Post by poorboy1 on Feb 6, 2006 21:29:32 GMT -5
OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE TRAILS MEETING
Forest Grove District
01/30/06 6:30 PM
Attendance:
Lawrence Huntley, Richard Smith, Don Taylor, Dale Johnsen, T.R., Johanna Ebert, Darryl Mauhu, Bill Manbeck, Cory Glover, Kris Lynn, Nick Malsom, Dustin Ross, Gary New, Rod Becker, Steve Schoenfelder, Jeremy New, Landon Myers, Guy Hutchins, Eric Berkshire, Steve Lund, Lori Lund, Josh Jones, Matt Tabor, Mike Nagle, Mike Strauser, Tom Dummer, Ed Holbrook, Mike Wirth, Gary Holbrook, Ken Eldred, Todd Bryant, Tami Bryant, Joe Whitlock, Glen Marsh, Bob Ballenger, Jill Benson, Jay Lawhon, Gary Herge, R. Lee Foster, Doug Shipman, David Norwood, Wayne Phillips, Mark Bochsler, Larry St. Pierre, Rick Levine, Ken Barber, John Christensen, Paul Crawford, Albert McCutchan, Rick Jagow, Gary Easterling, Ellis Cookman, Josh Huffman, Jocelyn Huffman, Darrell Scheffer, Jeff Ojurd, Chris Erickson, Tyler Schaffer-Smith, Don Newman, Dwight Horton, Greg Summers, Robert Jordaine, Teresa Sullivan, Shawn Sullivan, Donald Brady, Jennifer Blanchard, Ed Ariniello, Claudia Powers, Terry DeWitt, Tim Chalmers, Bob Nelson, Dan Hofer, Chris Kramer, Jennifer Kramer, Katie Swick, Kent Swick, Alvey Stubblefield, Murray Anderson, Steve Scott, Don Pestka, Chad Wisniewski, Kurt Wright, Greg Mikkelson, Dan Hatcher, David Arnold, Bice Law, Ben Weller, Ron Price, Tim Baker, Joe Stinnett, Mike Law, Ron Riekers, Ian McMahon, Kathi Franklin, Jason Veal, Alan Veal, Terry Irwin, Susan Nicholas, Denise Berkshire, Pamela Petroff, David White, Todd Verboort, Dan Patterson, Calvin Irwin, Eric Bewley, Dan Jordan, Mike Bracken, Ron Currier, Jason Webber, Clint Haugen, Mark Bennett, Lou Tauber, Jeff Bowman, Marty Clough, Frank Wildgrube, Brian Rhoades, Craig LeDoux, Wayne Auble, Mitch Taylor, Randy Peterson, Kelly Foster, Clyde Zeller, Bob Gustavson, Ross Holloway, Jerry Hubbard, and April Reece
Opening Remarks: Bob Gustavson, Acting District Forester, Forest Grove District
It is an agency’s priority to restore and build positive relationships with the users. ODF needs to work on: agency support of the recreation program, providing managers and support for staff, improve monitoring, recording, tracking and accountability for what we do. Decision makers need to be involved, as they are tonight, as will continue to be. Ground level things to work on include event stewardship and event planning. Bob G. sees tonight’s meeting as a turning point into the future in the relationship between ODF and the OHV community. What we do tonight and in the near future about events is really the foundation for building that positive relationship with which we go forward.
Tonight’s Objectives:
1. The OHV community feels that they have been well heard.
2. The OHV community hears ODF’s role and intentions in its OHV program.
3. Get some good ideas – options and alternatives – for handling events in 2006.
4. Get the OHV community’s consent or support to proceed.
Facilitator Announcement:
Recent meetings have been contentious and not necessarily comfortable. To help us with that we decided to have a facilitator for tonight’s meeting. Jerry Hubbard has been asked to do that for us. He’s from the BLM and is involved with their Forest Management planning team. His goal is to help run the meeting and make sure the objectives for tonight are met. He’s an advocate for ODF and the OHV community and is here to make sure that the ground work gets laid to improve the relationship that Bob talked about. Also to get an action plan to work on and see some results for this event season.
Tonight’s Agenda:
1. Welcome & Housekeeping
2. Objectives, agenda & ground rules
3. Concerns of OHV community – What are your issues?
4. Event scheduling for 2006
a. What are the issues?
b. How are we going to do it?
5. Action Plan
Parking Lot:
Sometimes in meetings import stuff comes up that maybe we aren’t ready to work on just yet, so we capture it here so we don’t lose it.
**Request to get a copy of the minutes. They will be e-mailed, mailed and if possible, posted on the website.
Ground Rules:
We are all responsible for the success of each meeting and the relationship between the ODF and the OHV community. This relationship works when we are:
1. Respectful
2. Constructive
3. Not disruptive
4. Open and honest
The following were added from the group:
5. Appropriate Language
6. Introduce yourself before speaking include group you are affiliated with.
7. Eliminate cross talk and speak up
8. Bigger room next time
9. No personal attacks
10. Suggest solutions
11. Keep the conversation moving along
Question: Is this about all users or only OHV?
