We have put our trust in OSU to responsibly manage the McDonald-Dunn research forest. It has been disheartening to see the destructive and highly biased "management" of this public forest.
It has been a common idea to view a forest from a purely monetary viewpoint, where value is measured in board feet. While that argument used to be widely accepted, both experience and learning has shown this to be an unsustainable and destructive path. It saddens me that the managers of the McDonald-Dunn seem to be clinging to such outdated ideas.
OSU needs to follow a collaborative commitment to forest planning, to prioritize ecological values, research, and education; to STOP following a "working forest model" that "actively manages" these public forests for profit.
Ann Wichmann
11/09/2022
Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute my thoughts. As I said in the listening session .... please put a moratorium on all harvesting of trees over 50-60 years old .... this old of a forest, while not pristine, is in the process of becoming a functioning ecological forest again. We humans do not understand the intricacies of communities and biodiversity, so please do not eliminate our chances of researching and documenting the attributes of a "recovering" forest. In my opinion, OSU School of Forestry has been targeting older forests for clearcutting, in an apparent rush to get them into timber rotation. And I heartily concur with those speakers who have called out the decision making boards and bodies for their lack of presence at these listening sessions! OSU School of Forestry has a real opportunity here to repair years of ignoring public input, and to become a place of humility and education rather than stubbornly pursuing the mechanics of de-forestation.
Anonymous
01/08/2023
more diverse trails for a wider range of skill levels, more trail connectivity (would help ease parking issues at overcrowded trailheads too!). possibly some user specific trails and/or directional trails to ease conflicts. there is a small army of volunteers waiting in the wings if properly inspired. thanks!
Anonymous
06/05/2024
All of the questions about experts make me realize that ultimately this is a question of ethics - a question about how we ought to manage or steward the forest. You have a lot of people who are experts at describing things, but do you have any ethics experts. Maybe not. But why not? If so, why don't we hear from or include those experts.
Anonymous
02/11/2023
Better partnerships with the community and access to the forest and trails. OSU also needs to engage the community better with how logging is being completed and ultimately reduce the amount of logging.
Anonymous
10/22/2024
Please no e-biles or pedal assisted bikes on the trail
Anonymous
01/06/2023
Communication of plans, maps, trails, and conditions of trails would be a huge help.
Anonymous
06/04/2024
"If it is not being done already, I would suggest that the trail development coordinator and the logging boss communicate closely re: anticipated logging and minimizing effects on trails. For instance, the bonzai bypass that goes to the foot of the former bonzai route went in 2-3 years ago...beautiful, shaded area...saw a cougar there once, and Pacific Wrens were numerous. It is now an open dirt trail through logging slash. If I was a trail volunteer and I knew that would happen, I would not waste my time and effort. Similar thing happened on the Bombs Away connector between Ridge Trail. Peavy peak trails have been written up in Salem and Eugene as destination trails. That area was trashed, and opened some 6-8 wks later thru volunteer effort. The other thing communication will help is to NOT build a trail prior to logging planned in the near future. I would like to see some environmental impact statements out of other OSU departments, not as defenses but as factual assistance. The recent logging is certainly not a model to learn from; also students will need to deal with folks who care about the forest and who can explain what is happening, what we know about wildlife there and how we are mitigating logging effects. The temptation to take pictures and submit to people who rate schools is strong. "
Anonymous
10/30/2022
While I am genuinely pleased to see so many comments from OSU College of Forestry alumni, I am disappointed that none of them -- not one -- advocates for anything other than continuing the same harvests and intensive management practices. Currently, 97% of the Mac-Dunn is under some form of "active forest management". Three percent remains in mature/old growth reserves. THREE PERCENT. Given the myriad known benefits and ecosystem services uncut forest provides, that is an absurd imbalance.
It does not speak well of OSU that graduates of its world-class College of Forestry don't seem to find any other values in a forest besides MBF. I would have expected somebody to advocate for other aspects of being a forester besides resource extraction. The school has failed if none of its graduates see the need for a broader concept of management, one that includes larger forest reserves within the McDonald-Dunn.
