Molalla River-Table RockRecreation Area

Management PlanBureau of Land Management,

Salem District

October 23, 2009

Presentation Outline Intro and Background

Timeline and Planning Process

Management Themes and Alternatives

Next Steps Discussion

BLM’s land base 43,067 acres in Upper

Molalla watershed (33% of watershed)

11,875 designated as “Special Recreation Management Area”

5,700 acres included in Table Rock Wilderness

Background Molalla River Exchange

1992 land exchange Corporate concerns over dumping, vandalism, etc 12 miles of riverfront property below Glen Avon Bridge Foundation of ‘Recreation Corridor’

Table Rock Wilderness Designated in 1984 Last contiguous piece of pristine forest in the watershed Plan completed in 1987 continues to guide management, established

current trail system

BLM Management Staff come from Wildwood Recreation Site with assistance from Salem

District Office Two volunteer host couples stationed at Molalla maintenance shop BLM law enforcement with help from Molalla PD and Clackamas County

Background (Visitor data)*

Who the Visitors Are Over 90% come from NW Oregon Demographics (ethnicity, education, etc)

similar to Clackamas County as a whole Over 90% come in groups of 2 or more

What they tell us 88% ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ 75% report being ‘very attached’ to Molalla-

Table Rock area Recreational impacts rated as minimal

concerns Only 13% report feeling crowded

* Visitor data comes from 2007 Arizona State University Visitor Survey

Management Plan Purpose and Goals

Purpose Guide the management of recreation use and resources Guide the function and design of specific projects Identify management actions

Goals Preserve, protect and manage the Molalla River/Table Rock SRMA for the use

and enjoyment of present and future generations

Adaptively manage the SRMA to enhance the area’s recreation opportunities and unique characteristics

Recognize that increased future use will trigger the need for increased levels of management

Management Plan Process: Where are we?

Public ScopingCompleted October 2008

Pre-Plan AnalysisCompleted April 2009

Collect Resource DataMay 2009, ongoing

Develop Management AlternativesJuly 2009 to present

Presentation of AlternativesToday to January 2010

Alternatives

Each alternative varies based on themes: Management of overnight use Management of day use and

river access Shared-Use Trail System and

Trailhead Access Visitor Services and

Information

Theme: Overnight Use

Identified as major issue Riverside impacts Long-term occupancy Water quality concerns Public safety

45 to 50% of users reported camping during their visit Average stay: 4.5 nights Current visitors like the

status quo Only 26% expressed interest

in developed campground

Theme: Day Use Recreation and River Access

Much of day use on the Molalla is river-based Roughly 70% report swimming during their visit; 22% say it is

their primary activity 7% claim fishing as primary activity (equivalent to shooting) Less than 1% cite rafting or kayaking as primary activity

Average stay: 5.3 hours No consistent interest from users for large-scale

improvements

Theme: Shared Use Trail System and Trailhead Access

16% of Corridor visitors use the trail system 10 % cite horseback riding as primary activity 3 % cite mountain biking as primary activity 2.5% cite trail hiking as primary activity

70% ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ Some concerns with beneficial experience for other

groups, trail conditions

Theme: Visitor Services and Information Information that orients visitors to the

area Interpretation that highlights local natural

history Forum for rules and regulations Moderate level of interest from visitors in

more visitor information

Alternatives: Overview

• No changes to current practices; ‘No Action Alternative’

Alternative 1: Continuation of

Existing Management

• Closures or improvements to certain sites but no major site development

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing

Opportunities

• Develop a primitive campground, moderate changes to day use

Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation

Emphasis

• Prohibit overnight use, develop day use sites and expand trail system

Alternative 4:Day Use Recreation

Emphasis

GOAL Provide opportunities to engage in dispersed recreation along a

forested river corridor with options for camping, swimming, picnicking, angling and trail use in a relatively undeveloped setting.

INTENT Provide high quality visitor experiences with a continued focus on

reducing public safety hazards, dumping and vandalism. Maintain existing facilities and trails. Properly enforce current rules and regulations.

Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing Management

Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing ManagementOVERNIGHT USE

Location and # of Sites

• 17 designated, dispersed sites

• No camping outside designated, signed sites

• Most are located between river and Molalla Forest Rd

• Sites patrolled and cleaned by staff, volunteer hosts

Amenities

• 3 vault restrooms• Minimally

defined parking• Posted rules• Metal fire ring

Type of Opportunity

• Tent camping with multiple vehicles (small groups)

• Small, medium or large RV’s (limited spaces)

• No designated group use areas

Carrying Capacity

• 17 sites total, total capacity 200+ (avg 3 vehicles/site, 4 users/vehicle)

Fees?

