No ebikes. While I realize soom people have difficuties biking with regular bikes, I have had too many close calls with fast ebike riders on trails. They are not compatable with walking.
Anonymous
10/28/2024
Thanks for hosting the community forum meeting tonight in room 117 Peavy Hall. It was informative to say the least. I am not sure how people can say "can't we just not manage the forest" in one breath, sound the alarm bell of climate change and catastrophic wildfire in the other breath and not understand that they are compromising the very health of the forest, not to mention humankind and infrastructure. I know when the fire engines roll into our neighborhood and look at our next door neighbor, our neighbor across the street and lastly look at our house, they will set up camp at our house because the other neighbors houses are destined to burn based on the underbrush, dead trees and downed limbs. That's the result of ""unmanaged"" it burns to the ground - how come they don't see this? I was sitting and listening to the experts on managing the forest and hoping that my cardiologist doesn't have a community forum of experts like therapists, psychology majors and people who think they know about heart health to decide about my heart surgery. We so appreciate the recreational offerings at the forest that we can't say Thank You enough - so THANK YOU and OSU FORESTERS keep on managing the forests well - as you have done.
Anonymous
10/28/2024
Class 1 Electric bikes are a constantly growing category of the bicycle industry. As Oregon, the NFS, and many other states evaluates Class 1 emtb's and allow them in more and more places, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Choosing to be on the side of when sooner than later will only encourage people to find more value of the trail areas they have locally, encouraging them to be more active and participant in maintaining and caring for those spaces.
Anonymous
10/27/2024
It was brought to my attention that MacDunn carbon modeling excluded soil carbon. According to USDA Office of Sustainability and Climate, about 50% of forest stored carbon is found in the soil. https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs... 2Ffiles%2FForest-Carbon-FAQs.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CMcDonaldDunnPlan%40oregonstate.edu%7Cd71d8bcef1fe41a4230308dcf70c11b1%7Cce6d05e13c5e4d6287a84c4a2713c113%7C0%7C0%7C638656878415946315%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=J2972FRCp%2F9vsLuk4DDIMeUbr6S%2FMrRaOJvxiOpQN9A%3D&reserved=0 Ignoring soil carbon gives an inaccurate picture of total carbon storage in MacDunn.
Anonymous
10/27/2024
I am in favor of allowing pedal assist e-bike on the Mac Forest trails. It should be make clear that pedal assist e- bikes only.
Anonymous
10/27/2024
I absolutely support the use of e-bikes. All bikes, no matter how they are powered, our subject to the rules of safe riding and courteous sharing of the paths with hikers and horses. E-bikes allow more people with physical limitations to enjoy this beautiful forest having both walked and ridden these trails and roads I can honestly say I have seen absolutely no difference in the writing styles of E bikes versus standard bikes. I believe that OSU is out of step with Corvallis and current times by restricting bike use. Giving all bikers a safe place to ride that is away from car traffic is a great service to the community.