Bob G.: The main focus of tonight’s meeting is OHV and events.
Suggestion to use the “Hoo Doo” model for meeting to encourage public participation in the future.
It was noted that this is a regularly scheduled meeting. Every month it’s held on the last Monday from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
OHV Community issues/concerns: Referred to as the “First 9”
• Too many trail closures
• Event closures
• What is the definition of trail damage?
• What’s being done towards the vandalism problems?
• Event lottery - inconsistency will affect funding of clubs
• Re-open closed trails
• New roads
• What OHV community is willing to do to keep trails open
• How do we keep gates down
• Want tougher trails, some trails over-maintained
• Closure of existing tougher trails
• Want to know how to open trails sooner when closed for season
• Address rec staff #’s/levels
• Conflicting land use
• Constricting land use
• Impact – compacted land and higher number of users (due to population increases)
• ORS does not state how many people constitutes and event. Please define.
• Limiting number of event participants
• User fee to go up and use trails, fee would go directly to TSF budget to improve trails
• More concentrated use of volunteers and ODF’s approval for them to do work in the forest
• Stimson Land – involved in politics of TSF use, would like written statement from them
• Define what an event is.
• Illegal events; fine is laughable and is not a deterrent. There needs to be a financial deterrent.
• ORS for events is open for interpretation
• Reflection from ODF what the clubs operation to infrastructure on lands is to them
• Trail adoption
• Trail rebuilding after logging
• How to address (increase of) out of state users
• Logging impact re: gravel paved road is there after they’re done logging
• Difference between erosion of logging vs. erosion from user use
• Census of usage between user groups
• Non-motorized users in similar permit system as OHV users are so they contribute financially
• How is Salmon protection playing into this? Silt etc.
• Trail patrol-enforcement w/more meat (fines) in it
• Night patrols – lots of use during dark hours and is a problem
• Law enforcement does do a good job, there’s just not enough of them. Funding is an issue
• % of destructive activity is very small
• Education – provide some to users
• There is value in an organized event.
• Agency should involve Wash Co. and encourage their participation/support in forest activity enforcement
• Why is focus on reducing/limiting events vs. encouraging them?
• Why do events need to be babysat, especially if they have a good track record w/USFS (cross agency)?
• Schedule repairs before events and help repair after events
• How about certifying certain groups to help administer events and take workload off of ODF?
• Schedule work parties far in advance. Put on calendar months ahead so people can plan for them rather than a week ahead like usual.
• Re-establish camp host program
• Notify groups w/events about active logging in planned routes sooner
• More accurate reporting of trail closures
• Get serious about event steward program
• Willing to spend more on stickers
• Where does the $ go??
• There is always an excuse that signs are taken down. Utilize the 4 wheel drive shops to post signs.
• Event planning meeting is pushing it, would like to extend it 30 days to come up with a better solution for this season.
• Promote OHV meetings more. Post in 4 wheel drive shops and on internet
• Have meetings later so more people can attend
• What is status of currently closed trails and why are they closed?
• Utilize volunteers
• You need educational events and harder events for more experienced users
• Concern for how trails are closed compared to what ODF considers trail/habitat damage re: ripping out live trees to block trails
• Post schedule of events so campground activity is more predictable (use e-mail) no overflow anymore because of spur blockages
• Clubs set up education/bulletin sites during events
• How many events were held last year? 25, down 2 from the year before and they were all OHV related events
• Weather effects on events
• List trail closures and when they are scheduled to re-open
• More or less forest land than 10, 20 yrs ago?
Common Threads in comments:
Trails, trail maintenance, trail closures, management, routine communication, funding, events, enforcement, volunteers, and education. These items will all be used to come up with a work plan/system in the upcoming year. There is a lot of subject matter to be explored.
Would the funding issue be helped by increasing the cost of the stickers? OHV stickers: Where does that money go? Oregon State Parks spends it on OHV trail maintenance and projects (approximately 7.5 million p/two yr. period). They take in approximately $3 million per year in stickers and gas tax. ODF will work together with other agencies to come up with a report and post the results.
Who dictates how ODF regulates/manages State Land use? The seven member Board of Forestry does. They are appointed by the Governor and the Senate confirms them. It is a variety of folks from around the State. No more than three of the members can be affiliated with the forest industry. Their member information and terms are posted on the ODF website. oregon.gov/ODF
How much more or less forested area than there was 10, 20 yrs ago? That information in compiled and available in an annual report format.
