File Code:	2350
Date:	August 5, 2009

Dear Interested Citizen:

It has been a while since I have provided you the opportunity to comment on the Three Trails OHV Project and I want to share our progress. In September 2008, we started a series of public meetings followed in January 2009 with a scoping letter which presented a proposed action for the Three Trails OHV Project.

As a result of public review, comment, and further analysis, I identified the following key issues that drove the development of two preliminary alternatives to the initial proposal:

1. The proposed action does not have the proper design to provide the recreational experience riders want.

2. The designation of a motorized trail system could potentially alter effectiveness of mule deer and elk summer range, calving/fawning areas, and migration corridors.

3. Concentrated motorized use adjacent to residences creates unfavorable noise.

4. There may be incompatibility where the designated OHV trail system overlaps the Metolius-Windigo Horse Trail.

From these issues, I have identified the following preliminary alternatives:

• Alternative A, no action, a requirement with no change from current management activities until the 2005 Travel Management EIS is completed then travel would be restricted to designated routes.

• Alternative B, the proposed action, as described in the January 2009 scoping letter (Please see attached Alternative B proposed trail system and road changes maps).

• Alternative C. This alternative was developed to address the rider’s experience (degree of difficulty, opportunity by class of vehicle, interconnected loop trail system, more engineered trails instead of roads, play areas and scenic vistas) (Table 1, Table 2). This preliminary alternative provides the most opportunity for Class II vehicles with areas near Black Rock pit play area and along the southwestern edge of Walker Rim. Class I and III vehicles will have Muttonchop pit play area (Please see attached Alternative C proposed trail system and road changes maps).

• Alternative D. This alternative focuses more attention to big game and noise (Table 3). Wildlife movement corridors were designed to create larger blocks of unfragmented habitat and to facilitate migration to calving/fawning areas. Noise reduction close to private residences was addressed by removing Muttonchop Pit play area and closing trails near the private lands. It also includes many elements from Alterative C that enhances rider’s experience (Please see attached Alternative D proposed trail system and road changes maps).

Alternative Comparison

The following tables, in conjunction with the attached maps, provide additional information for a comparison between alternatives.

Table 1. Comparison of OHV Opportunities between Preliminary Alternatives

Alternative	Miles of OHV Trail	Miles of roads used to connect satellite trail systems	Total miles of Class II roads remaining open to all motorized vehicles in the project area	Play Areas	# of Staging Areas	# of Camping Areas
B	131	23	658	Muttonchop Pit	4	0
C	200	175	560	Muttonchop Pit & Black Rock Pit	6	3
D	179	98	462	Quarry 2011	4	1

Table 2. Total Miles of Trails by OHV Class

Total Trails	OHV Class*			Total Miles
	II	III	I, III
Alt B	12	9	110	131
Alt C	41	12	147	200
Alt D	13	12	154	179

*The Oregon Revised Statues that govern motorized use on Forest Service lands in Oregon define three categories of OHVs.

• Class I- (quads, 3-wheelers) Three or four-wheeled vehicles 50” wide or less, weighing 800 pounds (dry weight) or less having a saddle or seat.
• Class II- (jeeps, sand rails, SUV’s etc.) Vehicles more than 50” wide and weighing more than 800 pounds (dry weight).
• Class III- (motorcycles) Vehicles on two tires, weighing less than 800 pounds (dry weight).

Table 3. Comparison of Road Closures, Trail Rehabilitation and Seasonal Closures

Alternative	Miles of Road to be Closed	Miles of user-created trails to be closed and rehabilitated	Closures
B	65	56	Green Dot* & Seasonal**
C	79	88	Green Dot
D	87	95	Green Dot
*Green Dot closures on Walker Rim for 2 weeks fall hunting season.
** Spring Seasonal closure on Walker Rim for fawning/calving season May 01-June 15.

Metolius-Windigo Horse Trail

Alternatives C and D also address the issue of potential conflict of shared use between equestrians and OHVs along a portion of the Metolius-Windigo Horse Trail. This segment of trail is very challenging as it is confined on one side by the railroad and the other by riparian wetlands and private lands. Riparian wetlands are not conducive to trail construction due to high water table and being wet most of the year. This greatly limits available ground to separate the respective trails. In Alternatives C and D, a parallel trail would be constructed to separate use, except for approximately ½ mile where wet meadows and private property do not allow for an additional trail. (Please see the attached map, ‘Proposed Metolius-Windigo Trail Reroute’).

Forest Plan Amendments

There is a need for two Forest Plan Amendments to improve wildlife and avian species life requirements and habitat. The Hemlock Key Elk area boundaries will be adjusted to include more riparian wetlands and reduced road densities. The Old Growth Management Area on Muttonchop Butte will be moved to a more suitable area that will include more acreage of late and old structure (LOS) mixed conifer plant association to better meet the life needs of focal species such as marten and goshawks. These amendments are included in all action alternatives (Alternatives B, C and D). (Please see the attached map, ‘Proposed Changes to Muttonchop Old Growth and Hemlock Key Elk Areas, common to all action alternatives’).

Opportunity to Comment

Please give us your thoughts on the four alternatives described in this letter or other alternatives you believe we should consider either electronically by sending an email to comments-pacificnorthwest-deschutes-crescent@fs.fed.us or by letter to the Crescent Ranger District, care of Joan Kittrell, at the address or phone number provided at the top of this letter. We would appreciate your comments by August 19, 2009. We are also happy to answer any questions you may have.

We plan to have a Draft Environmental Impact Statement ready for public review later this fall. To ensure that you receive a copy of the Draft EIS, please indicate your preferred format on the enclosed post card and return it to us as soon as possible. Please make sure that your name and address are correct and legible so I can keep you informed throughout this process.

Thank you for your interest in the Crescent Ranger District and Deschutes National Forest.

Sincerely,

/s/ Holly Jewkes

HOLLY JEWKES

District Ranger