Reed Wilson
10/25/2024
Committee Members: Re: Red Tree Voles - Katie Moriarty of NCASI supplied a link to a graduate thesis by Jason T. Piasecki titled ""Red Tree Voles in Fragmented Forests"": The following quotation is from the Abstract. "The probability of tree vole nest persistence was highest 0.98 (95% CI 0.81, 0.99) in old forests where nests were more cryptic and often associated with stable microsites (e.g., cavities). Persistence was lower 0.90 (95% CI 0.79, 0.95) and more variable in young forest and was positively correlated to nest volume... I did not detect any recently occupied tree vole nests more than 1,649m from the nearest patch of old forest.... I recorded interspecific tree vole nest use by other arboreal species at a higher frequency in young forest than in old forest suggesting possible competition for nesting space in young forests." Jason concluded that ""young stands within 1,425m of old forest patches contributed to tree vole occupancy and modest levels of tree vole nest density. Given the results of my research, I conclude that young forest can augment, expand, and/or connect habitat for red tree voles in the Oregon Coast Range."" Here, the word ""connect"" is essential. Although tree voles can occupy young stands, the chances of persistence are greater in old forest. In order for tree vole populations to adapt to changing climate conditions by exchanging genetics, corridors maintaining canopy connection should be plotted through younger forest between adjacent older stands, and special consideration should be given to managing for nest substrates in younger forests. Reed Wilson
Anonymous
10/25/2024
The new e-bikes are a great form of transportation. I am a bicycle rider and I look forward to owning an e-bike and using it around town in Corvallis. However, I have concerns about sharing our forest roads and trails with motorized vehicles. I know that the idea is that e-bikes are assisted with effort from the rider, but in practice the assistance level can be adjusted by the rider and many e-bikes can be ridden with little physical effort. Allowing e-bikes is allowing motorcycles, which seems to be a step backwards in recreation, not forwards. The classification of e-bikes by top speed, pedal assist levels, power output, battery size, etcetera, means little in practice. E-bikes are easily modified and there is little enforcement of classification standards. Over the past five years or so I have seen dozens of e-bikes on trails and roads in McDonald forest. I sometimes speak to the riders, and they are usually aware that they are breaking the standing rule against e-bikes. The mountain e-bikers extol the ability to ""session"", meaning make repeated runs up and down the trails. And the ability to get farther away from the trailheads with less effort, opening up those more remote areas offering solitude and exploration, which used to require too much time and effort to reach. They are all having great fun. It isn't just e-bikes. I've seen powered stand-on-top mono-wheels, and groups of full-on electric trail-bikes (no pedals). Of course once ""pedal-assisted"" e-bikes are allowed, electric tricycles will be allowed, and electric quadcycles, (yes these are all available in ""pedal-assist"" form), because we can't discriminate against more wheels, can we? Now if only we could fit our Teslas around the barriers...
Colleen Llewellyn
10/25/2024
I have been an avid trail runner, hiker, and mountain biker in the McDonald and Dunn forests for many years. I am opposed to the use of e-bikes in the forest. In the past year I have personally seen e-bikes in the Mac/Dunn forest on several occasions. I'm sure it is difficult to enforce the current rules. What has happened as a result of the e-bikes and an increase in mountain biking overall is an increase to the damage to the trail surfaces, even during dry periods. Many of the trails, especially the steeper trails, the tread surface has loosened as a result of bike wheels sliding downhill. This has made them slick to navigate both up and down while hiking/running. The use of e-bikes has and will further exaggerate this damage as it will take less effort and will be less time consuming to make multiple runs. Additionally, e-biking has added to negative trail interactions between hikers/runners and bikers. Full head helmets and screaming downhill speed combined with the ability to make many runs each trip has already contributed to scary trail interactions and this will get worse if restrictions are lifted. If enforcing current restrictions is difficult, creating and enforcing a set of complex rules that restrict e-bike power levels and styles will be impossible. Those challenges essentially mean that reduced restrictions to e-bikes is the same as allowing the use of motorcycles on the trails (just quieter ones that can sneak up on unsuspecting wildlife and people at breakneck speeds) The Mac/Dunn Forest is my favorite resource in Corvallis. Thank you for making this resource available to all of us. And please keep it a peaceful, happy place for people and wildlife by maintaining restrictions on motorized bikes. If you have any questions or want people to participate in public forums on this topic, I'd be happy to help. Kind regards, Colleen Llewellyn
Anonymous
10/23/2024
Hello! Thanks so much for the opportunity to weigh in on the use of e-bikes in the OSU Forest. I’m a strong supporter of lifting restrictions on the use of e-bikes on gravel roads in the forest. E-bikes are a great form of outdoor excercise, especially for seniors or other recreationists that are no longer willing or able to do more strenuous forest activities like trail running or mountain biking. By and large this population is not comprised of speed-racers that will be tearing up the roads, and threatening hikers and forest vehicles with daredevil antics. They are out to enjoy nature, and stay healthy, in a way that respects other forest users and the natural habitats they so much appreciate. There are over 16,000 senior citizens in Benton County! (2024 data). Restricting e-bikes on gravel roads in the OSU forest removes access to one of the best and most popular ways seniors can recreate in our community. Please help keep our senior population thriving by doing away with the prohibition of e-bikes on the forest’s gravel roads. Thank you!
