Post by jeeper78 on Dec 29, 2009 11:08:27 GMT -8
Stumbled across this today...
www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/news/2009/11/20091118-ochsum-propmotor_trail_ochoco_nf.pdf
For immediate release: November 18, 2009
Contact: Virginia Gibbons 541/416-6647
Bill Queen 541/416-6500
Proposal for Motorized Trail System on the Ochoco National Forest
PRINEVILLE-A proposal for a designated motorized trail system on the Ochoco
National Forest is currently available for public review. The “Ochoco Summit OHV
Trail” would be located east of Highway 26 on Forest Service-administered lands in the
general vicinity of Big Summit Prairie on the Lookout Mountain and Paulina Ranger
Districts. The project includes 124 miles of motorized trails that would be used, in a
varying capacity, for ATV, motorcycle, jeep, small truck and buggy recreational riding.
The trail system includes a number of staging areas, trailheads, camping opportunities,
riding areas and interconnected trail loops.
Prior to this proposal, the McKay Creek area was considered for a designated motorized
trail system. Ochoco National Forest Supervisor Jeff Walter felt it made good sense to
conduct an analysis for a designated motorized trail system in McKay watershed that
could be managed and enforced. The McKay watershed has sustained significant resource
damage from illegal OHV use for a number of years and more recently, the
reintroduction of steelhead into the McKay Creek system has created additional concerns.
However, upon review by local citizen groups and cooperating agencies affiliated with
the Deschutes Provincial Advisory Committee and the Crook County Natural Resource
Planning Committee, the proposal for a motorized trail system in McKay was not well
supported.
The Forest recognizes that not all of the issues have been resolved with the Ochoco
Summit OHV Trail Proposed Action and that many people have yet to provide input.
It is important to note that the proposal is just the starting point in this planning process.
Issues that are unresolved, or that emerge as a result of public input will be addressed
through a modification of the “Proposed Action” and/or through the development of
alternatives that will be analyzed and compared in the “Draft Environmental Impact
Statement” (DEIS).
-more2
We anticipate the public comment period for this Proposed Action will begin on
November 20, 2009 and end on December 21, 2009, pending publication in the Federal
Register. The Proposed Action, maps, and additional information is posted on the forest
website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/travel-mgmt/och_summit/index.shtml
Comment forms and a comment inbox are also available on the website. Those who wish
to view printed paper maps or receive an electronic copy of maps on CD may go to the
following locations:
Ochoco National Forest Supervisor’s Office
3160 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754
Rager Ranger Station (Paulina Ranger District)
171500 Beaver Creek Road
Paulina, OR 97751
Crooked River National Grassland
813 SW Hwy 97
Madras, OR 97741
A CD may also be requested by contacting the Ochoco National Forest at (541) 416-
6500. Hard copy comments may be mailed or delivered to: Ochoco Summit OHV Trail
Planning Team, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754.
The Ochoco Summit OHV Trail DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be available for public
review and comment in the spring of 2010. Public meetings and a 45-day public
comment period will be scheduled and announced at that time. A Final Environmental
Impact Statement and Record of Decision is tentatively scheduled for completion in the
summer of 2010.
The Ochoco Summit OHV Trail Proposed Action is not to be confused with the “Travel
Management DEIS” for the Ochoco & Deschutes National Forests. The Ochoco Summit
OHV Trail is a separate analysis from the Travel Management DEIS, and it is consistent
with the direction stated in the “Forest Service 2005 Travel Management Rule”.
