COTA News

January Newsletter

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:57:34 +0100

Is your New Year's resolution to bike more? Read the January 2010 newsletter.

Holiday '09 Newsletter

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:52:33 +0100

Get the latest COTA news; read the Holiday '09 newsletter.

COTA Receives Recreational Trails Program Grant

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:30:03 +0100

The Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) is pleased to announce that we have received the go-ahead for a large grant from the Federal Highways Administration for the Recreational Trails Program, administered by Oregon State Parks. This Grant provides partial funding for the Wanoga Mountain Bike Event area, a project which will create 35 miles of new multiple-use trail that COTA and the USFS have spent the last seven years developing.

The Grant will reimburse COTA for up to $56,000, covering two thirds of the total project budget of $84,000. The remainder in matching funds must be raised by COTA through corporate sponsorships, individual donors and memberships. The funds are going to be used to purchase equipment, tools, trail head kiosks, materials and signs to develop a state-of-the-art trail system. The Wanoga Trails will provide links to Edison Snow Park, Swampy Lakes and other Century Drive Trail heads, as well as the Deschutes River. These trails will improve the connections to recreational access for the communities of Deschutes River Woods, Sunriver and Bend.

COTA will be relying on it’s supporters and volunteers even more as this project progresses due to the fact that many trails outside the Wanoga area will also need the usual regular maintenance. This grant funds only the Wanoga area, and it will last only two years. Of course, COTA’s major focus will be on completing the trails and related facilities in the Wanoga area but we will continue to maintain some 280 miles of other trails as well. COTA has implemented a detailed Adopt-a-Trail program and is aggressively ensuring all the Trail Stewards have appropriate training and certifications to perform the necessary work on their particular trail. We are not spread thin, but we are busy. Your support is crucial for your trails!

COTA is greatly indebted to our major corporate supporters over the past several years. The Wanoga Project and most of COTA’s efforts have been funded substantially by The Willard L. Eccles Foundation, REI, U.S. Bank, Seventh Mountain Resort, Bend’s Big Fat Tour, Xterra Trail Run Nationals, High Cascades 100, WebCyclery, Pine Mountain Sports, Footzone Bend, Sunnyside Sports, Cog Wild Bicycle Tours, Hutch’s Bicycles, Steep Planet, Deschutes Brewery, 92/7 FM, Thule, Silver Moon Brewing, Active Therapeutics, Feedback Graphics, McMenamin’s, Adventure Maps, Trinity Bikes, Chinook Technology Consultants, and many, many others.

Dozens of people worked many hours to apply for this RTP Grant, especially Kent Howes, Woody Starr, Chris Kratsch, Paul Thomasberg and Jade Mayer of COTA but many others contributed support which helped COTA’s proposal rise above the rest. We also owe a sincere debt of thanks to the following people and entities for the generous and complimentary letters of support which were included in the successful RTP Grant Proposal:

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
Shane Jeffries, Disctrict Ranger, Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District - USFS
Bruce Ronning, Bend Metro Parks & Recreation District
Bob Woodward, Chairman of the Board, Bend Metro Parks & Recreation District
Tim Casey, Executive Director - Bend Chamber of Commerce
Alana Audette, President & CEO – Central Oregon Visitor’s Association
The Deschutes County Ad Hoc Committee on Recreation Assets
Ryan Levering, Outreach Specialist – REI Bend
Teague Hatfield, FootZone Bend
Cynthia Kane, PhD - Clear Choice Health Plans
Susan Bonacker, Sunnyside Sports
Melanie Fisher, Cog Wild Bicycle Tours
Mike McMackin, Hutch’s Bicycles
Paul Thomasberg, Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee
Kim Curley, Community Outreach, Commute Options for Central Oregon
Henry Abel, WebCyclery
Kreg Lindberg, President, DogPAC

COTA’s Mission:
The Central Oregon Trail Alliance is dedicated to the stewardship of sustainable, multiple use trails and to preserving access for mountain bikers through advocacy, education and promoting responsible trail use.

December Newsletter

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:13:10 +0100

Get the latest COTA news; read the December newsletter.

COTA Statement on Rogue Trail Building

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:28:59 +0100

With your help over the past 17 years, COTA has grown to become both credible and effective at what it does, namely maintain, design and build trails. We have grown wiser and more pragmatic; COTA’s primary partners in all this trail development are U.S. Government agencies, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. They are charged to manage the lands within their respective jurisdictions for the benefit of us citizens. When an agency decides to partner with an all-volunteer group to help achieve their mission the group doesn’t just earn some credit, it has to own some of the liability. Such groups are valuable partners for future trail development, the agencies know this.

At times it seems that it takes forever to establish new trails and experiences for the average mountain biker's increasing levels of skill and demands for new opportunities. It might seem we are playing catch-up more than leading the way. Admittedly, one or two people can act quickly to create something that fits their particular need. COTA once was a small group of enthusiasts such as this. However, those days are over, and with the increased use of trails it has become more important to collaborate with land managers if we are to succeed in creating sustainable new trail experiences.