Anonymous
10/23/2024
I think you should allow ebikes onto the roads but not the trails. The roads are wide enough.
Anonymous
10/23/2024
Hello, I live in Corvallis and urge you not to allow ebikes in OSU forests. They are dangerous for pedestrians, frightening to dogs and probably horses, and the whole point of being in the forest is getting some exercise. So please don't allow this unnecessary and dangerous thing. Make an exception for motorized wheelchairs for those who need them. Many bikers don't stop for pedestrians anyway when they speed downhill, so there are enough hazards now. Thank you.
Anonymous
10/23/2024
Anywhere regular mountain bikes are allowed e-bikes should also be allowed. There is no physical difference in what possible damage is created between the two types of bikes. The controversy came when elitist mountain bikers started pushing through bans with their noses in the air. There are all sorts of ways people enjoy themselves. As 50 plus persons my wife and I tread extremely lightly with our e-bikes but it's the only way we could get out and enjoy a place like this. Thank you
Anonymous
10/23/2024
I am opposed to e-bikes in Mac Forest. Thank you.
Anonymous
10/23/2024
I would prefer that e-bikes be allowed in Mac Dunn. I ride both conventional and e- mountain bikes, and a I get older, the e- bike allows me to access trails, inclines and distance I could not otherwise. The e- bike does not make noise louder than my conventional bike, nor does it allow speed different from what I can do conventionally. I am not aware of how the e-bike would impact anyone other than the rider differently than a standard bike and it improves access for a demographic that might not otherwise be able to enjoy the trail system. For these reasons, I'd ask that the prohibition of e-bikes be lifted. Thanks.
Anonymous
10/22/2024
Just say no to e-bikes on forest trails! If the average rider is not responsible on the pavement, they certainly aren't going to be responsible on trails. Speed limits won't be observed. Designated areas won't be observed. Pedestrian and animal safety won't be observed. And why bother spend time in the forest if you're just going to zip through at 25 miles an hour?
Anonymous
10/22/2024
Please no e-biles or pedal assisted bikes on the trail
Anonymous
10/22/2024
Re: recreational matters, no e-bikes and no dogs should be allowed in the Mac-Dunn Research Forests.
Anonymous
10/22/2024
I live very close to mac forest. I have a fat tire eBike that I ride all over town and also through the bald hill area. I observe your guidelines and have never ridden my ebike in mac forest. But for decades my son and I have ridden our mountain bikes all over mac. We love the Forest! Actually mostly I hike there. But I would love to ride my ebike through mac, even if you told me to stay on the roads, and off the trails. I could take the road all the way up to dimple hill! Please allow eBike use in mac forest! Surely they are closer to mtn. Bikes than to your trucks that go through there for governance and maintenance. I know it is a research forest and revenue generator. But when the state granted OSU governance of the mac, it was partly due to the proximity to residences, and recreational use must be anticipated as part of the governance policy. Thanks for the chance to provide input.
Anonymous
10/22/2024
I support allowing pedal-assist e-bikes on the forest. I frequently ride an electric bike, and I enjoy frequenting the forest, but have been sad that I cannot combine the two pastimes.
