Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Frequently Asked Questions - July 2006/2007

Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland

Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use

Q: What is the “Travel Management” rule and how will it affect me?

A: In November, 2005, the Forest Service published a new rule called “Travel Management: Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use.” It requires the Forest Service to publish a map that designates motorized use on the National Forests and Grassland System roads, trails, and areas, and to prohibit (with limited exceptions) all motorized use off of the routes and areas identified on the Motorized Vehicle Use Map. The map is the key – that’s how everyone will know where and when they can drive their motor vehicle on National Forests and Grasslands. Only National Forest and Grassland System routes and areas are included in the requirements of the 2005 Travel Management rule. Other road jurisdictions may appear on the Motor Vehicle Use Map to help users to navigate to the National Forest system routes and areas If you currently use a motor vehicle on other than a designated numbered and signed) National Forest or Grassland system road, trail, or area, your access may be changed. We’ll be implementing this rule by:

• Clarifying which routes and areas are currently designated for motorized use
• Working with the community to understand where possible modifications to the existing systems are most important
• Considering modifications to the existing designated systems prior to publishing the map
• Continuing to evaluate and update motorized use designations over time

Q : Where can I drive my motor vehicle right now?

A:  There is quite a mix of opportunity and regulation currently in place for motor vehicle use in Central Oregon. Where you can drive your motorized vehicle depends on: 1.  Road jurisdiction - Roads throughout Central Oregon - including many that traverse the two Forests and Grassland - are a mix of jurisdictions. The mix includes federal and state highways, County, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - administered roads, and public access roads. The state highway licensing status or vehicle class of your motorized vehicle - Under state law, all paved roads and double lane gravel roads are only open to highway licensed vehicles unless signed otherwise.

• This generally applies to all roads within the Central Oregon area.
• These National Forest and Grassland system roads are usually roads with 4 –digit numbers and designated with horizontal markers.
• These National Forest and Grassland system roads are usually maintained for passenger vehicles and are considered Maintenance Level 3 to 5.

• May not require vehicles to meet state highway licensing requirements
• May have local seasonal or other restrictions on system roads.
• These roads are generally maintained for high clearance vehicles and are considered Maintenance Level 2.

• Across the National Forests and Grassland, various kinds of management direction apply, based on the content of the Forest and Grassland Land and Resource Management Plans and other legal mandates.

Crooked River National Grassland - Motorized use is limited to designated routes only throughout the Grassland.

Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests

• Motorized use is limited to designated routes in many areas
  • These areas may or may not be signed to inform users where and when they can use their motor vehicle
• Motorized use is prohibited in some areas such as wilderness or research natural areas
  • These areas may or may not be signed
• Motorized use is allowed off of designated routes in some areas
  • These areas are usually not signed

• The National Forests and Grassland have hundreds of miles of specialized designated routes and areas for motor vehicles including:
• Henderson Flat on the Crooked River National Grassland
• Green Mountain Trail on the Ochoco National Forest
• Edison and East Fort Rock OHV systems on the Deschutes National Forest
• These areas generally have detailed maps & informational & regulatory signing

Q : Are these new rules?

A : The requirement for all National Forests and Grasslands to limit motorized use to designated routes only is a result of the 2005 Travel Management rule. Local Forest Plan, site-specific resource management decisions, and other legal mandates regarding motorized use have been in place for some time and are on-going.

Q : When will we be limited to designated routes and areas?

A : As described above, on many public lands motor vehicle travel is already limited to designated routes and areas only. The 2005 Travel Management Rule will be in place once a Motor Vehicle Use map is published. The two National Forests and the Grassland may publish their initial maps at different times, but are all expected to be completed by 2009. The maps will be reviewed and updated periodically.

Q : How will this rule affect motorized use or access off of “Green or Orange Dot” Roads?

A : The “Green or Orange Dot” system is a way to identify those motorized routes that are open for use in an area with multiple routes. The Green Dot system is promoted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for hunting seasons, while the Orange Dot system has been used in the wake of the Davis and B&B fire complexes. This is a part of the existing designated National Forest system of roads, trails, and areas on the Forests and Grassland where motorized use for various types of vehicles is allowed. The existing system will be used as a starting point for considering any modifications that may provide for suitable and sustainable motorized access. Once a Motor Vehicle Use Map is published for a National Forest or Grassland, motorized travel will be allowed only on designated routes and areas. These routes and areas may be seasonally designated or designated by Class of vehicle. The forest and grassland system of routes and areas are designed to be periodically evaluated as a part of many resource management programs, and are subject to change.  

Q : How will this rule affect game retrieval?

A : After publication of the Motor Vehicle Use Map, motorized access off of those designated routes and areas shown on the map will be prohibited, including for game retrieval, with some exceptions including written authorizations and over-snow vehicles.  

Q : In 1996, the Ochoco National Forest published their intent to provide a variety of motorized trails, and many motorized trail groups and fans have worked on identifying potential designated trail locations. How does that fit in with this travel management process?

