Stand Up For The Wildlands and Watersheds of the Rogue/Siskiyou!

Trashing the Commons: Nationally, about 2.5% of annual visits to National Forests have ORV use as their primary activity, yet motorized recreation can devastate public resources

The forests and watersheds of the Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest are famous for their world-class wild rivers, astounding biodiversity and scenic splendor. Threatened Coho salmon still spawn in the creeks, extremely rare Port-Orford cedar trees grace the stream-banks, and peaceful trails still lead into untrammeled wildlands. All of these forest values are being placed at-risk from the Forest Service’s current proposal to encourage Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) use in some of the most fragile landscapes of the Forest.

Motorized recreation is a valued and legitimate part of the National Forest experience. The Rogue/Siskiyou has thousands of miles of roads that can be responsibly explored by car, ORV or motorcycle while also respecting the irreplaceable forest values that belong to all Americans. Unfortunately, some in the ORV community believe that there should be no limits at all on their preferred form of recreation. So over the years meadows have been trashed, creeks have been sullied, and hiking trails have been destroyed by irresponsible ORV users.

Under the Forest Service’s initial proposal, ORV use would be encouraged in fragile places such as Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs), designated botanical areas, near Port Orford cedar populations (that could be wiped-out by the motorized spread of a fatal root-disease), and along hiking trails in the backcountry, including several popular hiking trails in the Upper Applegate that are in IRAs and are proposed additions to the Red Buttes Wilderness. These are simply not the appropriate places for motorized recreation on our public lands.

The Rogue/Siskiyou Travel Management planning process is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to tell the Forest Service where motorized use should be allowed, and where it should be prohibited.

A Letter to the Forest Service Can Make a Difference

Please take a moment to write a quick note to the Forest Service asking them to protect the irreplaceable forest values that you hold dear for future generations. 

SAMPLE LETTER

Steve Johnson
Travel Management Team
Rogue River/Siskiyou National Forest, Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District
645 Washington Street, Ashland, OR 97520

Email: comments-pacificnorthwest-rogueriver-siskiyou@fs.fed.us

Dear Mr. Johnson,

The Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest is a special place for me. The salmon and steelhead that depend on clean water, the amazing botanical diversity, and the few remaining backcountry roadless areas are irreplaceable treasures that are the part of the heritage of all Americans.

I believe that there should be a place for both motorized and non-motorized recreational activities in our National Forests. Please do not allow a few irresponsible ORV enthusiasts to determine the future of lands that belong to everyone.

Please do not open our few remaining roadless areas, hiking trails and botanical areas to additional ORV use. I urge you to allow motorized recreation on those portions of the existing system of logging roads where such use will not harm aquatic or botanical values.

I believe that the irreplaceable roadless areas in the Rogue/Siskiyou are not appropriate places for ORVs. I am particularly concerned about plans to encourage ORV use on backcountry hiking trails such as the Boundary Trail, Silver Peak Trail, Cook and Green and the Mule Mountain trail complex in the Upper Applegate. Do not encourage ORV use in botanical hotspots like Grayback Mountain and the McGrew Trail. Please protect Port-Orford cedar and Coho salmon strongholds from ORV use.

Lastly, the Forest Service has a backlog for road maintenance on the Rogue/Siskiyou that will costs millions of dollars. Many Forest Service roads are literally falling apart. Please use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to identify and close roads that you can no longer afford to safely maintain.

Thank you for considering my input in this important matter,

Regards,

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS