As Deschutes National Forest officials prepare an intensive management plan for the Pine Mountain Observatory and surrounding lands, off-road vehicle advocates and astronomers are bracing to protect their special interests.

More than 100 people wrote letters to the Forest Service regarding plans to close some off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails and open others around the observatory.

Many night owls advocated closing the area entirely to off-road vehicles. Doing so would reduce dust, noise and conflicts between the user groups, Sunriver resident Larry McGlocklin wrote.

”The area around Pine Mountain Observatory is a classroom for many kids and adults who come here each year,” McGlocklin wrote.

He added that off-road vehicle traffic on the road between the observatory and the campground will degrade the experience the children and other groups expect.

Paul Moeller of Ridgefield, Wash., said astronomers sleep during the day, and allowing OHVs would disrupt the tranquility.

”Astronomy is done between dusk and daybreak,” Moeller wrote. ”After an evening of astronomical viewing, observers sleep well into the morning, having been up all night. The noise and traffic an OHV corridor would create will destroy (the viewers’) ability to sleep during the morning or afternoons.”

Canadian astronomer Nelson Teskey of Langley, British Columbia, wrote that the observatory provides a unique experience that is better left separated from OHVs.

”I can tell you there are astronomers, both professional and amateur, that come to this area from far afield,” he wrote. ”Because of existing atmospherics, the area draws them like flies to rotten meat. You will hear debates at various star parties as to which skies have the best viewing. Pine Mountain invariably comes out on top.”

But as star lovers promote a non-motorized area at the top of Pine Mountain, motor advocates asked the agency to not close any more trails.

”I am an off-road motorcycle rider who has enjoyed the East Fort Rock OHV area with my family and friends for many years,” wrote Lawrence Huntley of Bend. ”I must stress how important year-round access is to me, my family and friends. I would like to remind you that a permittee of four acres on top of Pine Mountain does not own the area, the mountain, or the surrounding land. The public does.”

Matthew Jessen of Bend, an off-road rider and advocate, complained that environmentalists are trying to take lands away from motorized users.

”We want to protect our right to ride as it is slowly being taken away by the so-called environmentalists,” he wrote. ”OHV access is a priority in my family, and we will do whatever it takes to protect it. Public lands are for the public. Don’t let the greenies pull the wool over on you, or soon we all may be walking to work and reading by candlelight.”Jeannie Kloepper, president of the Central Oregon Motorcycle and ATV Club, said the trails around the observatory receive more visitors than the observatory does. Therefore, the motorized contingent should have priority, she said.

If the Forest Service plans to close trails to OHV use, officials should expect a fight, she wrote.

”We have faced too many OHV closures, but this one threat, the possible seasonal closure of East Fort Rock and Pine Mountain, is one that we draw our line in the sand over,” she wrote.

At issue is a Forest Service proposal for the East Fort Rock and Pine Mountain areas. Officials recently solicited comments in a pre-planning phase known as scoping. Now officials will study the comments and come up with a list of alternatives for the area that they will send out for public review in an environmental study.

Specifically, officials proposed to evaluate existing roads and user-created OHV trails. They suggested closing some trails and opening a new multiple-use trail near the observatory.

Officials will also develop a new master plan for the observatory which could include clearing trees to improve observing conditions and reduce wildfire risk.

Finally, the project will also use mechanical mowing of shrubs, prescribed burning and both commercial and non-commercial thinning of trees to reduce the risk of wildfire.

Rachel Odell can be

reached at 541-617-7811 or

rodell@bendbulletin.com