Anonymous
02/11/2023
Would like more parking at Oak Creek. Is there any chance of getting a trail from Rd 670 to Dimple, or is that protected for some reason? Is there any chance of getting the old South Ridge trail segment between Rd 770 and the bottom of South Side Slip restored?
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
01/05/2023
Access to this forest has been and remains very valuable to my physical and mental health. I hope that the stewards of this forest will expand recreational use to include sanctioning more difficult trails for both mountain bikes and trail runners while maintaining trail options for hikers. The value of sanctioning more difficult trails is added trail builder engagement, user enjoyment, and trail maintenance. Although the forest was originally designated for research purposes I believe public lands should be accessible to citizens as well as academics. With cooperative recreation development the research needs can be met while providing expanded access to city residents.
Anonymous
06/04/2024
As a Benton County resident, I am stunned - quite frankly - at OSU's recent history of McDonald Dunn forest management practices, i.e., clear cut logging of old-growth and mature trees in the name of financial profit. During a time of incredibly destructive climate change, every single person and entity must do everything possible to mitigate damage already done, and take every measure to protect our fragile future. Every single person relies on more than 20,000 breaths of air; approximately 8 glasses of clean drinkable water; and 3 plates of healthy food every single day - all of which are made possible by healthy diverse forests. We all benefit greatly from free-of-charge ecosystem services provided by healthy diverse forests. Our very existence is also compromised by prioritizing financial profit over forest health and integrity. OSU's management plan must place a high priority on supporting any and all strategic actions leading to a diverse forest representative of Pacific NW native tree and plant species. Management priorities must also include careful management of fragile stream embankments to prevent erosion and the spread of noxious weeds and non-native species. OSU's management plan must also create habitat conditions that provide for a diverse population of native insect, bird, amphibian, mammal and other wildlife species once found in the McDonald Dunn Forest. We - as a community - owe it to ourselves and our forest inhabitants the chance to calm climate change and support a healthy way of life by protecting lands, waters and wildlife. I'm asking OSU to create and strategically manage the McDonald Dunn Forest for conservation purposes only.
Anonymous
10/25/2022
I have lived out in Soap Creek Valley for almost 35 years. There is a lot more traffic and people visiting OSU at all entrances into the forest in the past five. Since OSU is encouraging people to recreate at these different areas I would hope they would provide more doggie bags for all the dog walkers. I feel there should be a dispenser at every gate and trailhead.
Anonymous
02/10/2023
As someone who utilized the trails 6 days a week, it would be amazing to see more technical trails put in for the community to use. We have a great trail network already and it would be great to continue to build upon it.
Anonymous
10/22/2024
Re: recreational matters, no e-bikes and no dogs should be allowed in the Mac-Dunn Research Forests.
Anonymous
05/20/2024
"Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Mac-Dunn Forest planning process. I’ve not attended the meetings to date, but have reviewed the meeting summaries. My comments are: 1. Meeting summary 16 notes that the first chapter was entirely drafted by Oct 31, 2023, but with no mention of what it contains or how it compares to or retains the material presented in the superb Introduction and Description section of the 2005 forest plan. This section is highly educational regarding the history, geology, soils and vegetation of the college forests, and should be retained and/or built upon in the updated forest plan. It was drafted by experts in their fields, most of whom are no longer with OSU. 2. In particular, I recommend that you retain figures 4 – 12 of the 2005 plan, changing the caption of Fig. 5 to “Vegetation in 2005”, and updating Fig. 9 to include the most recent available image of the vegetation and land use. In Fig. 10, it would be desirable to show the most recently available stand age class distribution or include it as an additional panel. This update would be quite useful in deciding how to allocate the forest lands. 3. The plant association map shown in Fig. 12 is highly informative. Of the six associations, that including western hemlock (in the upper Soap Creek drainage) is quite rare – roughly 30 acres, as near as I could tell, barely 0.3% of the Mac – Dunn area. At least part of this area should be reserved. Doing so would provide an important research opportunity to determine how this plant community on the dry side of its range fares during the coming decades of global climate change. 4. Regarding the reserves and special interest areas shown in Fig. 13 of the 2005 plan, this needs to be revisited, as there are some old growth areas not included in the reserves and a need for other special area reserves, as mentioned above. One solution would be the inclusion of a process for evaluating and including additional reserves or special areas in the current plan. 5. Figure 23 of the 2005 plan shows annual harvest rates up till 2004 and should be updated to include the years up till present, so that one can compare current with past management practices. "
Anonymous
10/24/2022
I have concerns about the effectiveness of the community listening sessions as currently structured. I understand and appreciate the desire to provide multiple venues for participation. But having some folks in a room together, and other people conducting a different session on Zoom, and a third party synthesizing all of the comments and providing them in a list of bullet points to the committee members strikes me as a perfect recipe for poor communication. If the CoF is genuinely interested in hearing feedback from the community, I would recommend:
* requiring all members of BOTH committees to be present (there to listen, not speak)
* choosing a single format (in person OR zoom) and keeping all participants together
Basically, the public should be able to address the people creating the forest plan directly, and this doesn't seem that hard to achieve.
