This message is from dlynn and the Dutchman Task Force (with a few edits for posting purposes) who have worked tirelessly on this issue. He and the others involved have done an awesome job of working with the various stakeholders and looking out for YOUR access rights and interests and deserve our thanks.
Hello All Winter Users
Here is the Scoping letter (see attached file below) from the Forest Service regarding Kapka Butte Snow Park. REMEMBER they will address any and all issues related to winter use in the area. Let us put our focus on a Snow Park that is truly high elevation....Dutchman. Kapka is only 300 feet higher than Wanoga. This will be very little help to the existing parking problem except right in the middle of the season.
Also, some other thoughts for letter writing. After talking to many individuals and most all the winter recreation businesses in the area it has been determined that Kapka may not be the BEST plan. This idea belongs to the majority of users but may not belong to everyone. Please ask questions. We will do all we can to assist and get you the best answers. We have 30 days to complete this process. Lets not settle for a second rate snow park when we can have the best. (Dutchman) or maybe both.
This is not to make light of all the hard work that people have put into this project in the past.....things change over time.
Email to the Forest Service: Comments-Pacificnorthwest-Deschutes-Bend-Ftrock@fs.fed.us
Subject Line Must Contain: "Kapka Scoping"
Talking Points:
1. The concept of another Snow Park is a great idea.
2. A group of people worked hard to develop a plan for what they felt was best for snowmobiling at the time. (This started many years ago)
3. It was discovered that the overwhelming majority of snowmobilers that looked at ALL the issues involved, felt it was best to go another direction.
4. Kapka Butte area is too low in elevation to serve snowmobilers for the early and late seasons.
5. Access to Trail 5, Dutchman Snow Park, Trail 6, Elk Lake Resort, Any of the High Country has to go through "Lamberts Crossing" which has a Southern exposure and turns to dirt very early in the season.
6. It is true "as of today" that the Forest Service has no intension to close parking at Dutchman "IF" Kapka was built. This was changed because we put our foot down and demanded that if not be a part of the Kapka Butte Proposal and the Forest Service agreed to remove it from the plan.
7. Kapka Butte has a large Owl habitat the encircles the butte.
8. There is a proposed Snow Shoe trail planed to the top of Kapka Butte.
9. Many trees will have to be removed for this new parking lot.
10. All traffic from Bend to Kapka Butte will have to "cross" against traffic coming from Sun-River. As traffic builds to enter Kapka it could end up blocking into the Mount Bachelor highway.
11. Kapka will promote (when the snow is too low at Lambert Crossing) people to ride up along the highway and cross to Dutchman or ride on Mount Bachelor property to access the High Country. This kind of action will bring negative attention to the snowmobiling community.
12. The expansion of Dutchman Snow Park makes the most sense.
a. Very few trees to be removed.
b. The majority of the park is already existing.
c. We can create a separate parking area for Cross County and Back Country Skiers. (They will fight this plan because they want the entire area for themselves)
d. Dutchman is a HUB area already and will best serve to disperse all users into the direction they want to go (safer and easier on the trail system).
e. Dutchman is a Commercial area already with Mount Bachelor right across the street.
f. Dutchman will service Elk Lake Resort with the parking they desperately need.
g. Dutchman Snow Park is the last area to run out of snow and the first area to get snow.
h. Our Back Country friends (all 130 of them) are fighting to get all of Tumalo Mountain for them selves. They do not share well with other users. They make up stories and alter photos to make it look like snowmobilers are all crazy and are all out to destroy the environment. This is and will be one of our largest obstacles to overcome when we talk about expanding Dutchman. They want it for them selves and do not want us there at all.
i. Dutchman is another issue .....However the Forest Service WILL LOOK AT OUR COMMENTS about Dutchman and consider them along with the comments on Kapka Butte. They have said they will consider what the public wants based on letters received on the Kapka issue. Here is our chance to make a difference. Write you letters and let the Forest Service know what we want for our area. Also remember we SHARE all our area with ALL forest users.....The other users do not have to share.
Thank You for reading. Please write your letters the the Forest Service.