Q. It was asked to clarify the difference between ODF vs. BLM/USFS and how the department works to manage land.
A. ODF is separate from BLM and USFS. ODF is comprised of many large programs. They have no control over Stimson or any other major landowner other than Forest Practices Act on their land. ODF is in charge of state owned and state managed land only. ODF is completely self-funded. State Forests gets no tax dollars for that program. All of the money they generate is from the land through timber sales, camping fees and other fees. They get no ATV funds directly. No allocation of ATV funds comes to the department directly, any money they get is through grants that they apply for. Federal Agencies gets appropriations from Washington D.C. For ODF, any money generated goes back into State land except for a portion that goes to the counties for schools and other services. The guiding principal for ODF land management is based on the management plan adopted in 2001 by the Board of Forestry. There are annual operating plans each year with implementation plans beyond that. The current ones will be out for public comment soon.
Bob G. feels that the list comprised tonight is a useful list and promises that ODF will respond to each item with how they plan to take action. Some items, at the District level, are out of their hands and will need to be elevated to agency management’s attention. Those items will be identified.
Hot Items for tonight:
Event planning – is Diamond Mill still a staging area for events?, lotteries and time frames. When are we going to get our trails open? Trail Re-hab calendar.
OHV Community Proposal: Barrett Brown - Skeleton proposal of point system
Barrett is with OMRA and several people have been working the last few weeks to come up with some ideas and have a proposal. His intention is not to speak for everyone in the room, just a large portion of clubs that had some input. There are currently 13 events foreseen for 2006. That is a concern and they feel that is unacceptable. Let’s say users want more events and let’s say ODF wants to accommodate that. ODF can’t turn their back on the law. They can’t turn their back on all the other elements that are involved with their jobs. The trail system is in bad shape and there are other user conflict issues that need accomplished. The OHV community is willing to accept that. A lottery system just won’t work. Their proposal is an event rating matrix that would be created to rate events and use to schedule the season based on impacts, user conflicts, administrative workload, and trail impact. Assuming the OHV community would accept the matrix it would be used to schedule events. It would allow multiple events on days and over time as volunteer and employee horsepower/better work increases so would the matrix. There would be a maximum number of points per weekend.
ODF agreed that this proposal/idea is a possible solution and said ODF needs to be part of the development of it since in needs to be acceptable to the Department. For the event assignment meeting the OHV community would like to push the current calendar out approximately 30 days. Mt. Scott’s motorcycle club is first on the calendar and is willing to work with a new time frame.
Open Discussion:
Would it work to weight clubs based on history, involvement, etc.? Some users opposed that because while they are affiliated with a club and are active users of the forest, they don’t attend meetings and feel they won’t be recognized. Take into account the time of year during ration system to determine level of trail impact. It may be too complicated to rate groups. How would new groups be rated? Users need to discuss between themselves and then present to ODF. OMRA has a process for this and offered to share it with the users. ODF requested that they be involved in the process. Rather than discuss a solution for 13 events, how do we get the number of events back up to 25. Let’s hear what ODF has to say about why the number is 13 and how it can get back to 25. Is it funding, staffing or something else?
ODF’s issues: Bob Gustavson
Scheduling - Why 13 events? Based on the calendar, staff determined the season based on the weather to be from mid-April through October. Holiday weekends are not optimum due to user conflicts. The 3rd weekend of each month has been set aside for work parties for non-motorized and motorized groups. Beyond that, no more than 2 events on consecutive weekends. Using that formula is a total of 13 weekends with one event per weekend for available staff time and management.
Funding – Staff time is not directly a function of funding. The Legislature gives ODF positions and dollars. If you have dollars you can’t go hire more people if you don’t have the positions. ODF got an ATV grant that they applied for last year because we thought there was an equipment operator position, which we didn’t, and couldn’t get because of legislative cutbacks.
Staff Levels – Staff levels are increasing there are 2 new FUS 2 (Forest Unit Supervisor) positions added. One for Forest Grove District and one for Tillamook District for the recreation program. All other programs have unit managers except for Recreation…until now. This is part of the effort to elevate Recreation within ODF. However, the positions are limited durations (LD’s) and the approval for the positions runs out in July 2007 and ODF has to make a case to continue it. We are currently in the recruitment phase. There was also a Forest Management Technician (FMT) added to Forest Grove District as well as a part-time seasonal equipment operator. So ODF can use part of last year’s ATV grant fund to fill the request for this year.
Trail Closures & Conditions – You need trails to have events, so we need to get after our maintenance utilizing all our resources; staff, volunteers, ATV funds, equipment operators and anything else we can get our hands on. That’s our priority. It’s a trade off between trail maintenance and managing events. If we can get some of these things implemented we may be able to have 1 or 2 more events. Right now we need to get maintenance done before next fall.
Open Discussion:
Q. Is the grading matrix a possibility to work with using the criteria discussed earlier?
A. Yes. It’s about amount of use. We need to figure out what the capacity is that ODF can handle for number of events. That needs to be figured out using a more objective system than purely a number of events based on how many weekends there are. Managing the capacity seems like a much more sensible way to look at things.
