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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, January 28, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 11, 2005 Dirt bikers have use for Jacksonville watershed By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — An advisory committee’s recommendation last week to sell off part of the city’s 1,800-acre watershed has revved up a motorcycle group’s interest in turning the property into a multiple-use recreation area. David Lexow, president of the 568-member Motorcycle Riders Association, said he wasn’t surprised by the decision, which will be the subject of public hearings and scrutiny by the Jacksonville City Council. "The longer people study the situation the more we win," he said. "Even with our most vehement opposition, we have 95 percent in common. We all want cleaner water, a better environment, better trails and more access." Jacksonville’s property is about two miles northeast of the city limits in a rugged and heavily wooded area. Seven of the 15-member committee members voted to sell off an unspecified portion of the land, two voted to sell all of it off and six voted to keep the property, but develop it for recreational purposes. Advertisement Lexow’s group already owns 300 acres nearby, but wants to create a larger, more controlled environment for motorcycle enthusiasts. "This is just a piece of the puzzle," he said. The Medford-based motorcycle group, which could tap into Oregon Parks and Recreation funds available for off-road vehicle users for the purchase, ultimately wants to be able to use more land, creating a recreation area encompassing as much as 25,000 acres, said Lexow. As part of its plan for the watershed and surrounding areas, owned by the Bureau of Land Management, Boise Cascade and private parties, the MRA would have an enforcement officer to make sure off-road enthusiasts don’t stray off designated trails and to monitor noise levels from vehicles. "At a certain point, there is an economy of scale where we could have a cop up there full time so that he’s there to bust the knuckleheads," he said. Jack Duggan, an Applegate resident and opponent of the MRA’s plans, said the committee’s recommendation was unexpected, but he understands it does represent some kind of compromise. He said this is just an advisory committee recommendation, still subject to potential objections from the community and requiring the approval of the City Council. No matter what boundaries the MRA sets up to keep motorcyclists away from hikers, horseback riders or homeowners, Duggan said, "The noise is not going to recognize that boundary, and it will be a significant factor in how useful the other adjacent area is." Advisory committee member Lyn Boening said she knows that many people in the community feel the property is a big asset for the city. Nevertheless, she believes it’s better to do something now to make use of the land to open it up for more recreation. "I voted for the partial sell and I’m not ashamed of it," she said. "This would provide the opportunity to provide recreation for people." Boening said the MRA has proven to be a responsible group in the community and would provide strict control of the property so that it could be used for hiking, biking and motorcycles. "Off-road use is not going to go away and the MRA is the best group to handle this," she said. "The MRA has been fighting for the past 40 years the stigma of the careless rider." The city should entertain swapping some land with the MRA in addition to selling off other portions to ensure that motorcyclists are farther away from civilization, said Boening. John Stagg, another advisory committee member, said the MRA’s plan to develop the property for multiple-use recreation makes sense to him and has worked in other areas, citing Prospect as one example in Jackson County. Lexow said one of the MRA’s goals in purchasing the property is to get the off-road vehicles as far away from homes as possible. "The reduction of conflict is the whole objective here." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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