Email to the Forest Service: Comments-Pacificnorthwest-Deschutes-Bend-Ftrock@fs.fed.us
Subject Line Must Contain: "Kapka Scoping"
**NOTE: Line "h". If we are given Kapka then it is quite possible that the skiers will go hard after Dutchman Snow Park to gain 100% access for their fight to get Tumalo. Kapka will destroy any chance we have to save Dutchman and Tumalo. Tumalo will most likely not be in the EIS and scoping letter, however Dutchamn will not be either and we have been told to go ahead and include it in the comments for Kapka.
SAWS Action Alert:
Kapka Butte Sno-Park Construction Project Scoping Letter
Comment Deadline: February 1, 2009
Email to the Forest Service: Comments-Pacificnorthwest-Deschutes-Bend-Ftrock@fs.fed.us
Subject Line Must Contain: "Kapka Scoping Comments"
Letter: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/bendrock/kapksno-elksnomo/20081230_kbsp_const_scopingltr.pdf
Map: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/bendrock/kapksno-elksnomo/20081230_kbsp_const_scopingltr_map.pdf
Forest Service’s Proposed Action: The Forest Service is proposing to build a new sno-park near Kapka Butte to provide more high elevation parking for winter recreationists along an established snowplowing route. The proposed facility would provide for a mix of vehicle parking, including vehicles towing trailers and some slots designed for smaller vehicles. The proposed parking facility would include approximately 70 slots for vehicles with trailers, and 40 slots for non-trailer vehicles. Trail links to existing snowmobile trail #45 (.2 mile), a Nordic trail to AC/DC shelter (1.8 miles), a snowshoe trail to the top of Kapka Butte (.8 mile), and groomed non-motorized trails for use with dogs off leash (7.4 miles) would be constructed and maintained as part of this proposal.
SAWS Position: SAWS believes that the expansion of the existing Dutchman Sno-Park is in the best interest of snowmobilers. Dutchman is the smallest sno-park in the Mt. Bachelor area, at the highest elevation, with the longest season, and greatest demand. Snowmobilers need improved and continued access to the north side of Cascade Lakes Highway. A brand new sno-park (Kapka Butte) at a lower elevation on the south side of the highway will do very little to alleviate the current access issues in the area. Access to the Moon Mountain high country and Elk Lake Resort from Kapka Butte Sno-Park will have to go through "Lamberts Crossing" which has a southern exposure and turns to dirt very early in the season. Additionally, SAWS feels that if Kapka is built and Dutchman becomes a limited use sno-park, thus leaving all the motorized access sno-parks on the south side of Cascade Lakes Highway, then the non-motorized advocates may use that to further strengthen their position to close more riding areas on the north side of the highway (Moon Country/Tumalo). The time and expense for the construction of Kapka Butte Sno-Park will do very little to help the existing parking problem except during the middle of the season.
While the Forest Services’ proposal is regarding the construction of Kapka Butte Sno-Park in the Mt. Bachelor area, it does still have the possibility of impacting snowmobile access to Dutchman Sno-Park and the Tumalo Mountain area. The Forest Service has agreed to LOOK AT ALL OUR COMMENTS about Dutchman and consider them along with the comments on Kapka Butte. They have said they will consider what the public wants based on the letters they receive during the Kapka Butte scoping period.
There is a 30 day comment period for this proposal. Please help maintain and improve this jewel in the Oregon Cascades for snowmobiling by submitting your comments to the Forest Service. Snowmobilers have already lost too much riding area in the Dutchman-Tumalo region.
SAWS would like to remind you that form letters are not given much weight by government agencies so there needs to be some originality in your submitted comment letter, especially in the first paragraph.
Below are some points to assist you in preparing your comments (SAWS extends our appreciation to the Dutchman Taskforce for providing the following information).
■ The concept of another Sno-Park is a great idea.
■ Many winter recreation businesses in the area believe that Kapka is not the best plan.
■ Many individuals worked hard to develop a plan for what they felt was best for snowmobiling at the time and their efforts are appreciated. (This process began many years ago.)