User Comment: Trying to maintain a system that is open and being used actively is a big order to fill. On the other side of the highway, at Diamond Mill, there were numerous trails that were open to 4-wheel drive at one time. Those trails were closed for a variety of reasons. Those trails that were in the “inventory”, by closing them down, increased the level of use at Brown’s Camp. Wouldn’t it make sense to open up those trails while maintenance at Brown’s Camp was occurring and give it time to heal? That way repairs wouldn’t get destroyed while they’re being worked on.
Details of the matrix would be worked out ahead of time and agreed upon by both parties and user accountability would be one of the factors. Staff does assess damage after events and coordinates repair efforts with event users. The matrix details would be open-ended and a joint venture/project for both parties involved.
User Comment: Event Steward Program – Users would like to see this program continue. It involves 8 hrs. of class time and 8 hrs of field time. If it would allow users to police their own events it would decrease ODF’s administrative time. It requires enforcing ODF rules. One person that is a user and a steward may see land use through different eyes and or mind-set depending on what role they are in out in the forest at a particular time. There were 3 people that participated in the program last year and would like for the pool to increase. Will it work? Will ODF trust them to utilize the program in the field? Yes, that’s part of making the system more efficient.
It was requested to post on the web how to sign up for the Event Steward Program.
Calendar Postponement: ODF wants to be involved in the matrix process with the OHV community. The effort should be all-inclusive. ODF needs to make sure all groups are included in the calendar setting. Next Monday’s meeting agenda will be postponed and focused on developing a point system/rating instead. The group approved of this change. ODF will work with the first folks with events on time to do permit work. It was suggested that perhaps only 1 or 2 club representatives would attend the meeting in order to expedite the process.
User Suggestion: Develop a volunteer event board. At least one person from each club would be on the board. It would be used to help organize each seasons events amongst the OHV community.
Q. How many event applicants were there last year?
A. Initially there were 15. After it was all said and done, there were 12-13.
Actually the first event of the season is on April 23 and is posted on a national calendar. They use county roads, not the trail system. There is an issue pushing the event out to a later date. ODF considers it a commercial event. A car rally is different from other events and is not intended to be part of the “13”.
Q. Could open weekends be filled in with low impact events if event stewards were utilized?
A. “Open Weekends” are also provided to create time allowance for non-group users to go out and ride for their recreation and not in an event. It is an open question and can be determined in the future.
Q. What defines an event?
A. The ORS does not state a number and that needs to be augmented by policy and will be discussed at Monday’s meeting.
Q. How about opening the north side for events only and not having it open on an everyday basis?
A. Parking Lot – That idea/topic can be tackled at a later date.
User Comment: A self-described “Weekend Warrior” wants to enjoy the campgrounds on non-event weekends.
Q. How do non-group users volunteer? A calendar needs to be posted on the website for volunteer opportunities and when the meetings are.
A. The work parties are open invitation. Better communication of them will be implemented. SOLV day is on April 23 and is open to the public.
User Comments: More one-way trails are needed to eliminate off-trail driving.
Q. How do you stop more than the number of participants allowed from participating in an event?
A. Accountability is the event holders responsibility. Don’t allow more participants than you’ve planned on. Stick to the rules that you have set.
Would picking up litter count towards points in ranking system? That’s something to think about. It was suggested to focus educating the youth riders. They are our future.
Wrap Up:
Motion by user to have only 1 or 2 reps from event applicants to come to Monday’s meeting. That was agreed on by the OHV community. Non-club community members are welcome. It is a public meeting and is open to all members of the public. It will be held at the Forest Grove District building at 6:30 p.m.
Next meeting will focus on #1 Development of point/rating system and matrix, #2 Event Calendar scheduling with focus on the early events. Also need to discuss maintenance and classification of impact on trails. Consider showing the calendar and see if there actually are any conflicts. Bob G. suggested assigning the annual events on first priority and then applying the point system.
Minutes from tonight’s meeting and a plan for the “First 9” will be done and distributed by the end of the week.
The OHV users would like a meeting scheduled focusing on trail maintenance. The plans for that meeting will be communicated via e-mail after next Monday, February 6th.
It was commented that some trails are over-maintained.
Closing Remarks:
Bob Gustavson: Thanks to everyone for their attendance and participation tonight. Were tonight’s objectives met? Yes. All issues were touched on and discussed and are still open for discussion. There were a lot of good ideas generated tonight that we will move forward with.
Barrett Brown: There were many common threads between ODF and the OHV community tonight. Things that need to be worked on by ODF including trail maintenance, involving decision makers, and better communications. ODF made a lot of commitments to improve on those things. The agency needs to hear that the clubs are open to changing how we do things like increasing volunteer work and getting involved in the planning process. In the past there have been interpersonal relationships, negative ones, that need to be put behind us and consider this a fresh start full of optimism.