COTA has been working for several months to craft a set of “Standards” for trails in Central Oregon. We have worked with vested trail lovers and agency officials, and we have taken the best parts of IMBA, USFS and especially Whistler Trail Standards to create a Central Oregon Trail Standard we think will allow us to expand and indeed progress. This also will require patience but it has been borne of many dozens of years of combined experience and actual work right here in Central Oregon. We are close. We need to maintain our relationships with land managers in order to succeed. When illegally built trails appear on the landscape, we lose some of our credibility and some of our forward momentum.

We are at a crucial stage in the history of mountain biking. We are finding we do have a strong voice, albeit not entirely united yet. COTA values the work involved in creating and maintaining (all) our trails and because of this, the threat of trail closures is virtually non-existent here. Not so in other regions where rogue trail builders are busier. In such cases any agency would be left no choice but to restrict ALL mountain bikers. Once one sits at the same table with land managers and compares the needs of each group, we find we are not so different. The methods and outcomes might vary but the big picture is people are recreating outdoors.

Please continue aiding COTA’s efforts by making a year-end donation, renewing your membership or getting involved. Stay tuned for more on the Central Oregon Trail Standards, trail stewardship with our Adopt-a-Trail program, and more trail-work events in 2010.

Thanks for your support!

Over 1300, I mean 1600 Hours logged in October!

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:26:44 +0100

Wow, what can I say? October has been among the most productive months in COTA's history! Thank you to all those volunteers who made it a priority to come out and put your effort into better and more trails for Central Oregonians and visitors to enjoy.

Most recently, on Oct 24, the Steve Larsen work party had over 70 people attend. What makes this most impressive is the vast majority of these people have never done trail work before, and I can safely say I think we will see many of these fine people at future trail work events. This was one of the most highly motivated and hard working groups I have had the pleasure of working with. There's already talk of another Steve Larsen work party in the Spring. Thank you so much to all of you, you know who you are!

On Oct. 10, the Annual Biketoberfest Work Party also had over 75 people attending. Crews were spread throughout the vast network of trails performing everything from brushing and drainage maintenance to cutting and clearing new trails, to logging out recently fallen logs. The bar-b-que and post work party, held at Wanoga Snow play area was fun and lots of tasty food and beverages were had by all. Other than slightly chilly weather the mood was festive and the trail work was top-notch. Thanks to all the volunteers, the dozens of crew leaders and especially our sponsors for making Biketoberfest a huge success!

Although not really trail-work the Bend's Big Fat Tour, held this year on Oct 16-18 was a resounding success despite a truly horrific weather forecast. It is impressive to see the result of 150 or so bikes packing in a trail tread when the conditions are as nearly perfect as can be. Needless to say the "bad" weather never showed up and BBFT riders were treated to incredible trail conditions on every route each day. Stay tuned for a BBFT 2009 charitable giving announcement, likely to include COTA...

Our numbers are up, the trails are in prime condition and people throughout our region recognize the tireless and consistent efforts COTA volunteers have put forth. Thanks again to all our awesome volunteers, you are truly appreciated!

October Newsletter

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:11:20 +0100

Get the latest COTA news; read the October newsletter.

Cline Buttes Plan and Environmental Assessment available for public review and comment

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:53:00 +0100

The Cline Buttes Plan and Environmental Assessment is now out for public
review and comment. With regards to trail use, the Proposed Action
(Alternative 2) provides for over 130 miles of designated, non-motorized
trails. These include some a variety of mountain bike, pedestrian, and
equestrian trails in some fantastic locations. The proposed action also
provides for about 90 miles of off highway vehicle trails. A major focus
of the planning effort was seperating trail uses to provide for quality
trails at a variety of skill levels for all users. The Plan and EA, an
executive summary, maps, and files available for use in Google Earth can
be downloaded from the Prineville District BLM website:
http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/plans/clinebuttes/index.php

Cline Buttes Plan and Environmental Assessment available for public review and comment.

If people want a printed copy of the Cline Buttes Recreation Area Plan and
Map Packet, or a CD and Map Packet, they can request copies by contacting
the Prineville BLM at 541-416-6700 or via email (clinebuttes@blm.gov). The
public comment period closes on December 4th, 2009.

Comments can be emailed to this address (clinebuttes@blm.gov), or mailed to
CBRA Plan, Prineville District BLM, 3050 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR
97754

Please pass this along to anyone you think may be interested.

Gregory Currie
Partnership Coordinator - Prineville District BLM
3050 NE 3rd Street
Prineville, OR 97754
541-416-6711

COTA Schedule for Weekend of October 23 - 25

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:06:40 +0100

Plan your weekend wisely. COTA crews will be out in force this weekend and looking for your help. Come lend a hand or stay out of the way!
The following is scheduled for this weekend:

Wanoga area trails: Saturday, Steve Larsen Work Party

Tiddlywinks: Starting Friday, for the next week or so, heavy machinery will be working on the roads just below Kiwa Butte on Rds 200, 270, and 272.

The Lair: work continues with heavy machinery; next weekend, Oct. 31, is the rebuilding party.

Slalom Trail: work continues on the slalom track as well as the new dirt jump line.

Temporary closure at the Lair

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:58:49 +0100

Beginning October 4, The Lair will be temporarily closed the next couple of weeks, for fall maintanence and rebuilding. We will be having heavy equipment out there moving dirt, fixing problem areas, and hopefully creating some new jumps on the existing trails. We will be posting upcoming build days at the Lair, in the near future.

Thanks!

-Nick Braun COTA Freeride Coordinator