• None

Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing ManagementOVERNIGHT USE

Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing ManagementDAY USE RECREATION

Location and # of Sites

• Roughly 50 heavily used day use sites 400+ capacity

• Established pullouts off of major access routes

• Some are signed with rules, regulations

• Sites patrolled and cleaned by staff, volunteer hosts

Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing ManagementTRAIL SYSTEM

•

•

24.6 miles (half closed roads and half singletrack)

Ongoing maintenance of trouble spots

• Utilize youth crew labor (Columbia River Youth Corps, Todos Juntos) and volunteers

• Access from 5 trailheads (Amanda’s, AmeriCorps, Sandquist/Looney’s, Hardy Creek & Yellow Gate)

Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing ManagementVISITOR INFORMATION

• Entrance sign at start of BLM ownership

• Major rules and regulations signage at Americorps TH

• Boards for posting seasonal information (fire, angling regs, etc)

• Signage at each campsite and most day use sites

• Kiosks at Americorps, Sandquist TH, Hardy Creek TH, IvorsWayside and Turner Bridge

• Problems with vandalism

Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing ManagementIMPLEMENTATION

HOW WOULD THIS BE COMPLETED?

Current staffing and levels of maintenance would be maintainedTwo hosts would continue to station out of Molalla Maintenance ShopAddress ongoing problem areas

GOAL Provide opportunities for dispersed recreation along a forested

river corridor with options for riverside camping, swimming, picnicking and trail use. Strategically place amenities to control visitor use and mitigate impacts to sensitive resources.

INTENT Provide for a high quality visitor experience. Minimize

infrastructure development and long term operations and maintenance costs while adequately managing for increased visitor use.

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities

Location and # of Sites

• Limit camping to 12 designated, dispersed campsites

• Close two sites, limit other sites to day use only

• Improve rest of campsites

• No camping outside designated, signed sites

• Sites patrolled and cleaned by staff, volunteer hosts

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities OVERNIGHT USE

Amenities

• Defined parking area

• Picnic Tables• Trash cans• Site definition• Improved river

access• Posted rules• Metal fire ring

Type of Opportunity

• Tent camping with multiple vehicles (small groups)

• Small, medium or large RV’s (limited spaces)

• No designated group use areas

Carrying Capacity

• 12 sites total, total capacity 150+ (avg 3 vehicles/site, 4 users/vehicle)

Fees?

• None

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities OVERNIGHT USE

Location and # of Sites• Select three or four locations for

moderate improvement• Site definition• Picnic tables• Better river access• Additional restrooms

• Chosen from existing campsites or day use sites

• Closure of several highly impacted sites

• 45+ sites total 360 user capacity

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities DAY USE RECREATION

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities DAY USE RECREATION

Improved river accessSite Definition

• 24.6 miles, same as Alt 1

• Additional emphasis on fixing problem areas

• Re-routing• Closing unauthorized trails

• Close Amanda’s and Americorps trailheads and improve others

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities TRAIL SYSTEM

• Slight enhancement to identified day use and trailhead location (additional signage, routefinding)

• Continue signage of day use and campsite locations

• No new interpretive information would be developed

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities VISITOR INFORMATION

HOW WOULD THIS BE COMPLETED?Same levels of staff and host presenceSpecific areas improvement selected in final plan Trail re-routes Day use enhancements Campsite closures

Improvements implemented within first two seasons

Alternative 2: Enhance Existing OpportunitiesIMPLEMENTATION

GOAL Provide a mix of developed overnight recreation and dispersed day

use along a forested river corridor. Centralize overnight use in order to minimize resource damage.

INTENT Address resource damage by limiting dispersed overnight options

and increasing levels of management. Expand the visitor base to include those seeking developed yet primitive camping opportunities, while maintaining options for dispersed day use and river access.

Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation Emphasis

Location and # of Sites

• One centralized developed campground at Pine Creek bridge west of river

• No camping allowed outside of CG

• On-site host for site management and communications

Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation EmphasisOVERNIGHT USE

Amenities

• Picnic tables• Improved

parking areas• Trash Cans• Tent Pads• Visitor

Information• Fire rings• Vault restrooms• No Water or

Electric

Type of Opportunity

• Spaces divided between tent and small to medium RV’s

Carrying Capacity

• 24 to 30 sites total, total capacity 180 (avg 1.5 vehicles/site, 4 users/vehicle)

Fees?

