Yellow Pages
ANACORTES — Some 31 people commented Tuesday night to the Anacortes City Council on plans to institute new rules to protect 2,800 acres of city-owned forest lands.
The proposed management plan for the Anacortes Community Forest Lands, which includes the 1,300-foot-tall Mount Erie, would be used to manage the forest for the next five to 10 years.
The draft of the plan proposes prohibiting dirt bikes from an additional three miles of trails, banning motorcycles during the cooler months, keeping dogs on leashes and requiring hikers and climbers to use approved trails. Climbing groups, such as the Skagit Alpine Club, also objected to a $5 million liability policy approved in 2007, up from $1 million. The dirt bike restrictions would be evaluated in a year.
Some who spoke Tuesday expressed concerns about aspects of the proposal.
Terina Kertis, an Anacortes resident who rides motorcycles in the forest, said that if every few years three miles of trail are taken from motorcyclists than there will be nothing left to ride.
“I grew up riding there,” Kertis said. “I want my son to ride there.”
Others weighed in on whether they wanted dogs to be on leash or off. Some groups, including climbers and dog walkers, told the council that the people drafting the plan didn’t listen to their feedback.
Representatives of Evergreen Islands and Friends of the Forest called for the council to adopt the plan as written to preserve the forest, saying that increased population and interest in the forest have started to harm it.
“I think things have been listened to, but not everything can be followed,” said Rich Bergner who lives on South Fidalgo and urged the council to adopt the plan as written. “Some people have said that we’re not able to roam as freely as we did. Well, things have changed on this island since I grew up.”
Roughly half the comments Tuesday came from the climbing community, including some climbing groups, who said that they were concerned the increase in the liability insurance will prevent classes from being taught on Mount Erie.
The deadline for written comment on the plan is Friday. The City Council is then expected Monday to discuss the proposal.
