I love trail running and single track and am excited about the forthcoming connections between Bald Hill and Oak Creek/Dimple/Saddle/Peavy. The more we can weave our recreation spaces together, the better! I use the trails for mountain biking, hiking, and trail unning and prefer single track. I'm very happy with trails and access currently and hope to see it continue at current levels or expand. I don't think that landowners near trail heads should have the ability to restrict access or use of these recreation areas. I'd love to see invasive species removed as much as possible, and perhaps more educational signage about native species. Thank you!
Anonymous
02/24/2023
Thank you for the recreational use of the forest it's value to our community health and livability is beyond measure!The new trails being developed is awesome! I'd love to see and help with a lower dimple hill trail connecting oak creek and lower Dan's. Thank you again!
Anonymous
02/24/2023
I was at both of the community listening sessions, and was surprised to read the "No e-bikes due to speed and safety concerns" bullet point in the summary of the second listening session (under recreation). That does not at all reflect the sentiment in favor of vs opposed to e-bike access in the forest, which was, to my surprise, extensive and all positive save for the comment raised by the one person whose comment is recorded. Of course there was nothing cited to suggest that "speed and safety concerns" were valid, and another audience member gently suggested that the commenter consider not wearing their earbuds in the forest.
Anonymous
02/24/2023
I have been running, walking, hunting, riding and trail-building in Mac/Dunn since moving to Corvallis as faculty for OSU forty three years ago. I know the forest like my backyard, watching it grow and change over these decades. That said, I have never seen so much cutting of trees and closure of access as observed this year. It's everywhere! I understand the need to mitigate fire risk and the value of timber for support of COForestry activities, but this level of cut is beyond understanding. It grieves me to think of the impact such devastating cuts have for the animal and plant populations there, what 'hypocrisy' it reveals to others for an institution that postures conservation and social integration to its local community. SLOW DOWN!Assure us that this precious resource is carefully and completely dedicated to support of local communities and the University, not capital gains for unrelated others. The world is heating up, commercial transformation of native habitats is devastating species diversity and opening landscapes for invasion of non- native species. We must "walk our talk" with responsible harvesting, not the clear cut + 1 tree/acre I am witnessing. PS. I hope your request for feedback is sincere and taken seriously. I am angry and concerned about what I see and I sense a great deal of cynicism, my own included, that this appeal will be ignored and disregarded for its incompatibility to a foregone policy decision. Step up! Do what those who follow us 43 years from now will call far-sighted and responsible.
Anonymous
02/24/2023
I hope that any plans for MacDonald Dunn will include complete protection of old growth, including individual old trees. Also, no logging or other altering of the forest should be allowed that would adversely affect habitat for rare, threatened or endangered plants or animals. Non-native invasives should be removed, and MacDonald and Dunn should be managed to increase biodiversity and acreage of native areas.
Anonymous
02/24/2023
I was quite surprised to learn by reading through the presentations and meeting summaries of the SAC and FPC (FPC meeting #5 summary) that a decision has apparently been made to carve off any of the recreational use components of the management plan into a separate "Visitor Use Plan". It would appear that the VUP will be developed AFTER the Forest Management Plan. This is very different than what has been conveyed in the community listening sessions, and appears to substantially devalue recreational use of the forest. It is also somewhat surprising that a change this large has not been communicated openly. There is no mention of a separate plan on the planning process web page, and you need to dig deep into the meeting summary materials to find it. Not very transparent or trust inspiring.
Peter Hewitt
02/24/2023
To whom it may concern, I moved to Corvallis 19 months ago to retire. I chose Corvallis, and I have not been disappointed, not in the least. If I were to wish, which we often do despite ourselves, I would wish for the correlate of a running track in the woods, for cyclists. This would be a loop that is both particularly well surfaced for bicycling, as smooth as Lower Dan’s, and wide enough to allow one cyclist to pass another at least every 100 meters, if not continuously. This would provide a social infrastructure for people who might like to see more cyclists, and to give cyclists a space in which to go fast without risk of offending pedestrians, equestrians, other cyclists. I imagine a loop of about 4km, with a suggested direction of travel, and perhaps 100 meters of vertical. I might just hang out there, watching those training go by. This would not be a loop for advanced mountain bikers but rather for low-skilled and/or road riders who want to train hard in the woods, away from vehicles. Thank you for reading, for your interest. Respectfully, Peter Hewitt, Corvallis
Anonymous
02/23/2023
I would love to see the plan prioritize more recreation in the forest. We know the benefits of outdoor exercise and I would love to see more trails accessible to all persons. We need trails for all abilities, beginner to advanced recreators. Thank you!
