The North Central ATV Club presented a proposal to the County Commissioners earlier this month to open over 50 miles of county roads to wheeled all-terrain vehicles (WATVs). The Club initially proposed opening these roads in July of 2022 but has returned with a proposal that adds new roads including Gunn Ranch Rd., Rendezvous Road,  and Twisp-Carlton Road. A state law passed in 2013 allows the county to open roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or lower to WATVs. However, an environmental analysis must be completed before any routes are approved. Watch the latest proposal by the ATV club to the commissioners here (the proposal starts at 1:47:17)

How to Take Action on the ATV Proposal:

Write County Commissioner Andy Hover: Write with your specific concerns. MVCC has listed some of its concerns surrounding illegal off-road use and wildlife concerns below.

Email: andy.hover@co.okanogan.wa.us

Publish a Letter to the Editor in the Methow Valley News: This is a good way to make sure more people around the Methow Valley know about this proposal and its consequences. Letters to the Editor can be submitted here by Monday to be published the following Wednesday.  Letters must be under 350 words.

ATV routes proposed by the North Central ATV Club in March, 2023

To Authorize Routes for WATV Use an Environmental Analysis must be Completed:

North Central ATV Club has proposed that the county open the following roads to WATV use: Cub Creek, East Chewuch and West Chewuch roads; Upper Beaver Creek, Balky Hill, Twisp-Winthrop Eastside, Twisp River and Poorman Creek roads, Goat Creek Road (Sno-Park to Mazama junction), Bear Creek and Lester roads, Bill Shaw, Watson Draw and French Creek roads, Twisp Carlton Road, Gunn Ranch Rd., Rendezvous Rd. Speed limits on roads that currently have limits above 35 m.p.h. would need to have their speed limits reduced to allow WATVs. All the routes will also need to undergo a thorough environmental analysis that identifies and addresses the following concerns:

• Increased traffic as a result of the ATV ordinance
• Off-road use encouraged by the opening of the roads and related environmental impacts, including harm to soils, slopes, water, animals, and plants
• Reported instances of off-road use and its damage to environment
• Some segments of roads being open to ATV traffic but not connected to other roads under 35 m.p.h.
•  Noise and air pollution resulting from both legal and illegal traffic – and the added impact to local residents and recreationists looking for peaceful solitude.
•  Adequacy of facilities, law enforcement, and emergency services to handle ATV use
•  Impact on threatened and endangered species from both legal and illegal traffic

Primary Concerns: Illegal Off-Road Use and Wildlife Impacts
MVCC is not opposed to allowing WATVs in the places where they are appropriate if a proper environmental analysis is completed. Our primary concern remains how challenging it is to prevent illegal off-road use and enforce it. In addition, Forest Service roads are not currently open to WATV use until a (long overdue) Travel Management Plan is completed. Since many county roads turn into Forest Service roads, enforcing legal use on all these routes would be exceedingly difficult.

Our other concern is the impact WATVs can have on wildlife and wildlife habitat. Unregulated WATV use can damage fish habitat when users drive near or into streams, cause erosion that clogs streams, and distress wildlife, among other disturbances. WATVs can also impact other recreational users–walkers, runners, bikers–who use these often-quiet roads for non-motorized recreation.

Okanogan County has said it will consult with state and federal land-management agencies and then invite public comment. We will keep you informed of any updates and make sure any proposed routes are supported by a complete environmental analysis.