Off-roaders damaging Irish Bend Park

Kyle Odegard

IRISH BEND — A gate may be installed at the entrance to Irish Bend Park — northeast of Monroe on the west bank of the Willamette River — to block offroad vehicles that have damaged the scenic spot.

“Right now, it’s drive over the entire resource and go wherever you want,” said Jeff Powers, Benton County Natural Areas and Parks Department director. People have carved roads through the riverside brush and vehicle tracks criss-cross the gravel bar.

Earlier this month, the Natural Areas and Parks Advisory Board unanimously recommended to place a gate at the park, but provide keys for temporary access to residents who apply.

Fishermen, for example, could launch boats there. People still could walk into the park, which closes at dusk.

Virgil Haener, 86, who lives near the park, said a gate was regrettable, but perhaps necessary because it’s getting dangerous for people lounging at the riverside.

“The four-wheelers; it’s a race track for them,” he said. “It keeps getting worse. Probably for 10 years, there’s getting to be more people coming down here.”

Haener is the nearest person with a tractor, and said he now tows 10 to 15 stuck rigs per year.

Cindy Hawley, who also lives nearby, said people camp and party there frequently, and she’s had firewood stolen from her property.

She supported a gate, but worried it would result in vehicles driving through farmers’ fields to get to the riverbank.

Max Turner of Corvallis wondered about all the fuss. The 47-year-old said people have been bringing four-wheelers to Irish Bend since he was a youngster.

“That’s what makes it fun down here,” he said, as he fished with his grandson last week, his rig parked within a few feet of the water.

Powers said illegal off-roading activity, as well as vandalism, often occurs at night.

According to the county newsletter, motor vehicles have caused erosion, litter and the destruction of riparian vegetation at the site. Sheriff Diana Simpson said some vehicles have been stripped and abandoned there.

She’s encouraged residents to call her office if people are off-roading at Irish Bend Park, and patrol deputies also are stopping by.

There aren’t any signs saying that four-wheeling is prohibited at the site, but the last two weekends, there were three incidents where deputies gave criminal mischief warnings to people off-roading there.

Simpson said there is nighttime partying at the spot because it is isolated. Still, Irish Bend Park is very popular for families.

“I’m supporting putting a gate up if it reduces nuisance calls out there,” Simpson said.

Powers said a second gate also would be placed at the site, at the western edge of a new parking lot enclosed by boulders and posts.

“The tentative plan is to lock it in the mid-fall through winter and early spring, since the river level comes up and limits the activity there anyway,” Powers said.

The western gate would be open in the summertime.

Details need to be worked out with the access program for the eastern gate, which is closer to the river. Powers said that if the project is approved, it would probably cost about $30,000. And he hopes it is installed this summer.

The Benton County Board of Commissioners will discuss the gate at its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, in the Benton Plaza at 408 S.W. Monroe Ave.

Source: http://www.democratherald.com/articles/2009/04/24/news/local/3loc12_irishbendpark0424.txt

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