MT. HOOD SOLUTIONS SUMMIT 
September 26, 2008

8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Mazamas Lodge, Government Camp, OR

 

INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME 

           Deb Wechselblatt, Campaign Manager, Bark

• Two questions: why now and why bark?
• Bark has been the watchdog group for Mt. Hood National Forest for almost ten years.
• Bark makes sure the public is informed and involved in public lands management decisions by offering trainings and free, monthly hikes.
• Federal recreation budgets are shrinking while Mt. Hood communities are growing. It is important that quiet recreation interests are not left out of planning and just given areas that are left over after other planning has occurred.
  
  Jessica Hamilton, Natural Resources Policy Advisor for Governor Kulongoski

• Kulongoski had a state level Inventoried Roadless Area in case the Roadless Area Conservation Rule didn’t pass on the national level in 2001.
• Some of the language from the Roadless Rule around roads and OHVs is still used for reference today.
• Oregon has more National Forest roads than any other state.
• Western Governor’s Association (WGA) has a resolution – “Restoring and Maintaining a Sustainable Road System on National Forest Lands” -- that reinforces the need for travel planning on national forests and attaches a 15-year timeframe for this to be done with the Forest Service reporting to the WGA on progress annually.
• Fire management is using up a good deal of limited resources, leaving less available for restoration and recreation planning.
• RECOMMENDATIONS:
• Local governments need to be involved in forest roads planning.
• Congress needs to continue to fund road and trail restoration projects. One current mechanism is through the Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Initiative.
  
  TRENDS IN RECREATION PLANNING ON MT. HOOD
  Gail Throop, Regional Historian and Trails Program Manager, Pacific Northwest Region, USFS

• Gail has worked in recreation since 1978 for the Forest Service and is also the regional historian.

• Synopsis of the natural resources of Region 6
• There is an increase demand on the recreation needs of our national forests.
• Visitation on urban national forests – forests close to cities or population centers-- has increased.
• National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) found that backpacking is going down.
• Clarification: NVUM was forest by forest
• Wilderness visitation trends are going down and people are not going as far or as long on multi-day trips.
• Ken Cordell, a Forest Service researcher, found that from 1999 to 2008 the number of people who recreated on national forests grew 4%, but the number of days increased 25%.
• Trail maintenance is going down; there are no longer hired seasonal crews.
• Dependence on volunteers, grants and outside funding sources are becoming important, if not essential.
• Recreation fees are critical to the maintenance of campgrounds and recreation services.
• Public demand is for more developed camp experiences rather than primitive recreational settings.
• More mixed used trails are demanded by the recreating public.
• Sustainability is a guiding part of the goals of the cultural planning program.
• Clarification: social sustainability refers to user conflicts
• Recreation Facility Analysis (RSFMP) was not nefarious but intended to analyze the current state or Forest Service facilities and find a sustainable program to manage them; used a marketing framework.
• Dispersed recreation is the niche for most Region 6 national forests.
• Action plan has a five year implementation time period.
• RSFMP is permanent and a continual process.
• RECOMMENDATIONS:
• Trails need to have a more sustainable framework.
• The current number of trail miles is not sustainable.
• Natural disturbance makes a big impact in the trail system.
• Separate but equal does not work for different user groups.
  
  REGIONAL TRENDS IN RECREATION
  Terry Bergerson, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department

• Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) looked at the social and demographic trends and challenges that the state is facing.

• Rapidly aging population.
• Fewer youth learning outdoor skills.
• Increasingly diverse population.
• Physical inactivity crisis.
• More information is critical to keeping people participating in outdoor recreation.
• Hood River is the most popular amongst boomers in this region.
• SCORP targets getting kids out into the outdoors by matching their interests.
• SCORP looks at engaging the growing diverse population; walking is still the biggest interest.
• The state has an interest in making the population more active for preventative health care leading to less of a burden on state health funds.
• State grant funding will target counties with decreasing physical activity.
• Top activities in Oregon: running/walking, walking for pleasure, birdwatching, nature/wildlife observation.
• Same was true of top activities in the region.
• State has a water trails program.
• Money for the ATV grant program comes in through gas tax and permits.
  
  THE ROLE OF QUIET RECREATION ON PUBLIC LANDS
  Randy Rasmussen, Recreation Policy Specialist, American Hiking Society

• American Hiking Society (AHS) looks at the trail experience, not just the trail.

• Data from the National Visitor Use Monitoring spectrum states that one- third of all users are “quiet”; NVUM was collected in the summer and there are questions about the accuracy of the numbers for some activities, such as hunting.
• Threats to quiet in Mount Hood National Forest include development, air flights, traffic, and OHVs.
  