Forest Grove District
01/30/06 6:30 PM
Attendance:
Lawrence Huntley, Richard Smith, Don Taylor, Dale Johnsen, T.R., Johanna Ebert, Darryl Mauhu, Bill Manbeck, Cory Glover, Kris Lynn, Nick Malsom, Dustin Ross, Gary New, Rod Becker, Steve Schoenfelder, Jeremy New, Landon Myers, Guy Hutchins, Eric Berkshire, Steve Lund, Lori Lund, Josh Jones, Matt Tabor, Mike Nagle, Mike Strauser, Tom Dummer, Ed Holbrook, Mike Wirth, Gary Holbrook, Ken Eldred, Todd Bryant, Tami Bryant, Joe Whitlock, Glen Marsh, Bob Ballenger, Jill Benson, Jay Lawhon, Gary Herge, R. Lee Foster, Doug Shipman, David Norwood, Wayne Phillips, Mark Bochsler, Larry St. Pierre, Rick Levine, Ken Barber, John Christensen, Paul Crawford, Albert McCutchan, Rick Jagow, Gary Easterling, Ellis Cookman, Josh Huffman, Jocelyn Huffman, Darrell Scheffer, Jeff Ojurd, Chris Erickson, Tyler Schaffer-Smith, Don Newman, Dwight Horton, Greg Summers, Robert Jordaine, Teresa Sullivan, Shawn Sullivan, Donald Brady, Jennifer Blanchard, Ed Ariniello, Claudia Powers, Terry DeWitt, Tim Chalmers, Bob Nelson, Dan Hofer, Chris Kramer, Jennifer Kramer, Katie Swick, Kent Swick, Alvey Stubblefield, Murray Anderson, Steve Scott, Don Pestka, Chad Wisniewski, Kurt Wright, Greg Mikkelson, Dan Hatcher, David Arnold, Bice Law, Ben Weller, Ron Price, Tim Baker, Joe Stinnett, Mike Law, Ron Riekers, Ian McMahon, Kathi Franklin, Jason Veal, Alan Veal, Terry Irwin, Susan Nicholas, Denise Berkshire, Pamela Petroff, David White, Todd Verboort, Dan Patterson, Calvin Irwin, Eric Bewley, Dan Jordan, Mike Bracken, Ron Currier, Jason Webber, Clint Haugen, Mark Bennett, Lou Tauber, Jeff Bowman, Marty Clough, Frank Wildgrube, Brian Rhoades, Craig LeDoux, Wayne Auble, Mitch Taylor, Randy Peterson, Kelly Foster, Clyde Zeller, Bob Gustavson, Ross Holloway, Jerry Hubbard, and April Reece
Opening Remarks: Bob Gustavson, Acting District Forester, Forest Grove District
It is an agency’s priority to restore and build positive relationships with the users. ODF needs to work on: agency support of the recreation program, providing managers and support for staff, improve monitoring, recording, tracking and accountability for what we do. Decision makers need to be involved, as they are tonight, as will continue to be. Ground level things to work on include event stewardship and event planning. Bob G. sees tonight’s meeting as a turning point into the future in the relationship between ODF and the OHV community. What we do tonight and in the near future about events is really the foundation for building that positive relationship with which we go forward.
Tonight’s Objectives:
1. The OHV community feels that they have been well heard.
2. The OHV community hears ODF’s role and intentions in its OHV program.
3. Get some good ideas – options and alternatives – for handling events in 2006.
4. Get the OHV community’s consent or support to proceed.
Facilitator Announcement:
Recent meetings have been contentious and not necessarily comfortable. To help us with that we decided to have a facilitator for tonight’s meeting. Jerry Hubbard has been asked to do that for us. He’s from the BLM and is involved with their Forest Management planning team. His goal is to help run the meeting and make sure the objectives for tonight are met. He’s an advocate for ODF and the OHV community and is here to make sure that the ground work gets laid to improve the relationship that Bob talked about. Also to get an action plan to work on and see some results for this event season.
Tonight’s Agenda:
1. Welcome & Housekeeping
2. Objectives, agenda & ground rules
3. Concerns of OHV community – What are your issues?
4. Event scheduling for 2006
a. What are the issues?
b. How are we going to do it?
5. Action Plan
Parking Lot:
Sometimes in meetings import stuff comes up that maybe we aren’t ready to work on just yet, so we capture it here so we don’t lose it.
**Request to get a copy of the minutes. They will be e-mailed, mailed and if possible, posted on the website.
Ground Rules:
We are all responsible for the success of each meeting and the relationship between the ODF and the OHV community. This relationship works when we are:
1. Respectful
2. Constructive
3. Not disruptive
4. Open and honest
The following were added from the group:
5. Appropriate Language
6. Introduce yourself before speaking include group you are affiliated with.
7. Eliminate cross talk and speak up
8. Bigger room next time
9. No personal attacks
10. Suggest solutions
11. Keep the conversation moving along
Question: Is this about all users or only OHV?
