On Monday June 7, 2004, 9 AM - 2:30 PM a meeting was held at Timberline Lodge with Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Congressman Greg Walden to talk and comment on the "Mt. Hood Summit II: A Vision for the Future" John Vogel (OSSA. District 1 Director), Jean Stone (Secretary/Member Gorge GoodTimers) and John Bastian (OSSA President) were in attendance along with approximately 300 other participants. Seated at Head Table Greg Walden (Congressman), Earl Blumenauer (Congressman), Ron Suppah (Warm Springs Tribal Chair), Bill Kennemer (Clackamas Co), Rodger Schock ( Hood River Co.), Diane Linn (Multnomah Co.), Jerry Schmidt (Government Camp Rep.) Listed below is several vision panel members who gave their thoughts on what should be done to save Mt. Hood from destruction in the future by over use, expansions of business and better management. Forest Health/Ecosystem Vision Panel Norm Johnson, College of Forest Gail Achterman, Director, Institute for National Resources, OSU Tom Partin, President, American Resource Council Regna Merritt, Director, Oregon National Resources Council Brian NaKamura, Board Chair, East Fork Irrigation District Transportation/Recreation Vision Panel Matt Garrett, Manager, Region 1, ODOT Shane Wilson, Owner, Discover Bicycles Dave Riley, Manager, Mt. Hood Meadows Steve McCarthy, Owner, Clear Creek Distillery There was several comments made by back wood hikers to support Senator Wydens proposed Wilderness Act to keep the forest land for future generations. Mountain bikers would be supportive if allowed to maintain the trails with mechanical tools. There will be more information on this matter to come. May 7, 2004 To Esteemed Senators, Congregational Representatives, Forest Service agencies, and concerned parties. How can we be asked to accept more wilderness areas when we know our forests are in very poor health, over grown and in need of proper management? One look at the current wilderness areas in our state (those that are not burnt) will reveal land waiting for a catastrophic fire. Most of the existing wilderness is so overgrown, dead and dying, that large game can no longer live there. Stopping construction or the maintenance of roads into the forests will not only cost more jobs for our area but also promote more of a tinderbox as fuel is allowed to build up on the forest floor. If we continue to add wilderness, just because Oregon is not at the top of the list of states with the most land locked up, we will soon be the state with the most dead, dying and burnt forests in America. Is this what we want? To be known as “THE BROWN & BLACK” state? This plan will close many lakes and rivers in public forest areas to many users. Denying access to cars, trucks, boats and snowmobiles will cost tourism jobs. Recreation in open national forest areas contributes over 38 times more income to the national economy and 31 times more jobs than in closed areas according to Forest Service figures. I believe, as do many of my peers involved in winter motor sports, that Snowmobilers as a whole are more in tune with the environmental impact of winter recreation area use than a great many others. I believe that snowmobiles are being inaccurately targeted as a cause for concern in shared access because they are not popular with snowshoeing or cross-country skiing enthusiasts. I believe that snowmobiles are rarely targeted politically in areas where they are the dominant sport. I believe that all users in this debate should have a position at the table in the discussion that concerns putting a portion of the users out of access. I believe that verifiable facts and data should support any debate. I do not believe that some decisions that have been made to date concerning shared access limitations have taken real fact or data into the process. I believe that emotion drives a great deal of the debate over shared winter recreation access. If there are facts about damage to wilderness, or shared access areas, show documentation. If there are cases of injury or death to users in those areas, prove it up. I have enjoyed the sport of snowmobiling over several years, I have enjoyed the spectacular scenic views that most people can only see in magazines. We all try to allow undisturbed access to the trail system for our non-motorized friends, even though some of them don’t believe it. We all try to be good neighbors in snow parks with non-motorized users, but don’t always get reciprocal treatment. However, those non-motorized users still enjoy the benefits of efforts put forth by motorized groups, specifically snowmobile clubs and the Oregon State Snowmobile Association. That includes groomed and marked trails, shelter systems, and firewood for heat in the shelters. Why can't we develop a plan that will save our forests through careful management, yet allows for multiple uses of the lands we all hold dear? I believe that we can create a plan that is sensitive both to the needs of the environment and to those who go to public lands in search of fun, solitude and quiet. We must work together to develop a plan that will insure our forests will be healthy and usable. If you look at the primary cross section of snowmobile owners you would find that they are mature adults that represent a financial and