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This will be the first of many letters to help keep everyone informed about issues we are working on behind the seines. Your help will be imperative to keep our area open to all users.
Regarding all the recent developments surrounding the proposed Kapka Butte Sno-Park, the Moon Country Board of Directors wishes to thank all those who have gotten involved to pursue this development in a way that will best suit ALL of the recreationalists using the forest today.
Staying abreast of the processes involved with forest use issues has become almost a full time job. Moon Country has established a committee solely for the purpose of staying on top of legal issues involving all motorized areas around Mount Bachelor. The chairman for this committee will be looking for a few people who would be willing to help out with day to day issues and be a part of this information exchange team. Club and non-club people are welcome.
The building of Kapka Butte Sno-park has many ramifications that will affect a large portion of the winter recreationalists in the Central Oregon area. One of the largest entities affected is Elk Lake Lodge. The proposal, as it stands right now, would lead to the closing of the Dutchman Sno-park to snowmobile parking with possible loss of accessibility to the high country and Century Drive leading to Elk Lake Lodge. This would be devastating to this business. The loss of parking at Dutchman Sno-Park would prohibit early and late season riding reducing riding season by 2 or 3 months on average snow fall years.
The Moon country Board of Directors has voted to support the building of Kapka Butte Sno-Park AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT ALTER THE CURRENT YEAR ROUND PARKING AVAILABILITY AT DUTCHMAN SNO-PARK AND ALL AREAS ACCESSING THE HIGH COUNTRY ARE LEFT OPEN FOR MOTORIZED USE. Any proposals reducing motorized accessibility from Dutchman Sno-Park and surrounding areas will not be supported. This area is open to all modes of recreation and has operated like this for years. It must remain unchanged.
A deep appreciation goes out to all who have become involved supporting keeping open access to our present motorized areas. The opposition is as determined to close off areas to all users and others as we are committed to keep it open. We must be diligent on "our watch" to see they don't gain any more area closures in the public forest. The Forest Service is delaying putting out the EA (Environmental Assessment) until Spring or Summer of '09 if my information is correct. It was originally scheduled for release presently but is now being reconsidered until next year. Standard procedure for EA's is after it is released by the Forest Service, there is a 30-day comment period were the public is asked for comment on the proposed piece. This is a very important time to let the Forest Service know what you think of the EA proposal, positive and negative with comment for improvements. After the 30 day, there is a 45-day time period for the Forest Service to assess all the comments to come up with a comprehensive plan. So serious attention needs to be paid so when the EA is forthcoming, everyone will be on board with his or her letters and comments. We will keep you posted.
Until the EA is published it is still essential for all recreational enthusiasts to submit comments to the Forest Service, local, county and state/federal officials, the tourist industry supporting the continued "Multi-Use" scenario of this area. The "Anti-Access" groups will be doing the same so there MUST be an onslaught of support to counter any of the claims for no access they make.
Feel free to contact any Board Member for information.
The Moon Country Sno-Mobilers Board of Directors
Larry Riser, President
Russell Reid, Vice-President
Susie Fagen-Wirges, Secretary
Barbara Bosy, Treasurer
Chuck Tolboe, Member at Large
Toby Garus, Member at Large
Dave Lynn, Member at Large
Jan Pittman, Member at Large
Forest Service
Marv Lang
melang@fs.fed.us
Senator Wyden's Office
Website - http://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact
Senator Gordon Smith
Website - http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/index.cfmFuseAction=Contact.Home
Congressman Greg Walden
Website - http://walden.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactGreg.Home
Representative Chuck Burley District 54 - Deschutes Forest Province Advisory Committee Member
Website - http://www.leg.state.or.us/burley/
SAWS http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/
REMEMBER WHEN YOU VOTE THIS NOVEMBER........ TO CAST YOUR BALLOT
FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OPEN ACCESS TO THE FOREST FOR EVERYBODY.
It would be appreciated if any letters sent could be blind copied to Larry Riser at lriser5000@cs.com He will keep hard copies on file for future reference.
