Off-highway Vehicle use in National Forests

In November 2005, the USDA Forest Service issued its travel management policy that included its policy on off-highway vehicle (OHV) use of the National Forests. Note that this policy does not address snowmobile use. To comply with this policy, the Mt. Hood National Forest has developed a Proposed Action that changes OHV access through much of the Forest. OHV access in the Forest will be confined to six proposed OHV areas. These areas were proposed based on a two-year dialogue with the public.

The Forest Service will be preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to establish and designate these areas for OHV use. The draft EIS is expected to be available for public comment early next year. The final EIS and accompanying Record of Decision are scheduled to be completed by September 2008.

The Forest Service is currently seeking comments from individuals and organizations that may be interested in or affected by the proposed action. Comments to be considered in the preparation of the draft EIS must be submitted by October 1, 2007. The Forest Service held two open houses in September to present and answer questions about the proposed action. I attended the one held in Portland on September 11.

Why is the Forest conducting this action now? It is doing so because it has received money from Congress to do so. In addition, its current policy does not meet the requirements of the Forest Service policy. The current policy allows motor vehicles to venture off of roads and trails in areas that have not been specifically closed to such use. Moreover, current state law allows OHV use on any public road that is not maintained for passenger car traffic. Many native surface roads in the Forest are in this maintenance category. The Proposed Action will restrict OHV use to the six proposed areas.

The watchdog organization BARK also attended the meeting. Their concerns are that OHV use cannot be restricted to the six proposed areas. Without terrain barriers, road closures and increased law enforcement, widespread OHV use will continue. BARK is also concerned that the focus on OHV use hampers efforts to focus on the Forest’s crumbling road system. BARK would like to see work on the Proposed Action delayed until the road issues can be addressed.

If you have concerns about this issue, and wish to learn more about it, go to www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/projects/. Comments may be submitted electronically to comments-pacificnorthwest-mthood@fs.fed.us.


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