  Mike Beagle, Trout Unlimited Field Director and Chairman of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

• Dispersed camping is important to hunting; this is important to consider with road removal.
• Need to get adequate information out to the public; there needs to be biological data and support for wildlife reasoning to show when promoting road removal, otherwise there will be a resistance from hunters and anglers.
• There needs to be sufficient policing to ensure hunters are adhering to laws.
• We need to get kids involved.
• We need to emphasize values such as solitude, tradition, challenge, freedom, health and family.
• When the hunting community is communicating with other user groups, there needs to be an emphasis on what we are support rather than always what we are against.
• Trout Unlimited (TU) and hunters are supportive of keeping the status quo when it comes to roads; don’t want new roads, but want to keep those that exist.
• Roads are the biggest problem on the landscape for elk.
• Sportsmen are generally distrustful of agency and environmental groups and would not likely engage in a collaborative effort. However, if you ask them to write their own letter in support of an action/initiative that concerns them, they will.
  
  Jill Van Winkle, Trail Specialist, International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA)

• Jill is a trail specialist and IMBA has a section of their organization that does trail consultation.
• Different kinds of bicycling; mountain biking alone includes free-riding, downhill, urban/bmx/dirt jump/trials, cross country.
• Most users are in the cross-country category.
• Cross country: Single-track, backcountry, solitude and adventure.
• Mountain bikers are most interested in east side trails in Mt. Hood National Forest.
• IMBA is interested in looking for expanded trail opportunities around Mount Hood National Forest.
• IMBA invests a good deal of resources in trail building and maintenance, including taking proactive measures to protect natural resources while maintaining recreational trails (e.g., shifted location of trail to protect a stream bed).
  
  Tom O’Keefe, Stewardship Director, American Whitewater

• Mt. Hood provides world class opportunities for paddling, has exceptional water quality and quantity, and has a high density of Wild & Scenic Rivers.
• Fish and wildlife habitat is important for functioning water systems.
• One of the threats to paddling community is the failing road network.
• Due to the exceptional resource and high use, there is a need for better planning in this region, more so than other regions.
• The paddling community has an interest in hydroelectric dam removal and relicensing of hydro projects. Decommissioning and relicensing has provided a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with the utility and other stakeholders for shared protection and enhancement of natural resources.
• Not enough information is available about where put-ins are located and safety is often a concern throughout the region.
  
  TOOLS FOR QUIET USE PLANNING
  
  Lon Payne, Recreation Staff Attorney, The Wilderness Society

• The Travel Management Rule (TMR) has been developing for over forty years.

• The key word from the agency in relation to the road system is “minimize,” that includes impacts and costs.
• Clean Water Action Plans focused on “ghost roads”; disappeared under Bush.
• Forest Service is supposed to complete TMR by 2009 and BLM was looking at a ten year plan but now has been told to shorten.
• Planning should happen pre-NEPA analysis, including a travel analysis that takes a comprehensive look at the road system, including ecological and user impacts.
• The Forest Service is ignoring the scope of the TMR due to budget limitations. There is no one example of how to do the process perfectly; although a few have done it reasonable well.
  
  Greg Currie, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

• Recreation Opportunity Spectrum as a planning tool may not be the best framework because of how roads and trails are not considered in the same way recreation planners much approach them now.
• Transportation became defined as more than just roads or OHVs but all “transportation.”
• With recreation planning, what begins as a simple intention gets complicated when you start overlaying all the existing and future development and infrastructure.
  
  Brian Muller, Professor of Planning, University of Colorado

• University of Colorado is tracking change overtime in different planning processes through mapping tools.
• University of Colorado uses web-based tool for surveying trail information.
• Geographic Information System (GIS) and tables are important tools to travel and recreation planning.
• Developing a website that would allow users to see the different things happening in their favorite places is an effective way to communicate with the public.
  
  MECHANISM FOR IMPROVED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
  
  Mollie Chaudet, Planner, Deschutes National Forest

• Collaboration is the “du jour” of public involvement.

• Collaboration is meaningful when there is a two-way dialogue.
• A good collaborative group has the whole group talking about each other’s interests.
• Wild and scenic river plan was an interagency collaborative initiative.
• Commitment and resources are directly related to the amount of work that can be achieved.
• Collaboration goes on forever, there is no end.
• You need a collaborative action plan and framework to achieve goals.
• Monitoring is a key component to ensure that work is effective.
• Shared values identified by the interests on wildlife and natural resources, solitude and scenery, minimum regulation, unique privilege.
  
  Erik Fernandez, Wilderness Coordinator, Oregon Wild

• Oregon Wild has been a part of several collaborative groups.
• Collaborative groups have improved relationships and what has happened on the ground.
• There are two types of collaborative groups: one-time groups and on-going groups.
• Overall Oregon Wild has had a good experience with collaborative groups.
• Recreation groups have been involved with collaboration.
• Personalities can challenge the collaborative groups.
• Wilderness bill may be going through lame duck session in November.
  
  CRAFTING A 21^st CENTURY VISION FOR MT. HOOD
  
  Heather Campbell, Representative, the Restore Mt. Hood Coalition and Mazama

• Heather addressed the perspective of climbers, filling the gap from the recreation users panelists.

