
Turns out, that’s not simple.
At a recent public meeting at the North Bend Public Library, the working group focused on major topics that have become apparent while designating off-highway vehicle routes.
Ross Holloway, the working group facilitator, said vegetation was the main issue tackled by group members. Non-native plants, native trees and mushroom habitat have flourished on the dunes, he said.
“Dunes are slowly but surely being grown over,” he said.
Harvey said the Forest Service has not deeply analyzed the vegetation. Officials don’t think they’ll need to close routes in areas with invasive species, such as European beach grass, because those species are not desirable.
Wetlands protection also comes into consideration.
“There’s a lot of wetlands out there, and they seem to be increasing,” Holloway said.
The working group wants to find a balance between protecting the dunes environment and preserving recreation areas, he said. Safety becomes a concern if riding trails are lost. With more all-terrain vehicles and dune buggies concentrated into a smaller area, crashes or injuries could increase.
Safety is a worry for Burkholder, at Spinreel Dune Buggy.
“If you narrow it down too much, you’re going to have a dangerous area where people are going to be gathering,” he said.
Private landowners near the dunes have problems with trespassers, so how the Forest Service will patrol and enforce rules on the dunes is another subject for the group to handle.
The Forest Service is far from making any decisions yet, Stewart said. At the start of the fiscal year in October, officials will look at the working group’s report and analyze the area environmentally.
“It depends on the complexity of the issues surrounding the subject,” Stewart said. “It could take six months, or up to one year.”
Next Meeting
The next public meeting of the Designated Route Working Group will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, at the North Bend Public Library. The public is welcome.
Public Comments
The Forest Service and the working group will take comments from the public throughout the process. Comments and questions should be directed to Stewart at slstewart@fs.fed.us, or Holloway at rholloway@inciplan.net.
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