(Also, the recordings of previous zoom meetings have been plagued with technical difficulties, making hearing what is being said and who is speaking nearly impossible to discern. I trust those issues will be fixed for the upcoming Faculty Planning Committee meeting...)
Thank you!
Anonymous
02/10/2023
More trails in the Dunn forest please!
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).
Anonymous
06/04/2024
As a Benton County resident, I am stunned - quite frankly - at OSU's recent history of McDonald Dunn forest management practices, i.e., clear cut logging of old-growth and mature trees in the name of financial profit. During a time of incredibly destructive climate change, every single person and entity must do everything possible to mitigate damage already done, and take every measure to protect our fragile future. Every single person relies on more than 20,000 breaths of air; approximately 8 glasses of clean drinkable water; and 3 plates of healthy food every single day - all of which are made possible by healthy diverse forests. We all benefit greatly from free-of-charge ecosystem services provided by healthy diverse forests. Our very existence is also compromised by prioritizing financial profit over forest health and integrity. OSU's management plan must place a high priority on supporting any and all strategic actions leading to a diverse forest representative of Pacific NW native tree and plant species. Management priorities must also include careful management of fragile stream embankments to prevent erosion and the spread of noxious weeds and non-native species. OSU's management plan must also create habitat conditions that provide for a diverse population of native insect, bird, amphibian, mammal and other wildlife species once found in the McDonald Dunn Forest. We - as a community - owe it to ourselves and our forest inhabitants the chance to calm climate change and support a healthy way of life by protecting lands, waters and wildlife. I'm asking OSU to create and strategically manage the McDonald Dunn Forest for conservation purposes only.
Anonymous
10/22/2022
I am 62 years old, retired early, and diagnosed with Progressive Peripheral Polyneuropathy. What this means is that the nerves in my legs (and arms) are deteriorating
and I will continue to lose muscle strength, which has already started in my lower legs. There is no known treatment for this and it will gradually advance so that eventually, I will no longer have the use of my legs. I wear set of prosthetic orthotic braces that allow me to walk and, importantly, ride a bicycle. My calf muscles are very weak - I can no longer raise my heels to stand on my toes or the balls of my feet. The brace surrounds my foot and makes up for the lack of lower leg strength. Fortunately, I am still able to ride, though with some limitations in both mobility and strength. I still ride ride both road and mountain bikes regularly for exercise and enjoyment; I have ridden both my road and mountain bike in the McDonald Forest since moving here 9 months ago. I am here to advocate for e-bike access to (at least some subset) of trails in the forest. I have recently purchased an e-MTB, which has been a game changer in allowing me to ride longer, farther, and safer (less tired = better control). I have NOT ridden my e-bike in the McDonald forest, respecting the current rule prohibiting their use on forest trails. It is defined as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and equipped with an electric motor of less than 750 Watts. There are three classes of e-bikes, which are important for the present discussion.
Class 1: A bicycle with a motor that assists only when the rider pedals and stops assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 miles per hour.
Class 2: A bicycle with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that stops assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 miles per hour.
