Oregon Dunes In Danger...Again

[Grumpy]

I think they want 5K total. 3K some odd last time I looked. Thanks, Danny, it does help!

[Danny]

Dave, my bad.....your right....ouch that hurt!!! But they still need 3200 signatures, which is quite a few.

[Grumpy]

http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww64 ... 153117.jpg


This should show you the notice being posted. No mention of trail closures.

[Grumpy]

OREGON - Comments Needed on Oregon Dunes NRA Notice of Intent - Deadline July 25, 2011

Dear Oregon Dunes Fans & Action Alert Subscribers,

SITUATION
The Siuslaw National Forest has published a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to Establish and Designate Routes and Areas for Off-Highway Vehicle at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA). The specifics of the Forest Service proposal, including maps, can be found on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.p ... ject=34220.

BRC has reviewed the loss of historic OHV opportunity since the creation of the NRA. In 1972, approximately 28,000 acres were open for legal OHV use. After implementation of the 1979 ORDNA Management Plan, the acreage available for OHV use was reduced by about 47% down to 15,000 acres. When the 1994 ODNRA Management Plan was adopted, the acreage available for open riding was reduced significantly to 5,930 acres. The agency, in Zone 10 (C), attempts to create the illusion that 4,455 acres of designated routes are available for OHV use. However, since only a few miles of designated routes exist in Zone 10 (C) that acreage is reduced to less than a couple of acres (actual land footprint of the routes).

Between 1972 and 2011, the acreage available for open OHV use has been reduced from 28,000 acres down to just below 6,000 acres. Just 20 percent of the NRA is available for legal OHV use today.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Hundreds of thousands of OHV users enjoy the ORNDA each year. If you want that use to continue and/or expand, you must send in your comments today.

Please take a few minutes to send in your comments. Tell your own personal story, and consider making some the of issues below which BRC feels are important:

•Failure to comply with 1972 ODNRA Act's statutory requirement to develop management plans with input from a Federal Advisory Council

•Unit-wide failure to address non-native vegetation encroachment

•Should not base ongoing and future management OHV recreation on the outdated 1994 Dunes Plan that was created without input from a Federal Advisory Council

•The NOI's Proposed Action frontloads and taints the upcoming 2014 plan revision process

•The agency failed to coordinate with counties per federal law

•Current planning effort disenfranchises local OHV clubs
Written comments should be sent to:
Angie Morris, Recreation Planner, Siuslaw National Forest, 855 Highway 101, Reedsport, OR 97467

Or

Email comments to:
comments-pacificnorthwest-siuslaw-centr ... @fs.fed.us.

Additional information is available by contacting the project leader, Angie Morris, at 541-271-6040.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact BRC.
Thanks in advance for your support,

Don Amador
Western Representative
BlueRibbon Coalition
925.625.6287

[Grumpy]

This guy is goooood!!


http://yourdunes.org/doc/20110628-COMME ... A-10-C.pdf

[Grumpy]

Trying to get more on this, but there's a rumor floating around Florence that FS staff is running around telling people the petition is no good, and won't help...Interesting if they are.

[Grumpy]

For those of you can get on Facebook, this is what has happened in the dunes in Oregon. The top row of pix are at Florence, and the others are at Siltcoos. This is what happens when land "managers" from the USFS imported an invasive plant for "stabilization". My thought is this could happen at Juniper if the sand is left alone. if it's not stirred up, the grass will take over, and then no more sand...


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the- ... 722&type=1

[Grumpy]

From Greg Mumm's trip blog:


Oregon Dunes Rant

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:23

While I was in Oregon, I had the pleasure of meeting with some of the good folks of Save the Riders Dunes, specifically I would like to note Barb and Lance Rowland whom I met with for coffee along the road (see my previous post at http://www.wearebrc.org/content/emerald ... -eugene-or), and C. Jody Phillips (President) who put me up at his house, fed me, and gave me a great deal of his time to tour and discuss the issue of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA). They, along with thousands of others have been involved for years on this issue, as riders of the dunes, as local folks whose livelihoods depend on this, and as citizens concerned with their environment and the management of their public lands. (NOTE: You read about Save the Riders Dunes by following them on Facebook at; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the- ... 4886641722)

I've intentionally delayed this blog post about the Oregon Dunes for the specific reason that we have been waiting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Oregon Dunes NRA 10c Designated Routes Project to be released. I had it on good authority that it was due to be out "any day." It is out now and you can reference our recent BRC Alert for more information on that at: http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2012/ ... eleases....