Cary Stephens
02/23/2023
A primary focus should be given to trails that complete a network so that users can avoid logging roads as much as possible. A handful of trails should be dedicated to more advanced users. These trails could be more primitive in nature and would require less maintenance. Making a connection across the sheep farm to allow users to gain access to Oak Creek without driving to the Oak Creek trailhead would lessen trailhead congestion and conflicts with area residents.
Anonymous
02/15/2023
Matt McPharlin and the forest trail crew have done a great job making new trails in the Mac! I would love to see 1) more trails; 2) more singletrack connectivity; and 3) better access closer to town. Please consider a new conditional use permit for more trail building. Whether the College likes it or not, the Mac forest is a big reason people love Corvallis. I am excited about the new Greenbelt purchase that might open up a new access point for the forest from Bald Hill and/or MLK park. This is a much more sustainable alternative than people driving to Oak Creek Station. I also would love to see more events in the forest (could these be a potential (modest) revenue stream?). I was disappointed the USATF 50k national championship got turned down...it could have been a great opportunity for the forest, Corvallis, etc. There are not so many events in the forest. I also would very much like to see more trails in the Dunn, as well as legal connectivity between Mac and Dunn. It is a whole new frontier and would space users out more. Finally, there are some obvious connections that would greatly improve the experience for trail users. For instance, Old Growth to Daves, so a complete singletrack loop from the Saddle could be done. Another would be some trail from of Dimple/Beautiful down to Extendo or Oak Creek would be great. Also, continue Playtime further down (there has been talk of revamping Endo/Innuendo.
Anonymous
02/15/2023
I have been running and walking on the trails in the McDonald Forest since 1995 and I really appreciate the interest in building new trails as well as maintaining older trails. I also appreciate the community engagement effort from the forest administrators and especially Matt McPharlin, working with him on trail build days is a joy. He is a real asset to the program.
Anonymous
02/14/2023
I would like to see even more trails especially for hiking/trail running in the forest. We really need more parking at the Oak Creek entrance. That is a true bottleneck to accessing such a great existing trail network.
Anonymous
02/13/2023
Easy access to such a beautiful forest, with miles of trail and fire roads, and no motorized recreational use, all at the border of town, is a resource that is unmatched in almost anywhere in the world. This means everything to me as a runner and lover of the forest. I understand that there must be a balance between the purposes of a research forest and the desire of many to recreate, so we all must make compromises. Of course it is disappointing when I see that a favorite trail has been logged over, but I am grateful there are so many options to enjoy the forest. One thing to consider: the area known to runners as "The Maze"--the island of Starker land in the middle of McDonald--is a gem with it's rugged terrain, miles of spaghetti trails in a small area, etc. There have long been rumors that this would be sold to OSU, and if this happens, then the trails through this area, which have been run for decades, would suddenly become unauthorized. Consequently, this area would no longer be allowed to be used for the Mac 50k. What a tragedy this would be! My suggestion is that if this portion of land is transferred to OSU, let's allow this portion of the forest to remain "wild" so that it can continue to be used by bikers, runners and the organizers of the 50k.
Anonymous
02/13/2023
As an avid trail user I appreciate the trails in the Mac-Dunn. I support the development of more multiuse trails.
Anonymous
02/13/2023
Thank you for the opportunity to share my comments. I only have three main
ones:
1) building a trail connecting Road 600 (sharp corner) to the top of beautiful hydra (far end closest to road 600) would be grand!
2) there is a rumor going around that the dean of the college of forestry doesn't agree with cleaning after your dog while visiting the forest. Apparently he believes the poop provides some nitrogen to the soil. I'm not a soil scientist, but I wonder if he really understands that the issue is not one or two poops a day. The issue is the number of dogs that visit the forest in just one day. Last I heard that number was around 100+ dogs a day! PLEASE, we need to continue to clean up after our dogs. We spent (I was part of the committee) lots of hours working on the "happy tails on trails" campaign educating people about the importance of cleaning after our dogs ... and yes I was part of the cleaning crew that picked up in just a few hours 80+ pounds of poop at Oak creek gate alone!
3) Re: electric bikes, if research forest is going to allow e-bikes on roads and trails (I prefer just keeping them on roads!) I hope they make a distinction between assisted bikes and motorized ones! I have no issues with assisted bikes. I wrote three comments this morning, Feb 13. I'd like to withdraw comment #2 re: dog poop/cleaning. It was a misunderstanding and a bad rumor. Apologies! Comments #1 and #3 are still good. Thanks!
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
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
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
02/10/2023
More trails in the Dunn forest please!
Anonymous
02/10/2023
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
01/31/2023
Will the new management plan offer more connectivity from the Urban area to Oak Creek or the MLK park or the Dimple Creek area? Not having to ride down Oak Creek would be a Joy. in the early 1990s, this was identified as a top priority for safety and accessibility. 1.6-2.0 Miles to reach Oak creek from MLK and use Skirt the sheep barn property.