Anonymous
10/18/2024
I live on Oak Creek Drive not far from the gate. Currently, the traffic is along the lines of that expected of a 30- dwelling housing development on a daily basis, more on nice weekends. There are no shoulders on much of the road beyond the junction with Cardwell Hill. The sight lines are poor, especially near our driveway. We understand that recreation is an important use, but we also find it is nearly impossible to safely walk or bicycle on our road on weekends and late afternoons when traffic is heavy. *This is our neighborhood.* Although most forest users are considerate, even 20 mph feels very fast if a car passes you so closely you could reach out and touch it. That's not uncommon because the road is so narrow and there is no way to step off the pavement in many areas. We urge the college to carefully consider how more access can be created across a variety of trailheads to prevent any one neighborhood from having to bear the brunt of the negative effects of the increased traffic, which is a major safety issue as well as a significant livability issue (the traffic noise can be considerable, we never encounter our neighbors anymore, and I've peeled dozens of dead wild animals off the pavement over the past decade). I'm not interested in becoming literal road kill for other peoples' enjoyment, but I also expect to be able to safely walk my dogs near my home or use my bicycle for transportation to town (which it is, on a daily basis).
Reed Wilson
10/18/2024
Having listened to a segment of the SAC meeting on Sept. 25, I heard an indication that red tree vole populations can persist in 30 to 50 year old forests, and a reference to a certain "red tree vole expert". Please email me with the name of the expert referred to. Red tree voles rely on closed canopy condition for dispersal. They avoid predation by traveling from limb to limb through the canopy. The reproductive rates of red tree voles are dependent on the presence of suitable nest substrates - old growth trees with large limbs, cavities, brokentops, hollow limbs, forked tops and other defects. Red tree voles can disperse from mature and old growth stands into adjacent stands, if suitable defects are present in younger trees to serve as nest platforms, but population density and the success of persistence is inversely proportional to distance from older forest. In addition, the edge effect created by harvest exposes tree voles to a higher incidence of predation by raptors. Red tree voles are a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act in the North Coast Range, including McDonald Dunn. The destructive impacts of commercial logging on red tree vole populations have been the basis for successful lawsuits by environmental groups, including a legal challenge to the BLM's North Fork Overlook project on Mary's Peak. It would be prudent of the COF to protect habitat for red tree voles in McDonald Dunn, rather than rely on patented misinformation to facilitate increased harvest levels. Reed Wilson Benton Forest Coalition Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team
Anonymous
10/16/2024
-I really don't think motorcycles (aka electric motor bikes) should be allowed in the forest. -I don't see the harm in unauthorized trails, as long as they are not in active research areas. When compared to the aftermath of any logging operation, not to mention a clear cut, it is hard to see how an argument can be made that the thin line of dirt damages the forest resource. -Instead of wasteful and risky burning of slash piles, why not issue user permits a few days a year to allow the local community to take the slash waste and use it for heating homes??? -Finally, parking at Oak Creek should be expanded. This is the best place to access the sanctioned MTB trails. At other trail heads, the best "use" trails have been systematically obliterated.
Anonymous
09/25/2024
I appreciate the publicly-posted responses to the questions asked at the Community Listening Session, and I have a better understanding now of why Scenario E produces biodiversity modeling results that seem completely illogical. I am wondering if the next round of modeling will separate out the "ecosystems of concern" from the "mature forest reserves", since the two management strategies produce biodiversity results that would seem to cancel each other out when lumped together. It is a design flaw with Scenario E left as it is: a person interested in increasing biodiversity across the entirely of the Mac-Dunn would glance at the current results and decide that Scenario E is a bad choice for the animals that live in this forest. Clearly, that is not the case. Please correct this problem!
Anonymous
07/26/2024
I am concerned about certain aspects of the first round of forest modeling dealing with biodiversity. First, and most concerning, is the rough data which inexplicably shows that INCREASING specific habitat for red tree voles and amphibians will result in a DECREASE in their numbers on the McDonald-Dunn. This makes no sense, and does not inspire confidence in the other numbers that do not exhibit such a flagrant violation of logic. Second, why are there no plant species considered in the biodiversity modeling? There is no mention of understory plants at all. The forest is more than just trees; the biodiversity modeling needs to include shrubs, wildflowers, and forbs. If managed properly, the McDonald-Dunn can become a refuge for threatened or rare species of plants, including those of cultural importance to local tribes. Third, I wonder if there is any attempt made to classify various species according to their population status or ecological benefit. While certain management regimes may, on the surface, benefit greater overall numbers of species, does it not matter what those species are? We should manage it to prioritize habitat for native, threatened, and under-represented species of all taxa.
