Ann's Butte Closed to Off Road Vehicles

For the first time, off road vehicles are banned from the Ann's Butte area south of Sunriver off Spring River Road. "We've got the actual damage on the ground, erosion is happening as a result of off road motorized traffic," said Rolondo Mendez, Deputy District Ranger with the U.S. Forest Service.

The US Forest Service will now post signs and have law enforcement patrolling the area. Neighbors are relieved, a dozen of them started the Friends of Ann's Butte after finding trash and a lot of the natural resources destroyed. One spokesperson asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. "It's hard to live with on a daily basis, it's depressing, it's just a horrible thing to see right in your back yard," he said.

Off road vehicle users fear a few bad apples will give them a bad reputation. "There's no excuse for you not to be able to find a local place and not be hassled about anything because those places, they're specific they're made for us," said Grant McLean, Business Manager at Pro Caliber Motorsports and an ATV rider of seven years.

This area is more susceptible to erosion because the soil is loose, relying on surrounding trees and rocks. "It appears that where the primary issue occurs is as a motorcycle or 4-wheeler attempts to climb a steep grade so they're going straight up a slope and that's just digging up the ground," said Mendez.

The Ann's Butte area will be closed until the Forest Service decides it's okay to reopen it to motorized vehicles. If someone is caught riding in the area punishment will be a fine of up to $5,000 and/or up to six months in prison.

An area open to off road vehicles is the Fort Rock area east of Bend. A map of areas open to off road vehicles are available at ATV shops like Pro Caliber Motorsports and the U.S. Forest Service Office.

Source: http://kohd.com/news/local/80281

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