Anonymous
01/30/2023
There should be no harvesting of trees over 100 years old.
There should be more trails builit, produce the maximum recreation
opportunities (hard trails and easy trails).
NO eBikes!
Be good land guardians!
Jasper Pollock
01/20/2023
As a trail runner, I would greatly enjoy more steep and technical trails. While the recent trails have been nice, they have way too many switchbacks and are not as fun to run or ride. Trails that are more direct and extreme would be a welcome addition.
My other request is to stop doing so many clear-cuts! You guys have been doing so many more than normal in recent years, and you are really destroying the forest for future generations. I am an OSU student and a young person, and witnessing firsthand the destruction of the forest that I love so much is heartbreaking. This is a research forest, and it was given to be preserved, not logged for profit. What you are doing is shameful and does not make me proud to be an OSU student.
Anonymous
01/15/2023
I heard that not many trail runners have given input on the management plan. For me, that's because I'm happy with the status quo. I appreciate the current trail system and my access to it, and am happy to see a steady stream of new trails being built. As long as the new plan maintains this, I have nothing to add.
Anonymous
01/13/2023
Please reduce your amount of logging. The forest is being logged at an unsustainable rate.
I love trail running and single track and am excited about the forthcoming connections between Bald Hill and Oak Creek/Dimple/Saddle/Peavy. The more we can weave our recreation spaces together, the better! I use the trails for mountain biking, hiking, and trail unning and prefer single track. I'm very happy with trails and access currently and hope to see it continue at current levels or expand. I don't think that landowners near trail heads should have the ability to restrict access or use of these recreation areas. I'd love to see invasive species removed as much as possible, and perhaps more educational signage about native species. Thank you!
Thank you for the recreational use of the forest it's value to our community health and livability is beyond measure!The new trails being developed is awesome! I'd love to see and help with a lower dimple hill trail connecting oak creek and lower Dan's. Thank you again!
I was at both of the community listening sessions, and was surprised to read the "No e-bikes due to speed and safety concerns" bullet point in the summary of the second listening session (under recreation). That does not at all reflect the sentiment in favor of vs opposed to e-bike access in the forest, which was, to my surprise, extensive and all positive save for the comment raised by the one person whose comment is recorded. Of course there was nothing cited to suggest that "speed and safety concerns" were valid, and another audience member gently suggested that the commenter consider not wearing their earbuds in the forest.
I have been running, walking, hunting, riding and trail-building in Mac/Dunn since moving to Corvallis as faculty for OSU forty three years ago. I know the forest like my backyard, watching it grow and change over these decades. That said, I have never seen so much cutting of trees and closure of access as observed this year. It's everywhere! I understand the need to mitigate fire risk and the value of timber for support of COForestry activities, but this level of cut is beyond understanding. It grieves me to think of the impact such devastating cuts have for the animal and plant populations there, what 'hypocrisy' it reveals to others for an institution that postures conservation and social integration to its local community. SLOW DOWN!Assure us that this precious resource is carefully and completely dedicated to support of local communities and the University, not capital gains for unrelated others. The world is heating up, commercial transformation of native habitats is devastating species diversity and opening landscapes for invasion of non- native species. We must "walk our talk" with responsible harvesting, not the clear cut + 1 tree/acre I am witnessing. PS. I hope your request for feedback is sincere and taken seriously. I am angry and concerned about what I see and I sense a great deal of cynicism, my own included, that this appeal will be ignored and disregarded for its incompatibility to a foregone policy decision. Step up! Do what those who follow us 43 years from now will call far-sighted and responsible.
I hope that any plans for MacDonald Dunn will include complete protection of old growth, including individual old trees. Also, no logging or other altering of the forest should be allowed that would adversely affect habitat for rare, threatened or endangered plants or animals. Non-native invasives should be removed, and MacDonald and Dunn should be managed to increase biodiversity and acreage of native areas.
I was quite surprised to learn by reading through the presentations and meeting summaries of the SAC and FPC (FPC meeting #5 summary) that a decision has apparently been made to carve off any of the recreational use components of the management plan into a separate "Visitor Use Plan". It would appear that the VUP will be developed AFTER the Forest Management Plan. This is very different than what has been conveyed in the community listening sessions, and appears to substantially devalue recreational use of the forest. It is also somewhat surprising that a change this large has not been communicated openly. There is no mention of a separate plan on the planning process web page, and you need to dig deep into the meeting summary materials to find it. Not very transparent or trust inspiring.
