Posted: Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:00 am
New rules in place tighten restrictions
People looking looking for motorized recreation on the Santiam Pass will see changes this summer.
Before, said Judith McHugh of the Wilamette National Forest, there were very few restrictions or clarity on where people could drive.
Now there are designated trails, vehicles must stay on them, and there are separate areas for different kinds of vehicles.
Now that the Santiam Pass Summer Motorized Recreation Area - nearly 14,000 acres 75 miles east of Albany on Highway 20 - is mostly free of snow, it's available for use under the new management plan.
"This is an important turning point for the area and the folks who like to ride jeeps, motorcycles, 4x4s and quads on the volcanic terrain surrounding Big Lake, Sand Mountain and the Hoodoo area," the Forest Service said in an announcement of the changes.
Visitors can expect to see clearly marked trails, an information kiosk and staging area near Big Lake.
Later in the summer, Ray Benson Sno-Park will be open for day use and camping.
Important changes have been put in place in an effort to maintain a sustainable, long-term recreation presence in the area, the service said.
The biggest is that cross-country motorized travel is no longer allowed and use of some roads is restricted to certain types of vehicles.
The Forest Service will have several full-time staff working the area this summer, including Mike McFadin, a recreation specialist based in McKenzie Bridge.
"We'll have staff here every day of the week and plan to post lots of information signs too," said McFadin.
Another new feature is camping area management. Designated sites will be marked along the Santiam Wagon road; visitors may camp only at designated sites on that road.
North of the Santiam Wagon road, visitors are free to camp anywhere within 50 feet of a road as long as their camp site does not cause adverse impacts to soil, vegetation and other resources.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's ATV division helped with the plan.
"We're so grateful for our partnership with OPRD," said McKenzie District Ranger Mary Allison.