Class 3: A bicycle with a motor that assists only when the rider pedals, stops assisting when the bicycle reaches 28 miles per hour and is equipped with a speedometer.
Unfortunately, Oregon has not adopted this three class system. Oregon classifies e-bikes as “electric assisted bicycles,” and they are regulated like bicycles, so long as the bicycle’s motor has a maximum power output of 1,000w, has pedals that propel the bike with human power and the bike doesn’t exceed 20mph. To be clear, what I am advocating for in the McDonald forest is trail access for Class 1 e-bikes only. A Class 1 e-MTB is nearly indistinguishable from a regular mountain bike, and people often have a difficult time distinguishing between "e" and regular mountain bike, especially vwith the advent of the new "lightweight" e-MTBs made by Trek, Specialized, Orbea and other manufacturers. Class 2 and 3 e-bikes should be permitted on forest roads. E-bike sales and usage is growing rapidly. E-bike sales are growing rapidly - as much as 16x regular bikes. 880,000 e-bikes were sold in 2021, and industry experts predict > 1M sold in 2022. People for bikes predicts 12M electric bikes will be sold by 20301. Almost all brands of Mountain Bikes have one or more electric models. The latest trend is in "lightweight" e-MTBs, with less powerful motors, smaller batteries, and weights very close to "standard" mountain bikes.
Potential Concerns about e-bike access in the Mac Forest, addressed
Trail Impacts
A growing body of evidence suggests that mountain biking impacts to trails (soils, water quality, vegetation) are similar to hiking and less than equestrian and motorized use. The biggest impact is due to the design and construction of trails. IMBA and the BLM did a small, quantitative study of trail impacts comparing (Class 1) e-MTBs with regular MTBs and motorcycles2. There was not a significant difference in measured soil erosion and displacement between Class 1 eMTBs and regular MTBs, but much less than that associated with motorcycle use. This lends some credence to the position of many bicycling advocacy groups to recommend that Class 1 e-MTBs be classified at bicycles (rather than motorized vehicles) in terms of land management and usage decisions. Speed and Safety. Reviewing surveys about e-bike trail access indicates that a major concern about e-bikes from other user groups is around speed and safety, with the perception that e-bikes result in higher speeds on the trails. A study in the Tahoe National Forest looked at the speed of e-bike vs MTB users and found that when traveling over flat or downhill surfaces, e-bikes are no faster than traditional mountain bikes. When traveling uphill, e-bikes tended to be 1-2 mph faster than traditional mountain bikes, but that speed variation was smaller than the uphill speed variation between beginner and advanced riders3. This mirrors my personal experience. In riding flat or descending, speed is more a matter of rider skill and trail design than e-bike vs traditional bike. I also find that I am able to ride uphill faster on my e-bike than on my regular mountain bike, but again, I feel that my uphill speed is limited by my skill level.
Conflict - Perception and Reality
Surveys of other trail users indicate that when perceived conflicts are reported, they are related to the feeling that e-bikes travel at higher speeds. Those perceptions tended to change when users saw or used an e-bike, and did not match the observation that traditional mountain bikes travel as fast or faster down trails than e-bikes. Furthermore, most users were unable to distinguish e-MTBs on trails4.
What other groups have said
Oregon State Parks
Electric assisted bicycles that fit the definition under Oregon law (ORS 801.258) may ride on bicycle trails 8 feet and wider unless otherwise marked5.
Federal Lands (BLM, USFS, etc)
In general, Federal lands define electric bikes by the three class system, but have not defined Class I e-bikes as “Non-motorized”, as has been requested by e-bike advocacy organizations. Each agency has methods to designate e-bike access (specifically, Class 1) to non-motorized trails. As of today, Class 1 e-bikes are permitted on some BLM and USFS trails6.
