Methow Valley News

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ATVs

ATV case in state Appeals Court this week

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The appeal claiming that the Okanogan County commissioners did not consider the environmental impacts of illegal all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding nor the safety issues that could arise when ATVs share roads with other vehicles will be heard in the Washington Court of Appeals in Spokane on Thursday (Dec. 10).

The Methow Valley Citizens’ Council and Conservation Northwest …

Five miles of Methow Valley roads considered for ATVs

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Five miles of roads in the Methow Valley could be opened to wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) if the Okanogan County commissioners approve a proposal to add the roads to 788 miles of roads around the county already open to the vehicles. The roads under consideration are near Winthrop and Twisp. Near Winthrop, the proposal would allow …

Forest Service: environmental review necessary before ATVs can use forest roads again

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By Marcy Stamper The Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest has closed six routes to wheeled all-terrain vehicles (WATVs) and will only consider reopening them after additional analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, according to a Sept. 28 announcement from their staff officer. Managers with the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest opened 350 miles of roads on a trial […]

Forest Service closing roads to ATVs  —  again

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In another reversal, the U.S. Forest Service plans to close roads in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest that had been opened to wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for the past few months, according to Karl Forsgaard, president of the Alpine Lakes Protection Society.

The Forest Service opened 350 miles of roads to ATVs in all seven…

Four Methow Valley roads get lower speed limits

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Speed limits on four Methow Valley Roads — about 5 miles total — will be lowered to 35 miles per hour (mph) by the end of next week, after Okanogan County Public Works installs new signs, according to county engineer Josh Thomson. The Okanogan County commissioners approved the changes by a vote of 2-to-1 at their meeting on July 14. […]

County hears wide support for lowering speed limits on four Methow Valley roads

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ATV group seeks 35-mph zones to increase access By Marcy Stamper In terms of sheer numbers, there appears to be broad support for a proposal by a local all-terrain vehicle (ATV) group to lower speed limits on four Methow Valley roads. Okanogan County received petitions with about 150 signatures supporting the change, and nine of […]

Environmental groups sue Forest Service to shut down new ATV routes

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Public input, agency review required before changing road access, they say By Marcy Stamper Three environmental and recreation groups have filed a lawsuit claiming that the U.S. Forest Service failed to follow environmental laws that require public input and an analysis of road conditions before allowing ATVs to use the roads. The complaint, filed in […]

Some Forest Service roads now open to wheeled ATVs

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Several routes for wheeled all terrain vehicles (WATVs) opened Friday (June 26) in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The routes are on roads that are already open to other motorized vehicles, but at this time no other forest roads are open to WATVs, according to an announcement from the U.S. Forest Service.