■ Kapka Butte area is too low in elevation to serve snowmobilers for early and late season riding.
■ The Forest Service has recently indicated that they have no intention to close parking to snowmobilers at Dutchman "IF" Kapka is built. This was changed from their previous plan to ban snowmobile use from Dutchman, due to the snowmobiling community reacting strongly during the summer of 2008 and demanding that it not be a part of the Kapka Butte Proposal. The Forest Service finally agreed to remove it from the plan.
■ All traffic from Bend to Kapka Butte will have to "cross" against traffic coming from Sunriver. As traffic builds to enter Kapka it could end up blocking into the Cascade Lakes highway.
■ Kapka will promote (when the snow is too low at Lambert Crossing) people to ride up along the highway and cross to Dutchman or ride on Mount Bachelor property to access the High Country. This kind of action will bring negative attention to the snowmobiling community.
■ The expansion of Dutchman Sno-Park makes the most sense.
● Very few trees to be removed.
● The majority of the park already exists.
● A separate parking area can be created for Cross County and Back Country Skiers. (They will fight this plan because they want the entire area for themselves)
● Dutchman is already a HUB area that disperses backcountry users efficiently.
● This is a Commercial area already with Mount Bachelor right across the street.
● Dutchman’s expansion will provide Elk Lake Resort with the parking they desperately need during the peak winter recreation season.
● Dutchman Snow Park is the first area to get snow and the last area to run out of snow.
● The Back Country advocates (all 130 of them) are fighting to get all of Tumalo Mountain for themselves. They do not share well with other users. They make up stories and alter photos to make it look like snowmobilers are all crazy and are all out to destroy the environment. This is and will be one of our largest obstacles to overcome when we talk about expanding Dutchman. They want it for them selves and do not want us there in any capacity.
NOTE: SAWS and the Dutchman Taskforce believe that if snowmobilers are given Kapka then the skiers will go hard after Dutchman Snow Park to gain 100% access for their fight to get Tumalo. Kapka may destroy any chance we have to save Dutchman and Tumalo. Tumalo will most likely not be in the EIS and scoping letter, however Dutchman will not be either and we have been advised to go ahead and include it in the comments for Kapka.
● Snowmobilers SHARE all our areas with ALL forest users.....Many of the other users do not have to share.
This is another chance to make a difference. Write your letters and let the Forest Service know what snowmobilers want for this area on our public lands.
Links to our previous SAWS Alerts on this issue:
http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/Action_Alerts/08/SAWS_Action_Alert_-_Dutchman_Sno-Park_Proposed_Conversion_to_Non-motorized.htm
http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/Action_Alerts/08/SAWS_Action_Alert_-_Proposal_by_extreme_green_groups_to_close_Tumalo_ Mountain.htm
Susie Rainsberry & Todd White
Snowmobile Alliance of Western States
Copyright © 2009 Snowmobile Alliance of Western States. All Rights Reserved.
Permission is granted to distribute this information in whole or in part, as long as Snowmobile Alliance of Western States (SAWS) is acknowledged as the source. If you are not yet a member of SAWS and you would like receive these alerts, please sign up on our web site at: http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org. SAWS is FREE to join!
The OSSA position.
OSSA – KAPKA BUTTE SNO-PARK SCOPING COMMENTS
January 6, 2009
RE: Kapka Scoping Comments
SUPPORT FOR IMPROVED HIGH-ELEVATION PARKING
There is a great need for additional parking at higher elevations along the Cascade Lakes Highway corridor since high-elevation parking closer to consistent snowfall is currently in short supply. We support the proposal to add 70 new parking spaces for vehicles with trailers since it will help alleviate current overflow parking issues along this corridor, improve safety, and provide improved higher-elevation access for winter recreationists.
It is important that this number (70) of new trailer parking slots be constructed to meet existing unmet parking needs; any modified plan to construct fewer trailer slots would be unacceptable since it wouldn’t properly address the parking and access needs of snowmobilers.
