Posts Tagged ‘off road’

Washington State DNR Releases Final Recreation Plan For Ahtanum State Forest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2010

DNR, Citizen Group Work To Improve Recreation Opportunities And Access

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today released a recreation plan for the Ahtanum State Forest, a 76,000-acre block of forested state trust land about 20 miles west of Yakima.

The Ahtanum State Forest is a popular year-round recreation area for visitors from both sides of the Cascade Mountains. Over the years, the area has experienced increased use from a variety of recreation activities including off-road vehicle riding, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding.

“This plan provides the foundation for creating safe, sustainable, and enjoyable recreation opportunities in the Ahtanum State Forest,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “The strength of the plan lies in the collaborative efforts of citizens representing diverse recreation interests who helped develop a vision for the forest.”

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OHV Designated Routes Working Group Meeting and Field Visit – Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Contacts:
Joni Quarnstrom 541-750-7075
Sharon Stewart 541-271-6071

January 14, 2010

Reedsport, OR – A field tour and meeting for the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Designated Routes Working Group for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (Oregon Dunes) will be held on Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23.

The January 22 field tour will focus on the “North Riding Area” of the NRA, located south of Florence. The field tour will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the South Jetty Staging Area, located on South Jetty Road, approximately one mile south of Florence on Highway 101, and conclude at 4:30 p.m. at the same location.

The following day, January 23, the Working Group will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Group Meeting Hall at Honeyman State Park, located on Canary Road, approximately three miles south of Florence on Highway 101.

The meeting agenda will be focused on a review of evaluation criteria developed by the Group at their November meeting, a review of alternative designated route proposals for the middle riding area developed at the November meeting, and identification of potential designated route recommendations for the north riding area.

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ARB Premium Recovery Kit

Now available in a complete pre-assembled boxed kit, the ARB premium Recovery Kit includes everything the off-roader needs to get started. Whether it be a simple snatch recovery or a more serious winch recovery, the ARB premium recovery kit has it all. Retailing for $407.00, the premium recovery kit represents exceptional value and a savings over purchasing each component individually.

Packaged in a sturdy color carton, the kit weighs in at under 35lbs.

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At Last, an ARB Snorkel for Your Jeep Wrangler JK Safari

ARB USA now offers a Safari Snorkel System for the popular Jeep Wrangler JK. This new accessory serves two primary functions that JK owners will appreciate when taking their vehicle off-road. First, and most obvious, the Safari Snorkel relocates the factory air intake position approximately 28″ higher to prevent water ingestion when negotiating stream crossings. Even in relatively shallow water, the nose of the vehicle can easily become submerged as the front wheels drop into a stream or water hole and the rear wheels still on high ground.

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Video Explains How to License and Register Motorbikes, ATVs in Idaho

Do you need a registration sticker and a license plate for your motorbike and ATV to ride legally in Idaho? Or do you just need a sticker? Or just a plate? What’s the deal?

There has been some confusion about those questions, so the Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle Public Outreach Campaign produced a step-by-step video that explains the process for registering and licensing OHVs in Idaho.

Read more at New Video Explains How to License and Register Motorbikes, ATVs in Idaho

Help Save Reiter (Washington)

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has released its Draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan. While we support making Reiter an official ORV area, we have serious concerns about the current plan.

Historically about 4000 acres of the 10,000 acre area being studied has been used by ORV. The DNR plan proposes limiting motorized use to about only 1100 acres.

Even though the DNR research shows that off-road motorcycling is the most popular use, the plan contains no specific mention of facilitating it.

The way things currently stand there is no guarantee that there will be any single track trails open to motorized use.

More information on the plan can be found by following this link:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/RecreationPlanning/Pages/amp_rec_reiter_foothills.aspx

YOU can help correct this injustice by providing written comments to the DNR before December 4th.

Comments should be submitted to the SEPA Center at, sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov or P.O. Box 47015, Olympia, Washington 98504-7015

Reference SEPA File No. 09-111001 at the start of your comments.

Here are some sample comments to consider:

The area the plan allocates for motorized recreation is significantly inadequate to facilitate the current recreational usage. The DNR staff involved with developing the plan concur with this finding. This shortcoming is addressable as noted below.

According to the map shown in figure 8 additional land suitable for motorized trail use is available in the central and western portions of the study area.

Excluding motorized recreation in areas identified as potential aquifer recharge areas is not consistent with restrictions as listed in Appendix A which contains no such noted exclusion.

Appendix E shows the motorcyclists are the largest user group, but the study does not specifically address their recreational needs.

It is important that the DNR recognizes that different types of ORV use have different impacts on the landscape. Just because the largest ORV may not be appropriate in a specific area that should not preclude allowing lightweight two wheeled ORV access.

We strongly recommend that lightweight two wheeled ORV access be included in the central and western portion of the planning area.

This recommendation is consistent with the DNR goals as stated on page 3:

“Goal 1: Ensure the safety of the public, department employees and volunteers.
Goal 2: Ensure recreation is consistent with trust obligations.
Goal 3: Ensure recreation is consistent with resource protection.
Goal 4: Provide quality recreation experiences that can be sustained over time.”