For more information on the Travel Management DEIS, which is currently available for
review and public comment, please visit our website at
www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/travel-mgmt
For specific project information regarding the Ochoco Summit OHV Trail Proposed
Action, contact Dede Steele, Project Lead, at (541) 416-6500. For general concerns and
questions regarding the Ochoco Summit OHV Trail proposal, contact Bill Queen,
Lookout Mountain District Ranger (541) 416-6500; Slater Turner, Acting Paulina District
Ranger (541) 416-6900; or Virginia Gibbons, Public Affairs Officer, (541) 416-6647.
www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/news/2009/11/20091118-ochsum-propmotor_trail_ochoco_nf.pdf
For immediate release: November 18, 2009
Contact: Virginia Gibbons 541/416-6647
Bill Queen 541/416-6500
Proposal for Motorized Trail System on the Ochoco National Forest
PRINEVILLE-A proposal for a designated motorized trail system on the Ochoco
National Forest is currently available for public review. The “Ochoco Summit OHV
Trail” would be located east of Highway 26 on Forest Service-administered lands in the
general vicinity of Big Summit Prairie on the Lookout Mountain and Paulina Ranger
Districts. The project includes 124 miles of motorized trails that would be used, in a
varying capacity, for ATV, motorcycle, jeep, small truck and buggy recreational riding.
The trail system includes a number of staging areas, trailheads, camping opportunities,
riding areas and interconnected trail loops.
Prior to this proposal, the McKay Creek area was considered for a designated motorized
trail system. Ochoco National Forest Supervisor Jeff Walter felt it made good sense to
conduct an analysis for a designated motorized trail system in McKay watershed that
could be managed and enforced. The McKay watershed has sustained significant resource
damage from illegal OHV use for a number of years and more recently, the
reintroduction of steelhead into the McKay Creek system has created additional concerns.
However, upon review by local citizen groups and cooperating agencies affiliated with
the Deschutes Provincial Advisory Committee and the Crook County Natural Resource
Planning Committee, the proposal for a motorized trail system in McKay was not well
supported.
The Forest recognizes that not all of the issues have been resolved with the Ochoco
Summit OHV Trail Proposed Action and that many people have yet to provide input.
It is important to note that the proposal is just the starting point in this planning process.
Issues that are unresolved, or that emerge as a result of public input will be addressed
through a modification of the “Proposed Action” and/or through the development of
alternatives that will be analyzed and compared in the “Draft Environmental Impact
Statement” (DEIS).
-more2
We anticipate the public comment period for this Proposed Action will begin on
November 20, 2009 and end on December 21, 2009, pending publication in the Federal
Register. The Proposed Action, maps, and additional information is posted on the forest
website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/travel-mgmt/och_summit/index.shtml
Comment forms and a comment inbox are also available on the website. Those who wish
to view printed paper maps or receive an electronic copy of maps on CD may go to the
following locations:
Ochoco National Forest Supervisor’s Office
3160 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754
Rager Ranger Station (Paulina Ranger District)
171500 Beaver Creek Road
Paulina, OR 97751
Crooked River National Grassland
813 SW Hwy 97
Madras, OR 97741
A CD may also be requested by contacting the Ochoco National Forest at (541) 416-
6500. Hard copy comments may be mailed or delivered to: Ochoco Summit OHV Trail
Planning Team, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754.
The Ochoco Summit OHV Trail DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be available for public
review and comment in the spring of 2010. Public meetings and a 45-day public
comment period will be scheduled and announced at that time. A Final Environmental
Impact Statement and Record of Decision is tentatively scheduled for completion in the
summer of 2010.
The Ochoco Summit OHV Trail Proposed Action is not to be confused with the “Travel
Management DEIS” for the Ochoco & Deschutes National Forests. The Ochoco Summit
OHV Trail is a separate analysis from the Travel Management DEIS, and it is consistent
with the direction stated in the “Forest Service 2005 Travel Management Rule”.
For more information on the Travel Management DEIS, which is currently available for
review and public comment, please visit our website at
www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/travel-mgmt
For specific project information regarding the Ochoco Summit OHV Trail Proposed
Action, contact Dede Steele, Project Lead, at (541) 416-6500. For general concerns and
questions regarding the Ochoco Summit OHV Trail proposal, contact Bill Queen,
Lookout Mountain District Ranger (541) 416-6500; Slater Turner, Acting Paulina District
Ranger (541) 416-6900; or Virginia Gibbons, Public Affairs Officer, (541) 416-6647.