To whom it may concern, I moved to Corvallis 19 months ago to retire. I chose Corvallis, and I have not been disappointed, not in the least. If I were to wish, which we often do despite ourselves, I would wish for the correlate of a running track in the woods, for cyclists. This would be a loop that is both particularly well surfaced for bicycling, as smooth as Lower Dan’s, and wide enough to allow one cyclist to pass another at least every 100 meters, if not continuously. This would provide a social infrastructure for people who might like to see more cyclists, and to give cyclists a space in which to go fast without risk of offending pedestrians, equestrians, other cyclists. I imagine a loop of about 4km, with a suggested direction of travel, and perhaps 100 meters of vertical. I might just hang out there, watching those training go by. This would not be a loop for advanced mountain bikers but rather for low-skilled and/or road riders who want to train hard in the woods, away from vehicles. Thank you for reading, for your interest. Respectfully, Peter Hewitt, Corvallis
I would love to see the plan prioritize more recreation in the forest. We know the benefits of outdoor exercise and I would love to see more trails accessible to all persons. We need trails for all abilities, beginner to advanced recreators. Thank you!
A primary focus should be given to trails that complete a network so that users can avoid logging roads as much as possible. A handful of trails should be dedicated to more advanced users. These trails could be more primitive in nature and would require less maintenance. Making a connection across the sheep farm to allow users to gain access to Oak Creek without driving to the Oak Creek trailhead would lessen trailhead congestion and conflicts with area residents.
Matt McPharlin and the forest trail crew have done a great job making new trails in the Mac! I would love to see 1) more trails; 2) more singletrack connectivity; and 3) better access closer to town. Please consider a new conditional use permit for more trail building. Whether the College likes it or not, the Mac forest is a big reason people love Corvallis. I am excited about the new Greenbelt purchase that might open up a new access point for the forest from Bald Hill and/or MLK park. This is a much more sustainable alternative than people driving to Oak Creek Station. I also would love to see more events in the forest (could these be a potential (modest) revenue stream?). I was disappointed the USATF 50k national championship got turned down...it could have been a great opportunity for the forest, Corvallis, etc. There are not so many events in the forest. I also would very much like to see more trails in the Dunn, as well as legal connectivity between Mac and Dunn. It is a whole new frontier and would space users out more. Finally, there are some obvious connections that would greatly improve the experience for trail users. For instance, Old Growth to Daves, so a complete singletrack loop from the Saddle could be done. Another would be some trail from of Dimple/Beautiful down to Extendo or Oak Creek would be great. Also, continue Playtime further down (there has been talk of revamping Endo/Innuendo.
I have been running and walking on the trails in the McDonald Forest since 1995 and I really appreciate the interest in building new trails as well as maintaining older trails. I also appreciate the community engagement effort from the forest administrators and especially Matt McPharlin, working with him on trail build days is a joy. He is a real asset to the program.
I would like to see even more trails especially for hiking/trail running in the forest. We really need more parking at the Oak Creek entrance. That is a true bottleneck to accessing such a great existing trail network.
Easy access to such a beautiful forest, with miles of trail and fire roads, and no motorized recreational use, all at the border of town, is a resource that is unmatched in almost anywhere in the world. This means everything to me as a runner and lover of the forest. I understand that there must be a balance between the purposes of a research forest and the desire of many to recreate, so we all must make compromises. Of course it is disappointing when I see that a favorite trail has been logged over, but I am grateful there are so many options to enjoy the forest. One thing to consider: the area known to runners as "The Maze"--the island of Starker land in the middle of McDonald--is a gem with it's rugged terrain, miles of spaghetti trails in a small area, etc. There have long been rumors that this would be sold to OSU, and if this happens, then the trails through this area, which have been run for decades, would suddenly become unauthorized. Consequently, this area would no longer be allowed to be used for the Mac 50k. What a tragedy this would be! My suggestion is that if this portion of land is transferred to OSU, let's allow this portion of the forest to remain "wild" so that it can continue to be used by bikers, runners and the organizers of the 50k.
As an avid trail user I appreciate the trails in the Mac-Dunn. I support the development of more multiuse trails.
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.
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?
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.
More trails in the Dunn forest please!
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.
Will the new management plan offer more connectivity from the Urban area to Oak Creek or the MLK park or the Dimple Creek area? Not having to ride down Oak Creek would be a Joy. in the early 1990s, this was identified as a top priority for safety and accessibility. 1.6-2.0 Miles to reach Oak creek from MLK and use Skirt the sheep barn property.
I heard that not many trail runners have given input on the management plan. For me, that's because I'm happy with the status quo. I appreciate the current trail system and my access to it, and am happy to see a steady stream of new trails being built. As long as the new plan maintains this, I have nothing to add.
Please reduce your amount of logging. The forest is being logged at an unsustainable rate.