The Mt Hood National Forest has issued its OHV Plan Final Decision.  The original proposal would have made an OHV zone (named "Peavine") nearly adjacent to the PCT.  PCTA issued comments advocating Alternative 4, which dropped the Peavine system.  The final decision combines elements of Alternatives 3 and 4, and, fortunately, it does include dropping the Peavine system.

From the Record of Decision issued by Gary Larsen on August 16:

[from Proposed Alternatives]

"In Alternative 4, the Peavine proposed OHV system is dropped to address potential fisheries and wildlife effects as well as concerns associated with the proximity to the Pacific Crest Trail.  "

"OHV systems Dropped from Selected Alternative: The remaining proposed OHV systems were dropped from the Selected Alternative to address specific natural resource concerns and to meet the intent of the Forest recreation niche. The niche statement suggests that the Forest should offer only a moderate opportunity for OHV recreation. The Forest is not known as a major provider of OHV recreation, and it is not a major OHV destination.

...

 Peavine: Eliminating OHV use in this location avoids concerns related to the wildlife winter range habitat and drinking water source for the town of Estacada as well as concerns raised in government-to-government consultation with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

...

Special thanks to PCTA and OET volunteer David Roe, whose diligence in researching and sharing information on the Peavine area made a big difference.

Dana Berthold

Regional Representative, Columbia Cascades

Pacific Crest Trail Association

PO Box 359, Cascade Locks, OR 97014

dberthold@pcta.org

541 844 9133