• Restore Mt. Hood Coalition is a diverse group and represents the majority of the people using Mt. Hood National Forest.
• Goals of most of the members of the Coalition match an interest in recreation that does not put the environment at risk.
• Heather shows the similarities of goals between the Coalition and the Forest Service, such as promote long-term ecosystem health through road decommissioning and restoration, identify a sustainable and manageable road system, and work with interested parties on planning.
• Coalition has a huge volunteer pool that can help the Forest Service
• Coalition can secure funding and do outreach to other local, regional, and national groups
• Coalition can get information out to a broader range of the public
  
  Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest

• The Forest Service has to serve the president, congress, environmental laws, case law and 4.5 million users of Mood Hood National Forest.
• Budgeting is very complex and the Forest Service is accountable to a large structure of funding.
• Mt. Hood National Forest Strategic Stewardship Plan will lead to more citizens becoming involved in restoration and recreation efforts.
• Climate change may lead to our winter sports being more nationally significant.
  
  AFTERNOON SESSION:
  Breakout Session

• Small Groups were self-selected according to geographic regions (Clackamas, Hood River and Government Camp/Zig Zag)

• Each Small Group discussed their interests, perspectives and concerns regarding ecosystem health and quiet recreation opportunities in their region (and/or in Mt. Hood National Forest as a whole) by answering the following questions:
• What is currently missing or lacking?
• Identify opportunities for improvement.
• Provide examples of what is working well.
  
  Breakout Session Report Outs

• Each small group prepared a summary of key themes for report-out to the plenary group based on responses to questions #1 – #3 above.
• Following is a summary of all flipchart notes from each small group.
• What is currently missing or lacking?

• Government Camp/Zig Zag # 1 and #2:

• Lack of funding

• Need more volunteers
• Concern about the privatization of forests
• Engaging public and all user groups
• Transportation
• Enforcement

• Hood River #1 and #2

• Trail ethics

• Not enough protected roadless areas
• Free access to public lands
• Trail maintenance and associated budget
• Hood River ranger station weekend hours
• A list of local people who know the trails and conditions
• Not enough ways to know how to be involved in trail maintenance
• Lack of fire management plan, wilderness in particular
• Recreation not proportional to use

• Clackamas

• Intra agency communication

• Permit types
• Project planning and public info/early involvement
• Better publishing of watershed-wide fishing opportunities
• Bike safe road shoulders (Hwy 224)
• Identify opportunities for improvement.

• Government Camp/Zig Zag # 1 and #2:

• More Recreation Staff

• More opportunities to disseminate information
• Enforcement
• More transparency
• More feeling like recreation community is listened to

• Hood River #1 and #2

• Land use agenda should reflect desires of majority of contributors which is taxpayers

• Enforcement of existing regulations
• More citizen involvement
• More wilderness
• Website of groups to facilitate people who want to help
• We need a creation of a fire management plan, like the plan in the Wallowa Whitman

• Clackamas

• Enforce general camping

• Law enforcement
• Stream-safe education
• Day-use access at campgrounds
• Website better designed and include more info on rules, regs, information, plans, contact info
• Road closures: process & progress info
• Provide examples of what is working well.

• Government Camp/Zig Zag # 1 and #2:

• Communications channels that exist work and are being utilized

• Snowpark permit
• Snow conditions and avalanche center works
• Non-permitted Mt. hood climb works
• Teacup shelter for families works

• Hood River #1 and #2

• Coalitions and community involvement

• Slowing Mt. hood meadows
• The Forest Service is courteous

• Clackamas

• Summits work

• Collaboration with fish biologists
• Clackamas ranger district public contact
• Warm springs relations with regards to PCT and USFS
• Portland General Electric-Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulating hydropower
  
  Roles in Achieving a New Vision for Mt. Hood

• Participants were asked to complete a form describing what role(s) and/or resource(s) they or their organization/agency/affiliation could offer in support of advancing the cause of ecosystem health and quiet recreation on public lands.
  
  Next Steps
  Alex P. Brown, Executive Director, Bark

• Alex noted that Bark is evolving, and while Bark is committed to advancing this effort they would like to hear from participants regarding what next steps would be most valuable and effective in maintaining involvement in the future.
• Participants noted the following preferred next steps for Bark (as lead) and others to take:
• Convene issue-based “breakouts” to further focus conversations
• Develop a calendar and timeline detailing the major milestones in this effort, as well as upcoming (National Forest) planning processes
• Providing updates on public comment periods and what the Forest Service needs to know from us
• Identify threats to ecosystem health and quiet recreation (from public and private sectors)
• Coordinate unified lobbying strategies and electioneering
• Distribute a summary of this summit
• Conduct outreach to regional and national groups
• Ensure PowerPoint presentations are made available
• Conduct more extensive outreach to media with summit info
• Act as a centralized conduit for communication