Crook County Oregon Natural Resources Planning Committee Draft Report September 17, 2009 Ochoco Summit OHV Trail Planning field Review September 3, 2009 The Dechutes Provincial Advisory Committee invited members of the travel management subcommittee and members of the working group to attend a field review of the proposed dedicated trail system, various stakeholders and publics, and private land owners were also in attendance. Objectives for the day/ forest service agenda The Ochoco NF will provide the group with an overview of the conceptual approach used by the team in development of the proposed action. Provide the group with information about the range of opportunities, estimated length and the approximate locations of proposed trails for each vehicle type, estimated number and proposed amenities for supporting facilities such as staging areas and trail heads. Receive feedback from the group and any members of the public in attendance on the conceptual design of the proposed action, its general location, the range of opportunities it offers and any new ideas to be considered prior to the scoping period. Assembly and introductions, 8:30 am at Headquarters Ochoco National Forest Scheduled stops at field sites 1) Ahalt Mineral Source ( proposed staging area, class I and III ) During the working group s planning meetings, there originally included a separate west and east proposed trail system with interconnectivity. This was deleted because concerns of the wild horse management area and the Elk caving area, relocating the proposed system more to the northeast. A shared class I and III trail will be signed blue for class I and brown for class III.
A total of 124 miles, with 45 mi shared as designated routes. Crossing points over roads will be signed for horse and OHV separation, to segregate usages. The rock pit will serve as a staging area; mixed use roads do not require street legal licensed OHVs. The regional DEIS address interconnectivity road issues. The proposed OHV system is designed for summer use, and shared in winter with snowmobiles and Nordic skiers. When asked is the level II roads would remain open or be closed to non-street legal OHV use, the response was that the forest would not be modifying how the level II roads were designated under Part I of the Deschutes, Ochoco, and Crooked River National Grassland travel management DIES. 2) Walton Snow Park ( proposed staging area, class I and III) The area has a sheep grazing allotment with an area of loading and containment facilities. Seasonal use, summer OHV and winter Nordic skiing and snowmobiles. The Travel Management Plan will include monitoring for potential effects on local populations of ungulates; no closures are planned at this time. There may be seasonal closures as necessary. Potential noise affecting the Walton Lake Campground could require adjustments to the trail system in the future. 3) Indian Creek, road 308 junction The junction is close to the proposed trail system and the FS is positioning the trails far enough away to remove any visual impacts to adjacent landowners on Big Summit Prairie. Possible conflicts of OHV trails and local sheep grazing allotments are of concern to permit holders. Intersecting trail crossings with permites fencing will be equipped with ride- able style gates or cattle guards. The trail system will avoid watering sites for animals and land owners boundaries. Sensitive nesting sites for Goshawks and other birds will be avoided in placement of trails. Attention to sensitive riparian areas and wetlands, and creeks will require the use of existing culverts and bridges for the crossing of streams. 4) Allen Creek ( proposed trailhead, class I and III) A staging area has more camp sites and some camping amenities. Trail heads have fewer facilities. There is extensive damage to the riparian area. The FS will rehabilitate and fence with some barriers to prevent further damage, a bridge will be installed to alleviate the need to forge the creek. The trail system will utilize avoidance Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCA)
The FS anticipates a reduction in long term accumulative affects due to the change of forest open, unless designate closed, to closed with travel limited to designated roads and trails and access to 300feet adjacent to legal roads. NO CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL WITHOUT SPECIAL ACESS PERMITS. Long term success of the new travel management plan will hinge on public compliance, education, enforcement, and adaptive management. The FS Verbalized, due to the geology of the Ochoco National Forest a class II Rubicon jeep experience is unattainable, however additional large rocks and boulders would be incorporated into the class II trail system. Some logging skid roads will be upgraded to OHV trails. 