The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The Sisters Ranger District has started planning the Sisters Trail Additions and Realignments (STAR) Project to address non-motorized trails on the portions of the District.

The public can submit comments on the project proposal. The STAR Project proposes activities on 21 existing and proposed equestrian, hiking, and biking trails. The STAR Project provides additions and realignments to the official Sisters Ranger District trails system to better meet the needs for unique recreational experiences, trail connectivity, and restoration or abandonment of fire-damaged trails.

Approximately 54 miles of new non-motorized trail are proposed to be added to the Sisters Ranger District trail system, although only 16 miles would be new construction. Eight miles are proposed to be removed from the official trail system due to heavy damage from previous wildfires and lack of a distinct recreational experience.

The 45-day comment period began July 21 and closes Tuesday, September 5. According to Sisters Ranger District, comments and feedback will help provide valuable information used to identify issues and opportunities associated with the proposal.

“We are excited to kick off this project and hear from the public about this proposal,” said Ian Reid, Sisters District Ranger. “The STAR project responds to interest around expanded connectivity and recreational opportunities on the District, and we appreciate the patience from our trail- user group partners while we refined and narrowed a broad list of potential new trails with our resource professionals.”

To view the STAR Project proposal, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/deschutes/?project=64457.

Comments may be submitted by sending an email to comments-pacific

[email protected]. Please put “STAR Project” in the subject line of your email. Comments must be submitted as part of an actual email message, or as an attachment in Microsoft Word, rich text format (rtf), or portable document format (pdf) only. Comments submitted to any email address other than the one listed above, in any other format, or that contain viruses will be rejected.

Comments may also be submitted by post mail to: Ian Reid, District Ranger, Sisters Ranger District, PO Box 249, Sisters, Oregon, 97759. Hand-delivered mail will be accepted at 201 N. Pine St., Sisters, Oregon 97759 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. No other opportunity to comment will be provided.

For more information contact Lauren DuRocher, environmental coordinator, at [email protected] or by phone at 541-316-9686.