intellectual class of people that are serious about their sport and playground. They are not the mindless abusers that they are often stereotyped as, and take great pride in keeping this beautiful landscape and watershed as pristine as it was found when our forefathers settled this land. With today's technology we can manage our forest for the benefit of future generations. Without proper management we will lose it. We must look at our forest in a way that has not been done in many years. We cannot just look at a map, draw lines on it and call it Proposed Wilderness. To understand what our forest needs you must love, listen, smell, feel and see the forest. Let's don't just take the easy way out, let's develop a comprehensive plan to save our forest for future generations and allow all citizens to enjoy the forest. Thank you for the opportunity to express my views. I hope they will have an impact on future decisions on this matter. John Vogel, District 1 Director OSSA (Oregon State Snowmobile Association) OSSA, Gorge GoodTimers Snowmobile Club Member June 5, 2004 Re: Snowmobilers for Equal Access This letter is a plea to be heard by a member or members of the sport of snowmobiling in Oregon. Please allow the testimony of a cross section of the winter recreation public that spends a large amount of money, and time adding value to the landscape and economy of Oregon and surrounding states. We realize that our numbers and subsequent lobby is not as well organized or funded as some environmental groups may be. However, we do realize that Snowmobilers represent a substantial portion of the uses of lands in question at this summit. I believe, as do many of my peers involved in winter motor sports, that Snowmobilers as a whole are more in tune with the environmental impact of winter recreation area use than a great many others. I believe that snowmobiles are being inaccurately targeted as a cause for concern in shared access because they are not popular with snowshoeing or cross-country skiing enthusiasts. I believe that snowmobiles are rarely targeted politically in areas where they are the dominant sport. I believe that all users in this debate should have a position at the table in the discussion that concerns putting a portion of the users out of access. I believe that verifiable facts and data should support any debate. I do not believe that some decisions that have been made to date concerning shared access limitations have taken real fact or data into the process. I believe that emotion drives a great deal of the debate over shared winter recreation access. If there are facts about damage to wilderness, or shared access areas, show documentation. If there are cases of injury or death to users in those areas, prove it up. Rhetorical and inflammatory statements are not data, and as been witnessed in the Yellowstone battle, rarely hold up to the scrutiny of fair-minded litigators or judges. As I have enjoyed the sport of snowmobiling over several years, I have enjoyed the most spectacular vistas that most humans can only see in magazines or documentaries. I have been able to take my children to those places that I never knew existed as a child, and I have been able to teach my family things about the wonder of our world and environment that not many people on a ski lift will appreciate. My family and I spent many years as downhill skiers, and never knew the trails that we enjoy today existed. We all try to allow undisturbed access to the trail system for our non-motorized friends, even though some of them don’t believe it. We all try to be good neighbors in snow parks with non-motorized users, but don’t always get reciprocal treatment. We invite other groups and users to get involved in activities that will benefit all access to winter recreation areas, but rarely see participation. However, those non-motorized users still enjoy the benefits of efforts put forth by motorized groups, specifically snowmobile clubs and the Oregon State Snowmobile Association. That includes groomed and marked trails, shelter systems, and firewood for heat in those shelters. In closing, I would point out another major factor that the snowmobiling public enjoys and endorses that I believe other users do not. We have serious penalty under the law for violations to those areas of access. We believe in those penalties as a whole, and encourage enforcement. We act swiftly as a State association, and as regional or community clubs to pursue intentional violators, and respond with training protocols and support to enforcement agencies. If you look at the primary cross section of snowmobile owners you would find that they are mature adults that represent a financial and intellectual class of people that are serious about their sport and playground. They are not the mindless abusers that they are often stereotyped as, and take great pride in keeping this beautiful landscape, watershed, and airshed as pristine as it was found when our forefathers settled this land. Thank you for the opportunity to express my views. I hope that they will have an impact on future decisions in this matter. Craig Pope, President, Agriweld Inc. Chairman, Willamette Valley Agriculture Association OSSA Snosports Expo Coordinator OSSA, Mt Jefferson Snowmobile Club Member |