Bob G.: The main focus of tonight’s meeting is OHV and events.
Suggestion to use the “Hoo Doo” model for meeting to encourage public participation in the future.
It was noted that this is a regularly scheduled meeting. Every month it’s held on the last Monday from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
OHV Community issues/concerns: Referred to as the “First 9”
• Too many trail closures
• Event closures
• What is the definition of trail damage?
• What’s being done towards the vandalism problems?
• Event lottery - inconsistency will affect funding of clubs
• Re-open closed trails
• New roads
• What OHV community is willing to do to keep trails open
• How do we keep gates down
• Want tougher trails, some trails over-maintained
• Closure of existing tougher trails
• Want to know how to open trails sooner when closed for season
• Address rec staff #’s/levels
• Conflicting land use
• Constricting land use
• Impact – compacted land and higher number of users (due to population increases)
• ORS does not state how many people constitutes and event. Please define.
• Limiting number of event participants
• User fee to go up and use trails, fee would go directly to TSF budget to improve trails
• More concentrated use of volunteers and ODF’s approval for them to do work in the forest
• Stimson Land – involved in politics of TSF use, would like written statement from them
• Define what an event is.
• Illegal events; fine is laughable and is not a deterrent. There needs to be a financial deterrent.
• ORS for events is open for interpretation
• Reflection from ODF what the clubs operation to infrastructure on lands is to them
• Trail adoption
• Trail rebuilding after logging
• How to address (increase of) out of state users
• Logging impact re: gravel paved road is there after they’re done logging
• Difference between erosion of logging vs. erosion from user use
• Census of usage between user groups
• Non-motorized users in similar permit system as OHV users are so they contribute financially
• How is Salmon protection playing into this? Silt etc.
• Trail patrol-enforcement w/more meat (fines) in it
• Night patrols – lots of use during dark hours and is a problem
• Law enforcement does do a good job, there’s just not enough of them. Funding is an issue
• % of destructive activity is very small
• Education – provide some to users
• There is value in an organized event.
• Agency should involve Wash Co. and encourage their participation/support in forest activity enforcement
• Why is focus on reducing/limiting events vs. encouraging them?
• Why do events need to be babysat, especially if they have a good track record w/USFS (cross agency)?
• Schedule repairs before events and help repair after events
• How about certifying certain groups to help administer events and take workload off of ODF?
• Schedule work parties far in advance. Put on calendar months ahead so people can plan for them rather than a week ahead like usual.
• Re-establish camp host program
• Notify groups w/events about active logging in planned routes sooner
• More accurate reporting of trail closures
• Get serious about event steward program
• Willing to spend more on stickers
• Where does the $ go??
• There is always an excuse that signs are taken down. Utilize the 4 wheel drive shops to post signs.
• Event planning meeting is pushing it, would like to extend it 30 days to come up with a better solution for this season.
• Promote OHV meetings more. Post in 4 wheel drive shops and on internet
• Have meetings later so more people can attend
• What is status of currently closed trails and why are they closed?
• Utilize volunteers
• You need educational events and harder events for more experienced users
• Concern for how trails are closed compared to what ODF considers trail/habitat damage re: ripping out live trees to block trails
• Post schedule of events so campground activity is more predictable (use e-mail) no overflow anymore because of spur blockages
• Clubs set up education/bulletin sites during events
• How many events were held last year? 25, down 2 from the year before and they were all OHV related events
• Weather effects on events
• List trail closures and when they are scheduled to re-open
• More or less forest land than 10, 20 yrs ago?
Common Threads in comments:
Trails, trail maintenance, trail closures, management, routine communication, funding, events, enforcement, volunteers, and education. These items will all be used to come up with a work plan/system in the upcoming year. There is a lot of subject matter to be explored.
Would the funding issue be helped by increasing the cost of the stickers? OHV stickers: Where does that money go? Oregon State Parks spends it on OHV trail maintenance and projects (approximately 7.5 million p/two yr. period). They take in approximately $3 million per year in stickers and gas tax. ODF will work together with other agencies to come up with a report and post the results.
Who dictates how ODF regulates/manages State Land use? The seven member Board of Forestry does. They are appointed by the Governor and the Senate confirms them. It is a variety of folks from around the State. No more than three of the members can be affiliated with the forest industry. Their member information and terms are posted on the ODF website. oregon.gov/ODF
How much more or less forested area than there was 10, 20 yrs ago? That information in compiled and available in an annual report format.
