HomeMy WebLinkAboutOregon Trail LetterHARNEY COUNTY
January 8, 2014
Jerry Perez, State Director
BLM Oregon
1220 S.W. 3rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
Robyn Thorson, Director
Pacific Region
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
911 N.E. 11th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97232-4181
HARNEY COUNTY COURT
Office of Judge Steven E. Grasty
450 North Buena Vista #5, Burns, Oregon 97720
Phone: 541-573-6356 Fax: 541-573-8387
E-mail: steve.grasty@co. harney. or. us
Websites: www.co.harney.or.us ♦ www.harneycounty.org
Brent Fenty, Executive Director
Oregon Natural Desert Association
50 SW Bond Street, Suite 4,
Bend, OR 97702
RE: Oregon Desert Trail
Dear Mr. Perez, Ms. Thorson, and Mr. Fenty,
On November 15, 2013 the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) in coordination with several
conservation organizations submitted a formal request to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish an 800 mile trail system across multiple counties
in Central and Eastern Oregon. ONDA specifically requested BLM and USFWS consider the route as
a "connecting trail" under the National Trails Act.
As proposed, the route encompasses portions of Deschutes, Harney, Lake, and Malheur counties. It
is being promoted as a "great way to get people to parts of Eastern Oregon," and "create an
awareness of the high desert to permanently protect some of the places and match the conservation
steps some other places have taken."1 Local governments within the proposed trail system desire to
be engaged in an open dialogue with ONDA, its partners, BLM and USFWS. A regional trail network
on federal lands raises several questions that should be discussed with elected officials, state and
federal agencies and local residents. County commissioners and courts representing the four affected
counties respectfully request convening public forums in Bend, Burns, Lakeview, and Vale so affected
stakeholders can understand:
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• If a trail system of this scale is recognized in BLM's various resource management and land use
plans.
• If not, is a National Environmental Policy Act process required?
• Who manages signage for an Oregon Desert Trail?
• How is information conveyed during the fire season of the threat of wildfires, or in the
circumstances of a drought, no open fires?
• How is public life and safety addressed in a regional trail?
• Where are the logical points of access for emergency medical service?
• How are conflicting uses managed, recognizing that grazing and irrigation may be proximate to
the proposed route?
• How have communities along the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian
Trail adapted to summer visitation?
• What are their success stories? What are their challenges and lessons learned?
If you have questions related to this request, please contact Steve Grasty, Harney County Court
Judge (Steve.grasty ac co.harnev.or.us, 541-573-6356), who is also coordinating with Deschutes, Lake
and Malheur counties.
Sincerely,
Steven E. Grasty,
Judge, Harney County Court
{Deschutes, Lake & Malheur County Signature Pages Follow }
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Representing. Lake County Date
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Representing lheur County
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