Additionally it is important that parking in this area truly be ‘new parking’ for snowmobilers. Specifically, the existing parking for snowmobile trailers at Dutchman should remain open to snowmobilers since it is the highest-elevation parking available to snowmobilers in this vicinity of the DNF. While trailer parking at Dutchman is limited, it nonetheless provides important access given that it is about 500-feet higher in elevation than the Kapka Butte site. Elimination of snowmobile trailer parking at Dutchman would be a giant step backwards for snowmobiling access – so it is imperative that it remains open not only for shoulder-season access, but for all of the winter season.
The proposed addition of 40 parking slots for non-trailer vehicles at Kapka Butte will also help enhance nonmotorized winter recreation opportunities in this area – particularly when tied to the proposed snowshoe, dog skiers and Nordic ski trail additions in this area. As we understand the proposal, there will be separate entry/exit trails for snowmobilers and nonmotorized recreationists. This is an important design element which should be retained as this project moves forward since it will help facilitate multiple use management in this area.
Regular and dependable snow removal is extremely important for Sno-Parks. The close proximity of the proposed Kapka site to Forest Roads 46 and 45 should provide dependable parking access and enable snowplowing which is economically feasible.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS TO MAKE KAPKA BUTTE A SUCCESSFUL SNO-PARK
There are several management and design actions which should be considered to help make the proposed Kapka Butte Sno-Park a successful winter recreation facility:
Trailer Parking Design and Layout: It is important that all new trailer slots in this area be properly designed for pull-through access and be a minimum of 60-feet long to facilitate the loading and unloading of long snowmobile trailers. The parking area should be roomy enough to accommodate the wide turning-radius required for long tow vehicle/trailer combinations.
Turning Lanes on Highway 45: South-bound and north-bound turning lanes should be added to Highway 45 at the entrance to the new Sno-Park to enhance highway safety for motorists. Since the majority of traffic will likely come from the Bend area, the south-bound turning lane should be designed longer to accommodate peak traffic flows. Additionally, longer-than-normal turning lanes from both directions should be considered since many of the vehicles will have long trailers (45-feet-plus combined length of tow vehicle and snowmobile trailer). This widening of Highway 45 to accommodate turn lanes will also help provide extra turning-radius into the Sno-Park by long vehicle combinations.
Improvements to Snowmobile Trails #45 and #5: This project proposes to provide new winter trail infrastructure through the construction of several new trail segments for nonmotorized recreationists – but fails to include any proposed infrastructure improvements for motorized routes other than the construction of a 0.2-mile link from the new parking area to Trail #45. While this new link is critical, other snowmobile route improvements are also needed to make this proposed Sno-Park more consistently accessible for snowmobilers. It is important that this oversight be addressed to improve the viability of this proposal.
In particular Trail #45 – from the new parking area link northward to its junction with Trail #5 – and Trail #5 – from this junction north under Highway 46 in the Lammert Crossing and then westward to Dutchman Flat – need to be widened and straightened to the extent possible in order to accommodate increased/concentrated snowmobile traffic from the new Sno-Park toward higher-elevation destinations in the Elk Lake, Moon Mountain, and High Country areas. This section of Trail #5 already gets heavily pounded from existing traffic traveling up-country from Wanoga and other lower-elevation parking areas. It has been nearly 20 years since this trail section was developed, so its design has not kept pace with current use. Both of these trails should be widened where possible to increase the margin of safety. Trail widening will also provide more ‘snow storage’ along trail edges; this will benefit trail grooming operations and, ultimately, improve trail quality and safety. Additionally, some horizontal and vertical curves along Trail #5 in particular could be flattened/straightened to increase sight distances; this will help keep the trail smoother, more enjoyable to ride, and safer.
There is some concern about the tendency for the Lammert Crossing, given its southern exposure, to melt out early in some conditions. Since this typically occurs for only a few hundred feet, we believe this can be mitigated with a couple of actions. First, some trail widening in advance of the crossing could provide ‘snow storage’ areas whereby the trail groomer could stockpile snow supplies in shaded areas for use later to cover trail sections if they melt out. Second, the most melt-prone trail sections could be covered with a layer of wood chips or other biodegradable mulch materials to help prevent mud forming – which quickly deteriorates snow layers. In any event, this trail improvement should be considered irrespective of the Kapka project since it would help improve safety on a high-volume snowmobile trail.
