Here is some information I recently sent out to HR riders. This affects area riders, particularly from Portland, so it bears posting here:
"The Hood River County Recreational Trails Committee was created by the County Commissioners for the purpose of advising the County on recreational activities in their forestlands. The committee is comprised of outdoor enthusiasts representing mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers, ORV users, and other citizens, including a member of the Forest Advisory Council. The Committee is led by the County Forester.
We, Jen Bisset and Chris Bernhardt, are your mountain bike reps. We want to keep you informed of what is going on with the committee, and we want to make sure we are accurately representing your interests.
On Tuesday, April 20, the Committee met for the first time. The following issues were discussed:
- The initial work of the Committee will focus on the westside forestlands. This area encompasses Post Canyon to Kingsley Reservoir.
- Several of the lower Post Canyon trails and the trailhead are on private land not owned by the County. The County is anxious to meet with these landowners and secure access agreements with them so that people will be able to continue to use these facilities.
- The County Forester noted that the Post Canyon area is seeing a high level of use, and that environmental degradation has occurred. It is anticipated that remediation projects and trail re-routes will be undertaken in the future, particularly to protect and enhance the streams.
- One of the first tasks assigned to the Committee is to map the existing trails in the westside area. Once an accurate trail inventory has been created, the Committee can move forward on determining what action, if any, needs to be taken.
- The County Forester has asked that all trailbuilding be put on hold until the existing trails are mapped and the Committee has had a chance to evaluate the situation.
- The committee hopes to have a first draft of the comprehensive map done in the next 6 weeks. At that point we will meet again to assign zones before going out into the field to verify what is on the map.
Please contact us if you have any questions/comments. Meetings are open to the public, so please feel free to attend.
Jen Bisset (jenniferb@summitprojects.com)
Chris Bernhardt (gorgechris@yahoo.com)"
"The Hood River County Recreational Trails Committee was created by the County Commissioners for the purpose of advising the County on recreational activities in their forestlands. The committee is comprised of outdoor enthusiasts representing mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers, ORV users, and other citizens, including a member of the Forest Advisory Council. The Committee is led by the County Forester.
We, Jen Bisset and Chris Bernhardt, are your mountain bike reps. We want to keep you informed of what is going on with the committee, and we want to make sure we are accurately representing your interests.
On Tuesday, April 20, the Committee met for the first time. The following issues were discussed:
- The initial work of the Committee will focus on the westside forestlands. This area encompasses Post Canyon to Kingsley Reservoir.
- Several of the lower Post Canyon trails and the trailhead are on private land not owned by the County. The County is anxious to meet with these landowners and secure access agreements with them so that people will be able to continue to use these facilities.
- The County Forester noted that the Post Canyon area is seeing a high level of use, and that environmental degradation has occurred. It is anticipated that remediation projects and trail re-routes will be undertaken in the future, particularly to protect and enhance the streams.
- One of the first tasks assigned to the Committee is to map the existing trails in the westside area. Once an accurate trail inventory has been created, the Committee can move forward on determining what action, if any, needs to be taken.
- The County Forester has asked that all trailbuilding be put on hold until the existing trails are mapped and the Committee has had a chance to evaluate the situation.
- The committee hopes to have a first draft of the comprehensive map done in the next 6 weeks. At that point we will meet again to assign zones before going out into the field to verify what is on the map.
Please contact us if you have any questions/comments. Meetings are open to the public, so please feel free to attend.
Jen Bisset (jenniferb@summitprojects.com)
Chris Bernhardt (gorgechris@yahoo.com)"