I share that because you need to get involved with this project, however I don't want to get the beach grass wrapped around the axle for the purposes of this rant. Sticking to the point, I was waiting to post because after all the efforts of enthusiasts leading up to this moment in the planning process, leadership of the Forest Service had told them, "Wait till you see the plan, you will be pleasantly surprised." I was waiting because I, along with every other enthusiast had been given a glimmer of hope--maybe they (the USFS) are listening. I didn't want to jeopardize that small, outside chance by going out on a rant.

Sadly, I knew better. I should have just gone on the rant. The DEIS is a disappointment--check that--not just a disappointment, it is a huge disappointment. Basically, the "bookend alternative" at one end of the alternatives, you know, the one alternative that most closely resembles the recommendations of the formal working group that was assembled early on in this process and most resembles legitimate management in an NRA, is the one that is least likely to be chosen in the final decision. The preferred alternative of the Forest Service just ignores all that. In fact, I almost have to question why they even bothered with the working group and public input at all, but then I remember, there is an Act of Congress that requires they do that. They are just jumping through the hoops. Makes me wonder what they think that Act of Congress was intended for?

I've been there now. I have toured all up and down the dunes (thank you C. Jody Phillips). I have ridden them. I have seen what is happening. More importantly, I have had the privilege of sitting down with the folks who know the stumps and the rocks or, in this case, the sand, the beach grass and the plantations. These folks have poured their heart and soul into trying to get the Forest Service to recognize the need to set aside a failed policy from over half a century ago and set about an alternative course that will save the dunes, not destroy them.
It isn't just the OHV enthusiasts that frequent there who are concerned. It is the local community, the people most affected by the decisions that are being made. It is also the folks who ironically are generally on the polar opposite side of things from the OHV community. In fact, OHV representatives from Save the Riders Dunes and from Wildlands, CPR agree on the bigger picture issue that the Forest Service continuance of their failed policy is destroying the natural dunes. Together, they have pleaded to the Forest Service to stop. You can read about that visit here: http://savetheridersdunes.com/. They were given hope...

Sadly, with the release of the DEIS, like in so many other areas, it is apparent the Agency isn't listening and is seeking to bull ahead with their 1994 plan to protect non-native vegetation that is obviously destroying not just riding areas in this National Recreation Area, but literally destroying the dunes themselves. Moreover, it is non-native vegetation that was introduced by the Forest Service themselves mid-last century--intentionally.

Yes, you heard me right. The foreign beach grass was intentionally introduced by the USFS as a part of their policy in the 50s and 60s to recoup land from the sand. The plantations of pines followed. Now, you have huge dunes (called foredunes) that built up over a relatively short time as a result of the beach grass catching the sand and growing and catching more sand, etc. Ultimately it has created a wall of separation between the ocean beach and the natural sand dunes that had been created over the eons of time. Behind that "sea wall" are now lowlands where a swamp is slowly creeping in as the beach grass, scotch broom and plantations of pines quickly encroach and overrun the rest of the natural dunes.

And why? Because they didn't know then what they know now. And, even knowing now what they didn't know then, they continue to try to stuff this square peg in a round hole, instead of bagging the policy and moving ahead with a new policy as they should. One that reflects what the ODNRA was designated for by Congress and one that will save the natural open dunes themselves.

