Hikers, fishermen, bikers, wildlife watchers and other “quiet” forms of recreation aren’t just easier on the environment. They play a much bigger role in supporting the local economies surrounding the forests.

A worker cuts down a tree to block an unauthorized ATV trail in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Courtesy U.S. Forest Service.

That conclusion is based on a study of visitors to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Northeast Oregon. The vast majority of visitors, about 97%, came to enjoy quiet recreation, while only about 3% were OHV riders.

That huge difference in numbers means “quiet” visitors have a much larger impact on the economy of Northeast Oregon than do OHV riders. The study says non-motorized visits generate nearly $19 million in economic activity for the region. More importantly, it says quiet recreation directly supports $2.9 million to $5.4 million in local salaries, representing 137 to 252 jobs.

The study was conducted by Dr. Kreg Lindberg, a Forestry professor at OSU’s Cascades Campus in Central Oregon.

The timing of the report is important because it comes as National Forests across Oregon are developing Travel Management Plans. These plans will determine where OHV riders will be allowed to go in the forest, and just as important, where they won’t be allowed.

Randy Rasmussen with the American Hiking Society says forest managers need to consider the economic as well as environmental impacts of these plans. He points to growing evidence that quiet users won’t return to an area if they’ve had a bad experience because of OHV use. “The noise, the exhaust, the smoke. They came to get away from all that,” says Rasmussen. If they don’t come back, it could have a greater impact on the local economy than restricting OHV access.

Greg Dyson, with the Hells Canyon Preservation Council, hopes that elected officials get the message too. He says that in some counties, OHV riders have greater political influence than quiet users of national forests. Dyson thinks the report sends a message to county officials to “Step back and look at all the facts” before they advocate for greater OHV access.

In the study, “quiet recreation” includes a wide variety of activities including, hiking, biking, fishing and picnicking. It also includes hunters who don’t use ATV’s to get around the forest.

Take Action:

The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is expected to release it’s Draft Travel Management Plan on June 19. That will be followed by a period of public comment and Dyson expects a final decision towards the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the environmental group Bark is organizing a rally to raise awareness about the Travel Management Plan for the Mt. Hood National Forest. The draft plan will be released in August. Mt. Hood is looking at creating six OHV “play areas” totaling 50,000 acres. Bark is calling the event “Quiet Riot”. It’ll be held Saturday, June 27th. See the group’s website for details.

For more information about our reporting on this topic, see our Quiet Forests category in the left side panel.

[poll id="4"]

Courtesy National Weather Service

Tonight’s your last, best chance to be heard on the future of Mt. St. Helens.

Starting at 6pm, the Mt. St. Helens Advisory Committee holds its final public hearing on plans that could bring big changes to the volcano.

While rejecting the idea of a Mt. St. Helens National Park, the proposals include many features that are similar to what you’ll find in a national park.

Among the recommendations:

• Increase tourism by building a lodge at Coldwater Ridge.
• Developing destination resorts on and near monument land.
• Improve camping and fishing opportunities near the volcano.
• Adding and improving roads leading into the monument, but no new roads inside the area.
• Increase funding for the monument by making it a stand alone unit within the U.S. Forest Service.
• Increase support for scientific activities at the volcano

Tonight’s meeting will be held at the Camas Police Department Community Room, 2100 NE 3rd
St., Camas, WA.

You can also email comments to the Committee at: SHACComments@co.skamania.wa.us

The group will write up the final recommendations during an all day meeting on May 14.