No ebikes. While I realize soom people have difficuties biking with regular bikes, I have had too many close calls with fast ebike riders on trails. They are not compatable with walking.
Thanks for hosting the community forum meeting tonight in room 117 Peavy Hall. It was informative to say the least.
I am not sure how people can say "can't we just not manage the forest" in one breath, sound the alarm bell of climate change and catastrophic wildfire in the other breath and not understand that they are compromising the very health of the forest, not to mention humankind and infrastructure. I know when the fire engines roll into our neighborhood and look at our next door neighbor, our neighbor across the street and lastly look at our house, they will set up camp at our house because the other neighbors houses are destined to burn based on the underbrush, dead trees and downed limbs. That's the result of ""unmanaged"" it burns to the ground - how come they don't see this?
I was sitting and listening to the experts on managing the forest and hoping that my cardiologist doesn't have a community forum of experts like therapists, psychology majors and people who think they know about heart health to decide about my heart surgery. We so appreciate the recreational offerings at the forest that we can't say Thank You enough - so THANK YOU and OSU FORESTERS keep on managing the forests well - as you have done.
Class 1 Electric bikes are a constantly growing category of the bicycle industry. As Oregon, the NFS, and many other states evaluates Class 1 emtb's and allow them in more and more places, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Choosing to be on the side of when sooner than later will only encourage people to find more value of the trail areas they have locally, encouraging them to be more active and participant in maintaining and caring for those spaces.
It was brought to my attention that MacDunn carbon modeling excluded soil carbon. According to USDA Office of Sustainability and Climate, about 50% of forest stored carbon is found in the soil.
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs... 2Ffiles%2FForest-Carbon-FAQs.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CMcDonaldDunnPlan%40oregonstate.edu%7Cd71d8bcef1fe41a4230308dcf70c11b1%7Cce6d05e13c5e4d6287a84c4a2713c113%7C0%7C0%7C638656878415946315%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=J2972FRCp%2F9vsLuk4DDIMeUbr6S%2FMrRaOJvxiOpQN9A%3D&reserved=0
Ignoring soil carbon gives an inaccurate picture of total carbon storage in MacDunn.
I am in favor of allowing pedal assist e-bike on the Mac Forest trails. It should be make clear that pedal assist e- bikes only.
I absolutely support the use of e-bikes. All bikes, no matter how they are powered, our subject to the rules of safe riding and courteous sharing of the paths with hikers and horses. E-bikes allow more people with physical limitations to enjoy this beautiful forest having both walked and ridden these trails and roads I can honestly say I have seen absolutely no difference in the writing styles of E bikes versus standard bikes. I believe that OSU is out of step with Corvallis and current times by restricting bike use. Giving all bikers a safe place to ride that is away from car traffic is a great service to the community.
Committee Members: Re: Red Tree Voles - Katie Moriarty of NCASI supplied a link to a graduate thesis by Jason T. Piasecki titled ""Red Tree Voles in Fragmented Forests"":
The following quotation is from the Abstract.
"The probability of tree vole nest persistence was highest 0.98 (95% CI 0.81, 0.99) in old forests where nests were more cryptic and often associated with stable microsites (e.g., cavities). Persistence was lower 0.90 (95% CI 0.79, 0.95) and more variable in young forest and was positively correlated to nest volume... I did not detect any recently occupied tree vole nests more than 1,649m from the nearest patch of old forest.... I recorded interspecific tree vole nest use by other arboreal species at a higher frequency in young forest than in old forest suggesting possible competition for nesting space in young forests."