5) Allen Creek Horse Camp Currently there is a problem with OHV users camping at the horse campground. This is not considered an illegal use unless the campground is used as a staging area for campers OHV s. The proposal will prohibit entering or egress from the campground while operating any OHV. 6) Scotts Mineral Source ( proposed trailhead, class II) This will serve as an alternative staging area to mitigate the conflict between Trail riders and OHV enthusiasts. Opportunities for shaded camping in an adjutant campground with an increase number of sites and amenities will be close to the combination staging, play area, and trailhead. This will reduce the possibilities of affecting local Elk range areas. Seasonal use scheduling will be preplanned. The FS stated that ATVs will not be permitted on snowmobile trails; however there seem to be plenty of adaptations to ATV track systems to circumvent this restriction. 7) Scott s Camp Mineral Source ( proposed trailhead, class I and III) Lack of time required cancelling this field visit. 8) Ross/ Peterson ( proposes staging area (class II) Stop cancelled. 9) Cold Springs Guard Station PAC meeting, Comments of PAC and working group members. A review by the FS team leader, the lookout mountain ranger and the forest Supervisor thanked the attendees and the public for time and input concerning the prescoping process. PAC members Comments Glen Ardt ODF&W/ District Habitat Biologist-Bend The FS listened to working group member s requests to avoid the wild horse area, wilderness and road less areas, big game winter range, riparian areas, and to bring stream crossings. However, FS staff might understand Part I and II of the travel management process differently than the working group since the FS proposes not to modify the level II roads as designated in Part I. Part I closes the two forests to cross-
country travel while keeping almost all of the system roads open to motor vehicle and OHV use. Part II designates site specific OHV areas, develops a trail system that provides opportunities for all three road densities. During the 12 working group meeting, the FS reiterated that they did not have enough time, staff, or funding to assess the road system across the two forests. However, in the site specific OHV area the FS could design a system that provided OHV users needs while better meeting Forest Plan standers, such as reducing road densities (see PAC Travel Management Strategy Recommendations June 4, 2007 pages & 3). A recent fish and wildlife economic analysis for Oregon showed that 2.5 billion dollars in revenue was generated by fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing users in 2008. The being said, many hunters also use OHVs. What is important and a challenge to resource managers is to educate those users on the tradeoffs between reducing roads and areas open to OHV users to meet surplus population management objectives for harvest versus not closing roads and areas, which would result in less fish and wildlife recreation and harvestable opportunity. There is an opportunity through this plan to help expand those trade-offs. John Morgan, Natural Resources Manager/Ochoco Lumber Voiced concerns about displacement from FS land to private land owners and especially lumber companies owning timbered land affected by more restrictive OHV travel on public lands. Roy Epperson, Crook County Travel Management planning and the impacts on county revenue in the areas of OHV recreation, hunting,fishing, trail riding must allow for sustainability in both ranching and farming. We are all well aware with a high county wide unemployment rate; any source of revenue including woodlot owners implores fostering a cooperative endeavor towards effective compliance. Working Group member s comments Steve Donne/ ATV Dealer- Gresham, OR ATV/OHV recreation revenue (CORVF) has contributed 3 million dollars towards travel management planning. 90,000 new ATV licenses are issued yearly, 1/4 to 1/5 of all recreationist travel off road, he started in planning in2003 and would like to see it finalized. Hikers and bicycle riders generate about 12 dollars a day locally and OHV riders generate about 64 dollars a day in local revenue. Bob Flynn/ Ochoco Trail Riders A system lacking in mileage opportunities will fail to satisfy the intended user groups and lead to failure of the entire trail system. The OTR as a local OHV club generates local revenue. ODF&W/ Prineville Office Brett Hodgson- Is concerned about the ODFW and Forest Service conservation plans for and Redband Trout and the effects on sport angling guide lines. Bryan Ferry What will the impacts be on wild life in the Ochoco Game Management Unit? Will the FS provide a comprehensive monitoring program for calving and winter range? Older hunters use the mobility provided by OHV transportation for a successful hunting experience.
Bill Queen /Lookout Mountain Ranger - He thanked the entire group of attendees for taking time to attend the field trip. Jeff Walters/ Ochoco Forest Supervisor- He applauded the attendees for their time and input and encouraged them to comment on the combined DEIS covering the travel management proposal. The combined forest: Deschutes/Ochoco Travel Management DEIS will be released on October 9, 2009. A 45 day public comment period will follow, including a series of meetings held in Paulina, Prineville, Madras, Bend, Lapine, and Crescent. The entire group extended there congratulations on a well planed presentation by team leader Dede Steele followed by an enthusiastic round of applause. We arrived at Ochoco FS office at 4:20 pm. Roy Epperson CCNRPC/ Deschutes PAC E-mail: roybuzz65@yahoo.com Conversations are not quoted verbatim