Q. It was asked to clarify the difference between ODF vs. BLM/USFS and how the department works to manage land.
A. ODF is separate from BLM and USFS. ODF is comprised of many large programs. They have no control over Stimson or any other major landowner other than Forest Practices Act on their land. ODF is in charge of state owned and state managed land only. ODF is completely self-funded. State Forests gets no tax dollars for that program. All of the money they generate is from the land through timber sales, camping fees and other fees. They get no ATV funds directly. No allocation of ATV funds comes to the department directly, any money they get is through grants that they apply for. Federal Agencies gets appropriations from Washington D.C. For ODF, any money generated goes back into State land except for a portion that goes to the counties for schools and other services. The guiding principal for ODF land management is based on the management plan adopted in 2001 by the Board of Forestry. There are annual operating plans each year with implementation plans beyond that. The current ones will be out for public comment soon.
Bob G. feels that the list comprised tonight is a useful list and promises that ODF will respond to each item with how they plan to take action. Some items, at the District level, are out of their hands and will need to be elevated to agency management’s attention. Those items will be identified.
Hot Items for tonight:
Event planning – is Diamond Mill still a staging area for events?, lotteries and time frames. When are we going to get our trails open? Trail Re-hab calendar.
OHV Community Proposal: Barrett Brown - Skeleton proposal of point system
Barrett is with OMRA and several people have been working the last few weeks to come up with some ideas and have a proposal. His intention is not to speak for everyone in the room, just a large portion of clubs that had some input. There are currently 13 events foreseen for 2006. That is a concern and they feel that is unacceptable. Let’s say users want more events and let’s say ODF wants to accommodate that. ODF can’t turn their back on the law. They can’t turn their back on all the other elements that are involved with their jobs. The trail system is in bad shape and there are other user conflict issues that need accomplished. The OHV community is willing to accept that. A lottery system just won’t work. Their proposal is an event rating matrix that would be created to rate events and use to schedule the season based on impacts, user conflicts, administrative workload, and trail impact. Assuming the OHV community would accept the matrix it would be used to schedule events. It would allow multiple events on days and over time as volunteer and employee horsepower/better work increases so would the matrix. There would be a maximum number of points per weekend.
ODF agreed that this proposal/idea is a possible solution and said ODF needs to be part of the development of it since in needs to be acceptable to the Department. For the event assignment meeting the OHV community would like to push the current calendar out approximately 30 days. Mt. Scott’s motorcycle club is first on the calendar and is willing to work with a new time frame.
Open Discussion:
Would it work to weight clubs based on history, involvement, etc.? Some users opposed that because while they are affiliated with a club and are active users of the forest, they don’t attend meetings and feel they won’t be recognized. Take into account the time of year during ration system to determine level of trail impact. It may be too complicated to rate groups. How would new groups be rated? Users need to discuss between themselves and then present to ODF. OMRA has a process for this and offered to share it with the users. ODF requested that they be involved in the process. Rather than discuss a solution for 13 events, how do we get the number of events back up to 25. Let’s hear what ODF has to say about why the number is 13 and how it can get back to 25. Is it funding, staffing or something else?
ODF’s issues: Bob Gustavson
Scheduling - Why 13 events? Based on the calendar, staff determined the season based on the weather to be from mid-April through October. Holiday weekends are not optimum due to user conflicts. The 3rd weekend of each month has been set aside for work parties for non-motorized and motorized groups. Beyond that, no more than 2 events on consecutive weekends. Using that formula is a total of 13 weekends with one event per weekend for available staff time and management.
Funding – Staff time is not directly a function of funding. The Legislature gives ODF positions and dollars. If you have dollars you can’t go hire more people if you don’t have the positions. ODF got an ATV grant that they applied for last year because we thought there was an equipment operator position, which we didn’t, and couldn’t get because of legislative cutbacks.
Staff Levels – Staff levels are increasing there are 2 new FUS 2 (Forest Unit Supervisor) positions added. One for Forest Grove District and one for Tillamook District for the recreation program. All other programs have unit managers except for Recreation…until now. This is part of the effort to elevate Recreation within ODF. However, the positions are limited durations (LD’s) and the approval for the positions runs out in July 2007 and ODF has to make a case to continue it. We are currently in the recruitment phase. There was also a Forest Management Technician (FMT) added to Forest Grove District as well as a part-time seasonal equipment operator. So ODF can use part of last year’s ATV grant fund to fill the request for this year.
Trail Closures & Conditions – You need trails to have events, so we need to get after our maintenance utilizing all our resources; staff, volunteers, ATV funds, equipment operators and anything else we can get our hands on. That’s our priority. It’s a trade off between trail maintenance and managing events. If we can get some of these things implemented we may be able to have 1 or 2 more events. Right now we need to get maintenance done before next fall.
Open Discussion:
Q. Is the grading matrix a possibility to work with using the criteria discussed earlier?
A. Yes. It’s about amount of use. We need to figure out what the capacity is that ODF can handle for number of events. That needs to be figured out using a more objective system than purely a number of events based on how many weekends there are. Managing the capacity seems like a much more sensible way to look at things.