Jason concluded that ""young stands within 1,425m of old forest patches contributed to tree vole occupancy and modest levels of tree vole nest density. Given the results of my research, I conclude that young forest can augment, expand, and/or connect habitat for red tree voles in the Oregon Coast Range."" Here, the word ""connect"" is essential. Although tree voles can occupy young stands, the chances of persistence are greater in old forest. In order for tree vole populations to adapt to changing climate conditions by exchanging genetics, corridors maintaining canopy connection should be plotted through younger forest between adjacent older stands, and special consideration should be given to managing for nest substrates in younger forests.
Reed Wilson
The new e-bikes are a great form of transportation. I am a bicycle rider and I look forward to owning an e-bike and using it around town in Corvallis.
However, I have concerns about sharing our forest roads and trails with motorized vehicles. I know that the idea is that e-bikes are assisted with effort from the rider, but in practice the assistance level can be adjusted by the rider and many e-bikes can be ridden with little physical effort.
Allowing e-bikes is allowing motorcycles, which seems to be a step backwards in recreation, not forwards. The classification of e-bikes by top speed, pedal assist levels, power output, battery size, etcetera, means little in practice. E-bikes are easily modified and there is little enforcement of classification standards.
Over the past five years or so I have seen dozens of e-bikes on trails and roads in McDonald forest. I sometimes speak to the riders, and they are usually aware that they are breaking the standing rule against e-bikes. The mountain e-bikers extol the ability to ""session"", meaning make repeated runs up and down the trails. And the ability to get farther away from the trailheads with less effort, opening up those more remote areas offering solitude and exploration, which used to require too much time and effort to reach. They are all having great fun. It isn't just e-bikes. I've seen powered stand-on-top mono-wheels, and groups of full-on electric trail-bikes (no pedals). Of course once ""pedal-assisted"" e-bikes are allowed, electric tricycles will be allowed, and electric quadcycles, (yes these are all available in ""pedal-assist"" form), because we can't discriminate against more wheels, can we? Now if only we could fit our Teslas around the barriers...
I have been an avid trail runner, hiker, and mountain biker in the McDonald and Dunn forests for many years. I am opposed to the use of e-bikes in the forest. In the past year I have personally seen e-bikes in the Mac/Dunn forest on several occasions. I'm sure it is difficult to enforce the current rules. What has happened as a result of the e-bikes and an increase in mountain biking overall is an increase to the damage to the trail surfaces, even during dry periods. Many of the trails, especially the steeper trails, the tread surface has loosened as a result of bike wheels sliding downhill. This has made them slick to navigate both up and down while hiking/running. The use of e-bikes has and will further exaggerate this damage as it will take less effort and will be less time consuming to make multiple runs.
Additionally, e-biking has added to negative trail interactions between hikers/runners and bikers. Full head helmets and screaming downhill speed combined with the ability to make many runs each trip has already contributed to scary trail interactions and this will get worse if restrictions are lifted. If enforcing current restrictions is difficult, creating and enforcing a set of complex rules that restrict e-bike power levels and styles will be impossible. Those challenges essentially mean that reduced restrictions to e-bikes is the same as allowing the use of motorcycles on the trails (just quieter ones that can sneak up on unsuspecting wildlife and people at breakneck speeds)
The Mac/Dunn Forest is my favorite resource in Corvallis. Thank you for making this resource available to all of us. And please keep it a peaceful, happy place for people and wildlife by maintaining restrictions on motorized bikes. If you have any questions or want people to participate in public forums on this topic, I'd be happy to help. Kind regards, Colleen Llewellyn
Hello! Thanks so much for the opportunity to weigh in on the use of e-bikes in the OSU Forest. I’m a strong supporter of lifting restrictions on the use of e-bikes on gravel roads in the forest. E-bikes are a great form of outdoor excercise, especially for seniors or other recreationists that are no longer willing or able to do more strenuous forest activities like trail running or mountain biking. By and large this population is not comprised of speed-racers that will be tearing up the roads, and threatening hikers and forest vehicles with daredevil antics. They are out to enjoy nature, and stay healthy, in a way that respects other forest users and the natural habitats they so much appreciate.
