Statewide Trails Plan, Entitled Oregon Trails 2016: a Vision for the Future, Constitutes Oregon’S Ten-Year Plan for Recreational Trail Management
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Oregon Trails 2016: Oregon Trails 2016: A Vision for the Future A Vision for the Future Download the report online at: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Oregon Parks and Recreation Department 725 Summer Street NE, Suite C Salem, OR 97301-1271 503-986-0980 For the hearing impaired: 1-800-735-2900 This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. Printed on recycled paper. February, 2016 2016-2025 2016-2025 Oregon Statewide Recreation Trails Plan Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Forward A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR, OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT I am pleased to present of trail users and non-motor- Oregon Trails 2016: A Vision ized boaters resulting in feed- For The Future. This plan is back and opinions from 7,450 the product of more than two randomly selected residents. years of consultation and col- Trails plan workshops were laboration of recreational trail held in 14 locations across providers, interest groups and the state, allowing additional citizens across the state. It is public input on trails issues the state’s “official plan for rec- and funding need. We would reational trail management” to thank all citizens who took for the next 10 years, serving time to participate in the sur- as a statewide and regional information and planning veys and public workshops. tool to assist Oregon recreation providers (local, state, The plan has identified three top management issues federal, and private) in providing trail opportunities for each trail category type in the state. For OHV and and promoting access to Oregon’s trails and waterways. snowmobile trails, closure of trails and unimproved It also identifies how the state’s limited resources will backcountry roads on federal lands came to the fore- be allocated for motorized, non-motorized, and water front as top challenges. For non-motorized trails, trail projects throughout Oregon. Further, it establishes more trails connecting towns/ public places and need a review process for potential State Scenic Waterway for improved trail maintenance were identified. For corridor additions. non-motorized boating, increased boater access and Recreational trails provide many benefits to the citi- lack of funding for non-motorized boating are top zens of Oregon. In addition to the entertainment value challenges. Recommendations are included for ad- of recreation, trails also provide health, transportation, dressing these issues in the coming years. community, and environmental benefits. They also The OPRD will support the implementation of key make a substantial contribution to the state’s economy. statewide and local planning recommendations The plans trail expenditure and economic contribution through internal and external partnerships and analysis, conducted by Oregon State University, found OPRD-administered grant programs. My hope is that statewide, non-motorized boating, non-motor- that all Oregonians involved in the administration of ized trail, OHV trail, and snowmobile participation by recreational trails and non-motorized boating oppor- Oregon residents and out-of-state visitors contributes tunities take time to read this important document 26,873 jobs, $1.36 billion in value added, and $826 and make use of its recommendations to support your million in labor income. While Oregon’s residents strategic planning. treasure and care for this trail system, they are dedicat- ed to ensuring resources are utilized with fiscal, social, and environmental responsibility, building on the past Sincerely, to provide for future generations. The OPRD has taken an innovative approach to state- wide trails planning by conducting simultaneous OHV, snowmobile, non-motorized, and water trails planning efforts. Public outreach was a key emphasis in the plan- Lisa Sumption ning effort, which included statistically reliable surveys Director . Acknowledgements Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Terry Bergerson: Project Manager and Primary Author Rocky Houston Ty Conley Katie Duzik Ron Price Holly Morgan Sherri Laier Ian Caldwell Trevor Taylort Jan Hunt Mike Law Greg Ciannella Chris Havel Laurel Hillmann Curtis Smith Alex Phillips Laura Underhill Calum Stevenson Michele Sctalise Oregon State University Kreg Lindberg – Primary Investigator Eric White Mark Needham Snowmobile Advisory Committee Jeff Mast – US Forest Service John Vogel – OSSA Duane Miles – OSSA Vera Riser – OSSA Mike Choate – OSSA Ron Greb – OSSA Peggy Spieger – OSSA Dennis Jordan – OSSA Kelly Tanzey – Baker County John Spieger – OSSA T.J. Reilly – OSSA Note: Oregon State Snowmobile Association (OSSA) Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee Wade