BEND, Ore. — A U.S. Forest Service draft decision calls for creating about 137 miles of trails and roads in the Ochoco National Forest for off-highway vehicle riders to use during summer months.
The proposal from the Ochoco National Forest comes as part of a long-running process to designate places in the forest for motorized vehicle users. Released last week, the decision argues the routes laid out would meet demand for such riding areas; avoid areas associated with other recreation activities like hiking and horseback riding; and minimize impacts to sensitive resources. The routes would include existing trails and roads, along with new trails, staging areas, information kiosks and other facilities. It would cost about $488,000, built in phases over several years. OHV riders could use it from June 1 to Sept. 30.
The effort stems from a U.S. Forest Service 2005 requirement for national forests to designate systems of trails for motorized use and to prohibit motorized use outside of those designated areas, according to Patrick Lair, spokesman for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland. Before that, the Ochoco had no restrictions on OHV use, except for wilderness and roadless areas.
“People could pretty much drive wherever they wanted to. And they did,” Lair said. “This is a way to manage OHV riding so that it’s done in a sustainable way.”
Lair noted that riding OHVs is a legal use of national forest land but that the riders need a sustainable place to ride partly so that they don’t create their own trails. And a designated OHV trails system will let the Ochoco National Forest get funding — such as grants — for maintenance, signs, enforcement and information outreach associated with it, Lair noted.
Over the years, the agency and various groups have worked on possible locations. In 2014, the Bailey Butte Fire in the area helped stall plans, and a new analysis followed. Along with its draft decision last week, Ochoco officials released a final supplemental environmental impact statement that largely reflected a draft version released earlier this year.
Ochoco National Forest Supervisor Stacey Forson could approve, modify or reject the draft decision following a 45-day objection period for responses from those who have already taken part in the proceeding.
“The overall proposal is very similar to what it has been for a number of years,” Lair said.
But the effort to designate trails for off-road vehicles has long drawn strong opposition from various organizations.
It has rallied “a lot of people who don’t usually see eye to eye,” said Erik Fernandez, wilderness program manager for Oregon Wild. He pointed to hunters, horse riders and mountain bikers, for instance. “That’s an unusual coalition.”
The objections have ranged from disturbing elk and deer to harming habitat and water quality to impeding other forms of recreation.
Oregon Wild plans to object to the draft decision.
“We anticipate having lots of company,” Fernandez said.
John Crafton, board member of the Redmond chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association, expects OHV use will increase in the forest with a designated trail system, with riders visiting from other states.
“We’re not anti-OHV,” Crafton said. “We’re just against the organized trail systems that put too much traffic and too many people into a natural wildlife setting.”
Other areas in the region already have OHV trails systems and there doesn’t need to be more, he argued. He warned that more OHV activity would displace wildlife and hunters in the Ochoco.
“There’s nothing good about it for wildlife,” Crafton said, calling his association a wildlife organization.
But Larry Ulrich, president of Ochoco Trail Riders, doubts most forest users would see OHV riders anyways.
“I just don’t understand the opposition to it,” Ulrich said.
He wants to see the draft decision adopted, noting it has taken many years and a lot of work to reach this point.
“It’s been a long haul,” Ulrich said.
He argued that the Forest Service has deemed OHV riding a legitimate use; that the trails would not impede on other recreation; and that animals adapt to vehicles’ presence.
He also pointed to the chance for OHV riders to enjoy the forest, with its more compact clay soil that’s better to ride on in the summer than the volcanic ash around Bend — like walking in dry sand compared to more easily walking on wet sand.
“And it’s just a beautiful forest,” Ulrich said, noting differences with the surrounding region. “Beautiful trees and green grass and a hell of a lot more water.”