If you have anyone you would like added to this list please let us know and we will take care of it.
Regarding all the recent developments surrounding the proposed Kapka Butte Sno-Park, the Moon Country Board of Directors wishes to thank all those who have gotten involved to pursue this development in a way that will best suit ALL of the recreationalists using the forest today.
Staying abreast of the processes involved with forest use issues has become almost a full time job. Moon Country has established a committee solely for the purpose of staying on top of legal issues involving all motorized areas around Mount Bachelor. The chairman for this committee will be looking for a few people who would be willing to help out with day to day issues and be a part of this information exchange team. Club and non-club people are welcome.
The building of Kapka Butte Sno-park has many ramifications that will affect a large portion of the winter recreationalists in the Central Oregon area. One of the largest entities affected is Elk Lake Lodge. The proposal, as it stands right now, would lead to the closing of the Dutchman Sno-park to snowmobile parking with possible loss of accessibility to the high country and Century Drive leading to Elk Lake Lodge. This would be devastating to this business. The loss of parking at Dutchman Sno-Park would prohibit early and late season riding reducing riding season by 2 or 3 months on average snow fall years.
The Moon country Board of Directors has voted to support the building of Kapka Butte Sno-Park AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT ALTER THE CURRENT YEAR ROUND PARKING AVAILABILITY AT DUTCHMAN SNO-PARK AND ALL AREAS ACCESSING THE HIGH COUNTRY ARE LEFT OPEN FOR MOTORIZED USE. Any proposals reducing motorized accessibility from Dutchman Sno-Park and surrounding areas will not be supported. This area is open to all modes of recreation and has operated like this for years. It must remain unchanged.
A deep appreciation goes out to all who have become involved supporting keeping open access to our present motorized areas. The opposition is as determined to close off areas to all users and others as we are committed to keep it open. We must be diligent on "our watch" to see they don't gain any more area closures in the public forest. The Forest Service is delaying putting out the EA (Environmental Assessment) until Spring or Summer of '09 if my information is correct. It was originally scheduled for release presently but is now being reconsidered until next year. Standard procedure for EA's is after it is released by the Forest Service, there is a 30-day comment period were the public is asked for comment on the proposed piece. This is a very important time to let the Forest Service know what you think of the EA proposal, positive and negative with comment for improvements. After the 30 day, there is a 45-day time period for the Forest Service to assess all the comments to come up with a comprehensive plan. So serious attention needs to be paid so when the EA is forthcoming, everyone will be on board with his or her letters and comments. We will keep you posted.
Until the EA is published it is still essential for all recreational enthusiasts to submit comments to the Forest Service, local, county and state/federal officials, the tourist industry supporting the continued "Multi-Use" scenario of this area. The "Anti-Access" groups will be doing the same so there MUST be an onslaught of support to counter any of the claims for no access they make.
Feel free to contact any Board Member for information.
The Moon Country Sno-Mobilers Board of Directors
Larry Riser, President
Russell Reid, Vice-President
Susie Fagen-Wirges, Secretary
Barbara Bosy, Treasurer
Chuck Tolboe, Member at Large
Toby Garus, Member at Large
Dave Lynn, Member at Large
Jan Pittman, Member at Large
Forest Service
Marv Lang
melang@fs.fed.us
Senator Wyden's Office
Website - http://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact
Senator Gordon Smith
Website - http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/index.cfmFuseAction=Contact.Home
Congressman Greg Walden
Website - http://walden.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactGreg.Home
Representative Chuck Burley District 54 - Deschutes Forest Province Advisory Committee Member
Website - http://www.leg.state.or.us/burley/
SAWS http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/
REMEMBER WHEN YOU VOTE THIS NOVEMBER........ TO CAST YOUR BALLOT
FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OPEN ACCESS TO THE FOREST FOR EVERYBODY.
It would be appreciated if any letters sent could be blind copied to Larry Riser at lriser5000@cs.com He will keep hard copies on file for future reference.
If you have anyone you would like added to this list please let us know and we will take care of it.