There are over 16,000 senior citizens in Benton County! (2024 data).
Restricting e-bikes on gravel roads in the OSU forest removes access to one of the best and most popular ways seniors can recreate in our community.
Please help keep our senior population thriving by doing away with the prohibition of e-bikes on the forest’s gravel roads. Thank you!
I think you should allow ebikes onto the roads but not the trails. The roads are wide enough.
Hello, I live in Corvallis and urge you not to allow ebikes in OSU forests. They are dangerous for pedestrians, frightening to dogs and probably horses, and the whole point of being in the forest is getting some exercise. So please don't allow this unnecessary and dangerous thing. Make an exception for motorized wheelchairs for those who need them. Many bikers don't stop for pedestrians anyway when they speed downhill, so there are enough hazards now. Thank you.
Anywhere regular mountain bikes are allowed e-bikes should also be allowed. There is no physical difference in what possible damage is created between the two types of bikes. The controversy came when elitist mountain bikers started pushing through bans with their noses in the air. There are all sorts of ways people enjoy themselves. As 50 plus persons my wife and I tread extremely lightly with our e-bikes but it's the only way we could get out and enjoy a place like this. Thank you
I am opposed to e-bikes in Mac Forest. Thank you.
I would prefer that e-bikes be allowed in Mac Dunn. I ride both conventional and e- mountain bikes, and a I get older, the e- bike allows me to access trails, inclines and distance I could not otherwise. The e- bike does not make noise louder than my conventional bike, nor does it allow speed different from what I can do conventionally. I am not aware of how the e-bike would impact anyone other than the rider differently than a standard bike and it improves access for a demographic that might not otherwise be able to enjoy the trail system. For these reasons, I'd ask that the prohibition of e-bikes be lifted. Thanks.
Just say no to e-bikes on forest trails! If the average rider is not responsible on the pavement, they certainly aren't going to be responsible on trails. Speed limits won't be observed. Designated areas won't be observed. Pedestrian and animal safety won't be observed. And why bother spend time in the forest if you're just going to zip through at 25 miles an hour?
Please no e-biles or pedal assisted bikes on the trail
Re: recreational matters, no e-bikes and no dogs should be allowed in the Mac-Dunn Research Forests.
I live very close to mac forest. I have a fat tire eBike that I ride all over town and also through the bald hill area. I observe your guidelines and have never ridden my ebike in mac forest.
But for decades my son and I have ridden our mountain bikes all over mac. We love the Forest! Actually mostly I hike there. But I would love to ride my ebike through mac, even if you told me to stay on the roads, and off the trails. I could take the road all the way up to dimple hill! Please allow eBike use in mac forest! Surely they are closer to mtn. Bikes than to your trucks that go through there for governance and maintenance. I know it is a research forest and revenue generator. But when the state granted OSU governance of the mac, it was partly due to the proximity to residences, and recreational use must be anticipated as part of the governance policy.
Thanks for the chance to provide input.
I support allowing pedal-assist e-bikes on the forest. I frequently ride an electric bike, and I enjoy frequenting the forest, but have been sad that I cannot combine the two pastimes.
I live on Oak Creek Drive not far from the gate. Currently, the traffic is along the lines of that expected of a 30- dwelling housing development on a daily basis, more on nice weekends.
