News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The Forest Service plans to issue permits to allow recreation shuttle outfitter and guide services to bring hikers and cyclists to Sisters trails for a year.
Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid announced the decision in a letter to stakeholders on August 2. The permits will include some mitigations to address concerns raised by the public about the proposals.
“We used public comments received to build in appropriate mitigations where possible and will make those mitigation terms and conditions of the permit,” Reid told The Nugget. “We eliminated certain trails from the proposal that may have conflicted with management direction in the Metolius Basin.”
Stagecoach Adventures and Cog Wild will operate shuttles to serve hikers, bikers, and winter recreationists. They will use 15-passenger vans with a roof rack for bikes and other equipment. Both companies propose to run shuttles through the spring, summer, and fall seasons and Stagecoach would continue shuttles through the winter.
Cog Wild will also offer guided mountain bike rides and skills sessions.
Reid reported receiving 64 comments on the proposals. Some of those comments questioned why special use permits are allowed at all on public lands. Reid explained that, “Special uses, which follow agency policy and federal law, allow use of public land that provide a benefit to the public and protect public and natural resources values.” Reid noted that he “will explore hosting a forum in Sisters to share information and build awareness about the special use programs administered by the Forest Service.”
Addressing concerns that additional use might degrade trails and lead to conflicts with other users, Reid said that, “It is not anticipated that the additional use created from these proposals would alter current maintenance needs. These commercial operators will conduct volunteer trail maintenance days as part of their permit requirements. The operators may choose to collect funds or direct users to donate to local volunteer trail maintenance groups. Further, shuttle operators will not operate when trails are muddy to avoid damaging the trail surfaces. All trails authorized for bicycle drop-off or guided bike trips are currently mixed-use trails open to bikes. Permit operators will educate shuttle users on trail use regulations. Bikers will not be dropped off at some sites, such as the Park Meadow trailhead, to reduce user conflicts.”
The operations will be evaluated after a year.
“As part of this decision, these temporary outfitter/guide permits will be issued to each company for one year,” Reid stated. “At the end of the permit period, the Forest Service will evaluate the companies’ performance under the permit and decide whether to reauthorize the permits for an additional year, longer term, or not reissue the permits.”
The full text of Reid’s decision letter is included below.
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