• Yes, based on level of amenities (est. $12 to $16/night)

Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation EmphasisOVERNIGHT USE

Potential Campground Amenities

Visitor Info Tent Pads and Fire rings

On-site HostEntry Signage

Location and # of Sites

• 40+ dispersed day use sites

• Closure of inappropriate sites

• Some receive minor improvements

• Additional restrooms• Picnic tables

• Day use-only area of developed campground with 8 to 10 picnic sites

Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation EmphasisDAY USE RECREATION

• Same as Alt 1, with ongoing maintenance of 24.6 mile system

• Locate a new TH at developed campground, replacing Yellow Gate

• Develop a new 1 to 2 mile non-motorized trail adjacent to campground

• Identify additional links between day use sites

• Looney’s Gate Hardy Creek TH

Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation EmphasisTRAIL SYSTEM

• Same as Alt 2 slight enhancement to existing signage

• Continue signing day use locations

• Volunteer host within Corridor serves as information source

• Campground becomes primary visitor information location

Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation EmphasisVISITOR INFORMATION

HOW WOULD THIS BE COMPLETED? Phase out campsites over 2 to 3 years as new site is developed

Temporarily less capacity

Recruit and station host at new campground Utilize volunteers and youth crews to rehabilitate sites

Summer 2009 pilot project

Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation EmphasisIMPLEMENTATION

GOAL Provide a day use recreation experience that allows for safe,

enjoyable river and trail access. Eliminate or reduce impacts and undesirable conditions associated with overnight use while enhancing other activities.

INTENT Limit recreation options to certain activities and locations that are

the most appropriate. Expand the visitor base to those seeking more managed recreation settings. Allow other regional recreation providers to supply overnight opportunities.

Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis

Location and # of Sites

• Camping prohibited within potential Wild and Scenic River boundaries (1/4 mile either side of river)

• Allows camping in upland areas and wilderness

• All 17 dispersed sites closed to overnight use

• Enforced with heavy administrative and law enforcement presence

Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation EmphasisOVERNIGHT USE

Amenities

• None

Type of Opportunity

• Upland tent camping or backpacking

Carrying Capacity

• Limited to existing wilderness and upland sites

Fees?

• None

Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation EmphasisOVERNIGHT USE

Location and # of Sites

Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation EmphasisDAY USE RECREATION

• Select three locations for developed day use sites

• Looney’s Gate• Sleepy Hollow• Ivor’s Wayside/Sunset

• 8 to 10 picnic sites each

• Swimming and river access

• Visitor info and trailheads

• Closure of other day use sites in main corridor area

Amenities• Vault Restrooms • Defined parking• Posted rules

Type of Opportunity• Formalized river access• Trail connections• Developed picnicking

Carrying Capacity• 15 to 20 parking spaces per site (3 people/vehicle)

180 users• 10 undeveloped day use sites 80+ users

Fees?• Yes, based on level of amenities (est. $3 to $5 per

vehicle)

Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation EmphasisDAY USE RECREATION: Details

•Picnic tables•BBQ grills•Shelters

• Identify and correct problems on 24.6 mile system

• Develop riverside trails that link developed sites where possible

• Extend trail system south to Aquila Vista

• 3 to 6 miles new singletrack trail

• Improve one developed day use site (Looney’s Gate) as northern hub for trail system

• Close Amanda’s and Americorps

Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation EmphasisTRAIL SYSTEM

• Development of “Visitor Portal” at first developed day use site (i.e. Looney’s Gate)

• Signed as first stop (i.e. “Information 1.5 miles ahead)• Orient visitor to area maps, background, rules, regulations, activity

suggestions• Introduction to area natural history

• Identify and sign points of scenic or geologic interest• Narrows section geology interpretation

• Improve all existing information kiosks, maps and trail information

Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation EmphasisVISITOR INFORMATION

HOW WOULD THIS BE COMPLETED?Phased closure and rehabilitation of campsitesPhased closure and development of day use sitesTwo hosts would continue to station out of Molalla Maintenance ShopRamp up law enforcement and administrative presence to stop overnight use

Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation EmphasisIMPLEMENTATION

Management Plan Process: Where do we go from here? Review comments,

revise and release Final PlanSummer 2010

Write Draft Plan and Complete Environmental Assessment (EA)Today to February 2010

Public Meetings to Present EA AlternativesFebruary 2010

30 Day Formal Comment Period on EAFebruary/March 2010

Presentation of AlternativesToday to January 2010

Questions?