Input needed for North end trails

[Kimmy]

Please take a moment and call mike mcfarlane and let him know we need recreation opportunities for motorized use in Whatcom County. Some of you know there has been a push in years past to get an ORV area in Whatcom County. North Fork is a DNR managed area but not specifically designated as an ORV "Park" and in the 80's there was a proposal at a different site which was shot down by the neighbors according to the lands comm. Jennifer Belcher (at the time).

Every county in the state could use a motorized trail use/rock pit/obstable course etc area. Please take a moment and call to support such a project in Whatcom County. thxs

Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Department (WCPR) is working on development
of a detailed strategy for the county. The strategy will supplement the
county's comprehensive plan and when complete and adopted by the Whatcom County
Council, will guide park and open space efforts over the next 6-50 years.
Recent public workshops have focused efforts in 3 areas of acquisition and
development: saltwater access, upland trails and trail connections, and
protection of viewscapes. The County has solicited ideas and suggestions
regarding County parks and recreation facilities, programs and services. The
timeframe for completion of the strategy may be as early as May 2005, with
possible presentations to County Council and County Planning Commission
workshops or sessions that month.

As a major land manager in Whatcom County, DNR is particularly interested in
potential WCPR strategies that identify DNR-managed uplands and aquatics lands;
we continue to encourage public access and recreation, as long as it is
compatible with trust management activities and is designed to protect natural
resources.

Because of our ongoing work with you, we recognize that you may also have some
interest and so wanted to share this information with you. If you would like
additional information about the WCPR Open Space Planning or would like to
provide comments, please contact Michael McFarlane at WCPR (360-733-2900).

Christ Thomsen
Public Use and Natural Areas Manager
Northwest Region
Washington Department of Natural Resources
919 N Township St
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
christ.thomsen@wadnr.gov
(360)-856-3500

[KP81]

basically what your saying is you want to make North fork a ORV park right? sorry to say but that will probably by shot down by a lot of users part of the north fork is that there is no johnny law to bust people. i support it as a orv park but im just sayin i know a bunch of people that wouldnt.

[pokey]

Originally posted by KP81
basically what your saying is you want to make North fork a ORV park right? sorry to say but that will probably by shot down by a lot of users part of the north fork is that there is no johnny law to bust people. i support it as a orv park but im just sayin i know a bunch of people that wouldnt.

Once a area is made "official" there are E&E (education and enforcement) grants that can be applied for thru the NOVA funds.

[JeepDawg]

My opinion is that all non-official sites to wheel will be gone within 10 years.

[Kimmy]

No im not saying they have to make North Fork a designated ORV area, it would be nice, but so would having the county parks & rec dept step up to the plate and finally give motorized users a place to go, if you've been in whatcom county as long as i have you will remember places such as saxon and even 7 crossings, galbraith and cub creek that have all seen closure.

Years ago there was movement to get van zandt dike open for motorized use and more recently i see the gate open more often, the yo-yo's shooting out insulators and using the power line supports as winching spots got cub creek closed and of course the salmon trying to swim the river contributed to saxon being closed along with the jack asses who were running the elk herd with their quads.

Just because people you know dont think its a good idea to get an organized orv park doesnt mean you cant think for yourself and make a phone call.

thanks Jim, yes there are grants for orv patrols, signs etc and for those of you who dont know, the DNR is patrolling north fork, walker and reiter as well as giving out tickets.

[KP81]

i remeber all the places you are talking about not as a driver but as a passenger, many of those places i would go with my uncle when i was younger, and now they are shut down, im a driver now and i would like to see these places opened agian (saxon, academy, galbraith, and all the others) . i agree with that in 10 years anything that isnt established will be shut down. I have lived in whatcom county my whole life and i can tell you the parks and rec will never step up, the majority of this county is enviromentalists and there is a strong tendency to shutting down what we all know and love here.

DNR is doing a poor job currently patroling North Fork last fall i recall seeing them but i havent seen them lately, i dont know if this is due to it being winter and the amount of user has decreased, but im not seeing them, also up there usally 2 times a week scouting new trails and when hunting season was open i would hunt up on the mountain (<---edited because i dont like the increased traffic at northfork)

by the way does anyone know who organized the clean up of north fork? they did a good job but there was nothing posted, i dont think it was a volunteer thing because i didnt see any signs over the last month. i would have gladly helped out but there was no notice.

[ZIP]

Kimmy, I just bought a place in Anacortes and totally agree with you, is there a e-mail address for referenced?

provide comments, please contact Michael McFarlane at WCPR (360-733-2900).

[Kimmy]

email address for comments is:

parks@co.whatcom.wa.us

[YamahaToyotaFun]

No im not saying they have to make North Fork a designated ORV area, it would be nice, but so would having the county parks & rec dept step up to the plate and finally give motorized users a place to go, if you've been in whatcom county as long as i have you will remember places such as saxon and even 7 crossings, galbraith and cub creek that have all seen closure.

Years ago there was movement to get van zandt dike open for motorized use and more recently i see the gate open more often, the yo-yo's shooting out insulators and using the power line supports as winching spots got cub creek closed and of course the salmon trying to swim the river contributed to saxon being closed along with the jack asses who were running the elk herd with their quads.

Just because people you know dont think its a good idea to get an organized orv park doesnt mean you cant think for yourself and make a phone call.

thanks Jim, yes there are grants for orv patrols, signs etc and for those of you who dont know, the DNR is patrolling north fork, walker and reiter as well as giving out tickets.


I belive Van Zandt Dike is open for motorized use again, I have driven up a few roads on it before and there were no gates.

Its a shame these places got closed. I had only been to saxon once before it was shut down a few months ago, It was a really fun place to ride and would have been a good wheelin spot.

I think North Fork should be designated as a ORV park. Im getting sick and tired of seeing cars flipped over, shot up, burned, and just left. The same goes with washing machine, microwaves, tv, and other garbage. If it were an ORV park there would probally be a bit more law up there, and thats a good thing.


*Edit*

The clean up at North Fork was all the motorcycle guys :D , it was a pretty big event. MBMC and Al's Honda had a big part in it. I think DirtRider Magazine was there too.

[Crash]

I think North Fork should be designated as a ORV park. Im getting sick and tired of seeing cars flipped over, shot up, burned, and just left. The same goes with washing machine, microwaves, tv, and other garbage. If it were an ORV park there would probally be a bit more law up there, and thats a good thing.

dO you think ORV designation will change that? nope... With the lack of DNR funds for patrol, these issues have got to be resolved by the users/education...

[Silver_truck]

Good point, the majority of the reasons that North Fork gets so messed up is due to the minority of people that go up there and trash it. I think it would be good to have an ORV park up here even if its smaller so its easier to keep control of.