Washington Trails Association
I was unable to find a statement on e-bike access from the Oregon Trails Coalition, but here is a statement from our neighbors to the north:
WTA believes that everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors, and we support opportunities that create increased access. We know that e-bikes can help us achieve this mission by facilitating a more inclusive outdoor experience for people of all abilities. We believe that decisions regarding class 1 e-bike use, which is the class most similar to traditional mountain bikes, should be made on a trail-by-trail basis. We don’t think there should be a blanket policy that covers all non-motorized, multi-use natural surface trails. While one trail may be suitable for a class 1 e-bike, another trail may not. WTA believes that class 2 and 3 e-bikes should not be allowed on non-motorized, natural surface trails.7
Proposal
I propose that OSU allow access to Class 1 e-bikes to any trails currently open to mountain bikes (or, just bikes in general), and to all roads. As an alternative, I would propose that Class 1 e- bikes at least be allowed on those trails that are primary mountain bike trails.
At the very least, I would hope that OSU consider running an e-MTB Pilot project in the forest, designating some number of trails for e-MTB usage and collecting surevy and observational data from all trail users, using methods similar to those described in:
As a resident close to an entrance gate (Jackson Creek Rd), I am very interested in having plenty of trails. As a runner who often goes to other entrances, I would really like to see more parking, especially for Dunn Forest.
Anonymous
11/14/2022
I want to thank you for providing trails and trail access in McDonald and Dunn forests and encourage you to continue to increase the trail system. I am an avid cyclist who enjoys the trails in the dry season and the gravel roads in the wet season. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to share the diversity of forests and landscapes that are within biking distance from many homes. Expanding the multi-use trail network will allow more people to appreciate the forest, alleviate crowding on peak days, and will provide key access and escape routes for firefighters. The same newly built trail that may provide enjoyment, health benefits, and education to many could be a life saving escape route or the beginning of a control line during a wildfire. I support Team Dirt as a member and trail build volunteer and I appreciate the mutually beneficial relationship between OSU and organizations such as Team Dirt. My hope is you will consider expanding the trail network within McDonald Forest and into Dunn Forest.
Anonymous
06/04/2024
The forestry manager needs oversight. the current planning members were hand-picked by the manager,. This process should be both advisory and oversight. Members of the advisory group should be chosen both for their knowledge, and a certain number should be chosen by people outside the Forestry Department. A number of yrs ago several acres of old growth forest were logged. The investigation showed that since there was no official prohibition about this, an apology and new policy and procedure were developed. The revenues went to support the operations of the department responsible. That was just plain wrong. They should have used the funds to develop outside resources (aborists, e.g.) to do regular observations. Also, this experienced manager should have some custodial sense for the resource. Advertised as #1 Forestry School, one has to wonder what the students took away from that experience. Look for loopholes, exploit if possible, apologize, and collect the proceeds to boost the department budget.
Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute my thoughts. As I said in the listening session .... please put a moratorium on all harvesting of trees over 50-60 years old .... this old of a forest, while not pristine, is in the process of becoming a functioning ecological forest again. We humans do not understand the intricacies of communities and biodiversity, so please do not eliminate our chances of researching and documenting the attributes of a "recovering" forest. In my opinion, OSU School of Forestry has been targeting older forests for clearcutting, in an apparent rush to get them into timber rotation. And I heartily concur with those speakers who have called out the decision making boards and bodies for their lack of presence at these listening sessions! OSU School of Forestry has a real opportunity here to repair years of ignoring public input, and to become a place of humility and education rather than stubbornly pursuing the mechanics of de-forestation.
more diverse trails for a wider range of skill levels, more trail connectivity (would help ease parking issues at overcrowded trailheads too!). possibly some user specific trails and/or directional trails to ease conflicts. there is a small army of volunteers waiting in the wings if properly inspired. thanks!
All of the questions about experts make me realize that ultimately this is a question of ethics - a question about how we ought to manage or steward the forest. You have a lot of people who are experts at describing things, but do you have any ethics experts. Maybe not. But why not? If so, why don't we hear from or include those experts.
Better partnerships with the community and access to the forest and trails. OSU also needs to engage the community better with how logging is being completed and ultimately reduce the amount of logging.
Please no e-biles or pedal assisted bikes on the trail
Communication of plans, maps, trails, and conditions of trails would be a huge help.
