Quiet Forests

Two developments to pass along about Forest Service plans for OHV trails in Oregon forests.

In the Deschutes National Forest, they’ve dropped plans for a motorcycle trail that would have gone through the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  Staff says they got a lot of negative reaction from the public.  An updated plan for OHV trails will be release soon.  It will include ideas to separate OHV traffic from mountain bikers. From the Statesman Journal

Meanwhile the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest will release a draft version of a plan to allow OHVs and other vehicles on about 3,500 miles of roads.  A 45-day public comment period begins Saturday and the Forest Service also plans to hold several hearings on the issue.  From the Medford Mail Tribune.

Earlier Story:
Monday Read: OHV Riders May Lose Access To Oregon Dunes

OHV riders are worried they’re going to lose some of their access to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The Suislaw National Forest, which manages the dunes, is developing new rules about where OHV riders can go, and where they can’t. National Forest staff is supporting changes that keep open the two most popular riding areas, but close two smaller areas and most of the roads in the forest. The public comment period ends April 6. From the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

Researchers at Mt. St. Helens are fighting a bill to allow fishing at Spirit Lake, just north of the crater. SHB 1838 already passed the Washington House by an overwhelming vote of 95-1. It would create a limited, lottery style fishing season for rainbow trout. The scientists are trying to kill the bill in the Senate. They say Spirit Lake is one of the few untouched places on Earth where they can study how nature recovers from catastrophe. From the Oregonian.

Jackson County is hoping to get $5 million from the stimulus law to remove a dam on the Rogue River. The Gold Ray Dam near Gold Hill was built 105 years ago for hydropower, but was retired in 1972. It’s considered one of the state’s top 10 impediments to wild salmon and steelhead. If it gets the money, the county hopes to remove the dam by 2010, about two years ahead of schedule. From the Medford Mail Tribune.