COOS REGIONAL TRAILS PARTNERSHIP

Minutes

January 18, 2005

Attending: Tom Sill, BLM; Reg Pullen, BLM; Daniel Grijalva, Singletrack Coast; Bob Golden, BLM, Donna Bishop, Oregon Equestrians; Bob Laport, Coos County Forests; Mike Smith, Southcoast Trail Riders; Amelia Dexter, Oregon Dept. of Forestry; John Bragg, South Slough; Jenny Webster, Oregon Equestrians.

November minutes – The minutes of the last meeting (November 2004) were approved with corrections from Mike Law.

1) 2004 round-up – Reg Pullen provided a summary of CRTP activities for 2004. About 50 people attended the first 2004 meeting. Reg noted the following accomplishments for the last year:

• CRTP reorganized its board and began to revise the memorandum of understanding signed by members of the CRTP and bylaws. The revision is still in progress and has been a frequent item of discussion at monthly meetings.
• The website was updated and saved from extinction by Alan Hoffmeister, who found out the CRTP’s registration for the site had expired. Alan paid to re-register the site out of pocket, was reimbursed by the membership, and was voted to be treasurer. Recently Alan moved to a new position at the BLM state office. Website management was taken over by Tom Sill.
• On National Trails Day a work party did some much-needed maintenance on Winchester Trails, cleaning out brush and dried litter along some of the trails.
• In connection with its participation in CRTP, the BLM brought in a Northwest Youth Corps crew to do maintenance work on Blue Ridge, Euphoria Ridge and New River trails.
• CRTP received a private grant of $1300 for purchasing supplies to maintain trails structures in Winchester Trails area. Keeping the Winchester Trails available as a multi-use trail network is a key element of the CRTP.
• Equestrian and OHV groups have developed a good relationship for trail use management on the North Spit.
• CRTP endorsed the “Big Loop” concept under development by Mike Smith and the Southcoast Trail Riders. The concept envisions a complete, or nearly-complete network of trails ranging roughly in a clockwise loop from North Spit to Eel Lake, Dean Creek, Allegany, Blue Ridge, Winchester Trails to Cape Arago.
• John Bragg was invited by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay to make a presentation for a group of visiting Indonesians who were in Coos Bay to learn how partnerships such as CRTP work.
• The Forest Service has neared completion of new trails in Eden Valley.
• In cooperation with the Bay Area Hospitals, CRTP is developing a Hiking for Health program modeled after a similar program in Curry County.
• Published a trails opportunity guide, information from which was included in two new guide books about regional trails and water trails.
• Improved communication among members.

Reg added there is lots of work yet to do.

2) Publicity – Jenny Webster and Donna Bishop graciously consented to form a publicity committee. John Bragg will assist them.

3) OCEAN board meeting – John Bragg reported on the December OCEAN board meeting. It is time to renew CRTP’s memorandum of understanding with OCEAN (Note: This memorandum is not the same one that governs organizations within CRTP.) OCEAN is a 501 (c) 3 non profit that provides some assistance with grant administration to CRTP. OCEAN extended an invitation to CRTP to become an OCEAN subcommittee, which would eliminate the need for CRTP to continue developing bylaws and would provide much-needed stability for managing grants, payments for work, etc. John said the bylaws CRTP is considering were taken from OCEAN’s bylaws and modified to meet perceived CRTP needs. He suggested CRTP could simply adopt Oceans bylaws and, where necessary, adopt specific amendments or exceptions to meet needs particular to CRTP but not OCEAN. OCEAN membership provides eliminates the need for a separate CRTP treasury and accounts and provides a home for CRTP computer and files. CRTP’s computer is currently living at the BLM offices, but CRTP still has a file cabinet in OCEAN’s office.

Reg Pullen said the idea sounds good, but said that OCEAN’s mission is not the CRTP’s mission. Reg asked if OCEAN would consider modifying its mission statement to say that recreation is as important as interpretation. It is important that both organizations have the same goals. Amelia Dexter asked if OCEAN has other subcommittees. Bob Golden said OCEAN oversees the Coast to Crest Interpretive League, but he said the committee has been mostly inactive for some time. John Bragg said OCEAN also sponsors the Coastal Environments Learning Network, which envisions a loose network of learning stations that would provide a variety of education and interpretation in the Coos region. The network is still in a formative stage. Amelia said she could support the concept if there were no philosophical conflicts.

Some members were concerned that OCEAN is perceived as an environmental organization and CRTP includes groups such as off-highway vehicle users. Jenny Webster said some of us might not be good for the environment in some people’s eyes. John Bragg said that OCEAN is well aware of the diverse membership of CRTP and of its activities. Reg said everyone’s desires are valid, and he suggested asking OCEAN if it is willing to put its goals and mission statements on the table and consider what’s good for Coos County.