"If it is not being done already, I would suggest that the trail development coordinator and the logging boss communicate closely re: anticipated logging and minimizing effects on trails. For instance, the bonzai bypass that goes to the foot of the former bonzai route went in 2-3 years ago...beautiful, shaded area...saw a cougar there once, and Pacific Wrens were numerous. It is now an open dirt trail through logging slash. If I was a trail volunteer and I knew that would happen, I would not waste my time and effort. Similar thing happened on the Bombs Away connector between Ridge Trail. Peavy peak trails have been written up in Salem and Eugene as destination trails.
That area was trashed, and opened some 6-8 wks later thru volunteer effort. The other thing communication will help is to NOT build a trail prior to logging planned in the near future. I would like to see some environmental impact statements out of other OSU departments, not as defenses but as factual assistance. The recent logging is certainly not a model to learn from; also students will need to deal with folks who care about the forest and who can explain what is happening, what we know about wildlife there and how we are mitigating logging effects. The temptation to take pictures and submit to people who rate schools is strong. "
Would like more parking at Oak Creek. Is there any chance of getting a trail from Rd 670 to Dimple, or is that protected for some reason? Is there any chance of getting the old South Ridge trail segment between Rd 770 and the bottom of South Side Slip restored?
-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.
Access to this forest has been and remains very valuable to my physical and mental health. I hope that the stewards of this forest will expand recreational use to include sanctioning more difficult trails for both mountain bikes and trail runners while maintaining trail options for hikers. The value of sanctioning more difficult trails is added trail builder engagement, user enjoyment, and trail maintenance. Although the forest was originally designated for research purposes I believe public lands should be accessible to citizens as well as academics. With cooperative recreation development the research needs can be met while providing expanded access to city residents.
As a Benton County resident, I am stunned - quite frankly - at OSU's recent history of McDonald Dunn forest management practices, i.e., clear cut logging of old-growth and mature trees in the name of financial profit. During a time of incredibly destructive climate change, every single person and entity must do everything possible to mitigate damage already done, and take every measure to protect our fragile future. Every single person relies on more than 20,000 breaths of air; approximately 8 glasses of clean drinkable water; and 3 plates of healthy food every single day - all of which are made possible by healthy diverse forests. We all benefit greatly from free-of-charge ecosystem services provided by healthy diverse forests. Our very existence is also compromised by prioritizing financial profit over forest health and integrity. OSU's management plan must place a high priority on supporting any and all strategic actions leading to a diverse forest representative of Pacific NW native tree and plant species. Management priorities must also include careful management of fragile stream embankments to prevent erosion and the spread of noxious weeds and non-native species. OSU's management plan must also create habitat conditions that provide for a diverse population of native insect, bird, amphibian, mammal and other wildlife species once found in the McDonald Dunn Forest. We - as a community - owe it to ourselves and our forest inhabitants the chance to calm climate change and support a healthy way of life by protecting lands, waters and wildlife. I'm asking OSU to create and strategically manage the McDonald Dunn Forest for conservation purposes only.
I have lived out in Soap Creek Valley for almost 35 years. There is a lot more traffic and people visiting OSU at all entrances into the forest in the past five. Since OSU is encouraging people to recreate at these different areas I would hope they would provide more doggie bags for all the dog walkers. I feel there should be a dispenser at every gate and trailhead.
As someone who utilized the trails 6 days a week, it would be amazing to see more technical trails put in for the community to use. We have a great trail network already and it would be great to continue to build upon it.
Re: recreational matters, no e-bikes and no dogs should be allowed in the Mac-Dunn Research Forests.
"Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Mac-Dunn Forest planning process.
I’ve not attended the meetings to date, but have reviewed the meeting summaries. My comments are:
1. Meeting summary 16 notes that the first chapter was entirely drafted by Oct 31, 2023, but with no mention of what it contains or how it compares to or retains the material presented in the superb Introduction and Description section of the 2005 forest plan. This section is highly educational regarding the history, geology, soils and vegetation of the college forests, and should be retained and/or built upon in the updated forest plan. It was drafted by experts in their fields, most of whom are no longer with OSU.