User Comment: Trying to maintain a system that is open and being used actively is a big order to fill. On the other side of the highway, at Diamond Mill, there were numerous trails that were open to 4-wheel drive at one time. Those trails were closed for a variety of reasons. Those trails that were in the “inventory”, by closing them down, increased the level of use at Brown’s Camp. Wouldn’t it make sense to open up those trails while maintenance at Brown’s Camp was occurring and give it time to heal? That way repairs wouldn’t get destroyed while they’re being worked on.
Details of the matrix would be worked out ahead of time and agreed upon by both parties and user accountability would be one of the factors. Staff does assess damage after events and coordinates repair efforts with event users. The matrix details would be open-ended and a joint venture/project for both parties involved.
User Comment: Event Steward Program – Users would like to see this program continue. It involves 8 hrs. of class time and 8 hrs of field time. If it would allow users to police their own events it would decrease ODF’s administrative time. It requires enforcing ODF rules. One person that is a user and a steward may see land use through different eyes and or mind-set depending on what role they are in out in the forest at a particular time. There were 3 people that participated in the program last year and would like for the pool to increase. Will it work? Will ODF trust them to utilize the program in the field? Yes, that’s part of making the system more efficient.
It was requested to post on the web how to sign up for the Event Steward Program.
Calendar Postponement: ODF wants to be involved in the matrix process with the OHV community. The effort should be all-inclusive. ODF needs to make sure all groups are included in the calendar setting. Next Monday’s meeting agenda will be postponed and focused on developing a point system/rating instead. The group approved of this change. ODF will work with the first folks with events on time to do permit work. It was suggested that perhaps only 1 or 2 club representatives would attend the meeting in order to expedite the process.
User Suggestion: Develop a volunteer event board. At least one person from each club would be on the board. It would be used to help organize each seasons events amongst the OHV community.
Q. How many event applicants were there last year?
A. Initially there were 15. After it was all said and done, there were 12-13.
Actually the first event of the season is on April 23 and is posted on a national calendar. They use county roads, not the trail system. There is an issue pushing the event out to a later date. ODF considers it a commercial event. A car rally is different from other events and is not intended to be part of the “13”.
Q. Could open weekends be filled in with low impact events if event stewards were utilized?
A. “Open Weekends” are also provided to create time allowance for non-group users to go out and ride for their recreation and not in an event. It is an open question and can be determined in the future.
Q. What defines an event?
A. The ORS does not state a number and that needs to be augmented by policy and will be discussed at Monday’s meeting.
Q. How about opening the north side for events only and not having it open on an everyday basis?
A. Parking Lot – That idea/topic can be tackled at a later date.
User Comment: A self-described “Weekend Warrior” wants to enjoy the campgrounds on non-event weekends.
Q. How do non-group users volunteer? A calendar needs to be posted on the website for volunteer opportunities and when the meetings are.
A. The work parties are open invitation. Better communication of them will be implemented. SOLV day is on April 23 and is open to the public.
User Comments: More one-way trails are needed to eliminate off-trail driving.
Q. How do you stop more than the number of participants allowed from participating in an event?
A. Accountability is the event holders responsibility. Don’t allow more participants than you’ve planned on. Stick to the rules that you have set.
Would picking up litter count towards points in ranking system? That’s something to think about. It was suggested to focus educating the youth riders. They are our future.
Wrap Up:
Motion by user to have only 1 or 2 reps from event applicants to come to Monday’s meeting. That was agreed on by the OHV community. Non-club community members are welcome. It is a public meeting and is open to all members of the public. It will be held at the Forest Grove District building at 6:30 p.m.
Next meeting will focus on #1 Development of point/rating system and matrix, #2 Event Calendar scheduling with focus on the early events. Also need to discuss maintenance and classification of impact on trails. Consider showing the calendar and see if there actually are any conflicts. Bob G. suggested assigning the annual events on first priority and then applying the point system.
Minutes from tonight’s meeting and a plan for the “First 9” will be done and distributed by the end of the week.
The OHV users would like a meeting scheduled focusing on trail maintenance. The plans for that meeting will be communicated via e-mail after next Monday, February 6th.
It was commented that some trails are over-maintained.
Closing Remarks:
Bob Gustavson: Thanks to everyone for their attendance and participation tonight. Were tonight’s objectives met? Yes. All issues were touched on and discussed and are still open for discussion. There were a lot of good ideas generated tonight that we will move forward with.
Barrett Brown: There were many common threads between ODF and the OHV community tonight. Things that need to be worked on by ODF including trail maintenance, involving decision makers, and better communications. ODF made a lot of commitments to improve on those things. The agency needs to hear that the clubs are open to changing how we do things like increasing volunteer work and getting involved in the planning process. In the past there have been interpersonal relationships, negative ones, that need to be put behind us and consider this a fresh start full of optimism.