Trail Connection from Kwolh Butte to Red Crater and Elk Lake: As we have discussed with the DNF many times in the past, OSSA believes that developing a trail link from Snowmobile Trail #4 in the Kwohl Butte area to Red Crater and ultimately Elk Lake is critical to long-term snowmobile management on the DNF. This trail extension proposal was originally included in this planning process but was dropped from further consideration along the way. We continue to believe this trail linkage could be crucial for helping disperse use out of the Kapka Butte area. It could also provide relief to the busy Dutchman Flat area since, without this link, almost all snowmobile traffic headed to the most popular higher-elevation snowmobiling destinations are forced through Dutchman Flat. This trail link could provide important relief for the overall snowmobile trail system in this area and should be considered as a winter infrastructure improvement on the DNF.
This proposal seems to have been held up primarily because some of the potential new trail route would cross through an Inventoried Roadless Area. Earlier in this process OSSA was told by DNF that – while it could be possible to cut a snowmobile trail through Roadless – the trail could not be groomed. This would not be acceptable since an ungroomed trail would likely often be impassable and unsafe given the frequent deep snowfall in this area. Consequently this proposal was apparently dropped from consideration by the forest.
Motorized use and motorized trails are allowed within Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs). It is important to note that a Forest Service appeal decision within the last year (Smith River NRA Road Management and Route Designation Project Appeal No. 07-05-10-0005, Six Rivers National Forest, California; Appeal Decision issued January 10, 2008) affirmed that motorized trails are appropriate within IRAs. The Appeal Deciding Officer concluded that, “The 2001 Roadless Rule alone does not provide justification for elimination of ‘motorized trails.’ There is no justification presented in the EA/RDN for not having trails (vs. roads) in the IRA.”
Snowmobile trail grooming does not create a ‘road’ but rather provides proper management and safety for that particular motorized ‘trail’ route. Additionally, snowmobile trails do not necessarily require surface grading or construction such as would be required for typical ‘road’ construction or maintenance. Rather, the snow trail base can be built up above grade by the trail grooming operation – which often occurs over the top of rocks, stumps, and surface debris. Because snowmobile trails can utilize deep snowfall versus ground disturbing construction to provide the trail’s surface, the impacts are minimal since the ‘trail’ ultimately melts away in the spring.
The DNF was in error when it took the position that this route through Roadless could not be groomed; therefore this important trail linkage should be given proper reconsideration through one alternative of the EIS as the DNF considers winter sports infrastructure improvements through this process.
Snowmobile Trail #40 to Sunrise Lodge: There has been some concern expressed that development of the Kapka Butte Sno-Park will create issues with snowmobilers trying to get to the Dutchman area and beyond via Trail #40 – particularly if Trail #5 becomes overloaded and/or particularly rough. Since this trail dead-ends at Sunrise, this could create issues if those concerns do in fact materialize. As the DNF considers winter sports infrastructure through this EIS process, it should investigate any options to connect Trail #40 to Trail #5 with a designated at-grade crossing of Highway 46. This could provide an additional route to help disperse snowmobile traffic from the Kapka Sno-Park area while also providing relief for traffic volumes on Trail #5.
OTHER ISSUES
Other issues we’ve heard discussed as this scoping process has evolved include:
Elk Lake Resort: There has been some concern expressed that building a new Sno-Park at Kapka could negatively affect the viability of Elk Lake Resort. Elk Lake Resort is extremely important to winter recreation on the DNF and to OSSA’s members; we would not support any action by the DNF that would adversely impact their continued viability. Their staff and clients depend upon parking at the Dutchman Sno-Park; they should not be required to move further away or be required to park at Kapka.