2. In particular, I recommend that you retain figures 4 – 12 of the 2005 plan, changing the caption of Fig. 5 to “Vegetation in 2005”, and updating Fig. 9 to include the most recent available image of the vegetation and land use. In Fig. 10, it would be desirable to show the most recently available stand age class distribution or include it as an additional panel. This update would be quite useful in deciding how to allocate the forest lands.
3. The plant association map shown in Fig. 12 is highly informative. Of the six associations, that including western hemlock (in the upper Soap Creek drainage) is quite rare – roughly 30 acres, as near as I could tell, barely 0.3% of the Mac – Dunn area. At least part
of this area should be reserved. Doing so would provide an important research opportunity to determine how this plant community on the dry side of its range fares during the coming decades of global climate change.
4. Regarding the reserves and special interest areas shown in Fig. 13 of the 2005 plan, this needs to be revisited, as there are some old growth areas not included in the reserves and a need for other special area reserves, as mentioned above. One solution would be the inclusion of a process for evaluating and including additional reserves or special areas in the current plan.
5. Figure 23 of the 2005 plan shows annual harvest rates up till 2004 and should be updated to include the years up till present, so that one can compare current with past management practices. "
More trails in the Dunn forest please!
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).
As a Benton County resident, I am stunned - quite frankly - at OSU's recent history of McDonald Dunn forest management practices, i.e., clear cut logging of old-growth and mature trees in the name of financial profit. During a time of incredibly destructive climate change, every single person and entity must do everything possible to mitigate damage already done, and take every measure to protect our fragile future. Every single person relies on more than 20,000 breaths of air; approximately 8 glasses of clean drinkable water; and 3 plates of healthy food every single day - all of which are made possible by healthy diverse forests. We all benefit greatly from free-of-charge ecosystem services provided by healthy diverse forests. Our very existence is also compromised by prioritizing financial profit over forest health and integrity. OSU's management plan must place a high priority on supporting any and all strategic actions leading to a diverse forest representative of Pacific NW native tree and plant species. Management priorities must also include careful management of fragile stream embankments to prevent erosion and the spread of noxious weeds and non-native species. OSU's management plan must also create habitat conditions that provide for a diverse population of native insect, bird, amphibian, mammal and other wildlife species once found in the McDonald Dunn Forest. We - as a community - owe it to ourselves and our forest inhabitants the chance to calm climate change and support a healthy way of life by protecting lands, waters and wildlife. I'm asking OSU to create and strategically manage the McDonald Dunn Forest for conservation purposes only.
As a resident close to an entrance gate (Jackson Creek Rd), I am very interested in having plenty of trails. As a runner who often goes to other entrances, I would really like to see more parking, especially for Dunn Forest.
I want to thank you for providing trails and trail access in McDonald and Dunn forests and encourage you to continue to increase the trail system. I am an avid cyclist who enjoys the trails in the dry season and the gravel roads in the wet season. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to share the diversity of forests and landscapes that are within biking distance from many homes. Expanding the multi-use trail network will allow more people to appreciate the forest, alleviate crowding on peak days, and will provide key access and escape routes for firefighters. The same newly built trail that may provide enjoyment, health benefits, and education to many could be a life saving escape route or the beginning of a control line during a wildfire. I support Team Dirt as a member and trail build volunteer and I appreciate the mutually beneficial relationship between OSU and organizations such as Team Dirt. My hope is you will consider expanding the trail network within McDonald Forest and into Dunn Forest.
The forestry manager needs oversight. the current planning members were hand-picked by the manager,. This process should be both advisory and oversight. Members of the advisory group should be chosen both for their knowledge, and a certain number should be chosen by people outside the Forestry Department. A number of yrs ago several acres of old growth forest were logged. The investigation showed that since there was no official prohibition about this, an apology and new policy and procedure were developed. The revenues went to support the operations of the department responsible. That was just plain wrong. They should have used the funds to develop outside resources (aborists, e.g.) to do regular observations. Also, this experienced manager should have some custodial sense for the resource. Advertised as #1 Forestry School, one has to wonder what the students took away from that experience. Look for loopholes, exploit if possible, apologize, and collect the proceeds to boost the department budget.