There are no shoulders on much of the road beyond the junction with Cardwell Hill. The sight lines are poor, especially near our driveway. We understand that recreation is an important use, but we also find it is nearly impossible to safely walk or bicycle on our road on weekends and late afternoons when traffic is heavy. *This is our neighborhood.* Although most forest users are considerate, even 20 mph feels very fast if a car passes you so closely you could reach out and touch it. That's not uncommon because the road is so narrow and there is no way to step off the pavement in many areas. We urge the college to carefully consider how more access can be created across a variety of trailheads to prevent any one neighborhood from having to bear the brunt of the negative effects of the increased traffic, which is a major safety issue as well as a significant livability issue (the traffic noise can be considerable, we never encounter our neighbors anymore, and I've peeled dozens of dead wild animals off the pavement over the past decade). I'm not interested in becoming literal road kill for other peoples' enjoyment, but I also expect to be able to safely walk my dogs near my home or use my bicycle for transportation to town (which it is, on a daily basis).
Having listened to a segment of the SAC meeting on Sept. 25, I heard an indication that red tree vole populations can persist in 30 to 50 year old forests, and a reference to a certain "red tree vole expert". Please email me with the name of the expert referred to.
Red tree voles rely on closed canopy condition for dispersal. They avoid predation by traveling from limb to limb through the canopy. The reproductive rates of red tree voles are dependent on the presence of suitable nest substrates - old growth trees with large limbs, cavities, brokentops, hollow limbs, forked tops and other defects. Red tree voles can disperse from mature and old growth stands into adjacent stands, if suitable defects are present in younger trees to serve as nest platforms, but population density and the success of persistence is inversely proportional to distance from older forest. In addition, the edge effect created by harvest exposes tree voles to a higher incidence of predation by raptors.
Red tree voles are a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act in the North Coast Range, including McDonald Dunn. The destructive impacts of commercial logging on red tree vole populations have been the basis for successful lawsuits by environmental groups, including a legal challenge to the BLM's North Fork Overlook project on Mary's Peak. It would be prudent of the COF to protect habitat for red tree voles in McDonald Dunn, rather than rely on patented misinformation to facilitate increased harvest levels.
Reed Wilson
Benton Forest Coalition
Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team
-I really don't think motorcycles (aka electric motor bikes) should be allowed in the forest.
-I don't see the harm in unauthorized trails, as long as they are not in active research areas. When compared to the aftermath of any logging operation, not to mention a clear cut, it is hard to see how an argument can be made that the thin line of dirt damages the forest resource.
-Instead of wasteful and risky burning of slash piles, why not issue user permits a few days a year to allow the local community to take the slash waste and use it for heating homes???
-Finally, parking at Oak Creek should be expanded. This is the best place to access the sanctioned MTB trails. At other trail heads, the best "use" trails have been systematically obliterated.
I appreciate the publicly-posted responses to the questions asked at the Community Listening Session, and I have a better understanding now of why Scenario E produces biodiversity modeling results that seem completely illogical. I am wondering if the next round of modeling will separate out the "ecosystems of concern" from the "mature forest reserves", since the two management strategies produce biodiversity results that would seem to cancel each other out when lumped together. It is a design flaw with Scenario E left as it is: a person interested in increasing biodiversity across the entirely of the Mac-Dunn would glance at the current results and decide that Scenario E is a bad choice for the animals that live in this forest. Clearly, that is not the case. Please correct this problem!
I am concerned about certain aspects of the first round of forest modeling dealing with biodiversity.
First, and most concerning, is the rough data which inexplicably shows that INCREASING specific habitat for red tree voles and amphibians will result in a DECREASE in their numbers on the McDonald-Dunn. This makes no sense, and does not inspire confidence in the other numbers that do not exhibit such a flagrant violation of logic.
Second, why are there no plant species considered in the biodiversity modeling? There is no mention of understory plants at all. The forest is more than just trees; the biodiversity modeling needs to include shrubs, wildflowers, and forbs. If managed properly, the McDonald-Dunn can become a refuge for threatened or rare species of plants, including those of cultural importance to local tribes.
Third, I wonder if there is any attempt made to classify various species according to their population status or ecological benefit. While certain management regimes may, on the surface, benefit greater overall numbers of species, does it not matter what those species are? We should manage it to prioritize habitat for native, threatened, and under-represented species of all taxa.