Bryant – ATV-GS Tom Harris – Four Runners Tim Custer – ATV-GS Steven McIntyre – OR Motorcycle Riders Assn Steve Doane – ATV-GS Henry Buckalew – Hood River County Randy Drake– PNW 4-Wheel Drive Assn Ron Grace – Ochoco Trail Riders Barret Brown – OR Motorcycle Riders Assn Jeff Mast – US Forest Service Tyrell Hart – Motorcycle Riders Assn Chris Knauf – Bureau of Land Management Ed Ariniello – OR Motorcycle Riders Assn Jahmaal Rebb – OR Dept of Forestry Rob Thorton– Citizen Advocate Lakeview Larry Robison – Coos County Note: ATV Grant Subcommittee (ATV-GS) Water Trails Advisory Committee Julie Chick – Tillamook Estuaries Partnership Clyde Zeller – OR Dept of Forestry Geoff Frank – RTP Advisory Committee Jeff Powers – Benton County Jeff Mast – US Forest Service Jan Wirtz – City of Lake Oswego Rachael Graham – OR State Marine Board Maggie Rivers – Port of Alsea 2 Oregon Trails 2016: A Vision For The Future Non-Motorized Trails Advisory Committee Nancy Enabnit – RTP Advisory Committee Jenna Marmon – Jackson County Jim Thayer – ORTAC Bruce Ronning – Bend Metro (Retired) Lauralee Svendsgaard – ORTAC Annie McVay – City of Redmond Steve Jorgensen – Bend Metro P&R Dist Zach Jarrett – Bureau of Land Management Robert Spurlock – Portland Metro Jeff Mast – US Forest Service Jennifer Boardman – City of Central Point Jerry Davis – Jerry Davis Consulting Note: OR Recreation Trails Advisory Council (ORTAC) All-Terrain Vehicle Grant Criteria Advisory Committee Wade Bryant – ATV-GS (Class I Representative) Tim Custer – ATV-GS (Committee Chair) Steve Doane – ATV-GS (Class III Representative) Pat Harris – ATV-GS (Class II Representative) Forest Bohall – ATV-GS (Class IV Representative) Note: ATV Grant Subcommittee (ATV-GS) Recreational Trails Program Grant Criteria Advisory Committee Rebecca Wolf – RTP Advisory Committee Scott Youngblood – RTP Advisory Committee Kent Howes – RTP Advisory Committee Nancy Enabnit – RTP Advisory Committee Harry Dalgaard – RTP Advisory Committee Jeff Mast – US Forest Service Lauralee Svendsgaard – OR Recreation Trails Advisory Council John Vogel – Oregon State Snowmobile Association Acknowledgements 3 Executive Summary The 2016-2025 statewide trails plan, entitled Oregon Trails 2016: A Vision For The Future, constitutes Oregon’s ten-year plan for recreational trail management. The plan guides the use of the state’s Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) grant funds, and provides information and recommendations to guide federal, state, and local units of government, as well as the private sector, in making policy and planning decisions. Besides satisfying grant program requirements, a primary intent of this plan is to provide up-to-date, high-quality information to assist recreation providers with trail planning in Oregon. Further, it establishes a review process for potential State Scenic Waterway corridor additions. Public outreach was a key emphasis in the planning effort, which included statistically reliable surveys of trail users and non-motorized boaters, resulting in feedback and opinions from 7,450 randomly selected Oregon residents. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) contracted with Oregon State University (OSU) to conduct four separate surveys of state residents regarding their participation in four categories of trail-related recreation: motorized (ATV/OHV), snowmobile, non-motorized trail, and non-motorized boating. Statistically reliable results for the OHV, non-motorized trail and non-motorized boater surveys are provided at the statewide scale and trails planning region scale (11 planning regions in state). Results for the snowmobile trail survey are provided at the statewide scale. Regional trails planning workshops were held in 14 locations across the state, allowing additional public input on trails issues and funding need for each of the four trail category types. In addition, workshop attendees had an opportunity to nominate top water trail and State Scenic Waterway study corridor additions. OPRD also made a strong effort to involve trail providers (local, county, state, federal, non-profit) from across the state in the planning process. Trails plan collaborative efforts included: • Four separate trails plan advisory committees (ATV, snowmobile, non-motorized, water) to assist with the concurrent planning process. • A series of online surveys (ATV, snowmobile, non-motorized, water trails) of Oregon’s public recreation providers to determine region-level need for trail funding and issues affecting recreational trail provision. • Two separate advisory committees to assist with using trails planning findings to develop a set of ATV grant program and RTP grant program evaluation criteria for evaluating trail grant proposals. The planning effort included four distinct methods to identify trail funding need for each of the four catego- ries of trail-related recreation at the state and region levels.