Does any of this sound familiar? It should. Whether on the coast of the Atlantic at Cape Hatteras or the coast of the Pacific at ODNRA or points in between, if there is one thing I have heard over and over on this trip, it is that people of the local dependent communities feel that while Federal Agencies may be pretending to listen, they aren't hearing. That is the one of the primary points of this tour... to take those concerns to DC and make certain they get heard.

[Grumpy]

A bit of info to think on:

Facts - Point 1 -- In the 1972 act that created the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) - we had 28,900 acres of mostly wide open sand to ride on. In 1979 that area was reduced to roughly 14,000 acres for mixed use. We had no problem with that. It was big enough for all.
In 1994 this area was split up, 4,455 acres was basically closed and is in contention today, 18 years later.This acreage is called 10c which is "trails only" - that is by their definition closed. We are authorized to ride on5,930 acres - or 21% of the original 28,900 acres. I think you see the pattern. What's next???

Point 2 - and what the USFS does not want to talk about:
In the 1972 act, one of the main points was to establish an Advisory Council in order to receive public input for management of the ODNRA. This is law. They decided they did not need it. After 40 years of mismanagement WE must decide THEY do need an Advisory Council.

Point 3; and what the USFS does not want to talk about. After misguided management, over 80% of the then open sand of the ODNRA is now non-native vegetation the USFS planted. We all see it but most of it is hidden because it is in the area that we do not ride in. Their main focus, energy and money should be concentrated in managing this tsunami of invasive beach grass. Restoration should be their only thought, not OHV closures. OHVers are the ONLY defense against this non-native vegetation. On top of that, we pay them to kill the grass. Even the Greenies agree with us on this point. They say that our impact is minimal so should not be considered. We say, why would you want to stop anything that will help kill the grass? Restoration - Restoration - Restoration.

Now - it's time to act - Write your response letter to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. -- Contact the area County Commissioners (Douglas, Lane and Coos County) Contact your Senators and let them know. Be nice, but be firm !!

Thank you all for helping to keep the Oregon Dunes a place we here in Oregon and the nation can enjoy for years to come.

[Grumpy]

Pretty much covers it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 3a49bLPmUg

[Grumpy]

My comment letter:


I would like to go on record as being adamantly opposed to any more
closures in the Oregon Dunes NRA. In light of the sad state of affairs
I see in the dunes with invasive plant species taking over the open
sand, I think the USFS would be well advised to concentrate on
restoration. The shrinkage of open sand areas in the last 40 years has
deprived current and future users of what I was able to enjoy as a
young man in the '60's and '70's.

I was involved with the first efforts by the Sierra Club and others to
turn the dunes into a wilderness area in the mid 1970's, and near as I
can tell, no one was paying attention to what those of us who grew up
and lived in the area had to say! The USFS was told at that time that
if something wasn't done to stem the spread of the beach grass, as
well as other man introduced species, in 40 to 50 years there wouldn't
be any open sand. Well, seems maybe we had a point! European beach
grass, Scotch Broom, and Shore Pine have no place in that setting,
other than some misguided "ologist" thought it was a good idea at the
time without considering long term consequences!

Now, before it is entirely too late, is the time for all stakeholders
in this issue to sit down and see what can be done. The dunes are a
national draw, and the economic consequences of that need to be
considered above many other criteria. Three Oregon counties will be
affected by this decision, and only now is their input even close to
being considered, when they should have been involved from the very
start of all this! And it took outside pressure to make it happen.

This is now getting national attention from groups like the BlueRibbon
Coalition, WildlandsCPR, Pacific Northwest 4 Wheel Drive Association,
Sierra Club, and others with wildly divergent agendas. The job of the
USFS should be that of moderator to find workable balance, and not
allow the proceedings to tip in favor of one group, as now seems to be
the case. I suggest, even at the possible loss of some of the effort
to date, that the process of saving the dunes be started again with a
clean slate. I believe this to be the most equitable approach, and
will achieve a solution that will satisfy the overall needs of the
dunes themselves.

Thank you for your efforts so far, and I look forward to seeing the
dunes returned to their health and well being!

Regards


Dave Walters
Kennewick, WA
509-734-8694