Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2018)
38 Wednesday, November 21, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon WILDERNESS: Restrictions to take effect in 2020 Continued from page 1 same-day and next-day per- mits will be available for people who want to head to the wilderness on the spur of the moment,” said Kim McCarrel, spokeswoman for Oregon Equestrian Trails. “Many equestrian trail riders are concerned that the soaring popularity of our wilderness trails is having a detrimen- tal effect on the wilderness experience. While not every- one agrees a permit system is the right answer, most of us believe that steps need to be taken to limit the damage.” Deschutes National Forest Supervisor John Allen and Willamette National Forest Supervisor Tracy Beck believe this decision strikes a balance between provid- ing access to current users, providing a quality recre- ation experience, and pre- serving the opportunity for future users to experience the wilderness character of these areas as intended by Congress. Local trails advocates are supportive of the plan. Catherine Hayden, board chair of Sisters Trails Alliance provided The Nugget with a statement on the draft decision: “As a trails organization, STA is a strong advocate for trails and trail access,” Hayden wrote. “But we also consider ourselves to be stewards of our natural pub- lic lands. We recognize that not all trail users are human. We also have first-hand experience seeing the impact of unintentional overuse on trails we maintain. We rec- ognize the difficult decision to balance trails access with trails protection in order to preserve a good trails experi- ence — especially in wilder- ness — for both current and future users. Whether it is urging trail users to practice common-sense trail etiquette, to carry out their trash, STA urges all trail users to respect our trails — even if that may sometimes mean waiting for a permit. Rafting on popular rivers is often by permit only, because too many users at one time spoil the experience for all users. Certain trails in wilderness areas are the same as some rivers. The Obsidian Trail has been on a permit system for years, which has helped maintain the quality of that trail. “Everyone has a dif- ferent threshold of what is crowding or a degraded trail experience, but the proposed system aims to protect areas that are at most risk for what almost anyone would con- sider overuse and degrada- tion. Once a wilderness area is degraded, it may never be fully restored; better to take action before it is too late. “STA supports this action by the Forest Service — both because it is right and because the FS is putting in place an adaptive, data-driven system that can be modified depending on how it works for users.” Sharri Bertagna, propri- etor of Hike-N-Peaks, an outdoor mercantile in Sisters, offered one such modifica- tion. She said she would like to see the September ending period on the permits pushed Free Class up to just after Labor Day to allow locals free access to the forest through most of September. “It’s my favorite time to be out there,” she said. “For us locals, give us something to hold on to, making it a lit- tle earlier.” Forest Supervisor Allen told The Nugget that the decision allows for “adap- tive management” based on how the system affects users and the wilderness. Some adjustment of the timeframe may be possible in some areas. However, he noted, use remains heavy through autumn. “We’re keeping our mind open for specific trailheads, but I don’t think we would roll back that September 30 timeframe broadly,” he said. Overall, Bertagna believes the permitting is a valid response to heavy use. “I think it will make for a better experience for all trav- eling out in the woods,” she said. Allen said that the Forest Service has more than two decades of data to measure against in gauging the effec- tiveness of the restrictions. “We’ve inventoried 90 percent-plus of the overnight campsites in these wilderness areas,” he said. Other metrics include con- dition of trails, including the durability of waterbars (anti- erosion trail features that Quality Truck-mounted CARPET CLEANING Quality Cleaning 16 years in Reasonable Prices Sisters! — Credit Cards Accepted — ENVIROTECH 541-771-5048 Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB#181062 RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL WHAT is an HECM? Home Equity Conversion Mortgage — The GAME-changing loan to improve one’s retirement years. Come and learn…it’s not what you think! 3 CLASSES | 6 SESSIONS FREE to the Public Cell 541-749-0610 Thur., Nov. 15, Tues., Nov. 27, Fax 541-610-1813 | NMLS 255580 or Tues., Dec. 4 473 W. Hood Ave., Ste. 103 Sisters, Oregon 97759 10-10:50 a.m. Purchase Info. 11-11:50 a.m. Refi nance Info. Equal Housing Lender | NMLS #1169 We are thankful for your business and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Debbie Brown 541-419-8156 Corrie C. Lake 541-521-2392 used to last two or three years and are now worn down or displaced in a year due to heavy trail traffic). Allen said that “adaptive management” could move in a variety of directions, but “we really don’t want to roll back and be more restrictive.” Brad Chalfant, chair of the Deschutes Trails Coalition said, “While members of the Deschutes Trails Coalition, a homegrown collabora- tion between local trail user groups, conservation orga- nizations and business, may differ on preferred solutions, we all understand that por- tions of the Cascade wilder- nesses like Three Sisters have seen unacceptable impacts to the land, wildlife and wilder- ness experience. The staff of the Deschutes National Forest are to be applauded for taking a methodical, open and thoughtful approach to devel- oping solutions to ensure that the Wilderness, its resources and experience will continue to be there for our children and generations to come.” The draft decision is sub- ject to objection procedures. The public has an opportunity to file an objection within 45 days of the legal notice of the proposed decision. Following objection resolution, the for- est supervisors will issue a final decision in February of 2019 and implementa- tion is expected to begin in 2020. FIRE: Occupants quickly evacuated home Continued from page 1 Fire District responded with five emergency vehicles and eight personnel. An additional unit from Black Butte Ranch Fire District and three addi- tional units from Cloverdale Fire District also responded to the fire with a total of eight additional personnel. Shift Commander Thornton Brown said, “The occupants did the right thing by quickly evacuating the home, calling 911 and alert- ing the neighbors.” Fire professionals note that the incident is a good reminder when visiting unfamiliar places (vacation homes, hotels, businesses) to locate at least two exits in the event of an emergency. Have a story idea for The Nugget? We’d love to hear it! Send an email to editor@nuggetnews.com Residential • Farm & Ranch Patty Cordoni Principal Broker/Sisters Branch Manager Cascade Sotheby’s Farm, Ranch, Vineyard Division Manager patty.cordoni@cascadesir.com 541.771.0931
