Bark Successfully Puts Pressure on Forest Service During Travel Planning Open House

Portland/Hood River-- At the September 11th and 12th travel planning open houses Bark presented a compelling alternative to the current Forest Service proposal to create six new off-highway vehicle (OHV) playgrounds. Advocating for a travel planning process that included the entire road network, Barkers informed attendees that the national mandate for Travel Planning is to address all motorized travel -- not just OHVs. At the meeting, many Oregonians demanded a Mt. Hood Travel Plan that addresses the crumbling road network affecting recreation access and watershed health.

Drawing on the road inventory data Bark has collected, Roadtruthers wore shirts depicting the crumbling and inadequate condition of Mt. Hood’s roads. The shirts displayed damaged culverts, OHV abuse on non-designated trails, and the current condition of the proposed OHV sites. Bark volunteers were also present at the different Forest Service “stations” with maps that highlighted conflicts (like hiking trails, campgrounds, and stream crossings) not clear on the Forest Service maps. Also missing at the Portland open house were materials for attendees to write comments on the Plan.

Bark’s presence at these open houses, and its work in convincing the Forest Service to hold one in Portland, allowed approximately sixty allies as well as attendees to feel empowered to demand a more comprehensive travel planning process from the Forest Service. Bark will be holding multiple comment writing sessions throughout October in Portland and one session in Hood River. Bark staff will be on-hand to answer questions, explain the travel planning process, and provide the necessary resources to help you craft an effective response that the Forest Service will have to consider!

Travel Plan comment writing sessions:

Portland:
Dates: October 2, 9,16,23,30
Time: 5-9 pm
Location: 2613 NE MLK Jr. Blvd., Suite C

Hood River:
Date: Thursday, October 18th
Time: 5-8pm
Location: Hood River Library, 502

Comments are due on October 31, 2007.
You can send your comments to:
Jennie O’Connor
Off-Highway Vehicle Travel Management Plan Leader
Mt. Hood National Forest
6780 HWY 25
Parkdale, OR
[email protected]

For more information about the travel planning process, visit Bark’s website http://www.mthoodplan.org

To join Bark’s Roadtruthing team, visit http://bark-out.org/activities/roadtruth.html

To learn more and then join us at the Clackamas Campout II, happening right now, vist http://bark-out.org/calendar/listing.php.