A: The two forests and grassland will consider modifications to the existing designated systems prior to publishing the first Motor Vehicle Use map in collaboration with all users. These modifications may very well include the kinds of motorized trail opportunities envisioned in 1996. We’ll be looking at all the relevant management guidelines and the valuable information that has been provided over the last few years by motorized trail enthusiasts. The information gathered in recent years about specialized motorized trail interests for the National Forests and Grassland and the involvement of many motorized users gives us a head start with where motorized trail locations may be desired. We will integrate that information into the results of the travel management public workshops as we develop ideas for where modifications to the existing system might be most suitable and sustainable.

Q : Who will enforce the new rule?

A: Successful implementation and enforcement can result from a rule that is clearly mapped and understood by the public. We find that the majority of people will adhere to the rules. Law enforcement of a system of designated routes and areas is always a challenge in an area with the population and accessibility of Forest Service Lands in Central Oregon. Successful compliance with the rule can be accomplished by a number of methods, only one of which is enforcement with a fine or other means. It always has been and will continue to be an uphill battle with those who choose to take a "catch me if you can" ethic. We will continue to work with dedicated users to foster compliance with a designated system that meets many interests and needs. Once the rule is implemented nation-wide, we will have one clear, consistent approach to motorized use and access. That consistency will improve our ability to enforce violations and improve the general public’s ability to understand and comply with the regulation.

Q : Will this rule and decision affect or alter existing Oregon Revised Statutes pertaining to OHV use on and off road?

A : Where there is a conflict between Oregon Revised Statutes and the FS Motor Vehicle Use Map, the FS Motor Vehicle Use map under 36 CFR 212.51 will take precedence.

Q : What happens if I ignore the restriction?

A: Current penalties vary for violating restrictions in motorized travel. On the Crooked River National Grassland, violators can be fined up to $5,000 or face up to six months of jail time, or both.

PHASE 2: WHERE WE ARE TODAY!

Q : What is the “Working Group”? A: The Travel Management working group is a group of people that represent broad-based community interests. The group is chartered by the Deschutes Provincial Advisory Committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Q: What Interests are Represented on the Working Group?A:

• Tribal, Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies
• Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Crook Co. Natural Resources Planning Committee, Deschutes County , ODFW
• Special Interest Groups (Conservation, Recreation, etc.)
• Recreation/Tourism, Oregon Hunters Assoc., Rock Climbers, Equestrian, Recreational Motorized Users and Timber Industry Reps
• Private individuals that use or are neighbors to the National Forest
• Hikers, hunters, ranchers, landowners

Q: What are the Shared Values of the Working Group?

• Protection of natural resources
• Problems with current OHV use need to be resolved
• Designated trails system may help resolved problems with unmanaged use
• Road densities need to be reduced throughout both National Forests
• Education & enforcement are critical to success
• The Forest Service will be challenged to make this work
• There is commitment by the Working Group to work together to make Travel Management successful

Q: What are the 6 “E’s”?

A: The Working Group developed the concept of six things that will help solve problems with unmanaged travel, they are:

• Education – educate users about the rules and how they will be effected
• Engineering – engineer designated system to provide for quality motorized recreation while encouraging compliance
• Enforcement – enforce the laws/rules
• Economics – economics including costs of planning, design, construction and maintenance
• Environment – development of a designated system to mitigate for environmental considerations including but not limited to:
• Wildlife and wildlife habitat
• Riparian issues
• Invasive species
• Fisheries
• Evaluation – monitor designated system and other area for compliance and resource impacts which could influence the need for changes in the system

Q: What are Community Support Areas?

A: Community Support Areas are areas where there is conditional support for considering modifying the existing designated system to provide for specialized motorized trails. These areas include:

• Crescent Ranger Dist. ( Two Rivers and Boundary Springs Subdivisions)
• Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger Dist.(Lookout Mtn./Edison; Portions of Horse Butte, Lava Cast, Hole-in-the-Ground and East Fort Rock Trails)
• Crooked River National Grassland (Grassland East, north Henderson Flat)
• Lookout Mtn & Paulina Ranger Dist. (Ochoco East)

Q: What are Important Areas?

A: Important Areas are areas where there is agreement that there is a problem, need, or demand for addressing unmanaged motorized recreation, but no agreement at this time on how to address the problem, need or demand. These areas include:

• Lookout Mt. Ranger Dist. (McKay Creek Area; Maury Mountains )
• Sisters Ranger Dist. ( Meadow Lakes Area; Melvin Butte/Three Creeks Area)
• Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger Dist. (Sage Grouse habitat on Pine Mountain & Edison OHV Trail System) – These areas were moved to this category because there was Not Consensus that motorized recreation was a problem.

Q: What are the Working Group recommendations for motorized access for dispersed (undeveloped) camping (including Road Adjacency & Designated Routes)

• Road Adjacency – allows for access a specific distance (up to 300’) from a designated route. Exception routes excluded from this option would be determined based on site conditions (i.e. sensitive species & soils, adjacent to wilderness, etc.)
• Designated Routes – designating new or existing routes in the National Forest system of roads and trails to access specific sites.