On page 34, under the heading of “Statewide Recreation on DNR-managed Lands” it is stated that “Some sites and trails are designated for only motorized or non-motorized use”. The DNR has acknowledged that this statement is misleading, but it is actually false. There are no DNR managed recreation areas where motorized recreation is allowed and non-motorized recreation is specifically prohibited.

This must be considered when evaluating the portion of the area available for various trail users and the proportional balance goals.

Prioritizing motorized recreation at Reiter is consistent with the DNR’s Statewide Recreation Program Vision and Management Goals as stated on page 3. “DNR envisions a future in which the lands it manages offer distinct and diverse outdoor recreation opportunities within the overall fabric of recreation in Washington.”

The overall fabric of recreation in Washington includes prohibitions on motorized trail recreation in all National Parks, all Wilderness Areas, all Natural Resource Conservation Areas, all State Parks (except the 600 acre Riverside facility near Spokane), the Mt Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest, the vast majority of county and city parks. At a statewide level motorized trail use is prohibited on over 80 percent of the trail mileage. In the areas adjacent to the Reiter area that prohibition is 100 percent.

When considering the overall fabric it is reasonable for all areas within the Reiter study area that are found to be suitable for motorized recreation to be incorporated in the plan as areas where some form of motorized trail recreation is allowed.

Tod Petersen
Legislative/Land Use Coordinator
Northwest Motorcycle Association

http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1095&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BlueRibbonCoalition+%28BlueRibbon+Coalition+News+and+Alerts%29

Reiter Foothills Forest Update – October 22, 2009

CONTACT:
Candace Johnson | Northwest Region
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
360.854-2803 | candace.johnson@dnr.wa.gov

Reiter Foothills Forest has long been a popular recreation area, attracting off-road enthusiasts, campers, hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, and hunters. Unfortunately, the popularity of and demand for recreation in Reiter has resulted in damage to water quality, stream banks, fish spawning habitat, and the forest’s trust assets (trees). To remedy these problems, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must temporarily close Reiter Foothills Forest for restoration and construction beginning November 2. DNR is committed to providing motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities in Reiter.

What is DNR doing at Reiter Foothills Forest?
DNR and partners from local communities, user groups, and other state and local agencies have been working to find solutions to the problems facing Reiter – not only to protect the area’s natural resources, but to provide diverse recreation opportunities for the public that are safe and sustainable. Solutions include:

• Early actions to improve conditions.
• Restoration, trail planning, and construction.
• Developing a long-term management plan for recreation at Reiter.

Early actions to improve conditions

• Spring and summer 2009: To improve public safety and raise awareness about resource protection, DNR stepped up law enforcement presence and volunteer patrols with clearer guidelines and signage.
• June 2009: DNR closed some ORV trails to reduce the loss of fish habitat and sediment overload, and to protect downstream health.

Restoration, trail planning and construction

The temporary closure will allow DNR to continue with much-needed restoration work, identify areas suitable for trails, and provide access for long-term sustainable use.
• To better achieve our goals of correcting the problems in Reiter, we are temporarily closing the area beginning November 2 to everything but foot traffic. The gravel pit parking area will also be closed.
• Restoration is already underway to reduce sediments from getting into streams and to rehabilitate some stream banks.
• We will be assessing additional restoration needs this winter, with additional projects scheduled for winter and spring.
• Beginning in December, we will be working with a trail specialist and interested citizens in determining the best locations for trails and, where possible, begin constructing trails, once we’ve obtained permits and as soon as weather permits.
• We are NOT closing the area permanently.

Why can’t we ride ORVs, horses, or bikes in the area at the same time it’s
being restored?

• If you’ve ever tried to remodel your house when you’re living in it, then you might have a clearer picture of why we need to temporarily close the area. It’s more efficient to do restoration, trail assessment, and construction while the area is not being used.
• Closing the area temporarily will also lessen the need for maintenance and full-time education and enforcement presence.
• Late fall, winter, and early spring are the least popular times to ride in Reiter. It only made sense to use this window of opportunity to get the necessary work underway.

When will Reiter Foothills reopen?

• Our goal is to reopen Reiter as soon as possible next year. How much we can reopen will depend on many factors, including how much restoration work gets done, what trails can be constructed, and how well the weather cooperates. Volunteers can help move things along.

How can I get involved?

Throughout the fall, winter, and spring, DNR will be looking for volunteers to:

• Help us identify high-priority restoration projects to address environmental damage.
• Work with us and a trail planner to locate trails (including determining which existing trails might be included as part of the new trail system).
• Help restore damaged stream crossings and plant trees, shrubs and other vegetation, etc.
• Help supplement our limited budget by seeking financial opportunities to pay for materials, signs, and other items necessary for completing restoration work and constructing trails.
• Provide heavy equipment and time to do restoration work and construct trails.

What is the long-term management plan?

• In 2007, the legislature recognized the value of Reiter Foothills Forest and funded the development of a recreation plan. For the past two years, DNR has been working with citizens, user groups, and other partners to create a recreation plan to identify long-term recreation uses and address problems in the area.
• The public can comment on a draft of the Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan when it goes through the State Environmental Protection Act SEPA review process in November.
• The recreation plan gives us the structure to provide recreation opportunities in Reiter based on science and public input, along with protecting the state trust lands assets.

For more background and information on the Reiter Foothills Forest planning process, visit: www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/RecreationPlanning/Pages/amp_rec_reiter_foothills.aspx