Donna Bishop supported asking OCEAN to review its mission statement. Amelia suggested inviting an OCEAN representative to talk to the group. John reminded the group that Ron Steffens, who was OCEAN president last year, attended the first meetings of 2004 and encouraged closer involvement at that time, including possible CRTP representation on the OCEAN board. (Ron has since moved out of the area but maintains his involvement in OCEAN.) Ron said last year that CRTP could provide OCEAN with some new blood and new energy. Bob Golden suggested calling them up and asking. John said he would put the suggestion to members of OCEAN’s board who work at South Slough.

4) Letter to schools – A letter to area schools inviting student participation in CRTP was drafted and approved. John was supposed to follow up and distribute the letter via the educational service district, but failed to do so over the holidays. He said he would contact Miranda Shapiro to track down the letter and get it sent and report back to the group.

5) Hiking for Health –  The healthy hiking initiative will be inaugurated with an introductory hike on at 10 a.m. on Feb. 26, 2005 at Empire Lakes. The group will meet at the John Topits entrance for a 1 ½ to 2 mile hike around the lakes. Reg, John and Miranda will meet with the Bay Area Hospital representatives to begin coordinating CRTP’s and the hospital’s involvement. This hike will be a very low-impact hike and will provide an opportunity to tell people more about the program. Bob Golden volunteered to provide some interpretation about the history of the lakes and natural features on the hike. John will work with the publicity committee to develop a press release and contact the World. He suggested we invite the World to do a story in advance of the hike to provide some publicity. We will also contact the senior citizens’ center to let them know about the hike.

6) Winchester Trails maintenance agreement – Bob Laport received a Dec. 6, 2004 letter from Mike Smith informing the county that Southcoast Trail Riders was withdrawing from the maintenance agreement it had with the county to maintain the Winchester Trails. Under terms of the agreement each side has the right to withdraw with 30 days notice, so as of Jan. 6, there is no mechanism for a group to do trail maintenance in this area. Mike said the group lost state park funding because of a new interpretation of how grant money must be used. Under the new interpretation, Mike said, “We’ve been illegal for 13 years.” He said it was not right to lead the county on. Under the new interpretation volunteers cannot be used to do work paid for by the grant funds, but work must be contracted out to neutral third parties. Mike said the state parks has an advisory that assists in managing OHV use, but he said the make up of the board was being changed to reflect non-users.

Bob Laport said timber sales planned for this year will require relocating some trails in Winchester Trails area. If they aren’t relocated, at least one trail (Franz) and possibly two will have to be closed. He said there is a possibility the county could receive the maintenance grants, but that idea has not been discussed with or considered by the county commissioners. Bob Golden asked about using inmate crews to do trail work. Bob Laport said the county uses some inmate crews for road-clearing, but not for trail work .

Reg suggested contracting with Northwest Youth Corps to do trail maintenance. He said BLM uses RAC Title II funding to contract these crews and that Title III money might also be available to the county to use for trail maintenance. Mike Smith pointed out that having Winchester Trails available lessens illegal activity on other sites. Bob Laport said eliminating stream crossings reduces maintenance costs. Mike Smith noted it is difficult to avoid crossing streams, but said in some cases trails can detour to road crossings to avoid having to install bridges or culverts for trails. The main concern is fish passage that can be restricted by failing or plugged culverts.

Reg asked if the county commission is going to support Winchester Trails as a multi-use area? Do they want it to be only an industrial forest? Or, noting the increasing importance of tourism and recreation, will they be willing to devote a little bit of the forest for these other uses? Mike Smith said he received a call from Commission John Griffith, who offered to call state parks on behalf of the Southcoast Trail Riders.

Reg said land owners must take primary responsibility to keep trails open and if the county doesn’t want Winchester Trails, it won’t stay. Donna said the Oregon Equestrians will draft a letter to the County Commission in support of Winchester Trails. She also said the group has maintenance agreements with state parks for other riding areas including Bullards Beach.

Tom Sill suggested the county consider making Winchester Trails a fee site. Mike Smith said OHV riders already pay a fee through their vehicle tags. He said the group is discouraged by the developments and is considering other areas because Winchester Trails is turning into a high-investment, low-yield effort, considering frequent closures due to logging, fire restrictions in summer and now the loss of maintenance funds.

The CRTP will send a letter to the Commission in support of Winchester Trails emphasizing its role in tourism and recreation.

7) Other new business – Donna Bishop announced the Equestrians are scheduling summer work parties for 2005. Call Donna at 269-4617 to sign up.

8) In memoriam – It was announced that Richard Tuma, equestrian and CRTP member from Myrtle Point, died recently. Richard participated in CRTP for much of the last year. He will be missed.