This Bark has a Bite

This Bark has a Bite
The Mountain Times, by Editor Larry Berteau

That rattle and roar that courses through Mount Hood National Forest may be getting muffled soon — or at least more isolated.

In late August the Forest Service released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mount Hood Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Plan. In September two open houses were hosted (Portland and Hood River) to explain the DEIS and answer questions. Written comments were accepted through Oct. 28.

The plan is an attempt to balance recreation opportunities for OHV use with other recreational uses of Mt. Hood National Forest. From the comments the Forest Service has narrowed the choices to Alternative 3 and Alternative 4.

Alternative 3 — Includes eight areas, 325 miles of routes, 69 sites of new construction and is adjacent to 30.4 miles of wilderness areas, including Salmon-Huckleberry, Roaring River, Badger Creek, Mount Hood and Mark O. Hatfield. This route will cross 161 streams and cost $330,000.

Alternative 4 — Includes three areas, 100 miles of routes, nine sites of new construction and is adjacent to .5 miles of adjacent wilderness area, including only Badger Creek. This route will cross 46 streams at a cost of $90,000.

Bark is a non-profit watchdog group from Portland which for 10 years has been in the business of protecting the natural resources of Mount Hood and the surrounding forest. Bark believes that everyone has a right to use the forest, but no one has a right to abuse it. At the Rhododendron CPO meeting Oct. 17, Bark attorney Lori Ann Burd told those gathered that Bark was not an acronym, rather “the stuff on the outside of trees.” Then, she said wryly, it’s also a noise that tends to be heard.

Burd got our attention with her research on the subject — as well as her sense of humor. Burd cited a lab survey that 53.5 percent of visitors to Mount Hood are day hikers and for 22.8 percent it is their primary purpose. In contrast, only .16 percent say their primary reason for visits is for OHV use.

This information, plus the fact that Alternative 4 is less costly, more balanced, protects drinking water and rivers from the environmental impact of OHV use; and recognizes the needs of quiet recreationists such as hikers, anglers, hunters, picnickers and equestrians; AND the fact that the Rhody CPO and Mt. Hood Corridor CPO have endorsed Alternative 4; it was an easy call for us to throw in our throaty endorsement as well.

Vroom-vroom. Hold it down.