As stated previously, the Dutchman parking area should remain open for motorized parking for the entire winter season – so a new parking area at Kapka should not change the Resort’s parking situation. Second and most importantly, since the Resort operates under a Special Use Permit from the Forest Service, their parking is ultimately a business relationship with the Forest and outside the scope of this analysis. But because of that business relationship, we believe the DNF will continue to provide reasonable assigned parking that meets the Resort’s needs.
Dutchman Sno-Park: There has been a lot of discussion and concerns expressed about the future of motorized (trailer) parking in the Dutchman Sno-Park. We reiterate one more time: trailer parking must be allowed to continue at Dutchman all winter-season long since it provides the best high-elevation access.
There has also been considerable discussion about whether parking at Dutchman should be expanded rather than spending money to develop the new Sno-Park at Kapka Butte. It is unfortunate that this has come to be viewed as an either-or situation, primarily since past attempts to expand Dutchman’s capacity have failed. Ideally – absolutely, Dutchman provides the best high-elevation access opportunity for snowmobilers and backcountry skiers. It is a concept which OSSA has supported in the past and will continue to support in the future. But we also continue to believe there is important long-term value to winter recreation by developing a Sno-Park at Kapka.
The reality is that we’re unclear, given the unfortunate baggage that comes with the history of this area, as to whether the DNF is open to reconsidering expansion at Dutchman once again. Since your scoping notice states that you intend to produce an EIS rather than an EA for this process, is it to be presumed that there will be at least three (3) alternatives considered (no action, a proposed action, and at least one more variation of an action alternative)? If so, perhaps considering ‘Kapka development with continued limited trailer parking at Dutchman’ as one action alternative and ‘Dutchman expansion’ as a second potential action alternative would be the best way to sort out this growing question?
If the DNF does in fact decide to consider Dutchman expansion as one alternative analyzed by this EIS process, it is important that trailer parking capacity be at least comparable to the 70 slots which have been proposed at Kapka. Additionally, close consideration needs to be given to layout in respect to motorized/nonmotorized ingress, egress, and overall circulation to try to improve working relationships and provide sound multiple use recreation management.
Dutchman Flat – Tumalo Mountain: There has been discussion and concern expressed by some that anti-snowmobile individuals and groups may try to use this Kapka Butte Sno-Park planning process as a venue to pursue further closures to snowmobiling in the Dutchman Flat and Tumalo areas – or even to pursue such extreme positions as making ‘everything north of Century Drive’ nonmotorized-only access. The OSSA is staunchly opposed to any additional closures to motorized access in this area of the DNF and will vigorously oppose any such efforts. We therefore urge the DNF to resist any such efforts if they do in fact materialize. The scoping for this EIS process really involves the DNF analyzing potential ‘infrastructure developments’ (parking and trails) for winter recreation management. Any ulterior hijacking of this process to push additional land use closures would be highly inappropriate and must be summarily rejected.
Oregongirl
01-11-09, 06:52 AM
I've had some feedback on concerns about the different positions. The SAWS position strongly supports an expansion at Dutchman, but does not opposed Kapka. We were careful too NOT oppose it.
SAWS isn't an organization whose intent is to argue for or fights about sno-parks (although that is mostly what they have been involved with here in Oregon). Directly from the SAWS website: Our SAWS goal is simple – we want to keep snowmobilers riding areas open, period.
The building of Kapka alone will not directly impact riding areas, UNLESS a restriction of Dutchman is part of the Kapka plan. Such a limitation WILL impact snowmobilers riding areas and fuel the flames of the anti-motorized agenda.
At the end of the day, SAWS does not want to be in opposition with OSSA. I don't feel that we are even now. The differences between our positions is simply where the emphasis is applied.
There has been confusion on the various stances related to the proposed Kapka Sno-Park construction.
I thought it would be best to clean up this thread and focus on the positions of the Dutchman Task Force, SAWS and OSSA. Please read what they have to say and determine what YOU think is the best course of action.
WRITE A LETTER stating your position.
Regardless of position, it is important to stay positive and solutions focused. Don't talk about what won't work or why. Talk about what will and how it benefits all user groups.
After you write your letter, let's get back to the most important aspect of snowmobiling - HAVING FUN.
Ben